Central Dauphin High School - Centralian Yearbook (Harrisburg, PA)

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s,g.c.E,s.,51W ffs..e,sge.yf:s.-.fs,3vsg,Fe.5sg:fgs vqeesgefgws freezwssw. is-...Q sf, b T-mem scsi. - .M s Curtain Going Up .... Small in its production yet immense in precendential value was the dramatic presentation that made its debut in a gloomy Philadelphian warehouse in 1749. This was the American premiere of the theatre. Some two hundred years later came another premiere . . . local in interest far reaching in educational import. This production was begun by a group known as the Pennsylvania Economy League. The production which was begun at that time dealt with the drama of education particularly, a iointure of suburban Harrisburg schools. The large committee of producers of the spectacle that was the Central Dauphin Joint School System, took two years to gather and many more to plan for the great opening. The three main producers were finally chosen: Kermit M. Sover, Raymond Keim, Arthur Shoop . . . Experts in their field all, and eager to get on with the show. Following myriads of plans and sketches and diagrams, the makers of the set began their toil, building the backdrops , the props, the scenery that are so much an integral factor in any production. Hammers and noisy buzz saws mingled their voices with those of the cement mixers and carpenter's tools . . . and the set which was designed by the notable Edmond Good began to take visible form and vague meaning. Just about the time when the workers were completing the preliminaries of building, a sneak preview of the gigantic drama was staged on Sunday afternoon on March 20, 1955. For the first time, an audience was given a glimpse of the production that was in the making. At this cornerstone laying ceremony the crowd applauded and praised the little they saw, and left the scene in thoughtfulness, for the climax was yet to come. While the set was still in the process of making, the producers selected their large staff of directors. Some of the directors came from lesser local productions, others were brought in from elsewhere. After sifting and filtering the Qualities of all, a league of 52 directors were decided upon. Great was their task, for they were given the as- signment of shaping and molding the talents of over nine hundred actors, two hundred fifty of whom form the star- dom ofthe great premiere. To help both producers and directors in smoothing out the rough spots of the production a board of associate directors, named the Student Advisory Council, met for the first time on October 10, 1954. They were all cast mem- bers, working not only as actors, but coordinators of the presentation, Through this select group the opinions of the entire cast were voiced, the details that concerned them were arranged and discussed. Organization of the production was now nearly completed . . . the producers, the directors, the associate directors, the cast, the senery makers, the builders ofthe set . . . they were all working as one naw, perparing for the first day of real rehearsal. The script had been completed, each actor was fitted into a distinct part in the program. Directors planned their work and made ready for the beginning of the long period of rehearsal. At 9:00 A.M. on September 7,1955 the reheasal started. Preliminaries didn't take long and soon everyone was laboring in accord. Behind the scenes workmen were still toiling over the incomplete set, putting on the wealth of finishing touches. But the real work was in the dressing rooms and on the stage where the actors were being groomed for their parts. Always guiding, always teaching were the directorsg studying and practising for endless hours was the cast. Although numerous were the hours of hard work, there was also an abundance of real fun and laughter, real pleasure of working together. There were get togethers, dances, athletic events, all organizations within an organ- ization. But for awhile, let's put the spotlight on the actors who, by merit of their previous experience, held the star parts . . . they were the seniors. Excelling in so many ways, this group of over two hundred persons set an example for the younger, less experienced ones to follow, They organized as a group during December, elected .lim Bender as head and Harold Waddell, Frank Flickinger, Kay Stewart and Marilee Karins as other officers. Under the direc- tion of these officers in coordination with the Senior Executive Board, the stars prepared for their hrst major party -The Christmas Ball. Many such activities followed suit thereafter, the seniors, the stars, sometimes leading, sometimes following, but always in the spotlight. Above these lighter activities, however, stood the real purpose . . . preparing for that splendid opening night --the Premiere. Long had the actors studied their parts, long had the directors assumed their duties, and now comes the time when the producers proudly present to the public the fruits of their labor. For all the world to see are the stars of Central Dauphin High School as they stage their drama, make their debut as a graduating class, stand in the floodlights of commencement and receive their educational Academy Awards, their diplomas, recog- nition for a iob well done. And That's Central Dauphin's bow to society . , . lts Premiere on the Broadway of Education. lt's over now, the spectacle of the opening. The long first run has been successfully completed for theseason. But the show will be back next year with new leading men and women. And we who will no longer be in the cast turn in retrospect . . . remembering the nights of study, the laurels we won, the laughter, the work and fun. As the last stage light is dimmed and the last person leaves the dressing room, holding our sheepskin Oscar in our hands we gaze at an empty theatre with but one light on . . . EXIT . . . Exit from this drama into another ofa much larger scope, entrance onto the stage of life. MARILEE KARINS Class Historian

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Best All Around Jim Callahan and Letty Crispen Most Likely to Succeed Steve Bishop and Marilee Karins Romeo and Juliet John Mellott and Sandy Dailey Best Looking Deanna Dahlin and Jim Callahan Class Clowns Dave Hauer and Georgia Ann Hertzler Tollest and the Shortest Leonard Baylor and Barbara Forney Best Athletes Don McCreary and Sandy Peck i i