Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

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The Senior Year Book — 1939 13, 1939? I can never remember the importance of that date. CHORUS OF GIRLS—“Red” Hepburn landed! BOYS—Ohhh! GINNY—Patriotism was given a great boost, too. Rita Alexander won the essay contest sponsored by the Elks Club on “Americanism”; and Ethel Vredenburg, the poster contest on the same subject. Yes, and the local delegate to the Daughters of the American Revolution was Angela Nardone. WALT—The 1938 hurricane caused the planting of many trees in 1939. Among those cooperating in this constructive movement was the Senior Class which left three rock maples to Westerly High School, its President so aptly suggesting. “May their shade keep our memory green in the years to come.” RUTH—Miss I’Lee Rippetoe, the latest movie find, was discovered by talent scouts Art (Scene opens with the people from the first act walking around, looking at the different booths at the World's Fair.) MILLIE—I'm stiff from that long ride, but I can’t wait to see the Fair. Let’s go over and see what’s in this booth. It looks mightv interesting. RITA—Oh, look! The World of Tomorrow! Come on, let’s go in here. I’ve always wanted to know what the future has in store for me. Lois, why don’t you come with me? You’re eager to learn your fate, aren’t you? LOIS—Yes, of course. I’ll go in with you. RAY—May I come, too? Lois—Yes, we’ll need a chaperon! Here goes! (They go through the doorway of World of Tomorrow) (Prudy comes in humming “Little Sir Echo,” looking for her echo. Bud is behind the Perisphere whistling. He peeks around the corner, and Prudy sees him. He comes out and whistles while Prudy sings. They are both dressed in Swiss costumes.) while taking the lead in a school play, “Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh,” in which she was ably supported by Joseph Cappuccio, Betty Kugler, Ernest Saunders, Prudence Dower, Florence Tamer, Clifford Fusaro, Pauline Merrill, Angela Nardone, Joseph Pucci, and William Anderson, and Patrick Visgilio. My, that was a play! FLORENCE—And wasn’t Mrs. Van Horn an inspiring coach? And I think the only other things we have to remember are the memorable names Angela Nardone, Valedictorian, and Ruth Whitford, Salutatorian. CHORUS—Whew! .... It’s about time we came to an end of the achievements of that class. Talk about the ancient Greeks! GINNY—Let’s hear a song from Hester before we go. This history has half killed me; and besides, we have to get up early to go to the fair. (Curtain after song) Qlmo GEORGE—Now, folks, be sure to get your souvenirs over here at this booth. (Jessie and Angela in the booth distribute gifts to the people on the stage in the form of souvenirs from the country which they are representing. Rita, Lois and Ray come out of the World of Tomorrow.) LOIS—We’ve so many exciting things to tell you! RAY—Just think, in our excursion into the World of Tomorrow, we found out what everybody in our class will be doing ten years from now. RITA—Quiet, everyone. Listen! I have to admit I did get lost in there, but it was such a beautiful place I didn’t mind. First I came upon a big city. The buildings were very tall, streamlined structures exhibiting a severe and modernistic type of architecture. There were the cutest little shops, so colorful and gay they seemed to beckon to everyone to come in and visit. I stepped up to a very distinguished-looking young man to inquire as to my whereabouts (confidentially, I think it was his moustache that made him look so distinguished) and after a second look, I dis- A 14 ►-

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The Senior Year Book — 19.39 FLORENCE—Angela Nardone was the only Sophomore on the “Senior” Board; Joseph Bingley was another famous personage—he made the baseball team in his Sophomore year. We girls ought to remember him because he was the handsomest man in the book. Then, too, there was an epidemic of melancholia because the beloved and much revered Miss Laura E. Mclntire retired. That resulted in the great flood of 1937, caused by the tears of her students and friends. That producer of fine dramas, Miss Morwenna Tellier, inspired Joseph Cappuccio and George Tro-vato, Sophomores, to win first and second prizes, respectively, in Prize Speaking. WALT—Well, I guess we can remember that, but what else happened? JOSEPHINE—Who was the famous essayist who won the airmail contest and made a through trip to Washington in 1938? Name was something like Alexandria. RUTH—Rita Alexander; and do you remember the celebrated woman orator who won prize speaking that year? GINNY—Oh, I know, Angela Nardone! And because of the depression the national debt wasn’t paid, and the class was Promless! RUTH—Miller was inaugurated for a second term in 1937; and his cabinet consisted of Jessie Sawyer, Treasurer, and Jim Harvey, Secretary. The Vice-President was Carlton Weall. FLORENCE—The W. H. S. network presented an amateur hour in which Prudence Dower won secondary honors; and two Chinese coolies, “Sing Loo” Bud Saunders and “Chop Suey” Jim Harvey originated their popular version of “Chop Sticks.” BILL—I guess they did originate it, and terminate it, too, for they never played anything else at their subsequent public appearances. MILLIE—In the Chemistry Contest of 1938 the team took third place; and a titian-head named Lois Maines captured girls’ first prize. Among the celebrated foreign visitors were Angela Nardone and Anna Murano, who tied for the Junior Dante Prize. JOSEPHINE—And didn’t James Harvey win the Hi-Y cup, awarded for versatility and personality? WALT—Yes! Then, too, there was a sudden transition in the printing industry with the change from the old-type printed “Senior” to the more original mimeographed magazine. GINNY—Oh, gosh, there’s another election to remember. Because of his extreme popularity, Walt Miller was elected President for a third term, overruling all customary proceedings. Who were the others? JOE—Oh, 1 recall that election. The Vice-President was James Harvey; the Treasurer was William Anderson; and Angela Nardone was the Secretary. RUTH—In spite of the devastating hurricane, this remarkable class met its obligations and had a Senior Prom. FLORENCE—Yes! Yes! And that’s the year that a new political organization was formed by the girls, who were exasperated by the inactivity of the boys. Led by a Senior Suffragette President, Sultana Koulbanis, the Leaders’ Club cooperated in producing scrapbooks and working out a new point system, and .... MILLIE—Now wait a minute 'til I get this down. RUTH—Then there was a party split causing a Civil War. The girls used all their subtle weapons to lure masculine allies. The termination of the strife culminated in a drawn battle in which they tossed a basketball-gas bomb at each other. FLORENCE—Finally peace reigned between the parties, for they united in a May Formal. BILL—Don’t forget the Olympics. She’s bound to ask us about them. The crosscountry won the state championship, and Captain Cappuccio set a new record. And don’t you remember the keen competition in the half-mile between James Harvey of Westavia and Homer Tripp of Stonasia, and Harvey’s glorious victory? WALT—. . . . and Carlton Weall was the only one to get a sweater in football. EMILIO—. . . . and the band was organized. BILL—Say, what happened February '3

