Townsend Harris High School - Crimson Gold Yearbook (Flushing, NY)

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Mr. Flynn finally came into complete control in 1925, when he pro- duced Disraeli . For the first time, a person was appointed to assist in the business end of a production, and this was Mr. Blake, of the His- tory Department. Since the school was located at 138th Street, all these productions were presented at the Hecksher Theatre at 104th Street. In 1926, when Mr. Flynn retired from this activity. Professor Bell, once more of the College, became supervisor of Dra- matics. Professor Bell ' s idea was to have separate class nights, when each class would present a play. He soon gave up this work, and Mr. Trilling, of our English De- partment, supervised these productions. Among others, incidentally, the Rivals was once produced by a Lower B class. Soon, however, class nights were abandoned; Mr. Trilling then directed a presentation of Dulcy . In these productions, modernity and comedy combined was pre- ferred, said Mr. Flynn when interviewed. Soon, these shows became annual rather than semi-annual, so that a Varsity Show was presented in the Fall Term, while a Spring Show, usually of lesser proportions, was given in the Spring Term. My idea, in ail these productions, was to present a smooth, professional-looking piece, and I can assure you that everyone concerned ' sweated blood ' . About 1929 the sincere, well-appreciated Mr. Dennett became conductor of these Dramatic activities, and it was with him that the Varsity Show took its present form. In that year Mr. Trilling had directed a production of The Show-Off , and in 1930, while Harris was still uptown, Mr. Dennett was very successful with The Whole Town ' s Talk- ing . The following year The Importance of Being Earnest was also successfully presented, and for this show the girls were secured from Hunter High School. The year after that, 1932, the most expensive play ever put on was produced, Seven Keys to Baldpate . That was the last of Mr. Dennett ' s shows, for it was the first presented at the new location at 23rd Street, and he could never become used to the lack of freedom here. In 1933, The Show-Off was once again pre- sented, directed by Mr. Jules Adolphe, a student teacher. Then, in 1934, two one-act plays, Pierre Patelin and Alison ' s Lad , were given, both directed by Mr. Lester Winter, an English teacher who has since left the school. Finally, last year, 1935, the uproarious comedy by Brandon Thomas, Charley ' s Aunt , was presented, and was the first SEVENTY-EIGHT

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VARSITY SHOWS- THEN AND NOW by Aaron M. Frankel ' Twas back in ' 07, when Townsend Harris was but the Sub-Freshman class of C. C. N. Y. and was located uptown, that Mr. Morris Geer, cleaner extraordinary, saw the inauspicious birth of the Harris Varsity Show. Inauspicious Indeed It was, for all Mr. Geer saw was the youngest of the famous Hackett family toying with Shakespeare with a few col- leagues In a back-yard adjoining the school. It was decided soon after that that the English Department would produce an annual play, and as the first adviser for this new activity Professor Taaffe, of the College, was appointed. Professor Taaffe dealt almost exclusively with Shakespeare, and throughout his reign was ably assisted by Mr. Dave Long, the Mr. ContI of the uptown building. Following Professor Taaffe, Professor J. Tynan, also of the College, conducted our Dramatic activities. After him, about 1920, came our own Mr. David Klein. The Varsity Show then was merely a production staged by one of the clubs of the school. However, Dramatics at the time was the most Important extra-curricular activity, and was enthusiastically supported by the entire school. Dr. Klein advanced this metamorphosis greatly, but was soon forced to give up this work, and a teacher In the French Department, Mr. Pollnger, succeeded him. The usual entertainment then was three one-act plays. Then, in 1922, the ever-popular and sacrificing James Flynn took over these tasks. It was during this period that the first semblance of a Varsity Show appeared, for every term the Senior Class would present an original farce [ai the expense of the Faculty). However, after six consecutive shows, these skits began to become patterned; a need for plots was felt. Mr. Flynn tells of the time when he was obliged to miss a Boat Ride in order to do the tremendous job of writing a play. Asso- ciated with him then was a brilliant young man in the English Depart- ment who unfortunately died soon after, Mr. Martin P. Kennedy. SEVENTY-SEVEN

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play to be coached by an outsider when Mr. J. Elliot Leonard, versatile actor and director, directed one of the biggest successes in Harris his- tory. Mr. Penn deserves recognition for his unselfish and unappreciated work on this shows behalf. Among former Harris actors who have since won renown in the field of dra- matics is Edward G. Robinson, Edward Guldenberg as a student. He was fea- tured in those Shakespearian productions of Professor Taaffe. One of the current theater ' s better playwrights is Sidney Kingsley, who was Sidney Kirshner when a student here. Incidently,he wrote an original play for one of Dr. Klein ' s shows, entitled First Aid for Mabel . Another Harris actor was Bill Steig, who now draws those famous cartoons for the New Yorker Magazine. Of course, there are many others who were once enrolled at Harris and who are now making names in the theatrical world. In conclusion, I take the opportunity to voice my sincere appre- ciation to Mr. Flynn, Mr. Dennett, and Mr. Penn for their invaluable and gracious assistance in compiling this record. caj ? SEVENTY-NINE