Millbury Memorial High School - Aftermath Yearbook (Millbury, MA)

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GE: rophec Y By AuDREY GORDON I am in Hollywood at last. Maybe it has taken ten years for me to reach this glamorous town, but I am here now, and nothing else matters. I alighted from the train, checked my bag- gage, and looked for a hotel. The sun beat on my unprotected head as I walked down the hot street. Suddenly everything was blank. When I regained consciousness, I was lying on a cot in the police station. Looking around the room, I saw a handsome man in a policeman’s uniform. I recognized him to be Pete Devoe —“Oh, how wonderful to meet an old friend,” I screamed. He sat beside me, and we enjoyed ourselves, reminiscing about our days at Mill- bury High School. Suddenly the door opened, and an angry- looking woman fairly flew in the room, shak- ing her finger all the while, and screeching, “Mr. Peter Devoe—so this is the extra police duty you ’phoned about. I might have known. If my good friend, Amelia Jacques, hadn’t seen you from her beauty parlor window, carrying this creature in your arms into the station, I might still be home with our poor little chil- dren, thinking you were a faithful man—you worm.” Pete calmly introduced me to his wife who was none other than Jacqueline Daley. After she quieted down, he explained the situ- ation to her. She apologized very sweetly and invited me to her home for dinner. I was com- pelled to decline her invitation because my main object in coming to Hollywood was to attend a houseparty given by my good friend, Mae Gibson. Mae’s name had changed now that she had entered matrimonial bliss with producer John Caron. On the night of Mae’s party, I stepped out of the taxi, handed my wraps to one of the many waiting maids, greeted the hostess, and went into the large hall where the rest of the guests were assembled. I didn’t anticipate meeting anyone I knew; therefore, I was quite surprised to see Annie O’Brien in a flowered sarong, sur- rounded by an admiring group of men. In- quiring, I learned that Annie is now known as Annie Lamour O’Brien. I wandered with the rest of the crowd to the punch-bowl. There was Joseph Credit, now owner of the fashionable club called ‘The Millbury Social,’ after his home town, lending his own note of vitality and enthusiasm to the party by adding a touch of this and a touch of that to the punch to flavor it. The first to sample Joe’s new concoction was the very dar- ing Richard Larson. Richard had reached fame as a great flyer. The orchestra, led by Alice Jannery, played “Beat Me Mama With a Boogie Whip.” Mem- bers of the orchestra were Doris Daley, the drummer, June Letendre, playing the base fiddle, Lorraine Morin with her saxophone, and last, but not least, Beatrice Young, the Swingiest trumpeter in Hollywood. A very handsome gentleman to whom I was introduced asked me to dance. His name was Duke William McArdle. Billy told me the way in which he had gained his title; during World War II he had met a wealthy English duchess who was a widow with fifteen children. Billy, who always loved children, married the duchess. The next time, I danced with Doctor Robert Sharon. I tried to obtain some advice about my many ailments, but I soon gave up when I found out he was only a horse doctor. In one corner of the room, a large group of girls was crowded about a man whom I couldn’t quite distinguish. I learned later that the man in question was Tommy Donnelly, Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. Tom was a professional woman-hater; the only girl he had any use for was his secretary, Frances Sutcliffe. As the floor show had started, we all tried to find seats. The first act was a very compli- cated dance done by Helen Capistron, her part- ner John Carlson, and the chorus, led by Caro- lina Pescheta. The chorus girls were Esther Pickett, Doris Figgins, Irene Gauthier, and Gloria Quarelli; they were known everywhere for their beauty and talent. Next on the pro- gram were Elizabeth Rice and her partner, Edsel Ross, in a beautiful ballet dance. Off stage they were a happily married couple living in a vine-covered cottage. Joe Zykoski and Frederick Burak were the funny men, but their act didn’t go off so smoothly because of the quarrel they had over the hand of Gladys John- son, the blues singer in the show. The pro- gram ended with a woman’s boxing and wres- tling match. It was not a surprise for me to learn that Evangeline Barrette was the cham- 12

