McKinley High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Cedar Rapids, IA)

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JANUARY CLASS PLAY The Night ot Jomuory l6th On December third, in the McKinley Audi- torium, the january graduating class of 1944 presented one of the most unique plays ever to he given on our stage. Not only were several of the actors called out from the audience, but also the jury, which was composed of different members of the audience, was brought to the jury box directly from the audience, adding to the extraordinary character of the play. The play centered around a three day court trial. The defendant was Karon Andre, played by Ortha Berger, who was being tried for the murder of her employer, James Folkner. Matching wits and words against her lawyer, played by Ray Scholl, was the district attorney, played by Bill Minshall, who supported Mrs. Folkner fBernadine Frameb and her father Twenty-eight CBoh Lesterj in their belief that james Folkner was murdered by Miss Andre and had not committed suicide. Suspense and daring were the keynotes of the case, with stirring evidence being brought in unexpectedly by a one time gangster who was in love with Miss Andre. Through the evidence given by this man, played by Gaylord DeVaul, the jury acquitted Karen Andre, to the disappointment of the judge, played by Gerald Mollman. Others in the play were Helen Wilson, Benny Pinsky, Sarah Johnson, Audrey Paulson, Bill Lewellen, George Cavros, Janet Lehman, Charles Briggs, Ellen Bacher, Nick Thomas. Helen Navratil, Lucille Tomkins, and Bettilou Pycha.

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ACTIVITY COUNCIL Top Row, left to right: N. lfotion, D. Anderson, fl. Xofal. R. Sorenson. Xl. Strang, I. Rlcl.ain, I Schaher, N. Thomas. M. linllard, 0. Gorsch, R. Sefllacek. C. Thousand, R. Haddy, E. Hidrler. Middle Row. left to right: A. XYall, E. Zahorik, I. Schaher, M. Miller, J. Delloss, V. Ahodeely, D. Tappen, R. Jun, M. Rys, XV. Sorenson, R, Milligan, H. Retz, R. Crawford, L. Dutton. R. Pierce. Bottom Row, left to right: P. Yarra, B. Fries, l.. Anderson, iii. Unzeitig, B. Frederickson, D. Fry, M. Condon. V. England, F. Blum, P. Donald, E. Smith, M. Parks. Activity Council Under the supervision of its officers and fac- ulty members, the fall semester of the Activity Council did many worthwhile things. Its offi- cers consisted of: President, Nick Thomas, Vice-President, Dick Marshall, Secretary, Roy Sorenson, Treasurer, Patty Lou Donald. The first major business of the council was the sell- ing of activity tickets. This was done very successfully, The fall Mixer called The Gym Door Canteenf' was both a social and a finan- cial success. An outstanding feature of this mixer was its excellent. all school talent floor show. The noon game system, in which the different Guidance groups competed against each other in sports, met with enthusiastic sup- port. Shortly after the spring semester started, a new Council was elected. Its officers consisted of: President, Dorothea Fry, Vice-President, Roy Sorenson, Secretary, Lois Anderson, Treasurer, Art Wall. The first real undertak- ing of the Council was the spring Mixer, a hard times party. This Mixer was one of great versatility, as every kind of dancing was done, from modern 'LBoogie to old-fashioned square dancing. Many educational lyceum as- semblies were held. Credit should be given to the courtesy desk committees, who did their work capably. Twenty-seven

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JUNE CLASS PLAY Every Fomily Hos One On the evening of April 28, 1944, the June graduates, under the capable direction of Mrs. Walter Estby, presented a comedy in three acts: 'tEvery Family Has One,', by George Batson. The story of the play concerns a typical American family, the Reardons, and their prob- lems. The social-climbing mother, Laura, played by Eileen Smith, tries her best to ele- vate her family to the upper set of society. She manages to get her daughter, Marcia, played by Frances Marshall, engaged to wealthy Sherwin Parker, played by Harry Retz. The whole Reardon family has to re-organize their way of living in order to give a good im- pression to Mr. and Mrs. Parker, enacted by Marilyn Parks and jim Westcot. When the Parkers come to visit, the Rear- don's wise-cracking grandmother, played by Patty Donald, takes matters into her own hands. She manages to throw a monkey wrench into Laurals plans by bringing to their home a certain cousin Lily, played by Roth Coates, who joins Nana's conspiracy, and convinces the Parkers that the whole Reardon family is insane. The Parkers leave hastilyg Warry Reardon, the young son, played by David Warren, falls in love with Lily, Marcia is free to marry the man she really loves, Todd Galloway, played by Jim McNamara, devilish Penelope, Marcia's younger sister, played by Dorothea Fry, con- tentedly returns to her sling-shot and piano, Reginald, Laura's easy going husband, played by Milton Chase, happily puts on his grease- stained overalls and becomes his old self again, and Essie, the disgusted maid, played by Nadine Thompson, is delighted to see the family re- turn to normal after the strain she went through, trying to properly impress the Parkers with finger bowls and crepe suzettes. In spite of measles, mumps, and scarlet fever threatening the cast at the last minute, the final production was given successfully. The student body wishes to thank Mrs. Estby for the ad- mirable direction shown in both of the year's Senior Plays, and also the student teachers from Coe, who did a fine job. Twenty-nine