Stamford High School - Flashback Yearbook (Stamford, CT)

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fs fs Q On February 8, 1945, we presented a play. Our junior play, Crazy House, by Pete Williams, was a complete success. The audience itself nearly went insane as it watched the crazy antics of the Beldinker family. A mother who wrote an opera without mu- sic, a daughter who was convinced that she was an artist Calthough no one else believed itb, a kid sister who banged around the house with a ham- mer, and a brother who constantly rode his bicycle through the living room were but a few of the characters who wandered in and out of the Beldinker residence. Members of the cast included Audrey Smith, Al Lehman, Anna Knapp, Angie Fioretta, Norma Persiani, Gladys Gochberg, jack Reynolds, Colin Tynan, Warren Wanamaker, Mike Oscar, Rosemary Treat, john Melfi and Richard Drake. The success of Crazy House would not have been pos- sible without the help of its two directors, Miss Barbara Belanich and Mrs. Muriel Scholer. In our junior year we were again quite prominent on the athletic field. The girls formed hockey and basketball teams, and in hockey they won many games from neighboring schools. The boys went swimming at the jewish Center, boxed, played football, and took part in the many other sports that the school offered. When one of our classmates, Don Hardiman, became captain of the basketball team, we were very proud indeed! At long last came the final event of our junior year-the Prom! Our social life was really getting some place now! Our first Prom! Dancing under a starry sky, dim lights and soft music! Girls in fluffy gowns and fellows in impressive tuxedoes! The crowning event of the evening occurred when Mary Ann Freedman and john Melfi ascended-the throne as King and Queen of the Junior Prom! Altogether it was an occasion we will never forget. For the third and last time in our high school career election day arrived. This would be the big- gest and most important election of all. Much of the success of our last year at SHS would depend upon the officers we chose to represent us. After much deliberation we selected capable Ned Hunt as our president, james O'Brien as our vice-president, Naomi Sherman, our secretary, and Charles Kernan, our treasurer. Thanks to their hard work, the Class of '47 made well deserved history in annals of Stamford High School. Ranking high among the important accomplish- ments of the class of 1947 was the establishment of a new scholastic honor system. Always, in the past, those members of the class who were outstanding in athletics have been rewarded for their prowess. However, little or no recognition had been awarded to those students who had made definite progress scholastically. A committee under the leadership of Mr. Norton Rhoads and Mr. Roy W. Hill held several important meetings at which the new idea was discussed. Ad- visers to the committee were Mr. john Dunn, Mr. Louis Martinelli, Miss Barbara Belanich and Mrs. Henry Stitt. Students representing the senior, junior and sophomore classes were Ted Godlin, Naomi Sherman, john Smolko, Dot Wanamaker, Sophie Gluz and john Fitzpatrick. After another wonderful summer vacation we tripped up the hill for our last year in high school. The goal for which we had strived so long had been reached-we were seniors! We entered high school this time with a note of sadness. When we left, at the end of this year, we would never return as stu- dents again. But still, we were the big fellows now! We were seniors at last! We became acquainted with our fine new princi- pal, Mr. Roy Hill, and immediately got down to the business of preparing ourselves for graduation. In a short while we were busy studying, posing for grad- uation pictures, and awaiting impatiently the ar- rival of our pictures and of our class rings. Work was begun upon the yearbook early in the year. Mary Ann Freedman was chosen its editor, Ted Beauregard became the business manager, Ursula Harris took over as the head of the literary commit- tee, and Eugene Kresan became its co-ordinator. Our efforts at cafeteria improvement at last bore fruit in the new schedule that was installed during the lunch periods. Mr. Hill introduced a system which put a quick halt to the crowds which surged down the stairs and made purchasing lunch a fifteen minute affair. Bells ringing at six-minute intervals to inform of the beginnings and endings of the numerous lunch shifts made the period longer, pleasanter and much less crowded. Also, the cafe- teria was much cleaner and the service was much better as a result of this stagger system. Most of the football team of 1946 was composed of our boys. Eager to cheer our team on to smashing victory, we packed the stands each week. Co-captains Don Butkovsky and john Grant, along with Mario Frattarolli, Art Nixon, Dan Ballantonio, Terry Murphy Joe Romaniello, Teddy Godlin, and Don Hardiman were only a few who outdid themselves on the gridiron. We cheered our boys on to victory loudly, but be- hind all this vim, vigor, and vitality was the discon- certing thought that this was the last time we were to see OUR team in action. After many successes we were ready to call the state championship ours, when

