When my extremely capable hawk-eyed research assistant Dave Hardt came through my door with about a dozen printouts of articles taken from old Sun Chronicles and Attleboro Suns, none immediately looked promising as grist for future columns. I found myself returning several times to a story on Attleboro High's Class Day of 1966 written by Doug Reed.
Full disclosure requires me to reveal that I still have personal snatches of memory from the day's program because it was this contrite columnist who was the lead vocalist and blues-harp playing (?) member of the alleged jug band cited below, "The Fullafoam Five" (an almost criminally-lame reference to prodigious feats of beer drinking, which at the time we thought so cool - gad!) As my daughter would have said in her high school days, "Could we truly ever have been that cheesy??"
At the risk of being "cheesy to the nth power," here is hoping that the following will put some new smiles on old faces:
Go-Go Girls And Jug Band Replace Will And Prophecy
The annual Senior Class Day has undergone a change, to put it mildly. Remember the days when the seniors all sat at the front of the auditorium as the class will, advice to undergraduates and class prophecy were read? That's all gone the way of the crewcut and the Edsel at Attleboro High School. Exams, except for make-ups, are over for the class of '66. This morning, they had the chance to "let their hair down," and in a much different style than that to which past graduates were accustomed.
Class Day was in the form of complete entertainment with everything from go-go girls to a film produced by the seniors to a bluesy jug band to a live, comical skit on "our last day at school." The film, entitled "What We've Been Through" was a satirical presentation of "what goes on at Attleboro High," and was dedicated to "Mr. Orlando - With all our love!" Richard Orlando resigned in April of this year, reportedly due to an administrative dispute. (In point of fact, Orlando resigned as a show of sympathy for fellow AHS teacher Jim Myles, whose contract failed to be renewed without explanation.)
An instrumental group next entertained the 1,250 students and faculty members of Attleboro High. Five folk singers featured the names of class personalities in their presentation to the tone of "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore." Included was the verse "Georgie Porgie pudding n' pie, he won't cut his hair, but he does wear a tie." That was somewhat typical of the "digs." "Georgie Porgie" made reference to George Leonard, who is a rock and roll band leader under that pseudonym. He was suspended in 1964, his senior year, from Attleboro High School for refusing to trim his hair to a more conforming style.
After a skit of satire on the last day of school, a jug band calling themselves "The Fullafoam Five" (Ouch!) entertained. But that wasn't all. Next, a four-member rock 'n roll group, The Wanderers, played while "Go-Go Wanderettes"(you are remembered fondly, Sandy Ouellet!) shimmied, monkeyed, watusied, fished and twisted. Another folksinger and a comic group of male "dancers" in women's attire set the stage for a finale of "Auld Lang Syne." The Senior Class Day has certainly undergone a change - it was enjoyable, but somehow sort of makes you dread graduation.
In masterful segue from the "Georgie Porgie" reference above, in 1966, the following appeared in The Attleboro Sun:
George "Georgie Porgie" Leonard, the Attleboro rock 'n' roller with the controversial hairdo, tried to get back in school today but was again declared "persona non grata."
Joseph E. Joyce, principal of Attleboro Senior High, held an early morning conference with Leonard to examine the lad's new hairstyle, but refused readmittance to Leonard. "You saw his hair," Joyce told reporters. "He still hasn't cut it."
Leonard conceded that his hair is still long, but said he had hoped the new style would meet with Joyce's approval. "I worked on it for three hours this morning," he said." I think it looks nice, don't you?"
Asked what his next move would be, Leonard said he was going immediately to discuss the matter with his new attorney, Jordan Zisk of Boston. He hinted that his case may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Time is running out," Leonard observed. "I've now been out of school for two years."
Leonard was suspended in 1964 at the start of his senior year. Now 18, he has fought the suspension on several legal fronts, but to no avail.
Asked if it was a difficult decision to again refuse Leonard's bid to re-enter school, Joyce said, "No, it was the easiest thing in the world to do." Explaining further, Joyce added: "Let's put it this way - the school authorities said no; the Superior Court said no; and the state Supreme Court said no. As of this moment, I see no reason to go against their thinking."
When asked who would have to rule on the acceptability of any haircut Leonard might get, Joyce said, "I would make the initial decision, and it would, in time, be bucked up the line for further approval or disapproval."
Joyce added that he found nothing else about Leonard objectionable. "He's a nice kid," said Joyce.
Best wishes for a rapid recovery and a get-well-soon goes out to my old friend, retired Capron Park foreman Bob "Mac" McKearney. Hey Mac, we need guys like you around.
As a very welcome kiss-off to this winter of "Guaranteed Three Snowstorms a Week," it was encouraging to aimlessly cruise with the radio tuned to the Sox-Yanks game, but when the Boys from the Bronx tallied their fifth moonshot, WEEI was chased in favor of Johnny Kollett's Class of '68 Reunion CD Collection, eminently more enjoyable by comparison, as was the sight of so many in shorts, T-shirts or halter tops. Everywhere city residents were taking full advantage of Saturday's gorgeous weather, including "Hizzonor," Mayor Kevin Dumas, seen busy at landscaping and general yardwork on his property
As always, please be good to one another out there. Eevery face you see is fighting a battle of one kind or another, so let compassion be your watchword. Peace.
Thomas McAvoy's commentaries appear Tuesdays in The Sun Chronicle.
