Subject: Re: More memories
Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 10:10:54 -0400
From: "Larry Norton" [larrynorton@paonline.com]
To: ALL

Hi everyone!

I have been surprised by the memories of teachers, of all people, even though many I do recall when prompted by your recollections. I seem to remember mostly music - not school music but the rock n roll, popular tunes. Most of the specific songs I associate with people. Dave, I do remember Wild Child singing Wolverton Mountain at the Sheridan Inn and at some club he played at on the South Side of town. I do remember Buddy Holly, especially Peggy Sue, which I associate with Carrie Sue Clauss, a year ahead of us. Maybe it was her pony tail, mostly though her figure.

The singing voices I remember weren't those of Larry Rager and Becky Bourland - sorry - but the dulcet tones and harmonies of Rocky Carter and Bill Wessels-

Rocky - God Rest His Soul - loved The Kingston Trio - Tom Dooley, Scotch and Soda, etc and I remember singing along with him in his basement rec room.

Wessels loved and still loves the Everly Brothers - Don and Phil - "Dream" - what harmony - I remember going out to the strip mines - we went there quite a bit to get away from authorities - sitting on a big rock in the middle of one lake, with a transister radio - remember what a great technological revolution - harmonizing with Don and Phil and "The Lump." Maybe he wants to be called "William Wessels" by those who know him now (not likely) but he will always be The Lump to me. Just as you Dave Weisert are "Smiley ___." Sure, and I remember Shantilly Lace - The Lump or also "Walls" loved it, as he and I loved - see if you remember this one - "Betty Lou Gotta New Pair of Shoes." I remember sitting on the steps outside the locker room in back of school, after a hot football practice and before going in to get the equipment off or before getting a ride home - singing both of these songs.

I remember lifting weights after Sophomore or Junior year at some gym down near Spalding, sitting in the heat in the open windows listening to "Mother in Law" by ???? and "Blue Moon" - Dip da dip da dip da da - The only guys I remember doing this with were Brian Pavlon and Spandy Parks - the guys who loved and were so proud of their chests and arms.

I remember freshman year, sitting in home room, I think - maybe Mr. O'Toole - and hearing over and over again, in my mind I think, that great Bobby Darin song "Splish Splash."

Probably sophomore or junior year, Dave Sanderson, Bill Stuber, and I - we were pretty much inseparable in those years - coming from Calvin Coolidge together, went to see a movie called "Key Witness." I can't remember anything about it except the music, "Theme >From Key Witness." I still remember the tune, although they may not and it is impossible to reproduce here.

It says something about our time at PHS, I think, that virtually all of my memories of music are associated, not with girls, but with guys. This is where we spent our time - with other guys and girls with girls. I can't remember having any serious discussions with girls in high school. Don't ask how many serious discussions with other guys.

I didn't even know girls still had "spreads." I knew you all hung around in special groups, as did guys. I knew that these groupings and where you were was the most important thing going on in your life, but I thought "spreads" had been prohibited after my sister went to PHS.

Maybe I wasn't quite as superficial as all this suggests, but that is how I remember it.

Larry Norton

Run a Round Sue - what a great song - always associated with Doug Beard's girlfriend at the time, Sue Stanley? Cathy's Clown by the Everly Brothers, another name for Joe Hanlon!