Torrington High School - Torringtonian Yearbook (Torrington, CT)

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day before going to his swimming practice in the pool on board ship! She certainly must have been an inspiration for he made a wonderful record. You aren't blushing, are you, Alma Z' In September, 1934, when the goodly galleon once more weighed an- chor to start out on the second half of our journey, we elected Alma first mate of Junior Deck- She was no longer a volunteer cheer leader this yearg not only was she on the team but moreover elected captain of it. This year the sailorettes, not to be outdone by the opposite sex, formed a basketball team of their own. Alma played port forward and was frequently seen on Wednesday afternoon piling up points for the Junior crew. Nineteen-hundred Thirty-five, the year in which Connecticut cele- brated its Tercentenary, the good ship was on its return voyage. The Tri-Y sorority of pleasure pirates elected her as their jolly captain and the Order of Navalpothalian Dramatics voted her their boatswain. She filled these positions with responsibility and tact. The faculty ap- pointed her Editor-in-Chief of The Log , the account of our four years' service in the T.H.S. Marines. Throughout her four years, the best was none too good for Alma. All the journey she travelled A Class. She ranked A number one with all her classmates and A number three in scholarship, maintaining the av- erage of 93.66. Alma's high school days are nearly over but she leaves behind a record in scholarship and leadership which will be hard to equal. 'Tis the last year of high school Al's first trip is throughg Now one's before her As difficult, too. She was a good friend of all: We all liked her. too. For the trip that's ahead Bon Voyage to you. ANGELA WALL. L-----1936-l---

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- 'THE LOG' History of The Historian 0-0 'Twas the first day of high school, And all through the place The crowds were surrounding Alma's sweet, smiling face. And this was the way it was from the very iirst day that the crew boarded the S.S. Good .Luck bound for Success at Port T.H.S. Popu- larity certainly belonged to Alma Rossi whose helpfulness and friendli- ness were apparent throughout her four year's service in the T.H.S. marines. On starboard, on port, on stern or on bow, Alma was continu- ally the center of interest to all the passengers. Each day brought sever- al mates to her cabin seeking the solution to difiicult algebra problems or requesting to see her history outline. Alnia served as ballast for all these unsteady passengers on our voyage aboard the good ship. Amongst the cargogstored in the hold, for the first year of the cruise was equipment' for a play given for the benefit of the crew. The play, A Case of Suspensidnn was given and all hands were on deck to ob- serve the maneuvers of Miss Rossi who played the part of the domineer- ing mistress of a girls' school. 'In addition to this Alma won first prize in the speaking contest on board .ship when she recited Romeo and Juliet amid the tremendous applause of the entire crew. The basketball games were always quite an attraction for the sailors on the good ship, especially for Alma Rossi. Altho' she wasn't on the pep squad, her enthusiarn broke loose during her Sophomore year and she formed a cheering section of her own. One night while the crew was enjoying one of these games, in spite of the fact that a storm was rolling the vessel back and forth, Alma stood up to lead a cheer when the ship rocked suddenly and she lost her balance. But she was up in a minute gaily singing Blame it On My Youth! Alma could laugh at everything and everyone laughed with her. Her interpretation of the overbearing proprietress in The Banner Laundry given by the Navalpothalian Dramatic Club, brought many laughs from the audience and a club letter from the committee on dramatic club awards. A few members of the crew were quite disappointed when they waited an entire evening to hear Alma sing in the operetta Once in a Blue Moon in which she had a speaking part. Who does not remember the tall, dark and very handsome sailor who would wait for her every - --- 1936- ---

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Time Sails On I was luxuriously seated in the deck chair aboard a liner that cleaved its way through the sparkling blue water as it sent its great shower of transparent, glistening, and diamond jeweled spray upward, far above the deck. Dreamily I gazed at the delicate beauty of this spray. Slowly these misty curtains parted. Now hazily something appeared to be moving toward me from far beyond. A huge gleaming hulk was fast advancing forward. Was it a liner? More than this-A Floating City was taking shape before my eyes! I found myself being taken aboard this modern spectacular wonder of 1947 by Harry Birch, the proud owner and inventor of Floating City, and being placed in the stream lined autogiro piloted by Robert Bligh, which flew over a street of chromium and opaque glass buildings. Before one of these buildings the autogiro stopped. After being ushered within I stood in the midst of a scene of great activity. Here, was a radio tele- vision station with its studios and employees managed by Robert Mead, Michael Catino, and Warren Daniels. Harry took me into one of these studios with the name of Madame Barbara lettered on the door. At the desk as I entered I glanced at the girl seated there. Something familiar about her. Could it be? It was- Gert Bolle of TLI-I.S. '36 who told me she was Madame Barbara's secre- tary and arranged all her television programs. Gert told me I would meet many more of my '36 classmates aboard. But, Madame Barbara was to broadcast at this hour with her guest artist. so I was invited to remain. Al Signorelli, our famous T-HS. announcer. was announcing the guest artist on this program which was sponsored by Liptak's Tack Factory. Why, I knew those celebrities being announced: first Al announced Alta Granger, television's pioneer singer, then Monte told of his thrills in shooting around the World in a skw-nf-lfet. a trio financed by multi- millionaire Rocco's Electrical Rocking Horse Concern. Monte's trip was a recess from his position as football coach at Yale where Bill Hull was the well respected president to whom Miri.am Williams acted as private secretary. Howard Haas, the Lanny Ross of Television preceeded Patsy DiGiovanni, successor to Eddie Cantor. A rustling, a murmuring, Madame Barbara was announced. Madame Barbara! I Why, the famous organist was none other than my old class- mate Barbara Hibbard. The program ended and I was told that I might wander around Television Station and the rest of Floating City. 1936