Edison Middle School - Wizard Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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MINOR DRAMATICS Not all of our entertainments are long, full length plays. During this year the student body has put on many short dramatic programs which have been enjoyed by all almost as much as the long three or four act plays. First comes the assembly plays and dramatic programs. Among these was the Hallowe'en program. It was directed by the Physical Education department and presented by thePhys- ical Education girls. The program consisted of ghost and cat dances with a Seance of the Spirits. , ,For the Thanksgiving program the English depart- ment gave a play. The B9-4 English class was chosen to present this fine one act play. The program was enjoyed very much. Next came the annual science program. This was in form of a play, the first scene taking place in a class room. Scientific experiments were shown and then the class was taken to a hospital to see a serious operation perform- ed. The operation was a humorous silhouette which kept the auditorium roaring with laughter. The play, Little Brother Sherlock was put on by the Players' Club and directed by Mr. Orr and Mr. P-erry. It was voted a great success by the students. The play concern- ed a young lady, and her boy friend, and her younger brother. The different departments take turns giving assembly programs. The Mathematics department gave a story in play form called The Story of Our Numbers , beginning with the Chinese, touching on the Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew, Roman, Hindu and lastly the Arabian type of numbers. The story was made very interesting by pant- omines behind a screen. Besides entertainment the program taught everyone something not known before. Cynthia's Strategy , a roaring burlesque, was presented by the boys in the glee club. The play was the story of a girl's plan to get her parents to accept her boy friend. The girls' glee club presented a Spanish skit at a late assembly. Some Spanish songs were sung and two girls gave a Spanish dance. Easy Terms a play presented by Leon Naideth, Blanc-he Allaire, and Gorden Hast of the Players' Club, and directed by Mr. Perry and Mr. Orr, was given in an EISSGITIDIY during the spring semester. The play set forth the curse of buying by the instalment plan and the struggles of a young married couple against this evil. Page Seventy-one

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pt THE FOUR FLUSHER The play chosen as this semester's senior class play was an excellent three act comedy called The Four Flusherf' Three performances were given to enthusiastic audiences, and Miss Packard, the director, is to be complimented on the good Work done by her cast. Mr. Spicer too is receiving congratulations for the realism of the Shoe Store setting of Acts I and III, and the festive interior set of Act II. The first performance was given on Wednesday, May 21, 1930, to the juniors. The seniors saw it on the following after noon, and Friday May 23 was the date of the evening per- formance. The house was comfortably full at all thiee per- formances and the play was a fiiancial as well as dramatic success. Andy Whitaker, played by Lloyd Smith, Jerry, the ste- nographer, in the person of May Burgeg and Mary Mays, as the very desirable June Allen, are perhaps the three main reasons for the unusual success of this year's class play. However, Duard Filiatreau, as the irate Uncle Ira, was voted by many the real hit of the show. Others who Worked long and hard and who played their parts very Well indeed, are: Josephine Comstock, Nathan Rubin, Adron Harris, Dorothy Dixon, Mike Dobrinen, Charles Barlish, Arthur Morales, Jennie Peratis, Alvin Harris and Raymond Sinoff. This is the first year that the spring semester class play has been given early enough to be reported in the Annual. Future classes take note and do likewise! Page Seventy

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CARNIVAL DAY On April 25, 1930, Edison held its annual Carnival Day. The Carnival this year was truly American for the costumes were those of the American Indians. Mr. Goulet, or Heap Big Chief Swat 'em Hard, joined the students by masquerading as an Indian and many teachers followed his example. A variety of Indian costumes were Worn by the students in the morning classes. At 12:00 o'clock a bell rang announcing that the Carni- val had begun. Out on the yard you could see many excited students running from ice cream to candy booth, hot dog stand to lemonade booth, and so on. After about an hour on the yard, buying and eating, we went to the tepees of the Indians to see the students display their costumes and watch the stunts. The first prize was given to James Ven- nink, the best dressed warriorg the second prize to Isabel Menes, the best dressed squawg and the third prize to Tom Pettibone, Elizabeth Drown, and Anna Reibstein, the most comical Indians. After the winners were presented with their prizes, which were tickets good for either Carnival or show, we stayed out on the yard or went to the Auditorium, where Mr. Fleischer's jazz band played some of the latest songs. Pearl Beach. Gertrude Burkett, Allyne Neely, Nathan Rubin, Leo Naideth, and many others contributed a part to the program. In the evening the same program was given with the addition of a few other acts from outsiders. The Parent Teacher Association had charge of the Car- nival this year as usual. It was one of the best Edison has ever had, and it was also a financial success. Page Seventy-two