Turners Falls High School - Peske Tuk Yearbook (Turners Falls, MA)

Page 32 text:

Onward and Upward Turners Falls High School 1944 Sylvia Annear Kenneth Rau David Gunn Jean Spencer Standing: B. Jacobus, D. Gunn, V. Smith, Miss Teed, A. Pervere, E. Simanski, K. Rau. Seated: P. Carroll, J. Spencer, L. Aldrich, J. Pelletier, G. McCarthy, L. Boulanger, S. Annear, M. LeMoine. Page Forty-six

Page 31 text:

“Owvakd and Upward” Turners Palls High School 1944 KEEPING ’EM ROLLING Our first major war activity was our scrap drive during our junior year. It was not uncommon to see a student struggling up the walk, burdened with some scrap of metal. This drive was quite successful, as so,me 32 tons of scrap iron were collected. In March of ' 43, we began our sale of bonds and stamps. Thursday be- came the regular bond and stamp day. From March until June of the first ear, nine jeeps were purchased by the sale of stamps. During our senior year, the sales amounted to enough to, purchase one flying jeep, one amphib- ious jeep, one ordinary jeep, and also a Fairchild trainer. In all, the to,tal to date is $27,179.95. Another of our activities was our paper drive. Students brought small quantities to school, while a truck was sent aro,und for larger amounts. We have collected 26,000 lbs. of paper so far. JUNIOR PROM As the week of May 7, 1943, approached the members o,f the Class of 1944 could be seen completing- last-minute preparations for their Junior Prom with a look of pride in their eyes. At last the qventful night arrived, and well might the Class of 1944 be proud for this was a prom not to be forgotten. The hall was decorated in two shades of blue, combining spring colors with a patriotic theme. The ceiling- lights were covered with shredded blue crepe paper. Blue streamers ex- tended along the sides of the hall and from the ceiling. At each end of the hall was a large V of flowers surrounded by doves and spring flowers. To complete the patriotic effect, the grand march, led by Bernard Bourdeau. president, and Jean Spencer, secretary, ended in a large V of victory. In the receiving line were Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Burke, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Wrightson, Mrs. Stanislas Bourdeau, Mrs. Ray D. Spencer, Mrs. Roland Jacobus, Mrs. Henry C. Boucher, Mrs. Alfred S. Clark, Miss Alice Reum, class advisor. A great tribute to the prom was the fact that 210 couples attended, the largest attendance at any prc,m. The music was provided by Ray Blacks or- chestra of Northampton. Page Forty -five

Page 33 text:

“ Onward and Upward ” Turners Palls High School 1944 “LOST HORIZON” One of the biggest events in our four years of high school was our senior play. Although the play itself lasted but a few hours, weeks and weeks of work went into it. After the cast had been carefully selected they were given their thick little books to go, home and memorize. Two afternoons every week the actors and actresses-to-be went briavely through their lines, leaving themselves and Miss Teed exhausted. In order to prevent nervous breakdowns time out was allowed at each rehearsal to eat refreshments th,at had been provided by different members of the cast. Before the play was over even the boys could bake. The cast, however, did not complete the “Lost Horizon set. Miss Teed had chosen groups of boys and girls to take over the many other respon- sibilities of producing a play. Coistumes, scenery, furniture and electrical equipment were needed. The costume ocmmittee searched the town over for evening gowns, fur coats and tuxedos. A balcony scene had to be painted and screens covered. The “clean up” committee got down qn their hands and knees and scrubbed the entire stage. I think the electricians, however, outdid everyone in ingenuity. A visitor on the “Lost Horizon” set would have been amazed at all the queer contraptions about him. Searchlights were perched 0|n top of long planks that were held erect by three boards nailed together. The High Lamia’s stately chair was crowned with a barrel hoop from which a blue electric light bulb dangled. Wires ran everywhere threatening to trip someone. There was more excitement before rehearsals than when the players were going through their parts. Leonard Aldrich had to play his one land only piece, “Chopsticks” on the piano. Donald Felton could be seen crawling back of the scenery to adjust a spotlight. Joe Constance and Ronald Warren ran wildly about shooing everyone away from their precious electrical works, while Virginia Richardson and Phyllis Schneider studied the problem of ho.w to get their mountain range up with the balcony windows nailed shut. A few of the players sat quietly studying their lines but most of them had more important things to do. Brian Jacobus, Varick Smith and Edward Simanski slipped out from beneath the watchful eyes off Miss Teed and went to watch the boys practice basketball at the gym. Fay Carroll, Geraldine McCarthy and Marguerite LeMoine hopped about chattering to Larry Bolan- ger in their newly acquired Tibetan language. Jean Spencer and Jeanne Pelletier glided gracefully in front of Miss Teed in their costumes while Doris Englehardt, Claire Thomas and Mary Care watched anxiously to see it they would meet with approval. Katherine Clark chased Leonard away from the piano and began to practice her music, accompanying an argument going on between Sylvia Annear. Alice Pervere and Kenneth Rau and David Gunn. The night of the play came and went all too quickly. After the last happy face had been wiped clean of makeup by Ruth Wilson and Marion Hauessler, the cast and members of the committees were all invited to a chicken pie supper given by Mrs. Jacobus and Mrs. Pelletier. We danced to a late hour and then went home to dream about the touch of Broadway that had come to Turners Falls. Pdf, ie Forty-seven