Oakmont High School - Periscope Yearbook (Oakmont, PA)

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A Senior Reminisces What's that? Oh, you want me to tell you about my high school days? All right, son. That was a long time ago, but since you are about to enter high school, I'll try to remember some of the highlights of my four-year career at old O. H. S. It was way back in 1938, long before you were born, when a group of small, frightened masses of protoplasm that was to be the class of '42 entered upon the richest four years of their lives. Many of that class are dead, others are in unknown places, but a few I have been able to keep track of. For instance, several are now very successful. Tom Hill is first trumpet in the NBC Symphony Orchestra: Sammy Antoon has his own band: Eddy Flowers coaches football at Fordham: I. Donaldson has an important government position: most of the girls are hap- pily marriecl--in fact, you know some of their offspring, such as Ioe Luciana, Ir.-Ioe Sr. married one of the best girls in the class. There are some that are not so successful: Al Gunn is a hermit somewhere in the Tennessee hills. He renounced society as a whole and tries to shoot anyone who comes near him. But let's get back to my story. One thing that made high school so enioyable for me was my music activities. I started playing the clar- inet in both the band and the orchestra when I was a sophomore. Our director, Mr. Wagen- seil, has become very famous--he is the director of the Marine Band and has written several very famous marches. Besides being a musician--or rather trying to be onell remember much more work and fun in extra-curricular activities. I'll never forget our yearbook, the Periscope-I was literary editor of the twenty-fifth edition of that masterpiece. Nancy Reed was editor-in-chief, and now she is a famous authoress. You've read some of her books, haven't you? Our school paper, the Oak Leaf, was also a thrill, and although I wasn't on that staff I remember the anticipation of everyone for the next issue. The school plays and dances were highlights to us all. Then we had our choice of clubs, too. I chose those that interested me, the Dramatic, Math, Science, and French clubs. What picnics we had at the end of the yearl Son, you'll be disappointed if you don't join a club or two. And then I became a senior! I really started living that year. Besides trying to keep up my scholastic record, I went out for the varsity bas- ketball team. It was fun even watching the games from the bench-no, I didn't make the first team, buttltblayed enough to get a letter. I can't say much for the success of the team but we had our fun, and everyone soon forgot our misfortunes. My boy, you are about to enter on a four- year voyage of fun, excitement, and, naturally, some worries. Take the advice of an old man, and don't let it go by without getting the best you can out of fit. When you're as old as I am, you'll know why am telling you this. '. , 4 l-John Short, '42 Life's Little Temptations I'm quite sure I'm not the only one To have an inner desire To do the thing I shouldn't do, Something like, oh-starting a fire Under the school. Someday when the teacher scolds me I'm going to cry right out loud. She can't humiliate me, Especially, in front of a crowd Who might laugh. Some morning when NCrDDY opens the door, There I'll bei-sleeping, Because one of these nights I'm going to allow The school house to have charge of my keeping. Won't he be surprised? When there's a speaker in assembly, I'm going to whistle a tune. What would Mr. Reitz think of me? He'd kick me out right soon, But I wouldn't go. During some study period I'm going to talk all the time, And not just in a whisper either, You can bet your bottom dime. You can't lose. Oh, I'll probably not do any of these things, So you may rest in peace. But I'm going to be bad someday Before my life does cease. It's that inner desire. -Peggy Marshall, '42

