Update 8-21-12
Hi,
Sorry for the slight delay. I was upgrading from DSL to Broadband, and it took a little longer than I thought it would. In any case, a series of notes and then a reunion article.
First, from Peggy Cooper Schwartz: To add to the thread on Streisand, Kazan, and summer-camp -- I, too, went to Camp Che-Na-Wah / Baco, starting in 1956. In 1957, when Lainie Levine Kazan was the music counselor, she brought a Hofstra University friend of hers to camp to be the drama counselor at the boys camp (Baco). He was a skinny young man with a beard named Francis Coppolla. I told my parents he was a beatnik, and some of the kids thought it was funny that he brought a typewriter to camp -- he was aiming to become a screenwriter. I remember he and Lainie put on a nice production of Best Foot Forward -- the Camp's "Big Show." And I guess Francis Ford Coppolla realized his ambition.
[Rich -- I seem to remember that Barnet Kellman also directed plays in summer camp, and I think he was either still in high school or had just graduated.]
Next, from Emily Kleinman Schreiber: Thanks for the correction about Kitty Carlisle Hart's daughter.
From Robert Fiveson: Sorry to hog the bandwidth but three things: One, it was absolutely Vince Tampio who directed My Three Angels. Of that I am positive, as I remember it as though it were yesterday. Two, USC is the best film school in the world, and I say that not only because I have an MFA in cinema from there. I was in the class of 1972, right behind George Lucas and just before Robert Zemekis. Three, Linda Adams, who I had an incurable lust for, rocked my world when she wrote the following in my yearbook: "Dear Bob, if you were a few years older, and I was a few years younger -- oh boy!"
[Rich -- Yep, that's what I remembered Robert telling me about Linda Adams. Last week, I was just being polite.]
Robert also added: Addendum -- perhaps the most valuable "lesson" at USC was the affiliations made and the truth behind Uta Hagen's advice to her acting students. She said, "Maneuver and manipulate." I also must say publicly what I wrote Barnet Kellman privately -- to institute a formal course of study focused on comedy is a pure stroke of genius.
A social note from Arlene Ainbinder Lynn: Wednesday night, August 22nd, the group Risky Business will be performing at the Valley Stream Village Green band shell. The show starts at 8 PM, and bring a chair for yourself and snacks. Let's Rock 'n' Roll, South High alumni.
Another social note, from the other coast and from Amy Lieberman: Our special night is back again this year. Sunday, September 9th, at 7:30 PM, Billy Valentine and Friends will be performing a Night of Rhythm and Blues at the Tree People Amphitheater in Coldwater Canyon.
Come see why last year’s audience didn’t want him to leave the stage. A wonderful vocalist and songwriter -- “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” -- with a passionate club following all over Los Angeles, Billy brings his hand-selected band back for another evening of the soulful songs of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and more. Music lovers, don’t miss this. It's a great night out.
Come see why last year’s audience didn’t want him to leave the stage. A wonderful vocalist and songwriter -- “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” -- with a passionate club following all over Los Angeles, Billy brings his hand-selected band back for another evening of the soulful songs of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and more. Music lovers, don’t miss this. It's a great night out.
To learn -- and hear -- more, see: billy - valentine . com (please take out the spaces)
General admission is $25. For Santa Monica Conservancy Tree People members, it's $20. You may become a Tree People member for just $25, and that includes your admission and gives up to three other people in your party the membership discount.
For more information about Tree People or the Once Upon A Canyon Night concert series, visit: treepeople . org / once-upon-canyon-night (again, take out the spaces)
Parking is free, but carpooling is always appreciated. Pack a picnic dinner to enjoy in the park or in the amphitheater. And bring a sweater or lap blanket on the cooler evenings.
For more information about Tree People or the Once Upon A Canyon Night concert series, visit: treepeople . org / once-upon-canyon-night (again, take out the spaces)
Parking is free, but carpooling is always appreciated. Pack a picnic dinner to enjoy in the park or in the amphitheater. And bring a sweater or lap blanket on the cooler evenings.
Finally, the article, sent by Judy Hartstone who commented: Thought you might find this interesting. They claim to have one of the most active public high school alumni associations in the country. I would bet they don't have a weekly update. This article makes me more enthused about having a 50th Reunion.
[Rich -- What I noticed most was how much in common these classes have with ours at South and probably with many others.]
