Hawthorne Feedback

Name: Susan King ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Feb 5, 2010, 7:22 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1974
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA

Message: Aw heck, Mr. Key, we'd not not only have come to see you in jail, we'd have protested and stormed the place to get you out, likely led by that rabblerousing Konnie Krislock! The Cougar Staff would have taken the case to the masses with headlines announcing the injustice to the world. The football team and the pep squad would have come prepared for battle and the band would have been playing our fight song. We'd have signs bearing messages of support for you and we'd have plead your case all the way to the Supreme Court -- for you, dear Jorge Llave, are beloved. And we always felt you'd have done nothing less for your students. ; )) I'm so glad to see you here and expect to see you on Cruise Night. Call if you could use a ride - Patty V5, Sister Sharon and I will come and get you! XOXO

Name: Jorge Llaves ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 4, 2010, 8:33 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1980
City & State: PVE CA

Message: I rode my Harley with Danny Fix once in a while. He called me one mornin and said to meet him at Walkers cafe in San Pedro as they were having a big birthday party for MR T. I rode around PV to Walkers but no one was there. After waiting about an hour I gave up and left. The next moriung Danny said good thing I didn't show because about 100 showed up and three cop cars sealed them off and checked everyone for goodies and wrote a bunch of tickets. Thats all I would have needed is my picture on the front page of the BREEZE with headlines---HHS PRINCIPAL ARRESTED IN RAID ON HELLS ANGEL PARTY. Would you good kids have come to visit me in jail?

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Feb 4, 2010, 12:16 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA

Message: OH I forgot, Ric Colangelo will be racing in Fontana in the Nostalgia Sportsmans Shootout, April 23-25. I don't know the exact day/time but we will get more details as we get closer. Meantime there is a picture of his very awesome race car on his website under "The Car." I haven't been to car races since we were wee little children (dad was a race fan, I guess) but we're going to go to see Ric race- gotta support our Cougars!

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 3, 2010, 6:36 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA
srbranigan@cox.net
Message: So we have a Cruise Night coming up! WOO HOO!!!!! Just talking with Ric Colangelo/76, he is going to come and bring a hot rod or two - he is a 3 time NHRA champ and going for his 4th title this year. He has a shop in Garden Grove so you car guys check it out. (www.colangeloracingstreetrod.com) It will be his very first Cruise Night so I hope a lot of our car guys come out to show off their awesome wheels!

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 3, 2010, 1:23 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita, CA
jb1@cougartown.com
Message: ATTENTION all El Molino buyers. Just because your El Molino year isn't on the list, doesn't mean they don't have it (that was about a triple negative there boy). Anyway, if you're looking for a particular year and it's not listed, call anyway. You might get lucky.

Name: Linda Dill ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Feb 3, 2010, 12:33 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Sutton
Class: 1967
City & State: Redondo Beach
thedills101@aol.com
Message: John, Thanks to you and Bob, I called HHS and was able to get a copy of my senior El Molino (1967). My books were lost in one of the many moves in my 20's. Between my sisters I was able to see my other years, but have really missed having access to '67. I was so thrilled at having such a nice clean copy that I did not notice until I was almost in the car that the front of the book is embossed with the name, Mr. Nyman. I feel really honored to have this copy. There are still two copies for '67 left as of noon today. The new student store is on the north side of the new cafeteria. Some things change and some things remain the same. As I walked under the covered walkway, I recalled walking to class after lunch under that very same walkway one November day of my freshman year and seeing a girl running toward us crying, "President Kennedy has been shot!"

Name: Dennis Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 1:22 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1967
City & State: Santa Teresa, N.M.
dennis.shelley@dhs.gov
Message: Steve Curtin: My condolences to you and your wonderful family on the loss of Carl. My prayers are with you in your time of sorrow. Dennis

Name: Jack Dicus ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 1:05 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1968
City & State: Miramar Beach, Florida
tim@prolectron.com
Message: I have all my El Molinos. I am lucky my mom bought all of those (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968). Sometimes you don't realize how good your life was! If anyone needs any info from these(not the books themselves), I will help.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 12:54 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: long beach, ca
slleng@juno.com
Message: Bobby Jensen, you are truly the unofficial historian for HHS. You amaze me. Also, I think that you are very generous to let someone else purchase the years that you just purchased and donate the money to HHS. I still have the copies of the Cougar Newspapers that you sent me for all four of my years at HHS. I know it was very time consuming and very generous of you to copy and send them to me. I really appreciate them and your effort. I cannot thank you enough.

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 11:03 am - HHS Time

Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: I confirmed with the school and the adminstration said to sell every copy. Baker, you will outlive all of us and so when the school finally does get those books back there won't be anyone around that would care. Live for the day!

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 10:33 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: Me again, not that I am a hoarder, there was only one copy of each left for 1968, 69 and 70. I only purchased the 1971 book when I graduated and have always regretted not having all 4 years. I will take them home, read them over, probably make a few copies of pages and then if anyone who does not have a copy of their graduating year book and wants to purchase, I will gladly take offers and the proceeds will go back to Hawthorne High School. Everyone should at least have the year book from their graduating year and what better way to help the school.

