Ventura Junior High School - Log Yearbook (Ventura, CA)

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t D presented by VlHlilY SHUW The most important and probably longest remembered event in connection with V. J. H. S, talent is our annual Mariners' Variety Show. This year, l939, gave to the student body and community a top-notch show with all performers turning in splendid performances. Grumps, a crotchety, bitter old man was excellently portrayed by Gale Graham. Another stellar performer was little Toddy, played by Russell Hodgson, who encouraged the troup of performers that were stranded by a halted train to strut their stuff. Patient, understanding Grandma was ably done by Genoa O'Neal. The time was early dusk and the place was Grump's garden. ..lnto the calm, peaceful night came the chatter of worried actors and actresses who had wandered into the vicinity of the garden, The performers, who, finally, with the aid of Toddy and Grandma, went through their acts, included such stars and novelties as Bettyjean Wilcox and Chuck Kane in an accordian duet, beautiful, soft, harp music, played by Helen Pendle- ton, a novel comedy act done by Helen Wagner and Rose Peddicord, dis- guised as the old gray mare, some popular melodies by our songbird, Anne Broadbent, a song and saxaphone solo by our maestroes of melody, Melvin Kirkman and Walter lsensee, a novel and different Book of Nursery Rhymes, the Girls' Glee club, ably assisted by prominent seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, a sweet and hot popular ditty gayly sung by Margie Pren tice, the melodious Boys' Glee club in an amusing minstrel act, those two little iitterbugs, June Arnold and Irene Smith, who sang and rated three encores and a hilarious skit promoted by La Verne Weisel, Wilbur Jensen and other H i -Y boys. Other numbers on the program included several tap dances by Bgty Ragland Patty Fix, Betty Higgins, and Georgianna Hedges, a current song by swing ster de luxe Colleen Watson, a charming combination soft shoe and tap dance by Mary Martha Morgan, a beautiful aria, ltalian Street Song by Nina Johnson. Pat Atwood proved her musical accomplishments by a difficult piano solo. Returning from her success of last year, Barbara Greenwood executed a complicated acrobatic dance, those musically inclined guitarists, Mickey Hem bree, Richard Hembree, Donald Wilson, and Elwood Case enraptured the list eners with melodies from Hawaii, and the ever-popular dance band set hands to clapping and feet to twitching with many popular swing numbers I 3 8 if 8 3 ilEHlH EHHUE PAHlY The popular Easter bunny made an unexpected visit to the annual eighth grade girls' party Thursday, March 30, in the lounge of the girls' gym. Begin- ning at 3.30, the girls had an hour of fun, playing games and dancing. The gym was decorated in typical Easter fashion with charming, green and yellow appointments, and refreshments of cookies and punch were served. An original holiday program was prepared under the direction of Shannon Jones, who was appointed by Helen Pendleton. Those taking part were Betty Swift, Neiva Butler, Louise Sandoz, Donna Arrants, Nadine Doran, Jean Miller, Elsie Tatum, Ruth Tuttle, and Salonge Barr, i451