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Man Winter was hard at work, many of us were forced to remain at home, but those who attended had a wonderful time. Alfred Cantrell and Thomas O'Hara headed our decoration committee at this affair. Our green and white class banner also took its formal social bow at this gala affair. Under the direction of Miss Florence Holbrook, Dean of Girls, a Social Usage Committee repre- senting each sophomore homeroom was organized. Its purpose was to raise the reputation of Stamford High School by promoting better co-operation and behavior both in and out of school. Their efforts soon produced a noticeable change in this situa- tion. Then, because of the excellent work this group did in compiling a set of rules for behavior at foot- ball games, it was made a permanent organization in the school. In june 1945, a few weeks before the termination of our sophomore year, class elections again were held. They brought with them the usual excitement and tension. We were more accustomed to the rou- tines and methods of SHS, and so it was with care and intelligence that we chose as our president Dan Ballantonio. Al Lehman automatically became our new vice-president since he was the lone candidate. Warren Wanamaker was elected secretary, and as proof of our appreciation of the good work he had done in the past, we elected john Melfi treasurer for the second time. We viewed the election results with satisfaction, confident that our four fellow classmates would lead us through another success- ful year. After a most enjoyable vacation, we returned to our classes in September, 1945, with the feeling that we were old-timers now. We quickly got back to our work while a new sophomore class wandered lost and bewildered through the halls. A most suc- cessful reception, which has since become tradi- tional, was given by us to welcome these new members of the high school. Remembering our own difficult entrance into this big, new world, we did out best to put the baby class of SHS at ease. Several committees worked hard to make this party enjoyable. Warren Wanamaker and his group decorated the gym with many colorful flags and banners which added gaiety and brightness to the occasion. The flowers and tables, as well as the refreshments, were capably taken care of by Mary Ann Freedman and her committee. And of course, lots of good music for dancing was provided. To welcome the new superintendent of schools, Mr. Charles R. Thibadeau, a reception was given in the school library. The students who represented our class at this affair were Audrey B. Smith, Mary Ann Freedman, Bruce Wadhams, and Walter Kryspin. Next on our social horizon was the successful Victory Dance, which we sponsored with the senior class. The dance, given to honor our fine football squad and to raise money for our hospital units quota, accomplished both of its purposes. The ad- mission was fifty cents in war stamps, thus, it really cost the students nothing to dance to the gay music of Bob Crane's band, and every one enjoyed himself immensely. To further remedy this situation, posters were hung upon the walls, showing the proper ways to dispose of bottles, bags, trays, and dishes. The group brought the situation to the attention of the entire school by presenting an assembly program, sponsored by Miss Mary Higgins, which demon- strated what the lunch periods were at that time. The junior Aid actors threw paper bags at one an- other, broke milk bottles, and generally behaved very badly in this skit in order to make the audience realize just how deplorable the cafeteria situation was at that time. The performers followed this skit with another one, showing a model lunch period. In this second presentation the students were quiet and orderly, and they left their tables looking neat and clean. This assembly program really made the audience resolve to behave better in the cafeteria. Early in the year many of our alert classmates first noticed the poor conditions in the cafeteria. Students entering the cafeteria any time after the first shift found the tables littered with empty milk bottles, lunch wrappings, and crumbs. After con- ferences with our class advisors, Mrs. Moser and Mr. Bird, we decided to bring this condition to the students' attention by forming a committee to police the cafeteria. Those volunteers, who were known as the junior Aides, undertook to patrol the eating place during the four lunch periods.

