Ridley Park High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Ridley Park, PA)

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RETROSPECT A loud crash was heard in the galley and Pilot Atkiss came rushing by muttering something about Broken Dishes. Following in his wake came Lillian Bentley, dressed as an old shrewish woman, Jenny Bumpstead. Her three daughters: Alice Eastlake (Myra), Anne Delany (Mabel), June West (Elaine) and her husband, Robert Holm (Cyrus), followed meekly in her wake. The play was a decided success and gave the crew and passengers an idea as to the kind of entertainment they could expect in the future. The next port of call was sighted and the ship docked to give again a three months' shore leave. September again, and the ship 35 is ready to sail. A new captain stands on the bridge; the person with the four-striped sleeve this year is Harry Gaul. The mate is Charles Reynolds. The log keeper, Doris Gallagher, with the same pursers in their office as last year. This sailing only I 14 passengers were aboard: the rest had missed the ship. A crew of pirates are aboard who call themselves The Iron Men. They have a stateroom, Room 18. all to themselves with the exception of Miss Esther Mobus, who maintains if they are Iron Men then she is a blacksmith. The Third Declamation Contest was held, but we had no luck. We lost with Anne Delany, Inky Larson and Bob Holm fighting valiantly. A bird was seen hovering around the ship, not the albatross of our Freshman days, but The Swan. This is the annual play introduced by our pilot, Mr. Atkiss, who is still with us. During the play the ship pitched a little and one of the characters became seasick. Outside of this, the play was a financial and dramatic success. It was recognized as one of the most ambitious things ever attempted here in dramatics. The biggest social event on shipboard this year was the Junior Prom. The Dance Salon was decorated elaborately and in one end Harry Gardiner's orchestra played soft melodies. All arrangements for this were made by June West and John Mackenson. The final important event of the school year was the installation of members of the National Honor Society. Al Evans, Paul Stephani, James O'Neil, Robert Holm and Robert Adam were the boys and Betty Williams the lone girl. The ship again reached port and allowed the passengers to disembark for a three months' shore leave. September 34, the good ship 35 is ready for the last leg of the journey. Many of the passengers were forced to transfer to the ship S.S. Ridley Township, a new craft. We wish them bon voyage with safe harbors and no gales. Since outstanding members of our class, both in athletics and scholarship, left on this boat, with a smaller crew we dug in and worked double duty. A new skipper stalks on the bridge, Robert Adam, who becomes captain, while John Mackenson is the mate. Doris Gallagher still has the log in her care and Mary Kelly shares the purser's office with Paul Stephani. The first shipboard amusement was the Freshman Reception. The crew of 35 had as their guest the crew of 38, another ship of the Ridley Lines. The next entertainment was the Senior Hop. This was the special event of the season on ship- board. The melodies were supplied by the Nova Casa Orchestra. The decorations were in the Christmas spirit. The humor on this occasion was supplied by the studied nonchalance of the boys in their first soup and fish. The class standard was raised, orange and brown in color. The class motto was Enthusiasm. The Washington Trip was the big event of the year. The ship sailed up the Potomac and stopped at Washington for three days, much cain was raised and many buildings seen in the act of being torn down. Finally came class night and commencement. Class night this year was an invocation, a banquet and dance. The ship passes over the horizon but the smoke still lingers on. Twelve

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RETROSPECT SHIP'S LOG “Of ships and men departed, of old days come again. All ashore that's going ashore. The good ship 35 slowly edged out into the river. Upon its bridge the skipper, James O'Neil, and the executive officer, John Mackenson, plotted their course for the first leg of the journey. The pilot, Miss Beatrice Shafer, stood by to take them over spots that the chart does not snow. The log was open, spotless, white and untouched. It wasn't to remain that way long because the keeper of the log, Helen Mitchell, was prepared to start the records. Down in the ship's strong room Robert Adam, the purser, made ready his books and opened his safe doors. The register showed 170 passengers were booked for the cruise. The merry life at sea began. The first entertainment on shipboard was the Freshman Reception. This had a twofold purpose: to entertain, but also to allow the Freshman to orient himself and to let him get his sea legs. After this the ship 35 was more familiar to its passengers. One day a rumor went around, you know how rumors travel on board ship, that a Red was aboard the ship and planned to wreck it. The rumor was traced and it was discovered that someone had seen a hirsutely adorned individual walking about: it turned out to be John Mackenson who had forgotten to shave for five minutes. A crew of huskies from the stokehole somehow discovered a game called football. Although they considered it a slightly sissy game they decided to give it a trial. Mr. Waltz, athletic officer, led them through one of the most successful years any Freshman team has ever had. The huskies also found a game called basketball and liked it so well that, with the good ole class spirit, they chalked up I I victories to 2 defeats. One day a gale struck the ship, at least the passengers thought it was a gale until Pilot Shafer said it was too warm a wind tor a gale in these latitudes. The solution came when they found Steve Stratton, alias The Goon, Alice Eastlake, and Mercer Smullen limbering up their pulmonary apparatus preliminary to engaging in a histrionic and rhetorical battle with other classes known as the Declamation Contest. Did we win? Have we ever lost? Steve Stratton won the individual honors and a silver cup. The Freshman track team wound up the sport season with a good record. The ship 35 reached its first port of call and the passengers and the crew took shore leave for three months. September found the ship 35 all ship-shape for its next leg of the journey. White and gleaming, she lay ready to go. The passengers and crew arrived, more of the old salt about them and having their sea legs. They know their course and are determined to stick despite cross tides. They know however that these are shoals to be avoided. Captain O'Neil again skippers the ship. The executive officer was changed however, for Al Evans wore the three stripes. Robert Holm had the log in his care this year and the purser's office was occupied jointly by Mary Kelly and Abe Shapiro. The pilot was Mr. Lincoln Atkiss, master mariner. The company heard a loud hullabaloo up forward, and rushing to see what was the matter found a mascot being lowered to the deck in a cargo sling. It was Zeke, a most unusual horse, having hind legs exactly like his front legs. The first party on board was held and it proved a grand success. Zeke was unveiled, the class cheer and song were introduced, the first of a long line of crazy skits appeared, and everybody had a swell time. Again that blast of hot wind, the Second Declamation Contest. The contestants arose on the windward side, and the participants practiced diligently. They were Ed. Kuhar, known as Big Boy Kuhar, Alice Eastlake, and Anne Delany with Clyde Elmes as alternate. Eleven

