Gloucester City High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Gloucester City, NJ)

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The circus has gone! The lot, where a few hours ago gayety and color reigned, is now deserted. Wind stirs the trampled grass and muddy ground, tossing about the empty popcorn bags and sending swirls of sawdust and confetti into the breeze. Our eyes pick out a shred of paper that drifts our way and we can glimpse a few words -- “Big Show -- “Class of ’53 — 4 Rings of Stupendous Action” Those few words recall to our memory all the wonderful acts that occurred during their four seasons. Managed by Jerry Mason for all four years, the show moved to the lot at Cumberland and Joy Streets for the first time in ’49 and began pounding stakes and hoisting the canvas for its first performance. Amid showers of balloons and confetti, their first production, the “Rainbow Hop brought them fame. After a brief rehearsal during vacation, the troupe hit the road for its second tour. Their experience was proved by their beautiful spangled and glittered spectacle, “The Carrousel Hop. Then their Senior unit left for Washington and the young Soph performers presented them with going-away flowers. The cast of stars and clowns gave a final performance featuring “First Aid,” then retired for summer practice. . A few last minute brush-ups and finishing touches and the Junior stars returned for their third stand Audiences watched with new interest and curiosity as the athletes and artists went through their new' itinerary of stunts and tricks. Their most super-spectacular pageant, the Junior Prom, was presented featuring as its theme “A Tropical Cruise. It was very popular with the audience and the Juniors were really reaching their rightful claim to renown. Before this amazing achievement, a salute to the football heroes, “Touchdown Turnout” was expertly executed. A colossal presentation of “My Friend Irma” by skillful performers and a variety show completed their third year, and audiences watched with dismay as they temporarily left the lot -- but reassured at the thought of their return the next season. The blare of brass and cheers of hundreds welcomed the Stupendous Seniors as they entered the ring; for the fourth time. For their initial act they paraded their thespian skill in a peerless performance ofS “The Great Big Doorstep. Following this, they celebrated their success at a party honoring the cast andN committees. Their next astounding activity was the Snow Flake Frolic,” where everyone danced and admired the tinseled and silvered display. After another dance and their own tour of Washington, the iason whizzed by and the troupe began folding the bleachers and lowering the tent poles for their de- parture. But before they left, as a colossal climax, they awarded their skills and abilities to an up-and- coming new group. At last everything was packed up and they boarded the circus train -- never to return to the old lot for they had graduated to “the big time.” I guess we’d better hurry and catch the train, too. It has carried us through four highly successful seasons, and now at last, it has brought us to the Big Top. Memories will live forever of our success at the old lot at Cumberland and Joy but our performances are not over, our performers are not finished. We are going on to greater things in a more spectacular, more stupendous, astounding and colossal show. Motto: The seeker of knowledge is the one who succeeds. Prophecy As we take our seats under the Big Top to wait for the show to begin, we are greeted by a smiling popcorn in, JAMES MeAl.LISTER. We no sooner are seated when the band hegins to play, and we notice that the leader of the band is none other than the great banjo player, RICHARD VERFAILLE. We notice, too, some other people that we know in this great band of renown, HARRY COOK, JAMES ACKROYD, and HARRIET SPEVACK. rhe Ring Master is taking his place in the center ring to start the show. To our amazement it is JAMES DEMORE. A Meanwhile, the clowns are, as usual, really clowning” around. Under the make-up we notice a fain? b semblance of our beloved classmates, WILLIAM FRITZ, KARL RADLINGER, DONALD LETZGUS, and THOMAS LYNCH. Also in clown’s corner, we see a different type of clown. It is two female clowns KAY WARREN and ALICE PELLIGR1NO. The Ring Master is ready to start the show. Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a pleasure to have you all her ' with us. and on the behalf of BROCK WAY, (EDWARD), BAKELY, (GEORGE), and JAMIESON, (NEIL), I want to welcome you. 30.

