Midwood High School - Epilog Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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We try to skip lightly over them, but somehow we can't forget a couple of unpleasant moments We freshmen faced. We recall that look of the frosh that somehow enveloped us, with the exception of a few lucky boys who were over six feet tall. We innocently searched for fifth floors, swimming pools, and terraces Cwhere seniors would be waiting with palm leaf fansj, especially when the Art Squad carefully painted signs with directions on them to help us along. We argued with Mr. O'Brien over purchased elevator passes which he refused to honor, and tearfully demanded our money back when our seats in the cafeteria were not as close to the ice-cream stand as the nice junior had promised. Running breathlessly from the gym to Room 402, we invariably found ourselves among the 467's. The low numbers were always on the other side! But, despite minor catastrophes, we passed Cmost of us, that isj into second termg still P.M.'ers, but at least knowing our way around. It was during the early part of the term that Jerry Lench asked if the plural of Argus was Argil', and in the same issue, Midmooder Bert Davis called the English Department the Chamber of Com- mas . Whether we thought they were funny or not, We laughed, mainly to keep warm, because it was in Feb. '43 that our oil ration was cut and we froze. True it was patriotic, but it was cold, too. The Block Captain System started. John Arents was the first visitor to the Museum of Science and Industry on its opening day, and around the same time a lost, three- year-old was found wandering about our cafeteria. In March, Lester Ritter became mayor, with the Blue Party on its fourth straight win. Hubba hadn't come into vogue yet, so the girls just drooled silently at Mayor Ritter. Pete Nelson was elected second term vice president, the start of a phenomenal career. Dr. Gramet started the Inter-Faith Club in April, and Bert Davis again came into the limelight with his interview of Uncle Don . A mild plague of German measles in May did not prevent the success of the Spring Concert in June. We came back in September, rested, peeling, and lower sophs. Mr. Dobren took on his job as faculty advisor of B71, and Barbara Negus took over the mayor's job. Former teacher Doctuh Bern- hard, a private stationed in Mississippi, wrote us a letter saying in part, God help Hitler and Tojo when our outfit gets started . A jeep drive headlined November, as well as a new lunchroom plan where the students themselves were to be guards. Agathon was organized, just as we were about to become A.M.'ers. The Argus's Question of the Month was the enlightening Would you subscribe to a Blind Date Bureau in Midwood, if one were organ- ized? Mr. Purcell's chess team began to enter competitive matches. 5

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ULASSUGHAPHY As we lean back in our seats at the graduation exer- cises, we take what seems to be the first breath in four years. Proudly conscious of caps and gowns, and careful not to crush same, we have a few minutes in which to think, and think hard. The past four years fthe average stay in high schoolj come back to ' us as clearly as if they were just happening. So, while a speaker on the platform impresses the future upon us, we take a peek into the past. We remember first how awe-struck we really were, when, with badly feigned non- chalance, we looked up at Mid- wood. Jotting September, 1942 in our mental notebooks as a date not to be forgotten, we entered the Flatbush White House, and subconsciously took the oath as citizens of the City of Midwood. The City was still young, just about to celebrate its first birth- day, and most of us were immediately swept into the excitement. Marvin Brant was finishing his term as mayor, and we eagerly awaited our first opportunity to vote. We learned about the party system, its weaknesses and strong points. In November, we elected Harvey Honig mayor. It was during that month too, that the first Student Court, with Bill Harshman as Chief justice, was organized. December saw the first faculty show, Watch on the Rhine , starring Mr. Hirsch. From that time on, we began to think much more of the faculty. And as an additional Christmas gift, the school voted 1267 to 352 to allow the girls to wear slacks to school. Once the females had won their point Qand pantsj, many of them naturally went back to skirts. The war effort was stressed during our freshman term. The Victory Corps got its name and the school went all out for the drives. Bob Levine donated blood, and Georgie Fruchtman asked for a with- drawal. 4

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. 2,0 7 L. 7 1, 3 6 s fg an 3 Vt . ' N 6 Q - 5, ' r 4 'ji N-if Ya Z QfZ C 4? To add to the Yuletide spirit, Mr. Cabot suggested that there be special language tables in the cafeteria. And, of course, there was the Variety Show with Buddy Block, Larry Appel, Jack Abrams, and Sandy Metlis fthe Gunty of '43j. Santa Claus Raskin and his little helpers sent Christmas kits to our boys in service. It was Jan. 1944 and the school was still frigid. In London, Mr. Murtha, then of the Navy, bumped into Mr. Zack, formerly of the English Dept. The spring term elections were high- lighted by the debate between Les Ritter and the Student Court. The Court decided that Alumnus Ritter couldn't handle Shelly Fein's campaign. On Tuesday, March ninth, the cafeteria served hot roast beef sandwiches. Bill Kolin's editorial, We Have the Right defended Argus policy in the March issue. Murray Chayt kept running for things. The rats in the bio lab were reported to have vitamin deficiencies. Midwood's second Carnival was held in May, complete with games, Variety Show, and carnival queen Riva Weintraub. Most popular booth was Ring the teacher's neck . We spent the summer of '44 at camp, sea- shore, or summer school, depending on the individual. In September, Dr. Gramet returned to Midwood. A second development was the formation of the first non-party election sys- tem. A terriiic hurricane almost, but not quite, closed the schools. Mr. Gabel, back from the war, threatened to pitch a pup-tent on the campus if someone didn't find him an apart- ment. And the lunchroom was so segregated! Gordon Clarke took over the mayor's desk. The band just missed marching in the Colum- bus Day Parade. Another Merry Christmas , with another Variety Show. Sandy Metlis M.C.'d with Gunty sneaking in for a few impersonations.