Name: Bob Jensen ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Feb 2, 2010, 9:00 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Los Angeles
No E-mail
Message: John, I always check my CT every morning when opening the office and low and behold, your note regarding the HHS Year Books. Being an early person and assuming that everyone else is also, I gave a call to Rushdi at the HHS student store and he answered. I purchased the last of the 68, 69 and 70 year books. Those were the administrators copies of which they are selling. It is sad that there will be no history or record keep at the school regarding the earlier years but the school needs the money. I would suggest that anyone in need of a yearbook should call Rushdi ASAP.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Feb 1, 2010, 5:51 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Las Vegas, NV
hawaiifit@yahoo.com
Message: Sorry to say but I just learned that Richard "Dick" McCarroll. died yesterday. He was a Hawthorne Policeman. He rode a motorcycle and was very popular to us kids. He was a hero to me. His son Glenn was a close friend. I am sorry to hear about this.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Feb 1, 2010, 5:00 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: long beach, ca
slleng@juno.com
Message: Steve Fraser, I remember that tornado. I had just graduated from HHS and had my first job with PacBell as an information operator. A call came in, and this lady was yelling that a tornado was going down her street. I can't remember the street name, but I do remember it was just a few blocks from our building on Hawthorne Blvd. just north of Foster Freeze. I turned the call over to my supervisor, who gave it to the head Adam. Unfortunately, there were no windows in our building, so we didn't see a thing. That was the way you could always tell a Pacific telephone switch building. All brick, no windows. I remember more than half the people I worked with had graduated from HHS. I guess they used HHS as their recruiting ground. Thanks for the memory Steve. And to everyone else, thanks for all bbb memories.

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Feb 1, 2010, 8:47 am - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita
jb1@cougartown.com
Message: It's Reunion time for the classes of 60, 70, 80, 90, and 2000. If you are a reunion committee member and have info on these reunions please let me know so I can add them to the Reunions Page. The class of 1990 is the only reunion we have listed right now. Also, please make sure your mailing and email address is up to date on the Cougartown Info System so your reunion committees can find you.

Name: Pat Bagby ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Feb 1, 2010, 8:12 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Kavanaugh
Class: 1964
City & State: Astoria, NY
disc0pat@aol.com
Message: Thanks for all the wonderful Birdie/Fix stories. I am also tickled to see so many of the Birdie crowd, that I haven't seen since high school, on CT writing about this. One interesting note from the B'way program. The original version was just about a number of teens and had nothing to do with an Elvis-like character. Then they realized, with Elvis going in the Army, they had a ready made play. Only thing is, they named the character Conway Twitty, not knowing there was a real one! So they had to change it and Conrad Birdie it was! (My mom briefly wondered if it was a play about Communism, with the Comrade Birdie character, LOL!) Anyway, a little different subject. If any of you are LOST freaks, like yours truly, and need recaps of the last, very complex season, let me know your email and I'll send it to you. I just did a marathon re-watch and finally (sort of) understand Season 5. I hope to get to "NYs biggest LOST party" on Tuesday for the Season 6 opener. (PS. I never did spot Danny Fix's feet on LOST). :)

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 10:20 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: Las Vegas, NV
hawaiifit@yahoo.com
Message: Not sure about this Bye Bye Birdie thing but I played Dudley Do-Right in my 5th grade play. So there

Name: Glenn Crist ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 9:24 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma Valley, CA
gfcrist@sonic.net
Message: So, I guess it’s about time to talk a bit about the tentative Wine Country Weekend 2 plans: Thursday evening, June 3rd, there will be a reception at Homewood Winery, with food, wine, and Cougartown camaraderie. Friday day, June 4th, we will tour and taste at local wineries. Saturday, June 5th, there are two possible options: (1) Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway, about twenty minutes away from Sonoma. Special pricing includes admission, parking and the Wine Country Pavilion with food and wine tasting. We realize that not everyone may be interested in the races, so (2) for those who’d like an alternative, a touring and tasting at Sonoma Valley wineries are in store. Saturday afternoon we'll barbeque, most likely at Larson Family Winery. That evening, they’ll bring about 30 vintage race cars into the Plaza in Sonoma. Sunday morning we'll have a get together over brunch (at Larson Family for those needing to leave early), or at Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Wine Cellars on the veranda overlooking the Sonoma Valley. There are wineries close by, so the fun doesn’t have to end there. Earlier in the week, there are some additional activities planned as well. Wednesday, June 2nd, there is a visit to Lagunitas Brewery for a tour and tasting and lunch at the pub there. Thursday, June 3rd we’ll visit three local award-winning cheese factories (Vella in Sonoma, Rouge et Noir in Petaluma and Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station then enjoy lunch at Point Reyes National Seashore before returning to Sonoma for the reception. And while not everyone will be here, will care to, or be able to spend that much time here in wine country, those who can will have those options are available to them. Lodging in Sonoma tend to be pricey; other options are available. If you think you’d be interested in attending, please E-mail me at gfcrist@sonic.net, and I’ll send you complete details and costs on lodging, along with a list of places to stay.

Name: Lee Ann Nixon ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 7:54 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Nixon
Class: 1964
City & State: Vancouver, WA
lasurvivor@comcast.net
Message: Kathy Van Wesep's comment about the fishnet stockings reminds me of when my oldest son was involved in his high school drama plays at West Torrance High. He was the lighting tech and did some acting and singing. They were doing Guys and Dolls and, of course, they had the HotBox girls who wore fishnet stockings. I was recruited to do the job backstage, during the actual play, of sewing up the little broken black threads - while they were on the girl's legs. And it had to be done fast. Talk about pressure. I wonder if Bill Ennis would have liked that job. Ha!