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CLASS OF 1942 O F F I C E R S Standing: The Senior Officers dream up ideas, then present them before ROBERT HANUS p fssififiiit the room representatives for discussion. ALVIN GUNN ,,,, , , , ,Tmusul-or Seated: MONICA MCMA!-ION -.--- -...- . 4SoCretrii'y SALEEIVI ANTOON .-... .-..- V ice Prr-sidoiit ROOM REPRESENTATIVES Standing: Seated: IOHN PERZ CATHERINE HALL RUTH ANDERSON HELEN I. ROBBELOTH ROBERT HANUS IOHN DONALDSON IOSEPH GASPARICH o Leaves From a Senior's Notebook September 3-My first day as a Senior! I went to school this morning a little puffed up. Then, as I walked through the halls, the wondering faces of the confused freshmen brought me down a peg or two. It made me realize that I was once one, too. November 7-We played Verona today. Beat 'em, too. It was a thrilling game! The day was rainy and sloppyg nevertheless, both sides of the field were lined with people. The team looked as if they had been in a mud beauty- bath. As I watched them play, a little shiver went down my back. I realized this was prob- ably my last O. H. S. football game. And Oakmont won the game! December 8-All I heard today in school was war! war! Sunday the laps bombed Pearl Harbor and today young and old are discus- sing it. Excitement permeated all the class- rooms. We took every opportunity to talk about the war and evade our regular work. Only time will tell what the war will mean to us young people. February 3- Ring out the old, ring in the new. The last lap of school has begun. He- port cards are out and our old marks, mistakes and pleasures are behind us. March 7-My classmates and I have been sit- ting on pins and needles. Why? Because we've been waiting for Mr. Shuker to announce the cast of the Senior Class Play, Headed for Eden. Today it happened! O joy! I'm in it. March 10-In three more months I will don the stately black cap and gown and walk across the stage to receive my diploma! Then I will no longer be a part of O. H. S., but one of that great parade of youth crowding our offices, have that thrill of being an upperclassman, of factories, and colleges today. I'll never again receiving my class ring, of starting to master the Parlez-vous and the H:SO- subjects, and of belonging to clubs! Oh, dear! It gives me a queer feeling. I will always treasure my memo- ries of those fun packed years. -Margaret Swartwood, '42

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I A Library Permit Tells Its Story Oh, hello, therel1Glad to see you-- My name's Ieep and I'm a library permit. I used to work at O. H. S., but now I'm retired. What line of work did I do there? Oh, I was an excuse for a student who didn't want to sit through the eighth period study hall. Here's what happened: It was a day last year in May-one of the finest we had all year---and I was next in line for duty. I was young then----just starting on my careerland well-fitted to do my duty. The job I was to do was a disgrace to my pro- fession, although I didn't know it then. As I was saying, there I was waiting patiently, when in comes Iohnnie Iones. In the usual high school manner---that is, thinking of no one's feelings --he ripped me from the pad so violently that he tore my upper-left corner, as you can plainly see. After he had marred my appear- ance by some heavy, illegible writing and se- . They'll Do Yes, sir, it never failsl People invariably do those little things that get under the other fellow's skin. Even a senior's life is not immune to these irksome epi- sodes. For instance, when the bell is going to ring in half a minute, you just have to get upstairs to English class on time. tSome of these teach- ers are disgustingly insistent that you get to class on time or else bring an excusell And what happens? That's right: you come upon one of those cozy groups of students, loitering in the hall and discussing the affairs of the world. They know you can't get by and that you might be late, but, nevertheless-THEY'Ll.. DO IT EVERY TIME. After three or four days with no heavy home- work, you plan a little fun for your spare time cured the English teacher's signature, we were on our way-that is, Iohnnie Iones and I. We walked down Pennsylvania Avenue, and when we got to the bottom, turned left instead of right. I tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen to me. As a matter of fact, I don't be- lieve he even heard me. Well, we went to Stone's and had a coke-that is, Iohnnie had the coke-he didn't offer me one. We chewed the fat awhile, and then started back. When Iohnnie handed me to the teacher, I had my fingers crossed, for I didn't think we could get away with it. My worries were shortlived, for we did get away with it. Yet, sometimes Ihwtsh we hadn't, for my conscience has both- ered me ever since. I wonder how Iohnnie feels. Well, sir, that's my story, and I only wish the others could tell theirs1what strange stories you would hear! I, -Joe Luciana, '42 It Every Time the following night. You trip gaily to school the next day anticipating the evening's festivities, but as the day goes by, you gradually and sadly return to your former opinion of your teachers. They've crossed you up again! You don't see how they could have dreamed up so many tests and fancy assignments all at the same time, but--they CAN and WILL do it every time. After school when you break all ybur good resolutions and drop in at the drug store for a coke, the inevitable happens again. You order a vanilla coke and what do you invari- ably end up with? A plain coke, which you positively loathl . They do it every time. Maybe it's just human nature. -Martha Cahill, '42