Plainfield High School - Plainsman Yearbook (Plainfield, IL)

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July 21. 1955. Dear Classmates of 1950. I'm having a wonderful time here in Hollywood this summer. I am so glad I decided to come here for my vacation. You have no idea how many of our old friends from Plainfield I have seen. I was breakfasting at the Brown Derby the other morning and who should come rushing in for a cup of coffee but Nada Scotter, whom you know as Nancy Scott, an old schoolmate of ours. She is relieving Hedda Hopper who is suffering a severe sunstroke. When 1 mentioned that I would be in Hollywood for only a short time, she invited me to go on her daily jaunt to the studios with her for the latest scoops on gossip, as she is writing Hedda's column, Looking at Hollywood.” Nada and I caught a taxi from the Brown Derby for Metro Goldwyn Mayer which was Nada’s first stop. I was simply flabbergasted when Doris Fredericks opened the door for us. She told us that she came to Hollywood right after she graduated from high school and has been a taxi driver ever since. We were driving along when all of a sudden the motor just quit. I guess too much water got in it the day before when we had a terrific rainstorm. It was lucky that this happened on the comer of Hollywood and Vine, which is right next to a gas station. We got pushed into the station and who should come rambling out but Dick Richter, who bought the gas station recently. Dick told us that he sees several of his old schoolmates who come in for his excellent service. Charles Findlay, he said, is now the bobby-soxer's current rage as the second Van Johnson. Dick said that he stops in frequently for gas with his blue Cadillac convertible. Dick also told us that he sees Bill Miller driving Joyce to his folks' new cottage in Beverly Hills. Joyce is a senior now at U.C.L.A., Dick was telling me, and a very prominent cheerleader, too. She was also voted U.C.L.A.’s choice for the queen of roses at the annual Rose Bowl game on New Year's day. Dick told me if I had time I should stop at the Trocadero where the Countraburker Sisters are in the spotlight. Do you remember the Andrews Sisters? Mary Countryman, Helen Burk, and Mar- jorie Shafer have formed a trio. too. and are very successful. I promised Dick I would stop in again if I had time. He also asked me to say hello to all of you back in Plainfield. On the way to the studio, Doris turned on the radio. We were listening to Nick and Nora Charles, and I thought I recognized their voices. I couldn't place them right away until the radio announcer said that Donna Lambert and Ray Elgas took the parts. Those two are certainly going places. When we arrived at the studio, Nada took me to meet Darryl Zanuck, and I was simply over- whelmed when I saw Lorraine Funk.' She is Mr. Zanuck’s receptionist and is reported as being rushed lately by the voice of Donald Duck . After talking to Mr. Zanuck for awhile, Lorraine showed us through the studio. I was really lost. You have no idea how large the studio is. As we were walking through the lot, we ran into James Culver. I didn't recognize him in his leopard skin until he came over and pounded me on the back and shook hands with us. He is now taking the lead in the new Tarzan picture. Tarzan and the Dragon Lady. You will have to see it when it comes to Plainfield. He didn't have time to talk with us very long as he was on his way to the set. Twila Parker, who has taken Dorothy Lamour's place, plays the lead opposite him. We watched the shooting of Tina Corsgreen's new picture. She has a very sultry part in it. As you know Rita Hayworth has retired because of old age. and Tina has now taken the spot- light. She seems very thrilled with her new role opposite Montgomery Clift. It has also been re- ported that she has been seen nightly with the Sultan of India. I didn't mention it to her. as I remembered she doesn't like to talk about her romances. Veronica Lake is also in the same picture as Tina. I was watching a little girl standing on the sidelines, trying to place her. When she turned our way. I recognized her as Shirley Flagg. She says she is Miss Lake's stand-in. Nada and I stopped in at Joan Kenyon's office. She is the head scene painter at the studio. She was very busy, so we didn't get a chance to talk with her for long, but she did tell us about Dick Petersen. He always had trouble making up his mind about a girl, you remember. Well, he finally settled down recently with Margaret O'Brien, the former child movie star. He worked as her agent, and fell in love with her. They eloped to Mexico in November.