Name: Enza Nicocia ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 3:59 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1972
City & State: San Pedro Hill, CA
enico72@aol.com
Message: Sharon, the PC word is "Mature" people. To some 25 year old, WE are the 'OLD' people. I take issue w/that..I'm still YOUNG..dag-nag-it..lol! :) BTW, I care for a 96 year old, that is sharp as a razor. I told her that when, "I mature", I aspire to be just as sharp/independent as she is...she laughed - I'm the young one that hasn't the experience she has. You can get older w/the turning of the calendar..it doesn't mean you get any wiser. Some people NEVER 'mature'.

Name: J.B. Schroeder ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 2:00 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Springboro, OH
No E-mail
Message: Bye Bye Birdie again. Leuzinger, either 2 or 3 performances, Janyce Nyman was in the movie as one of the teen dancers. We practiced in her front room to audition for Albert and Rosie and ended up as the MacAfees, but got to sing about "What's the matter with kids" and "Ed Sullivan." I also convinced Tom Klingenhagen and Jim Ward to give it a shot. I believe Jim gave Sonny a run for his money as Birdie. I still remember Jim's Elvis. Personal footnote, I only did one other play, up to now. I was a Shark in my college senior production of West Side Story. Additional coincidence where life imitates art - The Birdie story takes place in small town Ohio, Sweet Apple to be exact. I ended up raising my family in small town Ohio, Springboro and Centerville, to be exact. And as Bob Hope used to say, "Thanks for the memories."

Name: Kathy Van Wesep ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 12:16 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1965
City & State: Grand Rapids, MI
kvanwesep48@att.net
Message: Bye-Bye Birdie memories - WOW!. Yes that was my first musical which my brother Bob Arce forced me to audition for. I was terrified as prior to that I considered myself a dancer and not a singer, but who knew I could belt out a song like that before I was even 16 yrs. old. It was one of the highlights of my HHS experience and so many people only knew me as "Rosie". Bill Ennis claims that he was struck by lightening when he saw me at auditions and he ran outside afterwards and declared that he was my boyfriend. We still keep in touch. Sherry is right, my most embarrassing moment was wearing the Chita Rivera costume without the fish net hose and my butt cheeks were on display with Bill Ennis staring at my butt during the Shriner's Dance. Then someone in the light booth (Sherry) decide that putting a red light on me would be fun. I was mortified. Since then I have done a lot of community theatre and still love it. Thanks for the memories. And Sherry - I owe you one.

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Jan 31, 2010, 9:49 am - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita
jb1@cougartown.com
Message: Some people with an Internet Explorer 8 browser are having trouble viewing the Feedback screen. If you're one of these people, please do this and your problems should go away.

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 9:52 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA
srbranigan@cox.net
Message: AMEN Sue and THANK YOU Neil, I LOVED the stories! Gotta start hanging out with old people; they tell the best tales... gee John, whatcha doin' next weekend?

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 9:48 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA
srbranigan@cox.net
Message: OMG I forgot to mention a Six Degrees of Cougartown sighting! My friend Elaine Braden (whose brother Ed graduated HHS in 1975) was in Big Bear the week after Christmas and happened to stop at a (candy? cookie?) shop where she struck up a conversation with a Cougar whom I believe to be Sheree Klingenhagen. It was another "Small Cougar World" moment; we seem to be having many of those lately. Elaine and her hubs Jim accompanied Mike and me to Sonoma Wine Country last weekend where we had one of the best vacations I've ever had, many many thanks again to Glenn Crist. Glenn reports that his brother Kenton remembers me as a cheerleader although I think it's really sister Sue he remembers; he also says he's getting lots of inquiries about the Cougartown Wine Country trip in June. I just want to tell anyone who's on the fence, hop on board the bus, Gus, cuz it's gonna be a hell of a good time- I promise you! Sue and I are making plans, and you know that where Angels (like us) go, trouble follows! Grab your favorite guy/gal and join us! Poli, how nice of you to remember me. It was a pleasure meeting you, too; so charming and handsome just like your Papa. Hey- why not meet us in Wine Country? No shellfish and no cots- how's THAT?

Name: Susan King ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 4:09 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1974
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA
sueking18@aol.com
Message: I LOVED the post Neil!! Oh how I wish I'd been with you on the 9 hour story telling episode! My own dad was a wonderful storyteller and, growing up, he and mom told us so many stories of their own lives and families - our own little link to our hereditary history. Must be why I can't write a simple sentence - I've been known to be TMI. I hope each year, when you get that call from Danny's daughter to raise a glass, you'll post in CT and we'll ALL raise a glass with you...to all of the "Danny Fixs" we had the great fortune to have known. BTW, I'm in on the Wine Country Weekend - what fun!!! Who's joining?

