Los Angeles High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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Administration This year with most of the world seemingly more interested in destruction than in construction and contribution, it was only fitting and proper that the theme of the Winter 1940 Semi-Annual be America's Contribution to World Progress. The numerous activities that have taken place this semester have, whenever possible, affiliated them- selves with that theme. During this past term, we were very fortunate in having assemblies that were both entertaining and educational. Dr. 'Claude A. Buss, well-known professor of sociology, was our first guest speaker this term. Dr. Buss, who spoke at the CSF honor assembly, enlighted the Student Body concerning the conditions that led to the European war. His lecture was entitl.ed, VVhy the War in Europe? Following Dr. Buss, John Hall, the Richfield reporter of the radio, entertained and informed us with an assembly in which he, with several of his co-workers, explained the mechanisms behind his radio program. Inaugurating an activity new to the school this term, the Student Body executives planned and presented on October fourth, Los Angeles High School's first football dance. This party was a great success, and probably similar affairs are to be held in future seasons. Gunga Din was the first motion picture presented this termg and its sparkling comedy and glorious adventure were met with wide approval. Late in October, Mr. Kenneth Strickfaden astounded the science and mathematics classes with a most amazing exhibition of the wonders of science. Preceding the annual Roman-Colonial gridiron battle which was held on November third, Frances Tappaan, former Los Angeles High football star and All- American college player, was presented at a football rally. Mr. Tappaan's encouraging words did much to bolster the spirit of the team and Student Body. November sixth marked the beginning of the Community Chest driveg and in aiding this cause, a movie short with Charlie McCarthy was shown to the entire school. Following the orchestras of Hal Kemp, Sterling Young, and Les Parker, which were presented in previous semesters, Jan Garber with his orchestra and entire revue rendered a program that proved to be one of the most popular of the year. All of the proceeds derived from this program were given to the Chest fund Our Armistice Day assembly was made memorable by the presence of Major R. E. Blight, who has spoken to the Student Body many times. On November eleventh he presented a preachment against war. Late in November, the Los Angeles High School Reserve Ofiicers, Training Corps was presented with the unit award which was won during the semester of Summer 1939. The award was pres.ented by Mr. J. L. Van Norman, president of the Los Angeles High School Alumni Society and vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce. The winning of this award was made noteworthy not only because of its national importance, but also because of the fact that, during fourteen years of competition, the Los Angeles High School Unit has won this great honor thirteen times. Since the first football dance was such a great success, a second dance was held on November sixteenth, the day preceding the football game with Venice High School. This dance upheld the fine precedent set by the first dance and substantiated its success by being just as popular. Preceding the Thanksgiving holidays, Rome's football team participated in the annual P.-T.A. Carnival. This football carnival marked the .end of a very successful Roman season, successful in that the Roman eleven, for the second consecutive time, succeeded in winning the Western League Championship. On November twenty-eighth, it was the privilege of the Senior classes to view a dance program presented by Miss Mignon Callish and her partner. Miss Callish is well-known throughout the city for her dancing, and this program held great appeal for the students. This year, again, a Senior play replaced the traditional vod. Leave it to Smith was presented on the 7th and 8th of December and was a marked success. The plot, the locale of which was a newspaper office, centered around Mr. Smith, who was a reporter, and the girl owner of the newspaper. On December fifteenth, Mr. Reilly donned his perennial costume of old Saint Nick and p11t the entire Student Body into a gay spirit for the festive holidays that followed. On the Christmas program were many beautiful musical numbers presented by the various musical organizations of the school. On January eleventh and twelfth, a third student talent show was pr.esented to the school. The Iineness of this revue proved the versatility of some of Rome's stars to be. As we look back over the semester. we see that most of the programs, in some way, remind us of America's contributions to the world. To express his mind freely was Dr. Buss's privilege only because America has contributed and stood for that ideal. To learn about the radio and to see a motion pictur.e should serve to remind us that these two boons to modern humanity are products largely of Americas inventive geniuses. And above all, we should be reminded that in using Los Angeles High School as our font of learning, we are taking advantage of one of America's greatest contributions, her system ofeducation. Effectiveness in administration is, most evidently, due to co-operationg it has been because of the harmonious co-operation between Faculty and students that this term has so successfully terminated. GEORGE EPSTEIN, business manager twenty-eight

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M MARSHALL PAXTON, Student Body president What has been America's contribution to world progress? What has our country done to further the advancement of civilization? No more challenging questions than these could be asked of us as young Americans. America ,as a nation among nations is youngg but with this newness comes a freshness of idea, method, and policy. Yes, our part in the advance- of civilization has been great, for we have contributed much in the fields of art, music, agriculture, natural resources, transportation, and invention. However, if we would but stop to think, we should discover that these are but minor steps toward our really momen- tous contributions to the progress of the world. Our first truly great contribution came with the landing of the first Pilgrim on our shores because he brought with him the ideal of two qualities almost unheard of in those times, namely, justice and liberty. He helped give the people of the world an example of a land where rich and poor were judged alike, and where every man was his own dictator. As a nation, we have given the world a feeling of peace and security, and set an example of a country governed by the rule of the greatest good for the greatest number. Our country is founded on the policy of union in a common defense for the general welfare of allg it is governed by and for the people in it. These conceptions of government are the reasons people in other lands work most of their lives to be able to seek the security offered by America. These policies become even more important when we realize that they are the backbone of our existenceg they are set up in the preamble of our constitution. They are the fundamentals by which we are ruled. Truly then, it can be said that the real contributions of America to world progress are our high ideals and our form of government, which is for the good of all. Let us as future citiz.ens and as loyal Americans fervently pray that ours will always be a land of the free and home of the brave. Sincerely, MARSHALL PAXTON thirty