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Sree OU Ret talsss | eQuha Mary Budreau was an assistant editor on the Reflector staff and Glenn Johnson continued to be assistant editor of the Reflectorette. With the coming of the football season the juniors were well represented when Joseph Credit, John Caron, William McArdle, Wil- liam Howard, Walter Mains, Robert Sharon, and Louis Hoyle reported for action. In December, Coach Lacouture issued a call for basketball candidates and those who re- sponded were Captain William Howard, James Hayes, William McArdle, and Louis Hoyle. On the girls’ team were Evangeline Barrette, Pauline Lacouture, Therese Ekstrom, and Betty Harootunian. The team enjoyed a successful season since it lost only one game. Also in December, a play called ‘‘The Green Light’ was given for the benefit of the Ath- letic Association. Mary Carter, Frances Sut- cliffe, and Evangeline Barrette from our class were members of the cast. Our next meeting was called in May, at which time we elected committees for our own Junior Prom. Joseph Credit, who was elected chairman of the decorating committee, decided on an Arctic scene which proved most attrac- tive. James Hayes was chairman of the music committee and Mary Budreau was chairman of the refreshment committee. Alice Jannery was chairman of the invitation committee. This prom, which was a great success, was our tribute to the seniors who were leaving. We then turned our thoughts to our vacation which would be our last summer vacation while at- tending Millbury High School. The summer weeks passed all too quickly and when we returned to school we were seniors. We were definitely upperclassmen, but as far as behavior was concerned, we might as well have been freshmen. Our first meeting was called to elect class officers to guide us through this, our most im- portant year. William Howard and James Hayes were again elected President and Vice- President, respectively,—positions which they held for four years. Walter Mains was elected Secretary and Stanley Grandone, Treasurer. As usual we held our share of offices in the various clubs. In the Dramatic Club Joseph Credit was President, Mae Gibson, Secretary, and William McArdle, Treasurer. Officers of the French Club were President, Stanley Gran- 11 done; Secretary, Pauline Lacouture; and Treas- urer, Therese Ekstrom. Faythe Remick was President and Ellen Norton, Vice-President of the Biology Club. Glenn Johnson was Editor- in-Chief of the Reflectorette and Mary Budreau was Editor of the Reflector. In November a meeting was called for the purpose of electing a picture committee. Those chosen were Joseph Credit, chairman, Anita Douville, Yvette Lange, Betty Harootunian, and William McArdle. They selected the J. Carroll Brown studio. In January another meeting was called to select a D. A. R. representative. Therese Ek- strom was chosen as our representative on the basis of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Mr. Beaton, at our next meeting, announced the honors for the highest averages in school work. The four top-ranking students will speak at graduation. They are Mary Budreau, Valedictorian; Louis Hoyle, Salutatorian; The- rese Ekstrom, First Honor Student; and Mary Carter, Second Honor Student. From this time on we were very busy, mak- ing arrangements for the printing of our year- book and the taking of pictures, and electing our Class Day speakers. Joseph Credit was chosen Editor-in-Chief of the Aftermath. His assistants were Therese Ekstrom and Mary Carter. Alice Jannery was elected chairman of the advertising committee. Those elected to write the extra-curricular ac- tivities were Pauline Lacouture, Ellen Hamil- ton, Lorraine Morin, Margaret Murray, Arthur Poirier, Helen Capistron, Betty Harootunian, William Howard, William McArdle, and Irene Douville. The Class Day speakers were Audrey Gor- don, Prophet; Frederick Burak, Giver of Gifts ; Vincent Vayo, Testator; Helen Stockhaus, Stat- istician; Peter Devoe, Omissions and Correc- tions; and Margaret Gauvin, Historian. Alice Jannery and James Hayes were selected to write the class song. During the last few months we have been so busy trying to put everything in its place, that we did not realize the sadness that would come over us as we left Millbury High School. We shall do our best, however, to remember the lessons we have been taught and to live accord- ing to our motto: “Upward and Onward.”

