Question: "What was your favorite event while you were at
Central?"
Most recent response:
I am late to the party with my response on a significant event.
I have a few.
The first happened early on when I was a member of the Beta Club and was
asked to perform at the National Beta Club Convention held in Nashville. I
recall that Alison Riel, Rick Dearman and Doug Gleaves were already going
to perform and since I sang with Barry Shipp and Bobby Coursey who were
under-classmates, it made sense that I was asked to join the trio of
upper-classmates. We performed a Peter, Paul and Mary song called "It's
Raining."
We each took a verse as a solo and then joined voices on the chorus. The
harmonies were stunningly beautiful. But it was a terrifying experience to
be so young with not much experience in performing for a huge auditorium
full of kids are our own age. I recall Alison, Doug and Rick being
outwardly calm but perhaps they, like me, were quaking in their shoes. I
made the decision to not wear my contacts that day so I wouldn't clearly
see individuals in the audience. Bad decision. I tripped going up the
stage steps but Doug steadied me to prevent the potential utter disaster
of me sprawling on to the stage.
The second series of events forever etched in my memory banks are the
acting opportunities. I played a lawyer in the play "Night of January
16th," at least I think that was the title. I also was a snobbish Mrs. Pennyworth in "The
Beverly Hillbillies" with Kenny Scott as my son. Kenny and I shocked our
director, Mrs. Anderson, when we improvised in the final rehearsal as the firemen ran on
stage to put out the fire in our mansion. Kenny jumped up into my arms,
and I carried him offstage. The rehearsal audience erupted in guffaws and
Mrs. Anderson was delighted, so she let us keep that in the play. Thanks
Kenny for a memorable time!!!
Perhaps my favorite acting role was as Ruth Buzzi's Gladys Ormphby, the
dowdy old lady in “Laugh-In.” I played her opposite Walter White's Dirty Old
Man forever immortalized by Arte Johnson. Walter and I improvised all our
scenes. We were the emcees of our senior talent show and I am fairly sure
our performances together sealed our being voted superlatives of Wittiest
Senior Girl and Boy. Walter was brilliant as he entered stage on an
undersized tricycle and toppled over on cue. He even had the leering snort
that Arte perfected in his recurring role. I, of course, made myself up as
close as possible to Ruth's Gladys with hair severely parted in the middle
and pulled back into a tight bun. I even had stockings rolled down around
my ankles. We had a great time. Thanks Walter!!!
The third memorable event for me was being in ADK and going to New Orleans
my junior and senior years for Mardi Gras. Our Lamda Chapter was hosted by
our sisters in whatever ADK chapter they were in New Orleans. My friends
in ADK Lamda had to petition my parents to let me go. In a moment of
weakness, my parents agreed.
I have never spent a more debauched time in my life! What an experience!
My host was an incredible young lady who was miraculously evenly matched
with my adventurous spirit. She even managed to get me an ID card for
visiting the bars and visit we did! She had a friend with whom she set me
up for a date, several dates that first year, who had a baby blue Mustang
convertible. I remember riding down Canal Street with the top down sitting
on the back of the seat with my host as Bob Dylan wailed out “Subterranean
Homesick Blues.” I didn't know what the lyrics meant then, but the music
was incredible and it was one of the most euphoric feelings I had ever
felt. The second year, my senior year, was a much different experience. My
boyfriend happened to be a sponsor of ADK, Barry Shipp. What a dangerous
thing to do for us to both be on that trip essentially unsupervised.
Fortunately good upbringing prevailed and we managed to behave ourselves,
just barely. That too was an incredible experience and one that as an
adult would not let my child, if I had one, do. It is ironic that we as
teenagers were so convinced how adult we were.
I am happy I had all of these experiences and that some of you were right there with me. It was a
good time with excellent experiences and outstanding parents and teachers
doing their best to make us productive, self-sufficient adults. And they
succeeded for the most part!!! --Cathy Sakas CathyJoSakas@gmail.com
Please send your response
or comments
to leonhirt@tecomm.com
OK, I will start on this one. Obviously, most of my extracurricular high
school life was with the band. During our Sophomore year, Mr. Wayne
Pegram became our director. I don't remember too much about him, but he
must have had great ambitions and plans because he took us to march in the
Orange Bowl parade in Miami. My family had only taken two vacations
outside of Middle TN at that time, and only one was outside of TN. So,
this was a very big deal for this 15-year-old "innocent."
I actually don't remember much about the trip, but I do remember a few
things..the smell of bodies after about 24 hours on the buss...the smell
of Right Guard as the boys tried to cover up those other smells...group
showers and dormitory living. I do remember hating those group showers!!
We had a pool on the property...we visited the ocean...we went on an
all-day cruise, and we returned with lots of bags of oranges!! I don't
remember any of that. I just reviewed the '67 annual, and there are
pictures to prove it but I have no memory of it.
I do have a couple of memories of marching. It was a very long march. I
also remember being at the game. Steve Spurrier was the quarterback for
Florida, and they played Georgia, beating them 27-12. (I looked it up) I
remember being in the back of the bus with Sheila Slaten, Alma Brandon,
Phillip Austin and others. Much of what they were doing and saying was
unfamiliar to me, but I was learning!
Those band trips meant a lot to me during those years, and the trip to
Miami for the Orange Bowl was a subject of conversation for years. The
memory is fading, but I do remember that it was probably the most
memorable event I had in high school. (Thank goodness for the pictures in
the annual!)
Let's hear from others about your memories of your favorite event that
occurred during those 4 years. I would love to hear from Andrew Nelson on
this subject. He was into everything in high school. Andrew??? Thank
you Jim for setting all this up and for doing all the work you do. I hope
you are all well. --David Lasseter dblasseter@gmail.com
The most memorable event of my four years at CHS has to be the Band's trip
to the Orange Bowl our Sophomore year. The newspaper and TV stations
covered our departure; the bus trip was fun, but long and a bit smelly. At
a military prep school on Biscayne Bay, I roomed with Carol Patterson,
Becky Robertson, and Robin Findley. We decided to shower one night after
everyone else had gone to sleep. When a security guard walked into the
shower room, we screamed and woke the whole barracks, much to our
embarrassment and our chaperones' ire. The Band marched in two parades,
attended the Orange Bowl game, took a boat tour of the Miami area
including a park with lots of parrots, and ate at a couple of nice
restaurants. It was a big deal to me. I think Tommy Campbell's parents
were the Band Boosters president that year, and the fund-raising must have
been a monumental task. Wayne Pegram was our director. --Carolyn Bigger Lattimore carolynlattimore@gmail.com
Sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing. --Larry Pinkerton gtrmain@gmail.com
