Lafayette Junior High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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Two Scene: From the Chrixtmas Play

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PROGRAMS AND ASSEMBLIES In place of assemblies for the different grades which were given last term, Mrs. Smith devised a new system, that of the regular Friday Assembly for the whole school during period three. Community singing has been a popular feature of these assemblies. This made a pleasant break in the week's work and was much enjoyed by the students and faculty. During these assemblies, programs for special occasions were featured, such as the Armistice Day program, the Thrift program, the Thanksgiving play and many other interesting performances. A rally was given for the grand piano fund, and the proceeds from various moving picture shows given in our auditorium. usually on Friday evenings, went to the same fund. The great occasion of the term was the A9 Class Play. This time a beautiful Christmas story, lVhy The Chimes Rang, was chosen by Mrs. Thompson, who directed a splen- did performance. Most of you are familiar with the pupils taking part in the play, but I imagine that you couldnft recognize them in a life- time. lflfilfredo Murillo took the leading part as Holger. the peasant boy, and wasn't he an ideal actor? VVilliam Flachs- binder came through with flying colors as Steen, I-lolger's brother. The ample person known as Uncle Bertel was no other than that individual you all know as Mr. Ben Schwartz. If you hadn't seen the program you would never know who the old woman was. Perhaps if you heard her laugh you would know. for everyone knows Jennie Schuck's laugh. Jennie carried through splendidly. Didn't Kenneth McCoy look too dignified for words in those black Howing robes? Then came that perfectly splendid rich man who said, Make way for me, I'm a-coming. Albert Dubin did one hundred per cent in that part. As a courtier, Alex Kalionzes was very handsome and stately. He was sure he'd make the chimes ring! After the dashing courtier came the beautiful woman who said in actions plainer than words, Look 1ne over. This part was taken by Ethel VVinstein. Did you know we had such fine actors? The part of the scholar was played by Hyman Geier and a line scholar he made. It was quite a tedious job to stay all hunched up dur-

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ing the performance. As the lovely young girl, Lylia Carba- jal was too sweet for words. There was a bustle and a rustle and the king swept proudly in, turning out to be Manuel Fer- nandez. Did you get the Angel's message? Lillie johnson has appeared as an Angel several times before. The beautiful organ music was played by John Shackel- ford, and he did splendid work behind the curtain. Bessie Harold, Frances Wakamatsu, Celia Fishman, Marie Bezi, and Lillie Giraffia made up the choir. The organ was given to us for as long as we wanted through the courtesy of Mr. Scott Vlfilliamson of the Southern California Music Company. After hunting all through Los Angelesand vicinity, real chimes were finally secured for the play. VVhy the Chimes Rangf, was the most artistic and beauti- fully presented play at Lafayette for ever so long. The cos- tumes were very pretty and the lighting effect was marvelous. Besides the play there was a motion picture, Snow-XVhite,' and a beautiful orchestration, Around the Christmas Tree, in which Mary Harvey and Tillie Karish were featured in solo parts with Qeatrice Krantzman at the piano. 3 ,v The members of the faculty who did a large part to put the program over, are as follows: Mrs. Thompson, director-in- chief, Mrs. Smith, musical director, Mr. Ritchey, stage man- agerg Mr. Dutcher, printing, Miss Ritner, costume assistanceg and Mrs. McXVhirter, art director. The members of the A9 class who helped are as follows: Marion Breunle, Freda Coleman, and Juanita Braun of the costume committee, and Leon Levin, Dorothy Wfoodrow, and Aszerlea Pipkin of the advertising staff. Lucille VVonderle acted as prompter. Virgil junior High School as a friend in need, was a friend indeed. They, having given the play before, donated to us the use of all the costumes and scenery as a Christmas present. NVasn't it nice of them? That saved us, according to Mrs. Thompson, an amount equal to one hundred dollars. The program was given in two performances and after the matinee the A9's had their Class Party. Oh, what a day it was! -Ethel Winstein, A9.