Francis W Parker School - Record Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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PARKER RECORD consciousness or self-righteousness try to live up to the school motto Everything to help and nothing to hinderf' They will realize more and more the significance of the school's great word RESPONSIBILITY. They will value increasingly the principle of cooperation under which they have lived for many years. They may perhaps also carry with them into their homes and wider social groups Colonel Parker's guiding principle in life, his impelling belief that the best progress for the individual and for society comes forth under the motive of each habitually giving his best,- Each for all and all for each. FLORA J. COOKE OUR ALUMNI ON THE STAGE Alumni Writeups of former years have dealt with certain classes, or a general survey of all classes, but this year we will limit ourselves to a few graduates of Parker who have made a name for themselves on the stage. There are thousands of actors and actresses, but there are few who ever attain fame. Success cannot be attributed to talent alone, but it must be backed up by hard work and years of study. Macauley Ross, whose stage name is Ian Keith, is well known both on the stage and screen. He began his dramatic career at Parker by admirably portraying Hamlet in the senior play. In this play he was supported by an excellent cast including Geneva Harrison, who has been very successful and is now with the Theatre Guild. just before one of the performances of Hamlet, at school, Macauley was presented with a red carnation by Geneva. He was very proud of this gift and wore it very conspicuously. in the beginning of the play. The red certainly brightened up the sombreness of Macauley's costume, but evidently Mr. Merrill didn't appreciate this, for by the next entrance the carnation had disappeared. After Hnishing school Macauley studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In order to gain experience and a practical knowledge of plays he went on an extensive road tour with a stock company. He acted in Shakespearian plays and was given his big chance when he was given the part of Orlando in As You Like It,', substituting for an actor who was indisposed. I-Ie re- ceived notice of this part just a few days before he was to perform, but in a very short time he had worked up the part and achieved great success. Because of his excellent acting, he played with John Barrymore in Laugh, Clown, Laugh,', which was pro- duced by David Belasco. He did very well in this part and was offered a long contract by Belasco. Instead, Macauley entered the movim where he has become well known. He has a very fine speaking voice and we are confident that he will be very successful in the talking pictures. Geneva Harrison, Macauleyls partner in the plays at Parker, who has been very successful playing with the Theatre Guild, studied in New York under the direction of Walter Hampton. For a few seasons she played small parts and walk-ons and then she attracted the attention of the Guild. For quite a while she played minor roles, but just this year she was given an important role playing with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine in Caprice, in a part which she played very capably. Geneva-also is very much interested in literature and writes well herself. Poetry interests her especially and she has written some very fine examples. With the class of 191 3 graduated Albert Carroll, who made a wonderful success of the senior play, The Servant in the House? Immediately after graduating Albert joined the Ben Greet players with whom he played Shakespearian and old English comedies At first he had very small parts but his excellent acting soon gained him more responsible roles He stayed with this company five years and then joined the Page Twenty one l, r, l 4 -v v S -fg 930 Ji ff g - gtg i,,i

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-----ff PARKER RECORD COLONEL PARKEIVS SPIRIT The Parker Spirit-what is it? A small boy in the first grade recently defined it as something very goodf' The occasion was a birthday wishing party. Every member of the group had his lighted candle from which he blew his birthday wish to the child who was seven years old that day. The wishes came eagerly and fast,-one for a Pomeranian dog, another for an electric train, for a little baby brother, for a motor boat,-each wishing for his friend something which doubtless he himself most desired. Finally the turn came for a thoughtful eyed little boy to make his wish. I hope, he said, that Peter will grow up big and strong and always have the Parker Spirit. What is that? I asked. And he answered, I don't know exactly what it is, but Mr. Wahlstrom said in Morning Exercise when we were working in the Christmas Toy Shop that we all ought to use the ParkerVSpirit, and I am sure it is something 'very good. And, something very good it is, if it is truly to represent the spirit of the man who made the Parker School possible. Francis W. Parker was a true pioneer who gave his whole life to a struggle to make education better for children. He said, Nothing that is good is too good for a child, no work too great, no toil to arduous. He firmly believed that every school ifn the land should be made a home and a heaven for chil- dren. He believed that no one can give another education but that each must gain it through his own efforts. He wanted a school to be a place where the strengths, gifts and natural interests of every child could develop to their fullest measure. He wanted a school to be like a fine garden, a place rich and nourishing in which a child could