Jim Hamblin remembers......What it was like playing the piano at school dances.
A former pastor's wife did a great job counseling our children's youth group. She told 'em that there were 3 important questions. If they could answer all 3 with certainty, they were definitely doing OK. Answering 2 was pretty good. Answering one was a little scary. Answering NONE was a sign they were in big trouble.
Question #1: Who Are you?
Question #2: What are you Good at? (Even in the Southwest sentences often end with prepositions)
Question #3: To Whom are you Important?
For me, long in stature but short in self-confidence, I could surprisingly manage to answer all 3 with certitude. I was a musician. I was a pretty good piano player. I was important to the guys in the band and maybe to Sturges Ely, my piano teacher, and of course to my Mom and Dad and Grandfather. Playing music was also good for free food at Nick's afterward.
Women came later. They usually hang around musicians, but not in my case; because I was socially challenged.
My wife of 44 years knew me in high school and remembers that I played a lot and ate a lot and did not talk much. Now, I am typing on the computer a lot, still eating a lot and talking TOO much, at least about my favorite subjects: wine, water shortages, air pollution, Republicans, Mexico and main stream jazz.
Now, almost 50 years later....we still probably need to revisit those 3 almighty questions. When we quit asking and answering them, it is time to start playing what my Dad called "horizontal music". He was referring, of course, to the organist at Turner's Mortuary.
Chuck Fernandez Willits remembers Plotz Grocery on Mount Vernon Road next to Ritcher's Bakery and the Pusateri Grocery across the street from McKinley High School.
Seems as though some classmates remember driving the old 218 Highway South to Iowa City as fast as possible to see if they could beat the old record that Jim Wilburs' brother had set.
Now who will confess to skipping school with underclass man Jim Murdock to cruise and pickup chicks at the U of I? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
How about someone calling the cops to stop a fight between two brothers in front of Meises" Store next to Shirley Luckasons's old house on Sixth Avenue!
Let's see.....There were 3 Jeepster owners in the "group". Perry Langhurst, John Hladky and Tim Evans. We learned a Jeepster could be "jump start" with a $0.50 cent piece held on the back of the ignition switch. Every few days, we would move Tim's car to a new parking spot on McKinley Street. Wonder if he ever figured out who did it or what was happening!!!
Anyone remember the neon lights on the old WMT radio tower on the roof of the Montrose Hotel? Hmmmmmmm....Especially visable from Twinkle Hill.
Oh, yeah, remember how deep the sub basement was where the custodians lived among the boilers?
How about those rumors of the filled in swimming pool? (True by the way)
Hey, classmates, what about movie theatres? How many can you name?
What about those drive - ins? One of our classmates has fond memories of attending drive-ins.......the movie kind.
One of our classmates, whom shall remain nameless, remembers parking and necking in Bever Park.
This same classmate, still nameless, remembers riding around in Pee Wee Langhurst's jeepster.
Oh, those dinner cruises on the Cedar River by Ellis Park is remembered by the same classmate.
What was Mr. Klinzman's nick name?
Remember Miss Morgan? The lady who would go into the boy's restrooms to check on smoking and other misbehavior.
Why was Mr. Warner's nickname, Penguin? Maybe that is better left unsaid!.
What male on the staff used more hair spray than the females on the staff? Why Mr. Paxton and his marcel, of course.
What was the name of the drug store on the corner of Mt. Vernon Road and 14th Street? Chuck Fernandez Willits said it was Jandera.
Who remembers the name of the bakery on the other corner of Mt. Vernon Road and 14th Street? Chuck Fernandez Willits said it was Ritchers. He should know as he worked there on weekends.
Krebs Dutch Girl Dairy. Who can remember where it was located? Was it on First Avenue and 29th Street SE?
Where did we go for candies and ice cream? Dysrts ring a bell?
What or where was McRahtes ice cream?
The elegent (?) Killiam's tea room.
Can we ever forget Joe and Cliff's, maid rites at the Chat and Chew, The C.V.Dairy Bar, and tenderloins at Nick's?
Coonrad's Beach.....our version of the California coast line.
Cedar Valley Quarry, Ivanhoe Bridge.
Lunch time.....Harmony Cafeteria, the Virginia restaurants.
The bus was a nickel and the theaters were 16 cents for children.
The neighborhood pharmacies and the corner grocery stores.
The Dairy Queen on First Avenue and Tenth Street.
Candy dots on paper strips.
Dancing at Armar, Danceland, dancing and floating on the Kappa Ann.
The almost burnt smell of wood from Mr. Wilson's shop class and the lumber yard across the alley on warm, damp days, the annual H2S04 ordor from Chemistry class, and the scent of baking bread from Colonial Bakery when the wind was right.
The Fall games first at Hill Park and then at Kingston Stadium and the smell of burning leaves on the way home.
Warren Rambo at the Wirlitzer at Ce-Mar Acres Skating Ring.
Twinkle Hill, Paddillies, Opportunity corners.
Will he ask me? Will she say yes if I ask her out?
Sock Hops in the big Gym....boys on the left, girls on the right and no mans land in the middle.
Bill Haley and the Comets, The Four Aces, The Four Freshmen, Pattie Page, the Crewcuts, Dave Brubeck, Ray Anthony and the Bunny Hop (hop, hop, hop) and last but not least, White Bucks and Saddle Shoes.