Four Oaks High School - Acorn Yearbook (Four Oaks, NC)

Page 16 text:

long into four bunches of feathers whom I found to be Jean Massengill, Dorothy Olive, Nellie Beasley, and Kay Barbour. These were on their merry way toward the tent marked Phil Sanders and His Dancing Girls , for their performance was beginning in about five minutes. They bade me come and see the show, but tired and worried, I refused. I I was lust about ready to head for my car when I spied The Minstrel Show . This I could not re- sist, however tired or worried I might be. I climbed the steps and found a seat. On came three dancing girls who I found were Shirley Parker, Juanita Woodall, and Florine Johnson. In the middle of their merry- making an elderly gentleman with mustache and sideburns, David Snead, came in and danced circles around them. A mommy , Jean Baker, brought forth many a laugh and I found I was not as tired as I had seemed. The last, but very enioyable act was a colored trio, Shirley Lee, Polly Slaughter, and Alice Jack- son who sang Dixie , still a favorite at this time. After this I resumed my way out of the grounds. I passed the numerous trailors and trucks which had brought these fun-makers into our midst. One of the trucks was especially attractive for painted on its side was an act I had failed to see. There was Margo , the Magician, James Earl Massengill, sawing a body in two in a box, which I knew could be none other than Mavoreen Snead by that flaming red hair. I thought it was too late to go back for just one act so I continued my journey. As I rounded the corner of a trailer, a pan of dishwater missed me by nothing. Looking up through my wet hair, I saw the cook of the show, Betty Holloway and her electric dishwasher, Edna Mahler. This was iust too much and I ran as hard as I could for my car. The evening had been fun, but my energy and all my money were gone. Still happy, nevertheless, I did not notice the tall, dark somebody who was walking toward me as I got into my car. At length how- ever, I did notice him, for when I saw the badge and felt him grasp me by the arm, I immediately rec ognized Wright'LangIey. And without warning, I was dragged away, but still happy at meeting my old school chums, and still wondering who put that No Parking Sign where my car was. Christine Hockaday.

Page 15 text:

Prophecy In my traveling about the country as a saleswoman for the Acme Hairpin and Garter Company, I take time out once in a while to enjoy myself and see some excitement. Like the other day when I was wander- ing about Chicagoiand happened to come in contact with the Circus Grounds. I never, never expected when .I entered the gates that I would experience the thrill of meeting my school chums who graduated with me in I953 from'dear 'ol Four Oaks High School. I never for a moment thought that when I saw the names Johnson, Johnson, Johnson, and Langdon before the great signs advertising the circus, that these people were Harold, Joel, Ada Bell, and Carl, and that they were the owners of this vast universe. When my ticket was taken, the first thing that I saw was a barker, Gene Baker by name, who was yelling for me and the thousands of other spectators to come in and see the sword swallower. My curiousity on edge, I wandered into the tent and whom should I see but Mack Johnson with a three foot sword in his mouth up to the hilt. His very energetic assistant, Margie Johnson, was busily keeping various kinds of swords before the performer on a small tabld. After Mack swallowed thirteen swords which gave me indigestion, I walked over to the Pitch-a-Penny booth and saw Stanford Adams raking the pennies in. And there, pitching away their week's wages were Jimmy Olive, Elwood Bass, Ralph Jones, Elvin Allen, and Edward Martin. Resisting the temptation to splurge a few pennies here, I left the booth and walked over to James and his Tunnel of Love . I descended into a love boat and rode into the tunnel. The couple in front of me kept looking back and shortly, to my astonishment, I found them to be Edward Lassiter and Shirley Smith, now a twosome. After a most enjoyable ride, I continued my way along the sawdust-covered pathways, but soon the low whispering chant of a fortune teller lured me away and beckoned me to come inside her tent. I did so and when I saw those eyes, I knew it could be none other than Barbara Stanley. While we chatted she told me all her troubles. She had tried to get a job with Faye's ModIin Agency along with Anne Grady and Shirley Haskett, but had been turned down on account of her nose while the others had been taken. I consoled her by having my palm read and when she told me I was to meet a tall dark some- body that day, I was very excited. By this time I was also very hungry, so I stopped in at Ma's Place for a hamburger. lwas served a giant hamburger by Ma herself, Betty Jean Parker, and my drink was poured by her assistant, Ozzie Raynor. After the third hamburger and second drink I was on my way again to see the sights. I ambled over to the Big Top where the evening performance was iust beginning. After buying my ticket and walking over several people, I found my seat. A funny clown, Earthul Clifton, kept trying to turn somer- saults but was having a difficult time because the bottoms of his shoes kept coming off. Finally the per- formance began. First there came the Queen of the Show, Laura Beth Barbour, in her coach drawn by white horses. After she had departed, the trapeze artists, Lolita Norris, Thena Ivey, and Billy Fowler brought down the house in applause with a wonderful performance. Next came the tight rope walkers, Jean Moore and Zane Grey Thornton. This was marvelous except for one thing. Someone behind me kept putting a candy apple in my hair. After much furious concentration, I whirled around to see Donald Creech with his arms full of candy apples, popcorn, and soda pop. By the time I removed the candy from my hair, the show was over and everyone started out at once. Even in the loud, boisterous laughter of the people, I did not fail to hear a very familiar giggle, and with much work I craned my neck to see three bareback riders, Betty Jean McLamb, Shirley Mayes and Dorothy Blackmon giggling up into the face of the strong man of the circus, Charles McCIenny. Finally I escaped from the crowd and walked along looking at the various booths. One caught my eye, for I saw the head of Leroy Holley sticking from beneath the sign Hit me with the ball and win a prize . After sixteen misses I moved on. Not particularly looking where I was going, I walked head- I

Page 17 text:

9 Xl vi Q sk vs 22 ,QW 1 925,--off'-S R 5? J brown? F N KQV Jgf l W f ' Q, l WWEQQ 9 QQ gf I v IVWQQ? XE in K Q' I f 3-'sf 81 0 i Pglgx f Qi 4' X x A I f Wir Q0 a Xe AF , ik CD ! Q if Qi? 0-