Name: Neil Larson ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 2:00 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1971
City & State: Crestview Florida
No E-mail
Message: Last time I had an actual face to face with Danny Fix , it lasted well over 9 hours at his pad in Manhattan Beach in 2001… Some of the “facts” he shared with me then & additional info he wrote in letters to me after he moved to Hawaii I will relate. At some point he provided that he was not in Our Gang, but he did get a great deal of mileage out of that rumor especially when he took his Harley Davidson FXD Low Rider up to Dirty Oliver's Glendale HD shop for service. It seems his bike would always get a preferred chrome polish & cleaning because of his special connection as a Little Rascal. They would say “Hay, we don’t get many bikers in here who used to be in the Little Rascals”, Danny just gave me that sly grin & wink with his eyes twinkling and said he did nothing to dispel the rumor. Danny was a volunteer for the largest motorcycle "Love Ride" rally, he drove to dealerships handing out the annual posters & flyers for that event. He told he once taught Doug McClure drama but not at Hawthorne it may have been as a student teacher as he attended UCLA drama. Danny was the recipient of his uncle Paul's Motion Picture Academy voting memebership. As a boy Danny said he got in his share of trouble. As a youngster at one LA school(Catholic?) he managed to abscond with 3 of a total of 10 rolls of tickets from a stealth entry in the school offices, and made a small treasure dealing in "hot" school carnival tickets. I think he mentioned being “punished” later for that profitable sideline. His Uncle Paul Fix must have taught him a thing or two because when Danny was in the Korean War he told me he used escape & evasion technics as he laid very still like a rigor mortise corpse among other dead US soldiers in the freezing mud under a bridge an “act” which saved his life when Chinese Army Forces marched through. This would be one of the methods of survival he “taught” to Marines in special education training classes he tutored at Pendleton. Although he originally was in the Army, after a devistating battle action he was separated from his unit and re-attached through circumstance with Marines. Where he actually achieved (field grade) promoted to the rank of Marine Captain…this detail he told me was misplaced in his military files, he never got it straightened out. After some Post War therapy he began to steer for a teaching degree at UCLA. Also it was after Korea Danny started to ride motorcycles around Southern California. He told me he rode with Wino Willy, and The Yellow Jackets, I think they were two different “clubs”. His membership in the notorious “81” club (ask a biker what 81 stands for) , the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Big Red Machine as a plank member pre-dated all the hullaballoo and bad press that eventually tarnished that original club Danny joined in the 50’s. But he did continue to wear their “colors” even while he was with HHS. Funny I do remember on several late night rehearsals at Nyman Hall for our student plays , Danny would come to the front parking lot by the flag pole and park his old Harley. He loved to wear that Black leather Jacket on winter nights in the big auditorium. He worked summer vacation as a “bartender” selling T-shirts, this I knew from 71’ but had no idea it was at the club headquarters. Yes he mentioned he worked in LOST, he said all they used were his “feet” in several episodes when the “Others” roamed through the jungles. He wore all tattered clothing. Danny Fix was an avid Biker he made the trek to Sturgis, the annual event was almost a religious crusade he loved it so much. He crashed in Mexico ,pronounced “dead” at the scene… But he said 3 days later in a hospital he woke up and asked where am I? That was on his old Pan Head Hard Tail with the Springer front end- After that he went through a lot of therapy for his right arm, eventually buying another Harley. He took that one to Hawaii, & rode with several grizzled old military veterans around Honolulu. Every Year on the anniversary of the passing of Danny Fix I get an email from his daughter reminding us all to raise a glass of our favorite “poison” to the beloved memory of B.D. Lil Devil Fix. You Little Devil You . I’ll see you when I get there Danny.

Name: Cheri Longanecker ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 1:28 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Longanecker
Class: 1964
City & State: Yuma, AZ
No E-mail
Message: Here is my BBB 2 cents - I drug out my '64 El Molino. BBB was performed at Leuzinger, Spring of 1964. One weekend/two??? Full House - yes. Janyce played the mother (and was a dancer in the movie), JB Schroeder the father, George - Kathy Arce's nephew - the little brother. In addition to the names already mentioned: Jim Fox, Cliff Peckham, Margie Taylor, DiAnna Yates, Jamie Wilkerson, Colette Jacobsen, Tom Klingenhagen and many other talented students performed in this production. Even though it was hard work, I think we all had a great time. Working with Mr. Fix was Mrs. Cable(choreography), Mr. Wing(voice), Mr. Morgan(band) & Mr. Sutton who supervised the stage crews from both high schools. I also remember HHS nurses Lucy & Mrs. Fox administering first aid for scrapes/blisters and sore throats. Thanks for the memories Enza, Sharon, Linda, John, Pat & Sherry. And to the person who was looking for Cougar Newspapers '62 - '65, I sent 4 complete years of the paper to the '65 Reunion Committee in '02. I believe I sent them to Cathy Krause. Hope this helps.

Name: Leopoldo Valencia ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Jan 30, 2010, 9:54 am - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Denver, CO
No E-mail
Message: Lee Ann, of course I remember you. How are you? I hope you're enjoying life and all the splendor of the northwest. However, just to set things straight my family lived on Truro, not Ramona. It was our first cousins (Tijerina's) who lived on Ramona. The funny thing is that one of them, Oscar (Cary) Tijerina also lives in Vancouver, WA. You may still be just down the street from a school chum. Cary is 2 years behind us, however. He graduated in 1966, from a high school in Tacoma, WA, where the family migrated to during the early 1960's. The Tijerina offspring are Diana (1944), Yoli (1946), Cary (1948), Barbara (Bobbi-1949), and Alonzo (Lonnie-1951). You may have presumed we lived on Ramona, because we used to walk (or bike) through there many times on the way to school. The Valencia offspring are: V1-Enriqueta (Ricki-1943), V2-Leopoldo (Leo or Pol-1946), V3-Cynthia (1948), V4-Carlos (1950), V5-Patricia (Patty-1956) and V6-Gloria (Glo-1958). If Gloria had been a boy, her name would have been, "Kenneth". Patty's name was either going to be "Patricia" or "Sylvia". It was a real guessing game back then before Ultrasound (Sonogram)technology. Here's a scary thought: my birthday this year will coincide with The Beatles' tune, 'When I'm 64'!

