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

Page 83 text:

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

Page 82 text:

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

Page 84 text:

SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS If we examine +he daily life of a Harrisite, we discover that during the course of the day he comes into contact with the work of two, if not all three, service squads. The Traffic Department, in regulating the between-period rush of students, almost completely eliminates conges- tion and waste of time on the stairs and in the halls. It would be difficult for the ordinary Harrisite to keep in touch with club notices, school announcements, G. O. services, etc., if it were not for the Information Bureau. In the library, a group of boys take over the monotonous and unappreciated task of stamping books in order that the librarian and her assistant may find enough time to direct inquiring students in their choice of books. Despite the acknowledged fact that these squads are indispensable to a smooth-running school organization, a complaint arises that the efficiency of these service organizations may be raised above the pres- ent standard. It has been pointed out that in the Traffic Department the officers and a few of their friends treat themselves to privileges which violate the rules that they themselves have to enforce. Wherever the fault may lie, in the misunderstanding of the officers or in the laxity of the student directors, it can certainly be corrected. As regards the Information Bureau, the chief complaint seems to be that some notices escape being posted. A more systematized means of collecting notices and announcements would remedy this defect. The speed with which the members of the Library Squad attend to the stamping of the books testifies to their usefulness and efficiency. Since the administration of the Library is not vested in their hands, the members of this squad are seldom responsible for the occasional mis- haps which occur. When viewed as a whole, the service organizations do function with a commendable adequacy which might well be appreciated by the student body. ! EIGHTY