Update 4-26-11

Hi,

And, yes, somehow, I forgot to wish everyone Happy Easter and Passover.  It's not that I'm anti-holidays.  I just can't remember anything.

Next, Stu Borman has nicely, quickly, posted that photo of Amy Lieberman, Barnet Kellman, Paul Zegler, and me on the class photo site -- link below -- so you can now see the four of us grinning.  The photo's in an album Stu's labeled "Rich Eisbrouch" because they're photos I sent him.  But I still don't know who a couple of those photos originally belonged to.

Stu also sent Judy Hartstone the link that I think Ray Staley may have made us all aware of several years ago.  It combines information about Rogers Airport, Curtiss Airport, and the Columbia Aircraft Company Airfield, all of which eventually became Green Acres and the Green Acres Shopping Center.  That link again is:  http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/NY/Airfields_NY_LongIsC.htm. and here's an excerpt from the site: 
    The history of this obscure little airport is somewhat convoluted and involves 2 obscure aircraft manufacturers which made their home at Valley Stream.  In 1928, Rogers Airport was opened on the southwest border of Valley Stream.  About a year later, Curtiss-Wright purchased the Rogers Airport and the Reisert Farm adjoining it.  Several millions of dollars were invested before the Curtiss Airport became operational.  Hundreds of planes used the facility daily, along with famous aviators like Charles Lindbergh and Wiley Post.  The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed women pilots, was established on November 2, 1929, when 26 licensed women pilots met at Curtiss Airport in Valley Stream.  In 1931. Amelia Earhart was elected as their first president.  The group was named for the 99 charter members.  The Columbia Aircraft Company was formed in Valley Stream in 1929 by Charles Levine, Giuseppe Bellanca, and Clarence Chamberlain to acquire the rights to a Wright Aircraft designed by Bellanca.  Curtiss Airport was the largest commercial airport on Long Island for 3 years starting in 1930.  The Valley Stream airport was also the location of Naval Reserve Aviation Base Valley Stream.  Training was given to 3 squadrons, and during the summer, flight training was given to 35 student flight officers. Leroy Grumman moved his fledgling aircraft company to the Curtiss Airport in 1931, but then moved on to Farmingdale the very next year.  In 1933, only 3 years after the Curtiss Airport had opened, the worsening conditions of the Depression reportedly led to the airport's closure.  However, the Columbia Aircraft Company evidently continued their operations at Valley Stream, and the closure only referred to the operations of the public airport.

Stu assures us that in the entire text, there's no mention of Judy's missing Locust Field.

To which Judy replied:  Thanks so much, Stu, for this comprehensive history.  Obviously, there was no Locust Field, so I imagined that part of it.  Maybe I'm totally misremembering the brief period that there was a LOcust 1 exchange phone number.

Similarly, from Peter Shapiro:  In response to Judy Hartstone -- here's Wikipedia's entry for the Green Acres Shopping Center (Mall):
    Green Acres Mall was built in 1956, replacing Curtiss Airfield as one of Long Island's first open air malls.  It was partially built on the former site of the Columbia Aircraft Corporation.  In 1968, the mall was enclosed "to create an even more appealing shopping environment."  At the time, there were three anchor stores. There were more renovations and an expansion in 1983 including adding a second level, a food court, and a fourth anchor store.

Completely unrelated, from Eric Hilton:  Good morning.  Sarasota just spent the last week hosting the 8th annual Film Festival.  There have been many famous movie stars here in the past, spending time in our lovely city, and this time, Gina Davis and Christopher Plummer were the guests.  But the exciting part was the my sister, Betty-Hilton-Greenspan -- South's class of '61 -- has a son, Shaun Greenspan, who’s short film, "The Break-Up," was accepted and previewed at the festival.  This wonderful film is a comedy about a 9-year-old boy who breaks up with his 8-year-old girlfriend on a pizza date.  It should be on the Internet soon, and hope all of you get to see it.
    Shaun, who is 32-years-old, has been living in Hollywood for years and has worked on productions of many hit TV shows and videos.  He's also been writing.  It just goes to show what talent South High has produced since its existence.
    As always, regards to all my South family.

From Robert Fiveson:  As I've said here before, when I worked at the Library of Congress, I discovered that one of the many secrets the library likes to hold close is its extensive porno collection.  One of the strangest parts of which is Playboy in braille.  At least, if you say, "I only read it for the articles," you could be believed.  It's a true story.
    As regards your neighbor-widow's tax benefit windfall:  clearly her husband had his tax planning well in hand.

From Ryki Zuckerman:  Your former neighbors donated the porn collection to a charity?   No, you must mean they sold it and donated the money, right?

Similarly, from Linda Cohen Greenseid:  I have to ask -- Which charity wanted your neighbor's porn collection?  Please tell us all.

[Rich:  It was a charity, I believe The Institure of Human Sexuality in -- where else? -- San Francisco.  The Institute also runs The Museum of Sex in -- where else? -- Las Vegas.]

Also from Ryki:  And nice phrase, Joanne Shapiro Polner: I am in the looking-back years

Some sad news, forwarded by Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  Did anyone tell you that Robert Leist from South's music department passed away?  He died on March 30th, and I'm not sure of the cause of death, but he was 89-years-old.  The family e-mail address is:  TheLeists@aol.com.  His wife, Evelyn, and the Leist's daughter, Nancy, both live in Sarasota, Florida.

[Rich -- As I've said here before, I remember Robert Leist for writing the music to "Valiant Falcons" and the words and music to the old Forest Road School marching song, "Side-by-Side."  As I haven't mentioned, I remember him more for introducing South to "South Rampart Street Parade," a piece of music I've liked ever since.]

Finally, from Eric Hilton again:  Could you please remind everybody that this is the last week of the Herald Tribune photo contest, and I could use everyone’s vote.  You can all vote every day until Sunday at 11:59 AM, and, if you do, I will buy you a cherry coke and fries at Molly’s Candy Store or a nice pastrami sandwich at Woodro’s. 
    Again, the link is:  http://heraldtribune.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=28884
    Paste the link in your browser
    Enter user ID and password and click "Login"
    Click "Vote"
    Click "View Gallery"
    My photo is # 4 (black and white, SURREAL BEACH)
    Click the "Vote" box
    And scroll down and click "Save Vote."
    Thanks.

The South '65 e-mail addresses:  reunionclass65.blogspot.com

The South '65 photo site:  picasaweb.google.com/SouthHS65 


Rich