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“Now to get right on with the show. You see high above you JOE CLUNE and MUGGIE PINE, whom you know as the greatest aerialists in the world today. This is a great day for them, too, because they were just married. “On the side arena at the far end, you see JANET SMITH, the flea trainer, and her brilliant team of fleas. The handsome man with her is her able-bodied helper, ROBERT MACDERMOTT. “Now if you will turn your attention to the far ring, you will see “RICHARD (FUSE) THE GREAT and his magnificant herd of lions. While we are trying to keep up with the Ring Master in his introductions of the acts, we also take notice to a group of helpers working here.' Keeping the swing going back and forth for the aerialists, we find RAYMOND DRUMMOND at the end of the rope. Trying to keep the fleas in their little boxes are ELEANOR TAN1ER, MARTHA SWEETEN, and BARBARA STUBBS, also our '53 classmates. At the other end, we see an expen cage keeper in our midst, HAROLD THOMASSON. The Ring Master is in the process of introducing the main ring now. “-----------and these people have traveled all around the world with their act. It is the most spectacular job of horseback riding that the world has ever seen. They have appeared in the latest movie of “Senior Days,” starring ARLENE KANDLE and JOHN MASIKO. They are none other than the Arena Troupe.” This is certainly a day for seeing old buddies, for, as far back as I can remember, this troupe was started in the halls of G.H.S. They are our classmates, AILEEN EPPLEMAN, CAROL MATTHEWS, JOANNA WIL- SON, JANIS SCHUETZ, KATHERINE SCHRADER, MARY ELLEN SETTAR, JOAN STONE, ROSEMARY HENLINE, PRISCILLA KOYKKA, and ARLENE GUMTOW. Here comes the ice cream man now. My, he looks familiar! He should, though, for he is JOSEPH FARRELL. We just happened to glance at the main box and saw the Governor of New Jersey, CHARLES SHILLINGER, and his secretary, BERTHA DICK. Sitting next to him is the dean of schools in New Jersey, JOHN JENKINS, and nis assistant, ADELAIDE SOOY. They seem to be taking notice to a group of people who is just entering from the back arena. “----and here is the Crochet family! They are taking their places, almost ready to begin their tight rope walking act. Let me introduce you to the entire family. The Mother and Father, NANCY QUINN and CH RLES RANKIN; the oldest daughter, WANDA HAGUE; the oldest son, JULIAN SUMMERELL; and, of course, the twins, SADIE WILLIAMSON and DOROTHY GOLDY; and last but not least in this happy family is Evvie, JANICE HORAN; and her little brother, HARRY PIERSON. We especially remember this family because they did such a sensational job for our class when they gave our Senior Play. We are all at once pushed half out of our seats by people trying to get to their places in the stands. Are we ever surprised to see the famous portrait painter of President JERRY MASON, our own PAT HENNEBERGER and her colleague, JOSEPH ATKINSON! With them is All-American quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, JOHN REIDER, and his team mate. STEVE SHIMKUS, and their coach, ROBERT LEYMAN. “We have with us today in our audience a great baseball player that everybody knows, the New York Giants’ pride, third baseman, DONALD HIRST, and also his rival second baseman from the Brooklyn Dodgers, WILLIAM ALDRIDGE. Now we have a final announcement to make before the next act begins. EMIL BAEHR has just defeated Willy Lump Lump for the heavy weight boxing title! “We are very proud to present to you at this time a couple who is making their first appearance here to- night. They were discovered by BETTE CRABTREE, famous TV star, and here they are to dance for you-- GLORIA SCHNELL and DAVID AUGUSTINE. “We have our very own ROSEMARIE RANDOLPH and her group of baton twirlers doing their own version of modern twirling. Of course you have heard of these girls, FRANCES WHITE, and VIRGINIA MOON. While these girls are performing their fine act, we see another group of clowns, ANNA ASHE, JACKIE STOUT, ApNES PREPSEL, and DORIS MACULLAR, trying to out-do them without much success. Really having a good time laughing at these clowns, is a young lady who Just made her appearance in the society world and her swank multi-millionaire boyfriend, ANNAMAE AMBERGER and JAMES O’DONALD. With Annamae is her long time friend, BARBARA BAILEY and her beau, HARRY DICK. After talking to the president of G.H.S. Bakery Shop, JANE SEEHAFER, we discovered that DOROTHY KRAFT has made the International Basketball Team, and that YVONNE MARTIN made the All-American Hockey Team. She also told us that ANDREW WALINSKI owns his men’s store in New York City. “----and for our final act, we are presenting for your enjoyment the elephant show that has just come from a recent tour of Africa. The beautiful bareback riders are DELORES GIEB, MARIE ALEX, CAROLINE BOOTH. HAZEL LUDWICK, and BETTY BRYANT. And so as the show comes to an end, we are not forgetting that we have seen all of our friends and fellow classmates of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-three. We are also including in the class the wealthy inheritance triplets, RICHARD McCONNEL, HOWARD PRINCE, and JOHN REINKE. Although we did not get to talk to them about the good times and the unforgettable years that we spent and enjoyed at Gloucester City High School in the fair city of Gloucester City and state of New Jersey, we know that they remember them with great pride.