Riverton High School - Electron Yearbook (Riverton, KS)

Page 29 text:

GANGWAY FOR GHOSTS first Row-fleft to right? Miss Jane Hughes Csponsorj. Joyce Harvey, Betty Strickland, Betty Baysinger, Ina Rae McGuire, Edna Coffman, Wanda Williams, Patricia Mishler. Second Row-Mr. Raymond A. King fsponsorj, Joseph Rea. Lyle Ballard. Robert Willard, Jr., Harold Dean Mishler, Max Livingston, Bobby Gene Mitchell. KNUI Pictured!-Marian Pickering. Othell Moore, Senior Play Cast Gangway for Ghosts was presented on April 22. 1949. The central action of the play took place in a house of mystery. How to cure his foolish young half sister, of her aspiration to become a detective was Hal Charteris' CLyle Ballardj, major headache. To Storm Heights, a rambling old mansion on the crest of a cliff overlooking the Hudson, came Sally, CJoyce Harveyj. accompanied by her admirer, String Beane, CHarold Dean Mishlerj, a nervous lad who believed in giving ghosts plenty of gangway. She was pursuing a charming actress, Gayla Grande, Clna Rae McGuireD, to demand of her, why she had broken her engagement to Brother Hal. But Gayla could only plead a mysterious tragedy in her life, because of which she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and fled for refuge to Storm Heights with her colored maid. Posy May, fPatricia Mishler3, who had de gallopin' creeps on account ob spooksf' Sally. who had taken a detective correspondence course, soon had her hands full of detecting. Storm Heights was occupied by an eccentric spinster. Hester Storm, fWanda Williamsj, her neurotic housekeeper, Minnie Brill, fBetty Stricklandj, and her appalling butler, the one-eyed Peters, CJoseph Reaj. It proved to be haunted by a couple of blood-chilling phantoms: Ethan Storm. a violin maker, and his gypsy bride, whom he murdered in order to cntomb her golden voice in a master-violin. Some of the ghostly effects achieved were a tinkling tambourine, the weird strains of a haunted violin. mysterious whisperings in the walls, a dancing headless body. and the floating head of the gypsy bride-all of which did delightfully freeze the spines of the spectators: while the hysterical antics of Posy May and String Beane Sent them into gales of merriment. Much excitement was created by the search for a priceless Burma ruby, which was finally discovered in-of all places!-Peterfs empty eye socket. In the end, Sally was effectively cured of her passion for sleuthing. Other char- acters included: a mysterious woman in white, CBetty Baysingerj, an ex-con- vict, fRobert Willardj, a burlesque sheriff, fBobby Gene Mitchellj and Crazy Nell. fEdna Goffmanj, who wandered about imagining that she was a walk- ing cadaver. Max Livingston was sound effects manager. The play was directed by Miss Martha Jane Hughes. Electron Paar Twenty-E

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DRAMATICS The plays that are presented each year by each of the four classes provide an opportunity for the students to gain some experience in expressing them- selves before an audience. This experience also de- velops self-coniidence and poise in the individual. The preparation of a class play for presentation requires many hours of the students' and teachers' time in addition to the regular school duties. Students look back with pride upon the pleas- ant memories which grew out of participation in a class play. Electron Page Twenty-four

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WE SHOOK THE FAMILY TREE lirst Row-Qleft to rightb Mary Ann Hodson, Marilyn Prather, Betty Williams, Patty Thatcher, Rita Gipson, Jeanell Merrill. Patsy Mast. Second Row-Mr. Gerald E. Barkley fsponsorl, Lloyd Hockett, Clifford Hardy, Jr., David AuBuchon, Bobby Joe l,yerla. Kenneth Rogers. Junior Play Cast The 'junior class presented We shook the Family Tree on December 9, 1948. The action of the play centered around Hildegarde CMarilyn Pratherj, a dramatic wallflower. She pined for a super date for the prom. With the help of Mother CBetty Williamsj, Hildegarde managed to get a blind date that baffled her two mischievous brothers, Bob CBobby Joe Lyerlaj and Jimmy flsloyd Hockettj. The situation was not helped when Bob's catty girl friend, Ellie May lPatty Thatcherj, and her friend Jill CMary Ann Hodsonj found that her secret admirer was Freddie Shermer CKenneth Rogersb, who wore knickers because his fussy mother, Mrs. Shermer fRita Gipsonj did not want to look too old. Due to a scandal, started when little Paige Mason fPatsy Mastj delivered his old love letters to the neighbors, Father CDavid AuBuchonj was in trouble with his boss, Mr. Shermer CClifTord Hardy, Jr.J, who was somewhat of a stuffed shirt. Between the love letters and a speech Hildegarde made, Father came to the conclusion that she was starting all the trouble and forced her to go to the prom with Freddie. But with the help of Sally CJeanell Merrillj and Freddie's new-found determination to wear long pants, the play came to a hilarious and happy ending. The play was directed by Mr. Gerald E. Barkley. Elcrrron Page Twenty-six