live freely, a place which would stimulate him to work and play and grow. Out of my long experience with Colonel Parker, I should interpret the Parker Spirit as one which must continuously portray courage, strength and unselfishness. It must be at once fine and generous yet keenly critical and intelligently discriminating in all its larger aspects. Parker Spirit shows itself in athletics and sports because of the school's belief that every boy and girl needs an opportunity to play as well as to work. It puts itself squarely and loyally behind its teams to support them whether winning or losing-so long as the players give their best individual and cooperative effort to the game. But Parker Spirit does not function alone in sports, it permeates and inspires every phase of our living together. It demands at once thorough individual scholarship-the fullest measure of knowledge and skill, and it expects from each person, big and little, his most useful and loyal service to the best interest of the whole group. It does not recognize as its own the selfish grabber or shirker in a community. It claims gladly the potential artist, the lover of beauty, and attempts to help him find his own avenue for the expression of his ideas and dreams. The reach of the Parker Spirit extends far beyond the borders of the school itself, and not only helps those imbued with it to meet adequately the immediate prob- lems of the small school community, but it also equips them potentially, we hope, to cope with the difficult problems of the more complex adult world in which they must so soon participate. The fruitage of the Parker Spirit is something which grows and comes to perfection only through long years of practice. It is not made up alone of what Colonel Parker gave to it, but also of what has been .brought into the school life by fine teachers and students during the many years of its existence. Thus it happens that every member of the school at present is in some measure responsible for what this spirit is just as every graduate is its exponent Its quality must be judged not by what some of us wish it were but by what characterizes it in everyday practice If the school of 1930 31 is to be worthy of the spirit which Colonel Parker bequeathed to it it will not consist merely in glorifying a tradition but it will be exemplified in a type of living wholly good happy and useful Students possessing it will without any self Page Twenty 31930 , . . ' 3 1 9 - '

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1e pri:-nl-giiaggi. ,W , W ,'...5.,,..,f., .,. PARKER RECORD Neighborhood Playhouse Where he was actor, dancer, writer, and impersonator. Later he joined the Grand Street Follies, playing the lead, and made this play a great success. Albert is especially well known for his impersonations and pantomimes. Doris Humphrey played the feminine lead opposite Albert in The Servant in the House. Doris, although she was very talented as an actress, decided to make dancing her career. Having Hnished her studies she conducted dancing classes at Oak Park for Eve years. Later she joined Ruth St. Denis and was leading solo dancer for several years. Doris has now founded her own school in New York and is achieving con- siderable success. Christina Affeld while at Parker produced and acted in many plays for the Forum and other school activities. After graduating she went to Wiscmsin University, but after three years left college to go on the stage. Her first engagement was with Sothern and Marlowe. For one year her part consisted of walk-ons, small dances, and under- studying. An amusing story is told which shows Christina's determination and love of the artistic. While she was with Sothern and Marlowe one of the leading men wore a hat which Christina regarded as atrocious. She braced herself and determined to tell the actor and see if he could not see her point. He was unmoved by her arguments and the hat continued to be used. One day the hat was missing, and the actor had to wear the only one he could find, which Christina had carefully placed there. After Sothern and Marlowe broke up she joined a Shakespearian company which made a tour of the South. She played two small parts and was understudy. Upon her return she became leading lady in Laugh, Clown, Laugh, in which Barrymore played. She acted this role very well. After a short time she went on a vaudeville tour of Keith's where she was very successful. Christina married Dr. Percy Davidson and is now producing plays at Rad- cliife. She always loved work and if there was time between engagements would take a job of waitress or anything, just to be busy. There are also many other Parkerites who have chosen the stage for their career and who have met with success. It is really remarkable that so many graduates of this small school have really become well known actors. It can be truly said of Parker graduates on the stage, as in every other profession, that they are leaders in achievement. CARL KROCH KEY TO BABY PICTURES Irma Lyon Virginia Gazlay John Redmond Lou Bailey Betty Henius Alfred Fischer Bernard Messinger Shirley Greene Lester Goddard i-iii Hester Hempstead James Lynch Joseph Kepecs Elizabeth Foster Josephine Pruyn Willard Jaques Meyer Resnikoff Virginia Beard Margaret Mayer Frank Bridges Marion Moses Eleanor Wahlstrom Jack Havemeyer Kathryn Risher Sterling Goddard Roberta Wightmanj Roslyn Robineau John Frankel Helen Roehling Arthur Galt Marie Nelson Sue Hartman Raymond Immerwahr Arthur Keller Howard Rosenthal Isabel Krulewich Richard Bethge Edna Krumholz Dorothy Dasch Doris Cohn Jeanne Baumgartl Billee Nachman Jean Diamond Paul Eckstorm Page Twenty-two -is D3 'I v Q YQ- if' 11930