Frankfort Community High School - Red Bird Yearbook (West Frankfort, IL)

Page 12 text:

The school year was spiced with a variety This year, entertainment for students and faculty of FCI IS was of two kinds—that furnished by persons outside of the school and that furnished by the students themselves. The outside entertainment was of a particularly high calibre. Many timely subjects were presented in six lyccum programs. New Frontiers in Space, Wonders of the Sea, and Hypnotism were thought-provoking, while the programs provided by the Spanish dancers, a sleight of hand artist, and concert pianist Theodore Ullmann were unusually fascinating and educational. Two extra programs—the Southern Illinois University Opera Workshop’s production of Verdi’s Aida and the Mormon Melody Men’s Music—delighted the audience. Finally, the Key Club-sponsored film, “Communist Encirclement—1961,” deeply impressed all students with the seriousness of the situation. This year, for the first time in the history of one school, all freshmen were officially initiated. That it was all just good, clean fun is shown by this picture. Entertainment on the classical side was provided by concert pianist Theodore Ullmann, who captivated his audience as his fingers danced over the keys. The exotic dances which were done with both skill and grace by Soragenz and Rodriguez, fascinated everyone. 8

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Through the veins of the cool mines has run the life blood of West Frankfort. Shown in the first picture is a machine which spreads rock dust in the mine to lessen the danger of on explosion. In the second, is shown a Joy loading machine. These pictures ore typical of mines, for along with the ‘black gold goes dust, gas, and danger. In the bottom picture, Mr. S. B. Sullivan, former high school principal, accepts a check for the first Chamber of Commerce from Superintendent McPhoil. Coal has been important here. Coal mines brought ivealth to West Frankfort The chief coal vein of Illinois and Franklin County is coal vein number six. I his vein has produced nearly 69 per cent of all the coal in the State. The extreme depths of the richer veins was the reason for the relatively late development of commercial coal mining on a large scale in this area. In Southern Illinois the coal veins average 500 feet below the earth’s surface. In Franklin Countv, the maximum dip of coal vein six, which is about 10 feet thick, is from the southwest corner, where the vein is located at a depth of about 140 feet, to the northeast corner, where it is located at a depth of about 600 feet. 1 his depth accounts for the fact that the county has had only one slope mine. Though West Frankfort is not the biggest town in the area, it is one of the busiest, being still important as a shopping center. Its streets are filled with cars, indicating that business is good.

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of red-letter days Probably our most satisfying entertainment was “homemade.” Many potential actors and actresses proved themselves in the fine plays presented this past school year—the Junior and Senior Class plays, Boy Wanted and Arsenic and Old lMce} and the speech plays, Death Takes a Holiday and Molly Morgan. The chorus presented a program of seasonal music at Christmas time, and both the band and the chorus presented a Spring Concert. The band and the Pep Band provided music for games and for pep sessions. Special assemblies, such as the one honoring Bob Brown, were conducted by students. Variety shows were presented by the Freshman and Sophomore Classes. Although the entertainment provided by these students did not always have the finish of the professional programs, the student vote indicated that they were enjoyed the most. Student Body President John Paul Davis ably presided at all school assemblies, lyceum programs, and pep sessions. During the Christmas season, the Vocal Music Department presented a special program. Holding flickering candles and softly singing a carol, the Madrigal singers entered the darkened auditorium. Shown are J. McHaney, J. Martin, B. Martin, C. Jent, and J. Delop. As our Homecoming Queen, her court, and 1450 spectators watched in silence, Joe David McHaney performed, to the music of the band, a breath-taking orbital twirl with his flaming baton. 9