Name: Sherry Ward ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jan 29, 2010, 4:00 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Rout
Class: 1965
City & State: Somewhere in Tennessee
sherry_baby65@msn.com
Message: Patty's right. Our little stage was not big enough to hold the sets that Mr. Fix was able to get from the original Broadway production, so we used Leuzinger's auditorium. Another little known fact is that Kathy Arce, who played the role of Rosie, also wore the original costume worn by Chita Rivera in the Shriner's scene. It hadn't yet been fitted to her in time for Dress Rehearsal, sooooo, it kept creeping up her behind. Being the trooper that she was, she kept right on dancing. Mr. Fix was howling from the back of the auditorium, and the rest of us were on the floor. She has never lived that down. It was a hoot!

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jan 29, 2010, 1:36 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
jfmiles@pacbell.net
Message: I thank everybody about the nice words on the BrianWilson/Southern California video. But I can’t take credit for the Hawthorne tornado. I have just linked to it as I have several others that are Hawthorne related. Basically if it doesn’t have the Cougartown logo it is not mine but linked to someone else’s work. But it is my hope that you enjoy them all.

Name: Larry Biller ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jan 29, 2010, 12:42 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1967
City & State: Portland,Or
lbiller49@yahoo.com
Message: I too remember seeing Bye Bye Birdie in the early 60's at HHS. Our family just recently watched the film version with Ann Magaret on TV. I told my boys about the one I saw at HHS. I think it was the first musical I'd ever attended.
Betty: my sons were both in "Midsummer Nights Dream" at their high school here in Portland. They did the play outside. One of best I have seen.

Name: Patty Saville ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Jan 29, 2010, 9:39 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1974
City & State: Laguna Beach, Ca
coachpatty@cox.net
Message: I LOVE that tornado video - thank you Jerry! It really captures the old days, I mean besides the destruction...

Name: Lee Ann Nixon ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 11:28 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Nixon
Class: 1964
City & State: Vancouver, WA
lasurvivor@comcast.net
Message: For Leo Valencia - your family did live on Ramona Ave, correct? Right down the street from the Nixon kids? If you feel so inclined, could you email me? It would be great to hear from you after all these years. Especially from someone who lived so close to us. I am up here in the NW, enjoying the beautiful country. Hope to hear from you soon. It has been fun reading your posts on CT.

Name: Betty Rodriguez ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 7:21 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Kean
Class: 1969
City & State: Kingman, AZ
thombettyr@yahoo.com
Message: All the talk about high school production - I feel the need to brag a little - my 17 yr old son will be in Kingman High School's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in mid February. My daughter's school in Lake Elsinore put on some amazing productions - 'Oliver', 'West Side Story', and "Les Miserables'.I am a huge supporter of drama, and all music programs. They're the best! Betty

Name: Jim Frederick ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 4:52 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1969
City & State: Santo Barracho Az
No E-mail
Message: I agree with Paco .... Nice work Jerry on Brian Wilson's So, Cal, .... Been laid up in bed for a few days and what better way than to watch all of Jerry's work ! And to look back at Hawthorne and the surrounding hoods .... And also all of Johns great work on "Cougartown" ... Thank you ..... Just took another hit of great Cough syrup ..... Nighty Night Time Zzzz Zzzz

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 3:33 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Torrance, CA
tomshelley@att.net
Message: Steve Curtin, so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. I knew your wonderful family. I know you were good friends with my younger brother, Dennis. He will be equally sad to hear the news. My best to you and your family. Tom

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 3:19 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Torrance, CA
tomshelley@att.net
Message: Hey, whoa, hold da fone a minute!! It's "thespian" not "les....", well you know, that other word. (And Mike, guys can't be that anyway.) I have enough trouble keeping friends as it is without you guys spreading these kind of rumors...!Wow, John, you have a better memory than I. I did do a few plays in H.S. with Mr. Ray Mossholder but I don't think I could have come up with the titles, let alone my character names. I think most of my background 'credits' ended up in the dumpster behind studio 'something or other' at Paramount or where ever. But I did have fun doing that around the mid 90's. And if you have a 'slo-mo' function on your DVD player and really good vision, you can see me in "The Wedding Singer" and a few other movies as well as a few T.V. series; "The Naked Truth", "The Practice" and some others. I had a ball doing it and if I could have made any money at it I'd still be doing it. Thanks for the memories, John and Mike. And Mike, you know as well as I do that I have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren not "five or six" and "a bunch"! And they all love their Dad and Grampy. (That's probably because they don't know much about my HHS years!!?? Be well. Tom

Name: Steve Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 3:17 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1966
City & State: Laguna Woods
No E-mail
Message: Jim, I remember the tornado...the missing roof you mentioned was deposited two houses over, atop mine, 11955 Truro! Luckily no one was home.

Name: Howard "paco" Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 2:52 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1961
City & State: Lake Forest
doo4usc@hotmail.com
Message: Jerry Guru, you've outdone yerself!! Very nice, If I were Brian, I would ask for a personal copy.

