Subject: RE: More memories
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 23:50:45 -0400
From: "James Lightfoot" [lightfoj@erols.com]
To:ALL
OK, time to join this. Sent a letter to Terry Fuchs a few weeks ago with some
memories, but I'll copy the list and with minimal editing give them here. As
with most things, probably should have even more editing, but what the heck,
that's why we have a delete button. This has a good number of repeats of other
people's thoughts, but the repetition only shows how effective the imprint was!
What was the most popular local radio station? WIRL 1290 AM (Remember
how many FM stations they had in Peoria when we were in high school one
WMBD, which broadcast classical music.) Remember when WPEO started the
first rock, but they had to go off the air at sunset, and WIRL stepped into the
breach.
What Chicago radio station played rock music and was commonly listened
to in the evening? WLS 890 on the dial. And the most popular DJ there
Dick Biondi. OK trivia buffs, what did the initials WLS stand for -
World's Largest Store - it was owned by Sears. And no, Walmart did not buy it
out when they became the world's largest store.
And some other celebrities Tom Connor, Gordon Joyner, Chick Hearn (later
with the LA Lakers), Jim Jensen (went on to be the weatherman at WBZ in
Boston). And cant remember his name think it was Harrison at WMBD.
And remember when channels 19, 31 and 43 became 19, 25 and 31.
Discussions on whether to go to Sandys or McDonalds? And the
15¢ hamburgers, 10¢ fries, cant remember the shakes
werent they around 20¢. And Kramers, Hunts, and I still remember the
Pork Tenderloins at A&W. That and a root beer float. Now that's nutrition!
Cruising SteaknShake? And all the guys in the car knew the girls
were looking at them but God forbid actual contact and talking to them.
And of contact with the opposite gender, remember The Rec boys on one
side, girls on the other. Until some brave souls would break the ice.
Remember South Study Hall and North Study Hall. And remember how raucous South
Study Hall was? That was the place for rolling pennies and ball bearings down
the aisles as a distraction. And I think it was the old Latin teacher who gave
a notorious setup. At least in the war story I heard it was attributed to her.
She purportedly got upset with the ball bearings and picked up a couple of them
and asked, All right, now, who has the steel balls? An anonymous
voice in the back of the study hall yelled out Supermannnnnnnn!!!!
and brought the house down. Have a suspicion this belongs with Urban Legends,
but bought into at the time and obviously still enjoy it.
And remember the doowop singers in the stairwell in one corner of the school.
Got a great reverb effect.
And intramural sports I remember the fun we had playing basketball, even
though the team I was on was far from stellar.
We only vaguely knew about gay people and you definitely did not want to
wear green and gold on Thursday, which was supposed to be a secret identifier.
Funny when I talk to my kids and see how much the generational attitudes and
tolerances have changed on this subject. And they changed with the passage of
time for most of us, too.
And another thing that changed with time, views on race. We didn't have many
black students, but it was a time of change in Peoria and the rest of America.
I remember our home room nominated Marcia Wilson to be our representative for
Homecoming Queen - and somebody came straight down from the front office to see
if we were doing some sort of joke or mocking the school by nominating a black
student. She happened to be the best looking girl in our home room, and the
barriers were only beginning to come down. We were in the vanguard of a needed
change, and maybe you were aware of it, but I wasn't. Mel Irving was on the
student council. Lennie Crooks was a good debater - and went on to become an
entertainment attorney in New Orleans.
And the Rialto Theatre who was the guy in our class who led the way for
student rates at local theaters he became a folk hero of sorts and I
think he dated Cisty Swain? Need some help here. Also, when we were in high
school we no longer worried about Producers Points (the points on
Producers Milk products - 25 points got you into the matinee on Saturday)
that was kid stuff.
Better to walk to school for miles than suffer the humiliation of riding the
bus. Even in the dead of winter. No idea why that idea took over but it
did.
Clothing Guys: Khaki pants with a buckle on the back, and Ive
forgotten all the symbolism of whether it was buckled or unbuckled; ivy league
striped button down shirts; penny loafers and hush puppies.
And on Saturday did you have a fight over who got the family car? In our home
my brother and I tangled on this regularly, and were greatly flummoxed when our
parents expressed a desire for the car. The nerve that old people would want
the car on our night? And the brands of gasoline remember Traffic
Master? Is it still around? My dad got an entire collection of plates and
glasses that was our standard setting at home. You know, the white glass
plates with a gold rim. When the folks died, and Bob and I were cleaning up the
items left, there were still a whole collection of the dessert size ice cream
dishes - and yes, my family now enjoys ice cream from Traffic Master bowls. And
the Clark station, where they only sold Premium, but it was open 24 hours. Oh,
did your dad have a limit on how much the car could be used X miles this
evening, and the like? I think I could still disconnect or reconnect the
odometer in a 58 Ford in about ten seconds. And guess to within a quart
how much gas it would take to get it back where it should be.
And speaking of cars remember Paul Beard, the Kar King. He
was a sponsor of late night movies on TV, and how many in our class remember
his ditty Now dont be skeered, of old Paul Beard He
aint got no larnin, but hes as happy as can be, sellin
good cars natcherly! Truly forgettable, and no, I dont know why my
brain opted to retrieve this and forget much more important items.
In 1962 we barely knew what or where Vietnam was. How many in our class went
there and how many died there? I hope we take a moment to remember them and any
others of our classmates who are no longer able to join us.
How hard we worked to earn that Doctor of Frogology in Miss
Kinhofers biology class? And the other great teachers we had I
particularly remember Miss Albright, Mrs Herke, Mrs. Wood, Mr. Bauder, Miss
Stepaitis my brother loved Miss Rice for English, but I never had her as
a teacher. Chemistry with "Teddy Bear" Fluegel. Geometry with Mr.
Vandeventer. We had a great faculty and owe a lot to them. The only complete
loser I remember in the bunch well, its too easy to take cheap
shots who was it that said to Brutus De mortuis nihil nisi
bonum Of the dead speak only good - Ill leave it that it was
an algebra teacher and it was not Mr. Bockowitz.
And how did we get along without a huge administration? I remember Mr. Whitaker
was the counselor, VP and basketball coach. Here in Maryland we average about
one administrator per teacher in our district. And DC is even worse.
And music in our group - Dave Blanchard was a good guitarist, and years ago
when I was on the faculty at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway,
Arkansas who should I run into - Dave - working for Baldwin piano when it had a
factory in Conway. And Wild Child Gipson - this guy was a local Little Richard.
Some scholar of popular culture should interview the local rock groups from the
start of the era and find out what moved them. Sounds like they are
disappearing from the scene.
Well, this is gross overkill. Enjoy.
My wife Pam and I look forward to the reunion. We just celebrated our 25th
anniversary last year, and it seems hard to believe that this is the fortieth
anniversary of graduating from high school. That used to be just for old
people! Thank goodness it's changed. I've enjoyed relating the nostalgia, but
we're still a group with a future, and I look forward to hearing about what
many of us plan to do with it.
Jim Lightfoot