Southdale Public School - Prima Yearbook (Strathroy, Ontario Canada)

Page 36 text:

CAST END GIRLS: Judy Saphire Stuart, Kathy Vanilla Bryants, Judy Magnolia Blackwell. END BOYS: Jay Rastus Purdy, Don Bones Gough, Brian Sambo Picott. INTERLOCUTOR: Ron Keay CHORUS: Maureen Abra, Sigrid Beer, Garold Benedict, Robert Butler, Anna Calcutt, Tim Galcutt, Herb Golledge, Susan Coole, Cynthia Cooper, Terry Cooper, David Earhart, Raymond Elliott, Mary Anne Ford, Kim Giffen, Robbie Hick, Alan Jordan, Brenda Keay, Gary Kettlewell, John Martin, Diane McNaughton, Nancy Ogle, Mark Rolls, Nancy Rupert, Barb Smaill, Karen Svendsen, Paul Svendsen, Dorothy Visser. DRU IS: Ron Marshall PIANO: Dalton Walpole USHERS: Doris Lambert, Judy Mackey, Margaret Smyth, Judy Linzmajer.

Page 35 text:

FRONT RC¥: Judy Hesk, Allan Brabender, Carol Slottke, Jane Luel, Gary Topping, Jay Purdy, Tammy Purdy, Heather Holden, SECOND ROW: Jennie Finkbeiner, Lisa Robinson, Danny Eagleden, Bobby Stuart, Julie Rychel, Sherri Clark, Rudy Hebrang, Curt Watchorn, Sherri Kellestine. THIRD ROW: Eddy McLean, Patti Pettigrew, Alan Jordan, Donald Gough, Walter Lenting, Ronnie Keay, Martin Petersent, Paul Svendsen, BACK ROW: Mrs. J. Schmidt, Benny Linker, Joanne Garbutt, Daryl McLeod, Karen Svendsen, Max Kolstein, Terry Cooper, Steven Gillan, Murray Mackey, Miss M. Smyth, Mr. J. Mackey. A gaily decorated auditoriuin was the setting, and December 19th was the night that we played host to over I4OO parents, friends and neighbours of the pupils. For this was the night that all the children were waiting for - the Christmas play. The first part of the performance was filled with skits, songs, recitations and dances. Nancy Ogle, dressed §s a bunny, flitted in with cards announcing what would be coming next. Each class put on an eight to ten minute performance and received wonderful applause. The scene shifted from, that of fun and merry-making to one of calm serenity when the overhead lights went off and the amber spot lit up the stage set in a comfortable living room scene of 2000 years ago. From that moment on, the child- ren chosen from each class brought to life the little town of Bethlehem, the hills over which the angels brought forth their glad message, and the desosrate search foir rooms in the crowded town. The children did an excellent job of por- traying the birth of Christ, and the choir singing in the background lent a quiet dignity to the setting on stage. The play was written by Miss M. Smyth and directed by Miss Smyth, Mrs. J. Schmidt and Mr. J. Mackey. The choir was led by Mrs. M. Johnson.

Page 37 text:

Go South with Southdale. Over seven hundred people followed this advice and are glad they did. There is not sufficient space in these four pages to express our appreciation and admiration of Mr. Dalton Walpole and his talents. Had it not been for him, the Minstrel Show would have been a lovely idea but and impossibility. His praise, ideas, patience and encouragement made each person want to do his job just a little bit better every time. When a man of Mr. Walpole ' s calibre takes the reins of a production such, as this, nothing but an outstanding success is possible. After all the guests had been ushered to their seats by four black- faced Mammies , Grandpa Robinson shuffled in to have a moment ' s peace and quiet to read his evening paper. The quiet didn ' t last long, for several children came rushing in to surprise Grandpa, because today was his birthdayJ As old people do. Grandpa thought back to the good old days - what times they were. ' The story of the birthdays spent at the Minstrel Show couldn t be missed. But Grandpa, what is a Minister Show? queried one confused child, as she had never heard the term before. This serious mistake had to be corrected at once. Heaven sakes, imagine, not knowing what a Minstrel Show was. Now, you must know that Grandfather was a very good story-teller. As a matter of fact, he made it sound so real, you could actually hear that old showboat pulling into shore. Thus, the Minstrel Show was successfully introduced. Little Lorie cer- tainly learned the difference between a Minister Show and a Minstrel Show. ' Songs, jokes and dances were the main attraction and each child shone in his or her part. The chorus belted out the songs as if they had been singing them all their lives instead of a few short weeks, and the Endmen hammed up their parts like professionals. Each of the eight soloists were brought back for three and four encores, with shistles, cheers, and loud applau ' se . Mr. Interlocutor had a big job cut out for him and he did such an excellent job that he was applauded just for introducing the numbers. ' To give an example of his task, the following introductions we are quoting in part from his script. That ebony songstress of the deep South, Miss Magnolia Blossom, will sing for you, Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis . Be prepared to hold your breath as Mr. Rastus displays an incredible feat of vocal gymnastics with that perennial favorite, Swanee . It is with great pride that we present the one and only Miss Vanilla whose twinkling toes will both amaze and delight you with a magnificent tap dance to that old favorite, Swanee River . That renowned vocalist. Miss Cynthia Cooper, will render that sentimental ballad, Mighty Lak A Rose . Here is Mr. Bones who will rattle the windows with this stirring musical rendition of an unusual complaint, Ma, She ' s Making Eyes at me . From the chorus, our accordian virtuoso, Mr. Tijn Galcutt, who will dis- play his amazing desterity in a number entitled, Dem Golden Slippers . Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, a most elegant performance by that lovely and talented world-famous soprano. Miss Saphire, as she plaintively sings, Won ' t you Gome Home, Bill Bailey . That unequalled song stylist, Mr. Sambo, will present a solo of amazing and surpassing artistry as presented before the crowned heads of Europe. Here he is with his justly famous Mammy . From a boy in Grade Five, words like this, presented with the flare of a professional, and greeted with as much enthusiasm, created a great deal of justified pride for Ron, from the teachers and parents. Each of the two shows ended with a standing ovation, which is ample proof of the success of the first Annual Minstrel Show. '