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READING THE STARS And as the prine noses out a way for itself. It seems to weave a dream of bubbles and flashing foam, A dream of strange islands whereto it is bound. The old salt shielded his eyes from the stinging spray, and shifted his chew to his other cheek. Turning to the small mess boy he said, Look at those stars, son, and see what you make of 'em. All I see is a whole bunch of stars, but there ain't no meaning tags attached! Well, son, it all depends on how ya look at 'em. Now take that one over there, for instance. That's the Dog Star. To you it's just a twinkle, but it means Anne Delaney, who plans to be a surgeon, will become head of a Hospital for Penniless Pooches and Blind Mice. That one over there is known as the Movie Star. In it I see a picture called 'The Great Lover,' co starring Larry Berlet and Rozzy Campbell. Doc Cornog gets a free pass to it. There's a shootin' star, son. Know what it means? Siege-gun Kalies will be a member of the Sphas basketball team. Spha means South Philadelphia Hebrew Association, son, but they'll never know the difference. Stars mean a lot to sailors, son. Let me tell you some more of the things I read in them: Clyde Elmes (Joe Bush) will finally fulfill his dreams and be captain of a ship. In fact, he'll have the distinction of being the only Ward Line captain who hasn't wrecked his ship. In his engine room he will have stoker Tryens, who can throw more than anyone else. Johnny (Baldy) Mackenson plans to be a dentist, but in that star I see him working with a pneumatic driller in a cavity known as a stone quarry. Mary Kelly will continue her typing, and after a few years of work as a secretary will marry her boss. Dixie O'Brien will have two distinctions. One will be her recognition as the leading woman poet of 1980, and the other her winning the Hog Calling Contest. The old salt shifted his chew to the other cheek, spat vigorously, and continued: Those three stars prove Abe Shapiro will manage a profitable pawn shop on Eighth Street, near Race. Now son, you see that group in the form of a hockey stick? Peggy Wood will be a member of the All-American hockey squad and incidentally is quite a success. The four star final of the Daily News will find Goon Stratton a tireless reporter. Steve will write a best seller entitled 'Making Use of Your Leisure.' Every one knows the Big Dipper, and its hidden meaning shows Pokey Padgett as the prosperous manufacturer of a popular brand of lemonade. The mystery of the heavens has always been a source of material to the poet. Johnny Ford will combine with Mr. Myers in the gravestone business. Johnny will write the epitaphs, and we hope he will bury a certain dead language first. Charlie Harper will be their undertaker. That star over there, twinkling with glee, means Helen Nagy will be in great demand as a model for advertisements. Her eyes have It.’ Down by the horizon Cerberus, the three-headed dog constellation, has a slightly vague mean- ing. It tells me Alice Eastlake either will manage a chain of kennels, or will break into the news by biting a dog. A bright star, a group of bright stars like the lights of Broadway, can mean but one thing. Anne Polischuk will be the toast of the theatre with her 'Dance of the Seven Back Themes' and the 'Lester Hop.' Orion's mouth, shaped in a sour grin, proves conclusively Beefy Walichuck will make a success. He will publish 1001 New Jokes and will be much in demand for radio comedians.” Here the grizzled tar stopped for a moment. His neck had a severe pain in it from looking at the heavens. The boy had a pain somewhere else from listening to this story. Then our raconteur started again. Son, this may seem a trifle strange to a novice but the planets and other constellations hold many obvious interpretations. There are stars and stars, but that one means Hunk Adam will be an All-American football star. He should be a hard worker in the Punch Bowl classic. June West will continue her success on the stage. Her presentation of the powerful drama, 'Gaston et Julie,' will be the hit of the century. That should be two or three stars' rating. A belt is generally considered an article of clothing, and Orion's Belt shows Natalie Densmore will found a successful women's dress store the designs for which will be conceived by Pat Yocum. That up and coming young artist Andy Coek will paint the Nobel Prize Winner 'Flood Over Lester' and on the side will illustrate the class magazine 'Ballyhoo.' Thirteen