Name: Pat Bagby ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 1:58 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Kavanaugh
Class: 1964
City & State: Astoria, NY
disc0pat@aol.com
Message: Thank you everyone, for responding with our shared memories of Bye Bye Birdie. I thought I'd comment on some of the things that were written and add some comments of my own. First of all, I forgot to mention Sherry Rout and Bill Ennis as in the cast, because I correspond with them a lot and we'd talked about Birdie recently. I also write to Kathy Arce at times and she has done many community theatre productions, but Birdie was her first. Second, I know we didn't do Birdie at Nyman Hall. It was way too small for that big production. I want to say it was at Leuzinger or El Camino, but I really can't remember. I do remember making a banner to hang over Hawthorne Blvd. to advertise it. We painted it on heavy canvas and it was so heavy by the time we got it up, it could barely be lifted and the winds almost took it down, so we had to make holes in it. Third, Sherry L. played Kim in our production, but she wasn't in the movie. That was Janice Nyman, niece of our own Mr. Nyman. Janice was a great dancer and was in the chorus, I think, in our production. Mr. Fix always told us he was one of the original (silent) Little Rascals. I don't know if it was true, but he did remind me of Spankie. I also heard he played an extra Other in LOST (the TV show). We also saw him in a production of Gershwin's Oh, Kay! Next, "Let Me Entertain You" is from Gypsy, which, while a great musical, we never produced---a little too advanced for us, LOL. Next, regarding Tom (Sonny), he was a good friend of mine and he idolized Elvis and really wanted the Birdie part. Only problem was that he couldn't sing! I begged Mr. Fix to let him have the role, and he would only agree if I would play Mae, which I didn't want to do, and would be the student director. I agreed and promised Tom I would teach him to sing the score. I can't tell you how many hours we'd practice in my rumpus room, sometimes one note at a time, to get it right. And I still can't figure out why I hadn't wanted to play Mae---it was such a fun and funny role! I remember the person who had the Ed Sullivan offstage voice. At first I thought we'd really gotten Ed--he was that good. And I remember Mr. Mossholder's Our Town too. I saw it on Broadway last time around and it is now playing again. My former supervisor from my internship offered to take me to see it. He said he saw it in high school, but didn't get it at the time, but loves it now. Great play. Thanks for all the memories, everyone!

Name: Jim Frederick ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 1:36 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Santo Barracho Az
artedefederico@yahoo.com
Message: ..WOW ! Just watched Jerry's home made movie of the tornado ! I was just telling someone about it last week when the O.C. and Ventura were hit ! .. I remember that day in 66 ! ... The apartment building with the roof missing was just a few doors away from our home (120th. and Truo st) As i recall .... we were on campus at HHS when the tornado flew over the area . Many people said they saw it and the school let us go home (no power) .. As i was running home i seemed to be following the path of its destruction ... The school was Eucalyptus Elm, ... and that was also near our home ... How wild to see it some 44 years later !!! I know i still have photos ... My room was upstairs and i had a great view of that apartment unit. Thanks Jerry ! Jim .........

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 11:29 am - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita
jb1@cougartown.com
Message: Jerry Miles has a new video on the video page. It's Brian Wilson-Southern California. Very well done and pretty nostalgic too. Please take a look.

Name: George Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 10:37 am - HHS Time

Class: 1962
City & State: Spinnaker Cove, Ca
gjanaj@aol.com
Message: Hey, John boy;Are you outing yourself as a closet Thespian too ?, LOL.Jorge

Name: Mike Shay ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 9:05 am - HHS Time

Class: 1961
City & State: Cerritos, CA
Shayshere@verizon,net
Message: Hello Cougars, Hello Sunshine; I think that in these times of don't ask-don't tell, gay rights, and same sex marriages it's finally acceptable to bring up a little known fact about our old friend Tom Shelley. You see, back in his HHS days Tom was a Thespian. Not that there's anything wrong with that, most of the rest of us liked girls too. It also seems to me that he was in one or two of our school plays back then. It goes to show you never can tell huh. I mean he's got five or six daughters and a bunch of grand kids, who-da-thought? Love Ya Tom; M.S.

Name: John Rout ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 8:18 am - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: Cerritos, CA
dabully2@msn.com
Message: Went to the Hawthorne High basketball game last night with Bill Shultz, Mike Babineaux, and Gary Mykannen. Dinner, game, great time. Too bad the Cougars got whomped by Samohi, but, still, a fun night.

Name: Ingrid Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Jan 28, 2010, 7:08 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Schulte
Class: 1984
City & State: Temecula
JonezFam3@aol.com
Message: More sad news was informed to us that Carl Curtain (class of 1984) passed away this week. Our prayers go out to Chris(73),Laura(82) & The entire Curtain family.

Name: Larry Bach ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 11:10 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1972
City & State: Torrance, CA
lbach1@socal.rr.com
Message: Sad news. Dave Purchase's mother, Leona Purchase, 85, died suddenly in Torrance this morning. Mrs. Purchase was like a second mom to me when I was a kid. Leona's brother, Joe Jenks, passed away only a couple weeks ago. Condolences go out to HHS grads Dave and Dori (HHS 1972), Terry (1973), Larry (1967?), Vern (1962?), and their families. Leona Purchase will be missed.

Name: Jeannette Debaca ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 7:51 pm - HHS Time
City & State: long beach,ca 90807
jeannettedebaca@hotmail.com
Message: looking for holly hess/class of 63 or 64-65

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 6:35 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: pve cal
No E-mail
Message: All this talk about stage productions at HHS; how about 1962 OUR TOWN. I have seen this play well over 50 times from Broadway to an all Hawaiian cast on the north shore. I think the HHS edition made me react the most. If you have not seen; Paul Newman did the play, recorded and available on PBS. I urge you all to see it.

