Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

Page 19 text:

Conflict Unites Clashing Views The conflict between a father’s grasp on his deep-rooted traditions and his son’s struggle to break away from them in a new land sets the scene for Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical, “Flower Drum Song, which VHS students pre- sented in the summer of ’74. Due to the availability of spare time during summer vacation, the atmo- sphere of the choir-sponsored musical was more relaxed than most school pro- ductions. This allowed students more time to perfect their parts and also gave incoming sophomores a taste of working in high school drama. “I liked having the freedom we had doing the musical during the summer,” commented one cast member. “We seemed to get a lot done but I don’t think anyone felt rushed for time.” 1. Wang Ta, portrayed by Jeff Roscoe, meekly asks Linda Low to marry him, not knowing that she s secretly dating Sammy Fong. 2. Looking forward to his marriage to Linda Low, Marty Gehring, as Sammy Fong, sings “Sunday.” 3. Wang Chi ang, along with other friends and relatives, celebrates the American Citizenship awarded to his sister. Madam Liang, in “Chop Suey.” Musical — 15

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1. Dreaming of the pleasures of high society, Nancy Gunther and the dancing ensemble sing “Grant Avenue.” 2. As the show begins at Sammy Fong’s Celestial Bar, Frankie Wing, played by Terry Grindley, introduces the musical act. 14 — Musical

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Concerts, Sockhops Overcome Mid-week, Week-end Boredom Sockhops, which continued to gain popularity at VHS, usually found the gym’s north balcony strewn with coats and shoes as students jammed onto the middle of the floor to dance to the earsplitting music of the performing band. Although the price was raised from $1.50 per couple to $1.00 per person because of increased band fees, they remained an inexpensive form of recreation. Held after football and bas- ketball games, the average dance raised nearly two hundred dollars for the club sponsoring it. VHS’s bands and choirs also pro- vided another form of student enter- tainment as they held Christmas and pre-contest concerts in the auditorium. Profits were put in band and choir funds and used toward repairs of worn equipment and the purchase of new instruments and costumes used in con- tests and public performances. 1. Making the most of ANA’s music, Donna Breitzke boogies at a club-sponsored sockhop. 2. To help set the scene for the Christmas concert, Jerry Ortega runs the spotlight. 3. Sockhops continue to be a popular money- making activity at VHS. YARC member Ruby Lee collects the profits after the Chesterton foot- ball game. 1