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The Senior Year Book — 1939 covered it to be our own Pat Visgilio, who, as a prominent and prosperous Doctor of Medicine, was returning from a meeting with the board of trustees from his own hospital. He offered to show me the city. Just then his chauffeur drove up in the latest streamline model limousine, and I found him to be none other than Louis Giorno. On our way through the city I remarked to Pat on the large number of chain stores, and was especially interested in the name of them—“Great International Stores, Inc., William Anderson, President.” Pat suggested we stop for tea at “Dottie’s Tea Shop” owned and operated by Dottie Tet-low. She had four very charming waitresses, all graduates of Florence Kennedy’s Hostess Academy, who were quickly identified as the Misses Jean Williams, Charlotte Spear, Frances Weeden, and Juliet Capalbo. I noticed particularly that Miss Williams was very busy at a table occupied by many honorable gentlemen whq proved to be members of the Bachelors’ Club, Ronnie Carlson presiding. Other familiar faces at that table were those of Walter Brown, and Johnston Hepburn. After stopping to chat a few minutes with each of them, we made our way to the car but were stopped by a newsboy yelling “Extra! Extra!” and guess what it was all about! Lois Maines had won the Nobel Prize for contributing most nobly to the literary field, both in prose and poetry. Such grand news! I was thrilled. This sudden pause also caused me to glance across the street to a building exhibiting a sign which read, “Join Our School of Singing, Dancing, and Dramatics Under the Supervision of Miss Prudy Dower, D. G. A.” (Doctor of Graceful Arts). That was all I needed. We immediately crossed the street and entered the building. We didn’t see Prudy, however, as she had just recently signed a radio contract and was away at the studio. But her attractive assistants, the Misses Connie Phillips, Gil-da Garafolo, and Betty Champlin, were carrying on very nicely. Jean Crockett was seated at the piano fingering the keys in great style. Speaking of the graceful arts, Pat told me that if I were staying longer, he would take me to Hollywood to see I’lee Rippe-toe, the latest find in the movie industry, and Janet Macomber, the chief make-up expert there. Francis Card was there, also, taking a screen test. Now he will have more female admirers than ever. But as time did not permit my seeing these old friends of mine, I was contented simply to hear such wonderful news about them. As we left that building, I saw two very-familiar names on the door of a large office: Berarducci and Fusaro, Certified Public Accountants. I began to realize then that our class was certainly getting places. On our approaching the car again. Pat murmured in a low tone, “Don’t look now. but those two young ladies coming out of the Parisian Style Shop are this season’s most popular debutantes, Joy Beattie and Mary K. Robertson. I hardly recognized them. But they recognized me and came over to the car. They could scarcely wait to tell me that Josephine Santoro and Joe Cappuccio had won the National Debating and Oratorical Contest. We invited them to come along, but they had to decline our offer as they were on their way to the dock to say good-bye to Jim Harvey, who was sailing to Europe to serve for a year as exchange professor at the Sorbonne. We headed for the outskirts of the city and on our way passed many little unique pop-corn stands all under the sole ownership of Harold Howard. Hr had some good assistants, too—Bill Burdick and George Fish. A little farther on, we passed a laboratory in which James Beebe, biologist, and John Drew, physicist, experimented. On going further, we found parked at the side of the road an open touring car in which sat “Syl” Cofone and “Banjv” Gencarelli engaging in a terrific argument with the State Cep Frank Crandall. I understand they were on their way home from the Golden Gate Exposition. A little slow, but then! After wishing them the best of luck, we drove into a road which led to the State University for Women. of which Ruth Whitford was dean. Most of the faculty- came from Westerly “•s( 15 £• -