Class Prophecy
While on a vacation tour of the United States during the month of June, 1957, I decided to look up my former high school classmates and find out what they were doing on the tenth anniversary of their graduation from South Kortright Central School.
During my stay in New York City I spent an evening at the VILLAGE BARN, one of Greenwich Village's better-known night clubs, and there I ran into Olen Burdick. Olen, who always devited most of his time to art, still does, and his zeal has paid off for he is now art editor of ESQUIRE magazine, having replaced Varga in the position. Olen suggested that I attend a matinee at the Paramount Theatore the next day and assured me that I would be pleasantly surprised. This I did, and, to my astonishment, discovered that the star of the Paramount stage show was none other than my old pal, Edgar Simmons. He was billed as the new Sinatra, but his singing reminded me more of Al Jolson. After the show I had a pleasant chat backstage with Ed and his charming wife, the former Phyllis Reynolds. Phyllis was very much peeved at Ed for forgetting that it was their anniversary, but Ed managed to appease her with one of his best alibies. Guess Edgar hasn't changed much.
I asked Ed if he'd hear from his sister Eleanor lately, and he informed me that Eleanor was extremely happy for she had finally got what she wanted -- the man of her dreams for her husband and a lovely little white house with green blinds and surrounded by a white picket fence. she and her husband would be glad to see any of the class of '47 any time you're in the vicinity of Grand Gorge, New York.
Having always been an ardent circus fan, I took in Ringling Brothers - Barnum Circus at Madison Square Garden that evening. Imagine my surprise when the ringmaster introduced the feature act of the circus -- and exhibition by Stanley's Atomic Hell-Drivers, starring Stanley Chichester, whose death-defying feats behind the wheel are well-known to all circus and fair fans. Stanley's experiences during his chool days certainly qualified him for his present hazardous profession. He confessed to me after the hsow that he really was surprised that people would pay him just for crashing cars.
I asked Stanley if he had heard from Gordon Briggs lately. He told me that he had and I was amazed to hear that Gordon, who always had so much to say at S. K. C. S., has finally settled down as manager of McLean's Farms and is now listening while the Mrs. (the former Blanche Wood) does the talking.
While Standley and I were talking about our classmates, I became a little melancholy and decided taht the best thing to do would be to take a trip to Hobart and visit some of my classmates. So, after bidding farewell to Stanley I went directly to LaGuardia Field and took the first plane to Hobart.
The first classmate I met was Gordon Loucks. He has now replaced Lew White as Hobart's leading undertaker. Gordon is doing very well, but when business is slack, he ires Jay Vrooman to go around and set fires to various buildings and Gordon and his hears get to the fires right behind the fire trucks. Jay Vrooman, by the way, is now chief veterinarian for the E. L. Foote enterprises of Hobart and vicinity.
After the trip from New York, I needed my hair done so i went to the Hobar Beauty Salon where i discovered that Freida Martin was the beatician. Freida, who always had pretty hair and wore the latest styles, delights her customers by fixing their coiffures. I asked Freida how June Oakley was getting along and she informed me that JUne is now a leading child psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins. We wondered if she teaches the children that giggle.
By the way, Hobart no longer has a Mayor. The town voted to adopt the town manager system of government and elected for its first town manager our classmate, "Mike" Cillis. As you know, Jim graduated from the Utica School of Design, and his training stood him in good stead
1947•18
as town manager. Jim's pet project was the reconversion of Montgomery Park into a real park, all plans for said project being drawn up by Jim. During his spare time in summer he supervises the village playground in the rear of the grade school, and in the winter runs a private gymnasium where business men go to keep physically fit. His partner in this venture, who is also his wife, is none other than the former Lulu Beckett.
George Robertson is president of the Hobart Bank and now lives in Hobart. His wife, Helen, insisted on his moving from Bloomville. Incidentally, a new and larger variety of sprouts was developed by George nad now "Robertson's King-Sized Sprouts" are as famous as Campbell Soup. George's very efficient private secretary is non other than the former Electa Sanford, now happily married to her sweetheart of high school days. After graduation from Business College, Electa had a fine governmental position in Washington, D. C., but the call of the hills of home was stronger than the glamour of a career, so Electa resigned her position and came back here. She is in great demand as a speaker at clubs, luncheons, and other gatherings because of her excellent collection of after-dinner jokes, stories, and anecdotes.
Of course, I just had to visit S. K. C. S. and was very pleased to meet my classmate, Mary St. George, there. Mary is the new music teacher there and of course her name has been changed from Miss to Mrs. The last name is Rvanera, in case you haven't guessed. I inquired how Dick was getting along these days and she told me that he is an outstanding designer and as a sideline is the silent partner in business with Mr. Cross, our former music instructor.
Frances O'Blinski is just what we all guessed she would be -- happily married. And she still spends her leisure time dancing.
Carolyn Pogue is hostess and new owner of the former Dales' Restaurant. She has made the restaurant famous for its delicious smorgasbord dinners, served under her supervision. Evidently Carolyn's four laps around the smorgasbord table in the Stockholm Restaurant on our Senior class trip made a lasting impression on her. As i recall the incident, she did mention it was the first time she really ever had been able to completely satiate her appetite. Carolyn dwells with her husband on the McMurdy farm in South Kortright.
Barbara Pardy is now head of the New York State Telephone Operators Union and in private life is Mrs. Olen Burdick.
Well, it certainly has been pleasant seeing and hearing about my high school classmates once again. I do hope all of you will be there for our fifteenth annual reunion to be held at Hotel Bristol in New York on June 15th, 1962. I must now hurry back as my vacation ends tomorrow.
1947•19
The 1947 Almedian - South Kortright Central School Yearbooks - SKCS 1947 Almedian