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GAEATS Sumer ha Palit bs, Gy yg pion boxer, for she was always athletic; her op- ponent was Pauline Lacouture. Those partici- pating in the wrestling match were June Mur- ray, commonly called the ‘Purple Streak,” and Betty Harootunian, who was billed as ‘Betty the Bouncer.” The lights were dimmed again, and general dancing was resumed. I was feeling tired so I sat down to watch. Faythe Remick kept the stag line in a turmoil during the entire evening. She had just divorced her fifth husband and was looking for a sixth. It didn’t seem as if she would have much difficulty finding him. There was considerable commotion when Rita Carney and Lillian Gullberg came to the party in slacks. They both were ace mechanics during the war, and when it ended, they just couldn’t go back to wearing dresses. I overheard a conversation between two so- ciety women, Annette Cournoyer and Doris Taylor. Putting two and two together, I gath- ered that Louie Hoyle, usually called ‘'Tommy Manville, the Second,’ had just eloped with a famous actress, Barbara Blanchard. This elope- ment made the tenth trip to the altar for Louie. A naval officer was at the party with his wife. I recognized his wife to be Jean Burgess, but I couldn’t quite get his name—it was either War- ren or Chuck or something like that. Many of the girls were at the party for one purpose. James Hayes, celebrated talent scout, who was known to be a connoisseur of femi- nine pulchritude, was there to choose some girls for his producer, Lincoln Bordeaux. It was a well-known fact that Jimmie thought blondes were intriguing, so most of the girls, with the aid of a little peroxide, had golden tresses. Among the candidates were Tefter Boria, Eve- lyn Carlson, Therese Ekstrom, and Margaret Gauvin. The party was going along very smoothly when suddenly a loud blast shook the house and smoke began to fill the room. Flames leaped up and in no time the house was blaz- ing. All the people had been safely evacuated and the building nearly burned to the ground, when the fire engine came clanging down the street. The reason that the firemen arrived so late was obvious when I saw Richard Platts was the fire chief. Some of the people were over- come by the fumes of smoke, so a doctor was 13 called. When he arrived, accompanied by his nurse, I recognized Walter Mains and his nurse, Mary Carter. When I inquired concern- ing the origin of the fire, I learned it was caused by one of the guests, Ellen Norton, who was showing some innocent by-standers how to blow glass with just the aid of a small fire and a glass tube. Growing weary of the excitement, I called a taxi. The night was just full of surprises for the taxicab driver was Thomas Pickett. I ar- rived at the hotel after a breath-taking ride dur- ing which Thomas ignored every stop signal, careened around corners with abandon, talking all the while in a learned fashion about Shake- spearian drama. I noticed a group of newspaper men and women in the lobby of the hotel. Recognizing one of the reporters to be Margaret Murray, I asked her what was going on. She told me that she was waiting to get a picture of the Mayor of Hollywood and his wife who were stopping at the hotel. She didn’t have time to say any more because the mayor and his wife were descending the stairs. Whom should they be but Vincent Vayo and Helen Stockhaus. The next morning I boarded a train for the East. There were a number of people traveling that morning, but I didn’t expect to meet any- one I knew. Sitting across from me were a man and woman with their three children. After scrutinizing them carefully, I recognized the woman to be Anita Douville and the man, her husband, Zip. I spoke to them and we talked until they got off at the next station. I learned that Anita’s sister, Irene Douville, had joined the WAAC during the war and had married Major-General Glenn Johnson. I was about to lie back in my chair when I noticed the headlines of the newspaper. ‘“‘Ar- thur Poirier Elected President of the United States.” His picture was in the paper with that of his wife who proved to be our own Mary Budreau. Those losing the election for presi- dency were Robert White and Ernest Maynard ; both were important figures in political life. Arthur being very good-hearted, had remem- bered some of his old friends when picking his cabinet. Lorraine Vaillancourt was chosen Secretary of the Navy because of her experi- ence in the WAVES during the war; Alan