Classical High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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Viii Let’s hear it for Classical! The years 1927 to 1946 were in an era of hard times for teenagers. With the sudden stock market crash, the United States was thrown into a harsh depression. Students were forced to find jobs in order to keep up their family incomes. Despite these trou- bles, teenagers found a way to set their own styles and images for the time in which they lived. One style of the time was the preppy look: guys wearing slacks, sweaters, ties, sports coats, and shined shoes. They accentuated the “neat” look of the time by wearing their hair slicked back. The trendy girls wore full woolen skirts, sweaters, and numerous wire bracelets, similar to those popular today. Their trendy styles were highlighted by bright red lips and nails. Every girl was sure to have a shiny new penny in her pen- ny loafers, so as not to be out of place in the school. Flapper dancers were the rage of the day. History in 1929 and today. Students gathered at Classical dances to bop to the Charleston and to sway to the sounds of their idol, Frank Sinatra. There was a lot of school spirit during these times. A Classical football game or soccer game would always be crowded with screaming, supportive fans. The social uproar of this era was the new teenage fascination with cars. The particu- lar attraction of these vehicles was the rum- ble seat, which served its purpose when teenage boys went parking with their girl- friends in Forest Park. The era ended with World War II. Teen- agers were very patriotic. They had a deep respect for soldiers; some teenagers signed up to defend the United States before they were old enough to be drafted. In this era teenagers were very sincere and helpful to their families and country. These qualities in the students would continue for the years to come. TOP: Looking their best on prom night. ABOVE: Out on a Saturday night. BELOW: Theodore Bleau

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ABOVE: The school library as it stood in the late 1800’s, with few books. RIGHT: The annex on Spring Street. ABOVE: The mural in Classical’s auditorium. LEFT: The old lecture hall, now the big study in room 323. The aquarium, down in the basement. History vii

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puAL CONTROL . ‘DRIVER TRAINING CAR ABOVE: Melody Eaton (class of ’66) with the fierce school mascot of 1950. BELOW: Mrs. Southworth (top as a student in 1965, and again (bottom) as principal of Classical now. By the late 1940’s, most families broken up by World War II had been reunited, sparking the largest “baby-boom” the Unit- ed States had ever seen. This decade at Classical ended with a feeling of together- ness, and the teenagers of this generation shared a general sense of cameraderie. The happiness of the 1940’s carried through to the 1950’s, inspiring the begin- nings of rock and roll. Although the Korean War began in 1950, most of the teens of this time were too naive to understand the poli- tics of the war. Classical students spent most of their free time enjoying life. After classes ended for the day, the average high school student would walk to the soda-foun- tain of the nearest store, such as Breck wood Drugs or McClellan’s 5 and 10, for a cherry cola or a malt. Many young ladies would rush home to catch up on their favorite “soaps,” which were new to television in the ’50’s. In the evening, Classical teenagers would tune in to “American Bandstand”, the television show hosted by the ever-pop- ular and ever-youthful Dick Clark. The teenagers of this era stayed in shape by Driver’s Ed was the most popular class in 1948. hula-hooping, bowling, and twisting to the latest hits by Elvis, Dion, and Fabian. In the Springfield area, roller-skating at Riverside was a popular pastime. The teenagers of this decade indulged in good natured, fam- ily-oriented fun. The innocent youths of the 1950’s evolved into the politically active youths of the 1960’s. In 1963, the assassination of John F. Kennedy threw the entire country into tur- moil. Kennedy had been admired by many young people; he had served as a role mo- del, with his charisma and success acting as an inspiration for all. His death shocked and angered many people, and teenagers felt a deep sense of loss and hopelessness. The murder of President Kennedy marked the beginning of a period of great unrest and anti-establishment feelings among Ameri- can youths. Teenagers became involved in protests advocating civil rights and de- nouncing the involvement of American sol- diers in Vietnam. These students grew more independent of their families and eventually became the “hippies” of the late ’°60’s and early ’70’s. History 1x