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t at lllllll llllllllliilil Portraying scenes from famous Roman myths, the first and second year Latin students ioined together to entertain their mothers and other guests with several plays at their annual party and program Tuesday, March Zl, in the school auditorium and girls' gym. Warren Mann opened the program with a speech of thanks to the many people who helped to make the party a success, Carrying out the classical theme Newell Zaph played two well-known piano selections, Moonlight Sonata and Raindrop Prelude. The first play was an enactment of a court trial testing the Latin language. The last two plays, which were in Latin, dealt with heroic, mythical characters, the plots of which were told before they were presented. Following a musical program, refreshments were served in the girls' gym. Those taking part in the program were Helen Pendleton, harpist, Janice Adams, pianist, Nina Johnson, songstress, Bettyiean Wilcox, accordianist, Mickey and Richard Hembree, guitarists, Melvin Kirkman, saxaphone player, and Walter lsensee, singer. -siemens: El3llllSll Hllllllll Cie llllilllllllllf' December I3 was not bad luck as predicted but remains vividly stamped in the minds of the second-year Spanish classes, for that was the date of the annual Spanish Christmas party at which they enjoyed gay, quaint customs and observances. The highlight of the affair was the gaily bedecked pinata. The pinata, an old Spanish Christmas custom, is a huge crock filled to the top with delightful gifts, nuts, fruit, and candy. lt is hung from the ceiling, and the participants are blindfolded, then given a strong stick, and turned around three times. They are then told to hit the pinata and break it, but it finally had to crash to the floor to break. Alice Valera and Evangeline Guzman were in charge of decorating the pin- ata, Helen Alexakis and Norma Dahlgren, with the aid of their refreshment committee, served punch, ice cream, and delicious cakes, and Cecil Thacker headed the brigade making up the clean-up committee. Nllllllullllillllillllllll Successfully handled by three charming hostesses, Lois Todd, Phyllis West and Betty Cook, the ninth grade girls' party given by the Girls' L ague So ial Service committee was held in the lounge of the girls' gym, February Zl For entertainment, two dancing contests were held, a waltz and a iitterbug Betty Curtis and Nina Johnson won the waltz, and two couples, Phyllis West and Lois Todd, Colleen Watson and Marie Miles, won the jitterbug Refreshments were served by Jean Ann Weir, Helen Pendleton and Jean Hinsdale, members of the Social Service committee, who sponsored the affair The glasses of punch, accompanying small tea cookies, were attractively arranged to form a large V. J. H. l 45 l

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4 t Elllllllllll The day when the carnival-goers heralded the beauteous May queen and her attractive attendants at the carnival arrived at long last on May S amid a burst of fanfare and festivity. Shattering tradition, the identity of her highness, the queen, had already been revealed. By popular vote, Ann Cooney was chosen to the honored position. Ac- companying her in the processional were sixteen attendants, the girls being those with the highest merit record in the tenth grade. Instead of the usual May festivities, the entertainment was in the form of a carnival held from 2:30 until 6:00. Prominent V. J. H. organizations sponsored the concessions which made up the carnival. The attendants did a special dance, arranged by Miss Tarnblyn. Each girl was beautifully arrayed in a spring formal of lovely, pastel colors. Attendants were Maxine Smith, Jackie Herring, Mary Tony, Jean Ann Weir, Naomi Nakaya, Jean Hinsdale, Helen Pendleton, Grace Moore, Shirley Wells, Ann Broadbent, Helen Alexakis, Dorothy Stein, Arles Papstein, Yvonne Poole, Norma Dahlgren and Beulah Needham. A list of the concessions and their sponsors were: Guess How Many Beans, Sub Deb club, Portrait Drawing, Art class, Treasure lsland, Friendship committee, Hot Dog Stand, Tenth grade, Lemonade Stand, World Friendship, Popcorn, Social Senfice, Fish Pond, Hospitality committee, Candied Apples, Girls' League, Coca-Cola Stand, Publicity committee, Fortune Teller, Seventh grade Charm club, Dance Band, Advanced band, Ring Toss, Sponsors, Hawaiian Booth, Girls' League Finance committee, Duck Ringing, Boys' League, Ice Cream Booth, Leadership Club, Candy Booth, Book club, Ice Cups, Girls' League, Fun House, Hi-Y A's, Sponge Show, A. S, B. commis- sioners, Dart Throwing, School Service, Abba Zaba lthe human balli Arm- strong's period four, Ball Throwing, Letterman club, Battle Busters, World Friendship, G. A. A. Review, G. A. A. isxxrtxrzm Beginning the annual G. A. A. spread, a hockey game was played betwc ft the ninth and tenth graders that showed the elders victorious followed by th spread in the junior-high cafeteria in January. Under the direction of Georgiana Hedges and Betty Cook, a program skill fully performed, was given which consisted of two skits, musical numbers an interesting reading, and a classic by the girls' sextette. Secorra Torres made the decorations for the table, which consisted of pipe cleaners representative to the last detail of a hockey team. The next G. A. A. affair was a banquet in May and was the same type affair. lt was held in honor of the baseball games between the seventh and eighth grades and another between the ninth and tenth graders. The appointments were arranged to portray the eventful basball season and were done by a committee appointed by Betty Cook, vice-president l +7 I