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

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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

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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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CRASS: Sap ps0 PELE Gay, Smith, Secretary of Agriculture and Shirley Du- charme, Secretary of State. Relaxing in my chair I noticed a minister sitting across the aisle. He was a vety pious- looking gentleman who proved to be my old classmate, Roy Ludvigson. He glanced in a disdainful way at a bride and bridegroom who were sitting across from him. The pretty bride was the former Yvette Lange and her husband William Howard. They had been married be- fore and divorced and now remarried. The conductor, Donald Wilmot, had a dif- ficult time trying to get two ladies to put their dogs in the baggage car. They couldn’t see any “earthly reason why the pets cannot stay right here in the chair car, as they certainly aren't bothering anyone.” They were Helen Hamilton and Florence Horne, teachers at the Millbury High School, who had been vacation- ing in California. Finally the stronger of the minds won out, and Donald wearily walked away. Playboy Stanley Grandone, who had in- herited the Grandone millions, was also on the train, making a great deal of noise and disturb- ing other passengers. He had with him three beautiful girls dressed in mink and flashing many diamonds. In spite of all their glamor, I recognized Gloria Fairbanks, Barbara Nelson, and Katherine Tranter. The second conductor, Frank McLaughlin, more stern than the first, soon had them calmed and under control. At last everything was quiet except for the whistling of the train and the answering rever- berations from the hills. The echoes were the memories of my classmates from Millbury High School. Rejoicing in the thought that the years had brought them happiness and success, I re- clined in my chair and mused about the “old days” at Millbury High. Address of Welome Parents, Teachers, Classmates, and Friends: It is with great pleasure that the class of nineteen hundred forty-three wel- comes you to our Class Day Exercises. In the future we shall probably have few Opportunities to assemble as a group; therefore, this day has been set aside for us to recall some of the experiences, activities, and joys that have made our four years at Millbury High School years we shall never forget. We realize that this day would not have been possible without the sacrifices of our parents, who have given up many comforts to make our high school life happy and rewarding. To our parents, we offer our most sincere and grateful appreciation. We wish, also, to thank the members of the faculty for their unselfish work in preparing us for the future. Their constructive guidance has been felt not only by our class, but by those who have preceded us, and we know it will be acknowledged by the classes of the future. With these thoughts in mind, I extend to you the cordial invitation of the class of nineteen hundred forty-three to join with us in our Class Day Exercises. 14