Name: Steve Curtin ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 4:48 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1964
stephen.j.curtin@lmco.com
Message: John - I am so sorry to report that my youngest brother, Carl (Class of 1984) passed away this past Monday evening. He had just celebrated his 44th birthday on 1/20/2010. There will be a viewing at Green Hills Cemetery on S. Western Ave. this Friday from 2 PM until 9 PM. Funeral mass at St. Joseph's will be this coming Saturday at 11:00 AM.

Name: Sharon Bierman Branigan ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 4:26 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1976
City & State: San Clemente, CA
srbranigan@cox.net
Message: Checking airfares to Oakland for the big Wine Country Weekend; Southwest and Jetblue have pretty good fares for that weekend. If you have Southwest ding on your desktop it will tell you when discount fares are offered. I'm hoping to travel on the Thursday the 3rd and return on Monday the 7th to take full advantage of all that Glenn's planning for us. There's so much to do and see and I don't want to miss any of it! I hope everyone's making plans NOW to be there THEN- put your vacation requests in and start tucking some $$ aside each paycheck. You can even drive up if you've got the stamina- I think it's about 7 hours from LA and if you team up with your Cougartown buddies you can split the gas and the driving, and share a hotel room - you're not gonna spend much time in your room! So get your buddies on the phone and start planning your trip!!!

Name: Linda Dill ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 9:18 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Sutton
Class: 1967
City & State: Redondo Beach
thedills101@aol.com
Message: With all the talk of Bye Bye Birdie, I have to add my little known trivia about the HHS production. My dad, Bill Sutton, worked on many of Mr. Fix's productions directing the crews on set building and AV stuff. For the Birdie production Mr. Fix put my dad in the "cast" by making him the off-stage voice of Ed Sullivan. I remember sitting in the audience with friends and recognizing his voice. It was a surprise. And few rows ahead I heard my little sister's not-so-stage-whisper "That's Daddy!" My dad enjoyed all of his work with Mr. Fix and his crews. Great memory. Thanks

Name: Sherry Ward ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 6:08 am - HHS Time

Maiden: Rout
Class: 1965
City & State: Somewhere in Tennessee
No E-mail
Message: You're right, Bro. I was in that production. I was Debra Sue. That was one of the highlights of my years at HHS. We really had a lot of fun. The set that Patty referred to was really scary, though. We had to be in place when it was rolled onto the stage, and I was on the very top! My legs were bruised all over!! As far as having all the talent in the family is concerned, I may have been the artist, but my brother got all the brains! Can you say "Really Smart"? Those of us who were in this production have re-connected and are enjoying having each other in our lives again. All except Tom Sangil and Ann Childress. If anyone knows where they are we would love to find them.

Name: Dale Craig ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jan 27, 2010, 1:10 am - HHS Time

Class: 1976
City & State: hawthorne ca
bacraig7882@sbcglobal.net
Message: i was just going through the feedback and see a good friend of mine passed away. donald dye he had a good sense of humor and always around when you needed him. may God Bless John & Denise & the rest of their family

Name: John Rout ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 7:47 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1963
City & State: Cerritos, CA
dabully2@msn.com
Message: I remember Bye Bye Birdie. It was a fun production. Tom "Sonny" Sangle was really good in the Elvis-type roll. I played baseball with Sonny at St. Joe's and I don't think any of us saw the actor in him. Also, my sister was either in the play or the set director for that play. She can clarify. I just remember hearing her sing in a musical production and thinking, "Holy crap my sister can sing!" Of course, she got all of the artistic talent in the family.

Name: Debbie Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 6:37 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1977
City & State: Del Aire, CA
pinkelephant10@yahoo.com
Message: I first found out about Cougartown from my brother, big surprise! And I can remember seeing people on their rooftops waiting to be rescued on TV news in the early 60's. The rains of 1969 were so bad that our field trips got cancelled again and again. It was probably about this time of year in 1971 that rain puddles actually froze in the area between the sixth grade classrooms and Del Aire Park. I think a lot of kids showed up early for a little extra fun for the few days that lasted. Not rain related, but I seem to remember Nyman Hall flooding so badly that Driver's Ed could not be held there in the mid 70's. That was during Summer School.

Name: Leopoldo Valencia ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 6:32 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Denver, CO
No E-mail
Message: Sharon Leach, I ditched more classes than I care to remember at HHS to catch the glorious waves at the beach on a surfboard called a long-board.The French word John Baker posted for you is correct save for the accent mark on the "à" for "voilà". I'm certain that he knew that, but it's easier for me to type in the accent marks or any character I need using "ALT" plus any of the sequence of keys of the "numeric" pad to accommodate my work. This innovation would have made my life a lot easier during my college years. I was infatuated with Sheri Longenecker upon seeing her traverse the street (circa 1958) between Washington Grammar school and Hawthorne Intermediate. She must have been a new student entering the 7th grade during mid-year. I hadn't noticed her before that. I was a year ahead of her in the 8th grade, and I remember walking directly into a steel pole as I caught a glimpse of her. Susan King, actually, I met your younger sister, Sharon, following a retirement roast for my sister, Ricki (V1). She extended an invitation to me to spend the night at her residence as well as my sisters, Cynthia (V3) and Gloria (V6). Sharon, her husband and son were gracious hosts. I had a marvelous time. Thank you, and it will be my pleasure to meet and spend some time with you, too, Susan, at any future HHS gathering or other event. My friends and family call me, Pol.