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Greenwich defeated us in the last game of the sea- son! This was indeed a hard blow, but this loss did not take away from the credit which was due out team for their wonderful record that season. - In January the annual elections to determine Stamford High's D.A.R. candidate were held. This was a highlight on the calendar of events at SHS. It was necessary that the girl who was selected as candidate combine the qualities of good citizenship, good sportsmanship, and honest endeavor. After much deliberation Joyce Moran was selected as the senior girl who best exemplified these qualities. The two other leading contenders were Barbara Weaver and Marcia Hay. Our last venture into the field of drama was the presentation of the play June Mad. On the night of February 14th, a large audience crowded the auditorium to see this play, written by Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements. The plot involved the Woods, an average American family, and the events which occurred when the teen age daughter of the family suddenly grew into young womanhood. Ap- pearing in the play were Angie Fioretta as Penny Wood, the teen age problem child, Rosemary Treat as Mrs. Wood, the warm and understanding mother, Warren Wanamaker as Dr. Wood, the handsome head of the household, Paul Winslow as Chuck Harris, the future aviator who lived next door to the Woods, Walter Dibble as Mr. Harris, Chuck's long suffering father, Audrey Smith as Chuck's social sister, Richard Drake as Penny's young uncle, Peter Sotire as Roger Bleck, his socialite friend from college, Marcia Hay as Millie Lou, the pesty little girl from down the street, jane jenkins as Effie, the Woods' outspoken maid, Walter Obman as Mr. Tuttle, the general handyman, and Rose Grant and Bob Williams as two neighborhood children. Each member handled his part with great skill under the able direction of Miss Barbara Kane. As the curtain descended, the audience showed their enjoyment and remarked that it was an evening well-spent. The Senior Prom! The social highpoint of the year! Gala gowns, soft music, dim lights! Entering the magically transformed gym through the arch of Howers! The romantic gardens, real-life lakes, Chi- nese temples. Your best girl on your arm, and the evening you've looked forward to all year long is complete. Prom talk first began 'way back in March when volunteers for the decorating committee were re- quested and the hard work of putting the gym in beautiful order was begun. Even when the big night was still two months away, industrious seniors were busily engaged in securing lirst the girl, second, the car, and third, the tux. Fifty eager seniors responded to the call and ideas for decorations poured in! Lucille Pinto was selected chairman of the group, and her original suggestion for an Oriental setting was chosen as the best. jimmy Zitto took charge, and under his capable leadership all hands turned to the tremendous task before them. Nearly every member of the senior class viewed the transformation on the night of the big event when they danced in the Chinese fairyland and strolled out on the open court. The last time we went down the receiving line there was a smile on our lips but there was a lump in our throats. Graduation Day, June 18, 1947, saw our class together entirely for the final time. How important we felt as we proudly received our diplomas! One phase of our life was concluded. Yes, we the Class of 1947, had at last earned our passports to our future. Doing our best to fulfill the creed of our school, we will always remember our days at Stamford High School. Whatever we may do or wherever we may go, we will always keep in mind its motto: Life Is to Rise and Not to Rest. Before we leave, we want to thank our fine class advisors, Mrs. Moser and Mr. Bird, as well as our principal, Mr. Roy Hill, and the entire faculty. If it hadn't been for them, the Class of '47 would certain- ly not have achieved its fine record. Many of the senior boys and girls took part in the gala review Calendaria, which was presented at the beginning of May. Mr. Robert Whiting and Mrs. Nellie Burrow wrote and directed this musical which depicted, through music, song, and the dance, the many outstanding events and holidays of the calendar year. Seniors in the art and costume design classes completed elaborate costumes for the review while the stagecraft classes made the beautiful scenery. Mr. William O'Shaughnessy was in charge of the music, and Mr. Raymond Randall and Mr. Leon Corliss directed the choral arrangements. Included in the cast were many seniors, among whom were John Melfi, Jane jenkins, Angie Fio- retta, Robert Learie, Muriel Swinnerton, jean Fac- cio, Blanche jerabek, jean Kesckes, Marcia Hay, Doris Larsen, Warren Wanamaker, jack Reynolds, Mike Oscar, Henry Oscar, Edward Pompadour, and Dorothy Polis. These people and many others, along with the teachers and other adults connected with the production made Calendaria the great success it was.