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CLASS POEM There was a tali blonde named Jack. Who was the president of his pack; He met a girl named Ginge. His heart grew loose on its hinge. And always kept right on her track. And here's a young miss named Mary. Who of the skating rink did not weary. The time flew by. She met a guy. Of Eddie did she tire. nary. When Dick's green car comes along. Mary Alice is there with a song; She designs clothes. And everyone knows. That she will always get along. Tina's passing fancies passed, Then her music rated class; She met some guys. Said good-byes. Now she's still a musical lass This tall James from the farm, Many girls did alarm; He would not date, Nor would he relate. Why the farm kept all of his charm. About Thelma there's a joke. For her fella was always broke. Strange enough tho' He always found dough, To buy many a car and cloak. Cheryl and Irene, two of our girls. And Doris, who has red curls. Have a very high aim. Which is one and the same. Nurses they'd be, these pearls. A cheerleader is our Joyce; As this, she makes much noise. And with Doris. Joking for us, Laughter brings from girls and boys. As Tom Bartlett in our senior play; Charles caused trouble night and day Songs about flowers. Spilt flour in showers, All making the audience gay. Now, two senior girls have we: Lorraine, and also Marjorie; No matter what day. It was true, that they Knew all the answers in History. Dramatics heads the list Of Nancy Scott, a tall blonde miss. In both our plays. She labored days, And helped make a big success. Donna Lambert's big blue eyes. Expressed moods, gay and otherwise Notes during classes. To the lasses. Helped her poetry to devise Helen Burk, with honors galore. With Donna and Carol . . . and what's more. Play or work. They'll never shirk; These pals, we'll always adore. This blonde curly-haired Joan, And Doris Fredericks, our own. With all their art. Gave the class a start. And made our events to the public known. Twila and Shirley, among other things. Have a hobby of collecting rings; But Donna, their friend. Had but one yen. To keep Bob tied to her heart-strings. Only one year was this boy with us, You see it is our own Ray Elgas. And then there's Pete. With appearance neat. The student council Prexy was. In his green Ford we knew 'twas Fred. Though we could see only his head; He's fancy free. But wants to be. An architect, he has said. Last but not least our lover of cars. Is Dick Richter, a classmate of ours; In a model B. Or a model T, He thought his car would go to Mars 21

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After my visit at the studio, I left Nada and went back to my hotel room. Before I left her. she told me to be sure to listen to the Dr. Christian radio program. She said that Irene Williams is Judy, the nurse on the program. While I was getting ready to go out for the evening, I listened to Dr. Christian. Irene does a beautiful job as Judy. I remember when she wanted to be a nurse back at old P.H.S. She didn't quite make it, but at least she plays the part of one. Lu' r that evening I had a dinner date with Nada. I caught a taxi and went to pick her up at her notel suite. She was ready, and we got on our way. Our first stop was Ciro's. We had a reserved table, so we went right in. The first person I noticed was a huge man standing near the doorway. I asked Nada who he was. and what he was doing, just standing there. She explained to me that it was Charles Wenberg, and that he was the bouncer. I waved at him, but I don't think he recognized me. I was going to go over and talk to him, but he was having some trouble with two men who were causing a disturbance over a woman. I looked to see who the woman was. and I saw that it was Tina. That girl! Then the spotlight was turned on Mr. Jack Gans, owner and manager of the Gans Banana Plantation. Inc. On the way out we stopped at Jack and Virginia's table to chat with them, and found some other old friends of ours, Thelma and Paul Graver. Thelma and Paul are living on a big ranch in the San Fernando Valley. Those two are certainly happy. Jack and Virginia are now vacationing in California. I guess Jack has made millions with his bananas—they do practically grow themselves in Hawaii, they say. Thelma told me that Mary Alice George and Dick are married and are living in Bel Aire. She said they aren't seen very much, as they are both very busy. It seems that Mary Alice is a costume designer and works with Irene, the famous movie dress designer. Thelma also said that Dick is a hot rod racer, and spends his spare time up in the air with his new plane. We went back to our table, and I spotted the cigarette girl. She was Carol Steininger, of all people. I called her over, and I asked her what she was doing 'way out here. She explained that she and Troy were married soon after school was over, and they decided to travel for awhile. They liked it here in California so much that they decided to settle down. Carol then got a job at Ciro’s and she has been getting so many good tips, that Troy retired. Nada and I were circulating from table to table, talking to old friends and movie stars, when Nada introduced me to Ingrid Bergman and her hubby. Ingrid is just as beautiful and charming in person as she is on the screen. Doris Townill and a very distinguished-looking man came in around 10 P. M. I guess they were hitting all the night clubs too. She is in a new series with Abbott and Costello. Doris is still talking about having won the Oscar for being the best woman comedienne. I can't say that I blame her. Doris said that they had just been over at the Trocadero, and that Doris Teufer was in the spotlight as Gypsy Rosfc Lee. Doris has certainly changed. I'll have to go over tomorrow night and see her. I arrived back at my hotel tired from the day's pace. I slept late this morning, and didn't go shopping until afternoon. While in the stores, I bumped into Dick Morrison, who was doing some shopping for his wife. He said she has no taste at all in clothes, and he would rather take the trouble of buying them for her. than to look at her in the clothes she buys for herself. I got a big kick out of that. I asked him if I knew his wife, but he said no. he met her in his new business establishment, and they were married recently. Dick went on to say that he had taken over the management of Earl Carroll's place. He also said that Cheryl Franklin and Donna Grussing are working for him as chorus girls. I also ran into Donna Brooks Smith in one of the stores. She is in town for a screen test. She was formerly a Powers model, you know. Well. I guess that's about all the news. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile. I'll be thinking of all of you. Your roving reporter of P.H.S. 23