Name: Patty Saville ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 6:19 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1974
City & State: Laguna Beach, Ca
coachpatty@cox.net
Message: I remember Bye Bye Birdie! I loved that telephone scene. BTW, my mom wore combat boots until Gloria and I were born (clearly she had to...)

Name: Enza Nicocia ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 4:22 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1972
City & State: San Pedro Hill, CA
enico72@aol.com
Message: I remember going to a production of Bye, Bye, Birdie in the early 60's at HHS. My sister Lena Nicocia was in it as a dancer? I must of been 10 years old or so, and all I can remember is the song, "Let me entertain you, let me make you smile"..etc., would that be the musical that I recall? Wasn't it held in the Gym? The memory is the 1st to go....;)

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 3:55 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: Long Beach
slleng@juno.com
Message: Voila? I thought that was a stringed instrument. Oh sorry, the stringed instrument is Viola. Boy, dyslexia sucks. Sorry, John, I'm in a weired mood today. Guess it's time to change my meds.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jan 26, 2010, 3:05 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: long beach
slleng@juno.com
Message: I remember the Bye Bye Birdie production in Nyman Hall. It was GREAT! As I recall Sheri Longnecker was a dancer in the movie version in the 1960's. Speaking of musical theater, my husband is currently in the production of Gypsy at the Huntington Beach Playhouse. It runs five nights a week through Sunday, February 7. Sunday performances are matinees. Sometime in March it will run for three nights at the Norris Theater in Palos Verdes. Not sure of the dates. Thank you, Pat, for the memories. Mr. Fix was a great drama teacher. If I recall correctly, he was in several films and TV shows. Does anyone know which ones? Also, Mr. Gold, who started teaching drama after Mr. Fix, was a great teacher. I kept ditching Mr. Gold's class after lunch to go to the beach. Finally, he talked to me after class and said he would have to fail me, because of my ditching. To his credit, he told me if I wrote a paper explaining how going to the beach was more educational than school and what I learned for the experience he might pass me. I believe I wrote him a poem, not sure, can't quite remember. I turned it in the next day, and tada, I graduated HHS that year. I was going to say walla instead of tada, but it's a French word and I don't know how to spell it. I tried looking it up in my trusty collegiate dictionary, but as I said before, I don't know how to spell it. Boy, did Mr. Gold make a big mistake letting me slide. If you are out there Mr. G, I just want to say thank you and let you know I graduated from college with honors and a BS degree in Business. Of course you probably new I was good at BS once your read that poem. lol Thanks to all of the great teachers at HHS.

Name: Pat Bagby ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 25, 2010, 7:49 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Kavanaugh
Class: 1964
City & State: Astoria, NY
disc0pat@aol.com
Message: Anyone from '64 or thereabouts remember our production of Bye Bye Birdie? Allen Lugo, Sheri Longnecker, Tom Sangil, Kathy Arce, JB, me, etc., etc. We had so much fun doing that show under Mr. Fix and even got the original set for the telephone number! Well, we all had stars in our eyes (called Broadway) and I just fulfilled a bit of my (our) dream, by going to see the revival of BBB on Braodway (starring John Stamon, Gina Gershon, and an amazingly funny Bill Irwin). Wish you all could have been there. The most fun I've had since before my dear Jim passed away.

Name: Susan King ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 25, 2010, 7:33 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1974
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA
sueking18@aol.com
Message: Ok Leopoldo - I have spent considerable time with Patty and Glo and YES they are FUNNY and yes they laugh at their own foibles. And it's ALWAYS appropriate to laugh at and with those two!!! Where did they get their crazy sense of humor amidst the family of brainiacs? (And no John, that doesn't mean they didn't get those qualities! - They are both quite accomplished in their own rights). Next Valencia gathering, I expect YOU to be there Leo and expect to visit with you - they've been hiding you much too long. : )) (I didn't know about him either Enza!!)

Name: Patty Saville ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 25, 2010, 7:10 pm - HHS Time

Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1974
City & State: Laguna Beach, Ca
coachpatty@cox.net
Message: Nice Cliff Notes John.

Name: Leopoldo Valencia ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Jan 25, 2010, 5:05 pm - HHS Time

Class: 1964
City & State: Denver, CO
No E-mail
Message: You're welcome, Geri Loch-Breedlove. Your sister, Susan, was very friendly and indulged people to dialogue whether they were timid or not. Ms. Enza Nicocia, the answer to your question about the "V" Girls is that they actually have two (2) brothers, Carlos and I. He is V-4, and I am V-2. Our years of graduation beginning with Ricki (1961), followed by me in 1964, then Cynthia in 1966; Carlos in 1968, Patty in 1974 and last but not least, Gloria in 1976. Ricki is an outstanding artist and was passionate about teaching that subject. I met some of her students and other colleagues during her retirement ceremony. They all gave her high praise for inspiring them to continue to strive in whatever their passion was, whether it was Art, Drama, Jouralism, etc. Cynthia is a gifted Language Speech Pathologist. She and I took pointers in Art from Ricki (circa 1963) at home. Ricki showed us how to render (shade) objects, She explained that if light came from a particular direction, it would cast a shadow on the opposing side. This inspired us to continue trying, primarily because she took the time to explain it to us in great detail; patiently and reassuringly. Carlos' semi-photographic memory is a bit perplexing, but combined with his intelligence, has enabled him to reach many successes in life. Patty and Gloria are great conversationalists. Their humor is sharp and quick. Although they laugh at their own jokes it's quite contagious.