From the Santa Barbara News-Press, August 19, 2012:
Dons Reunite: Santa Barbara High Classes of 1952 and 1972 Hold Gatherings By Kelly Hoover
The Santa Barbara High School motto, "Once a Don, Always a Don," is more than just a saying for graduates of the classes of 1952 and 1972. In many cases, attendance at class reunions dwindles after 20 or 30 years, and some schools stop having the events altogether. But that couldn't be further from the case for Santa Barbara High, which had alumni flying in from as far away as Thailand and Panama to attend their 40th and 60th class reunions this weekend.
These alumni are living proof that the school spirit and camaraderie they experienced in high school still exists. About 90 classmates and their spouses from the Class of 1952, which originally numbered 380, gathered at Manning Park in Montecito for a barbecue. Instead of the usual dinner and dancing of previous reunions, the wiser and grayer graduates opted for a more casual event. "We got to the point where it was just too noisy. We just want to gab, anyway," said 78-year-old Rawlin Trimble, who lives in Auburn
and hasn't missed a reunion yet. "You feel younger because you are around everyone your own age,"
said Mr. Trimble with a laugh.
Now that the alumni are in their late 70s, jokes about getting old took center stage. "It is so great to see old friends. We even recognize each other most of the time," said Sona Macmillan, 77, of Santa Barbara.
"This is unbelievable," joked Dennis Smith of Los Angeles. "I didn't think I would live this long."
"It's nice to see people I knew in high school and see that they are still here and alive," said 78-year-old Julia Galindo Espinosa of Santa Barbara. "I've lost about five close friends from high school. You can't believe they are gone and you are here."
"We have to live it up because so many of us are gone. We are lucky to have had friends for 60 years," said Norma Campbell Pressley of Buellton, the onetime class treasurer.
Helen Latham Cornell, who has organized each reunion every five years since graduation, said this may be the last for her class. "It's great to see people I may not see again," Ms. Cornell said. "This
is such a strong tie that we have and everyone appreciates this so much." Ms. Cornell spent hours putting together posters covered with old newspaper clippings and photos for the reunion. Others brought out
their own memorabilia to share.
For high school sweethearts Gil Adams and his wife, Diane Ellingen Adams, the reunion was especially sweet. "We met in 10th grade in our home room class and I thought, 'Wow, she is cute. What a doll,' " Mr. Adams said. "I was in a band called Musical Makers and she was a girl in the chorus line. We started
dating and the rest is history. We've been married 58 years, have three kids and four grandkids." The Adamses live in a Los Angeles suburb.
Several high school sweethearts also were in attendance at Santa Barbara High School's 40th class reunion at the scenic Hyatt Mar Monte along the waterfront on Cabrillo. Dressed to impress and dining at tables decorated with olive and gold linens for the Dons, more than 225 graduates gathered for a night of fun and conversation about their days at Santa Barbara High.
These alumni are living proof that the school spirit and camaraderie they experienced in high school still exists. About 90 classmates and their spouses from the Class of 1952, which originally numbered 380, gathered at Manning Park in Montecito for a barbecue. Instead of the usual dinner and dancing of previous reunions, the wiser and grayer graduates opted for a more casual event. "We got to the point where it was just too noisy. We just want to gab, anyway," said 78-year-old Rawlin Trimble, who lives in Auburn
and hasn't missed a reunion yet. "You feel younger because you are around everyone your own age,"
said Mr. Trimble with a laugh.
Now that the alumni are in their late 70s, jokes about getting old took center stage. "It is so great to see old friends. We even recognize each other most of the time," said Sona Macmillan, 77, of Santa Barbara.
"This is unbelievable," joked Dennis Smith of Los Angeles. "I didn't think I would live this long."
"It's nice to see people I knew in high school and see that they are still here and alive," said 78-year-old Julia Galindo Espinosa of Santa Barbara. "I've lost about five close friends from high school. You can't believe they are gone and you are here."
"We have to live it up because so many of us are gone. We are lucky to have had friends for 60 years," said Norma Campbell Pressley of Buellton, the onetime class treasurer.
Helen Latham Cornell, who has organized each reunion every five years since graduation, said this may be the last for her class. "It's great to see people I may not see again," Ms. Cornell said. "This
is such a strong tie that we have and everyone appreciates this so much." Ms. Cornell spent hours putting together posters covered with old newspaper clippings and photos for the reunion. Others brought out
their own memorabilia to share.
