Maynard High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Maynard, MA)

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18 THE SCREECH OWL before supper and stay for breakfast — I would suggest a combination of two of the above types. For example combine number one, the Stale Joke Bore and number three, the Sportsman Bore. In between the lies about the size of the fish, you can slip a few of Joe Miller’s favorites. In the case of a mother-in-law who can out-talk you, as is usually the case, so that you can not get a word in edgewise, I would suggest the use of dynamite, or just grin and bear it. — William Higgins, ’37. MAY What month among the ten and two Do you my friend, prefer? May is the month, I’d answer you, My favorite month — yes, sir! Then winter’s exit is complete, Summer will soon enter. And Spring is leaping high to greet Reawakened Nature. The soothing warmth, the fragrant flowers, The long day’s cheerful sun Encircle May’s delightful hours Envigor every one. But most of all, it’s set apart In honor, love to Mother, Which makes it dearer to the heart Far more than any other. Mother, pure love, precious themes That flowers sweet portray, A tribute that all Nature deems Belongs alone to May. — Katherine Sheridan, ’38. SPRING Queen of the seasons to me is spring, When buds begin to open, and every- thing Takes on added life and starts to bloom In defiance of winter’s icy gloom. The violet shyly lifts her head high, To gaze serenely at the bright azure sky. A herald of summer, she is welcomed by all As a symbol of freedom from cold winter’s pall. — Helmi S. Tikkanen, ’37. THE MOVIE VERSION OF MacBETH Cast of Characters Macbeth Ronald Colman Lady Mahbeth .... Katherine Hepburn Macduff Gary Cooper Lady Macduff Constance Bennett Banquo Franchot Tens Duncan Sir Guy Standing Malcolm Richard Cromwell Hecate Myrna Loy Witches First Second Third Drunken Porter.. .Charles Butterworth Since the first shots of the screen version of Macbeth, that great Shakes- pearean tragedy, are to be made in a few weeks, I have succeeded in leasing a large section of the Paramount lot in Hollywood, California. I have bor- rowed the above stars from other movie companies, and I am about ready to begin. I have already sent a group of cameramen to Scotland to take pictures of scenery and old castles, from which will be selected the most suitable set- tings for use in the picture. For the indoor scenes, work has already begun on an elaborate Scottish castle which is to be an exact replica of one photo- graphed by my men in Scotland. Right now I have a staff of fifty men and women who specialize in costuming, rummaging in museums and making drawings of armor, weapons, and all articles of clothing worn by the people of Macbeth’s time. Although I have not yet selected the characters to portray the three witches, I propose to open an extensive “Search for Ugliness” contest which will surely uncover some very interesting per-

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THE SCREECH OWL 17 would be one whom I had known for a long time, whose ways and likes and dislikes were very familiar to me and similar to my own. I should prefer that she be not too much on the “talkative side,” for there is nothing more boring than a person who babbles incessantly about nothing, especially en route. I should want to know her well enough so that I could feel that I was not being rude if I did not keep up a steady flow of conversation; and, at the same time, I would like her to feel thoroughly at ease with me and be free to do and say what she pleased. I would want my girl friend to be the kind who could adapt herself to any situation; that is, if we were forced to stop at a farmhouse, when a good hotel would have been more to her liking, I would want her to accept the situation gracefully, and not keep both of us up all night complaining about the hard bed and the stuffy atmosphere. Travel- ing is very often “roughing it” and I should want my friend to be able to do this uncomplainingly. Lastly, if I could travel as I really would like it, I should wish to drive the car the entire journey. If my girl companion had a license, plus a keen urge to propel the vehicle, I should most certainly allow her to do this; but I must admit it would be with the greatest distress and mental sufferings. W hen a person is beside the driver, rather than in the driver’s seat, there is ample time and thought for criticizing and review- ing the defic iencies of one who is probably a better driver than you are or ever will be. Such are my views on “Traveling — As I like It.” If you think I ask too much, keep in mind that this dream will probably never be fulfilled and one might just as well ask for a lot, when he is quite sure of getting nothing. — Barbara Jordan, ’36. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE Bang! goes the gong of Major Bowes. The aim of this program is to procure Work for the striving amateur, Bringing to the eyes of all the world The genius of American boys and girls. May those who employ him never shirk To let him continue his noble work, And in the future, with prideful tone, We’ll be able to say to babes of our own, When we repeat lurid tales of famous heroes, That we lived in the Age of Major Bowes! — William Murphy, ’38. HOW TO BE A BORE To me, the most unwelcome person at any social gathering is a bore. He is as welcome as a coffee drinker at an afternoon tea. A bore, generally speak- ing, is a person continually making him- self conspicuous. Although detestable individuals they are found in great numbers in all branches of society. There are many different kinds of bores as there are different kinds of everything. First is the Stale Joke Teller, probably the most common of all bores. Number two is the Hobby Bore. This type insists on talking incessantly on his hobby, which in most cases does not interest the listener in the least. Then there is the Sportsman Bore, much like number two, the fellow who taks and talks of the fish or game which he caught or which got away, as the case may be. And we can not forget number four the Operation Bore. This type is quite popular, or rather I should say unpopular, among women in society. A woman has a slight operation and from the way she talks about it for months afterwards, you would think she had appendicitis, gall stones, and concussion of the brain all rolled into one. And of course there is number five, the After-Vacation Bore, the friend who drops in, having just returned from his vacation, and insists on giving you a detailed descrip- tion of the sights. If you really want to bore someone to death — for instance, your wife’s family who are making a short visit which might last a couple of years, or some friends who insist on dropping in

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THE SCREECH OWL 19 sonalities, as well as being a very good publicity stunt to establish an interest in my picture. Until I have chosen the witches, I shall work around them, a proceedure which can be carried out with very little difficulty. The scene in which Macbeth sees a knife in the air had me puzzled for a while. I finally came to the conclusion that the only way to do it is to have the dagger suspended by thread, and play on it a weird green or red light , which ought to be effective against the inky blackness of the background. By making a double exposure, I shall be able to show Banquo’s ghost walking into the dining hall. The double- exposure trick will make him look transparent. Although this scene has been done on the stage with no ghost at all, I think it will be more realistic if it is played in the way outlined above. The apparitions seen by Macbeth in the witches’ cave can be produced easily. As they appear against a black background, I shall have a green or red light played on their heads, with the rest of the body concealed. So far as the actors are concerned, one never knows until production is started whether they are entirely suit- able or not. It may be that they lack certain traits necessary to a correct portrayal of their respective parts, and if it becomes necessary to change them, I shall do so without hesitation. As for the financial side of the undertaking, I am being backed by seven influential and very well-to-do gentlemen who would rather not have their names made public but who fully realize the wonderful opportunity for increasing their fortunes, an op- portunity which is present in such an investment as this colossal production as “Macbeth” is bound to be. — William Brindley, ’36.