For high school sweethearts Gil Adams and his wife, Diane Ellingen Adams, the reunion was especially sweet. "We met in 10th grade in our home room class and I thought, 'Wow, she is cute. What a doll,' " Mr. Adams said. "I was in a band called Musical Makers and she was a girl in the chorus line. We started
dating and the rest is history. We've been married 58 years, have three kids and four grandkids." The Adamses live in a Los Angeles suburb.
Several high school sweethearts also were in attendance at Santa Barbara High School's 40th class reunion at the scenic Hyatt Mar Monte along the waterfront on Cabrillo. Dressed to impress and dining at tables decorated with olive and gold linens for the Dons, more than 225 graduates gathered for a night of fun and conversation about their days at Santa Barbara High.
"For me it was more than a great education and athletic experience. I was also met the love of my life," said David Ortiz, the principal at La Colina Junior High, who married Leslie Rian Ortiz from his graduating class.
"We met in high school. He asked me to the prom but I already had a date," Mrs. Ortiz said. "We met again at San Diego State and started dating. It makes it easier that we know all the same people."
The Class of 1972 — one of Santa Barbara High's largest with 727 graduates — was a lively bunch, filling the room with laughter and conversation and later breaking into dancing to a band named Shades of Soul. The band that played at the class' high school after-game dances. Even though the group has met every five years since graduation, this was one of the best turnouts it has had, thanks to Facebook.
"We found people we haven't seen that came for the first time. It really took on a life of its own," said Gloria Cavallero of Santa Barbara, president of the Santa Barbara High Alumni Association. "We have one of the strongest alumni associations for a public high school in the country. There are few schools that are so connected like this."
Homecoming Queen Debbie Norton, now living in Los Angeles, described her class as "active." "What I really enjoy is I went to grade school with some of these people, so it feels like coming home — it feels like family," said Ms. Norton.
For Laura Kelleher, it took a lot of courage to attend the event, but she is glad she did. "This is my first time," Ms. Kelleher said. "I tried to go to one before but I was too shy. I am so happy I am here. I have seen one surprise after another."
The Class of 1972 has lost several members over the years. "There is sadness to those you've lost, and we've lost some good friends. It gives us time to rejoice in their memories," said former class treasurer Tammy Mount Schlagel, who has helped plan every reunion. For her, the 40th offers a good life perspective.
"None of us feel our age," she said. "We are older and wiser. Things that were important to us at the 20th reunion are not important to us anymore. It's about being yourself, not about how good you look. It's about being together."
"We met in high school. He asked me to the prom but I already had a date," Mrs. Ortiz said. "We met again at San Diego State and started dating. It makes it easier that we know all the same people."
The Class of 1972 — one of Santa Barbara High's largest with 727 graduates — was a lively bunch, filling the room with laughter and conversation and later breaking into dancing to a band named Shades of Soul. The band that played at the class' high school after-game dances. Even though the group has met every five years since graduation, this was one of the best turnouts it has had, thanks to Facebook.
"We found people we haven't seen that came for the first time. It really took on a life of its own," said Gloria Cavallero of Santa Barbara, president of the Santa Barbara High Alumni Association. "We have one of the strongest alumni associations for a public high school in the country. There are few schools that are so connected like this."
Homecoming Queen Debbie Norton, now living in Los Angeles, described her class as "active." "What I really enjoy is I went to grade school with some of these people, so it feels like coming home — it feels like family," said Ms. Norton.
For Laura Kelleher, it took a lot of courage to attend the event, but she is glad she did. "This is my first time," Ms. Kelleher said. "I tried to go to one before but I was too shy. I am so happy I am here. I have seen one surprise after another."
The Class of 1972 has lost several members over the years. "There is sadness to those you've lost, and we've lost some good friends. It gives us time to rejoice in their memories," said former class treasurer Tammy Mount Schlagel, who has helped plan every reunion. For her, the 40th offers a good life perspective.
"None of us feel our age," she said. "We are older and wiser. Things that were important to us at the 20th reunion are not important to us anymore. It's about being yourself, not about how good you look. It's about being together."
The South '65 e-mail addresses: reunionclass65 . blogspot . com
The South '65 photo site: picasaweb . google . com / SouthHS65
Rich
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