Memories from our Senior Year – December 1971
Author: Rob Corns
If you had to take music as an elective at Lakewood High or if you thought you could sing like Elvis or Diana Ross, chances are you would have had either Miss Ulah Gilmore, Mrr. B. Neil Davis, Mr. Gerald Wondrak or Mr. Ronald Lucien. And, right around this time of the year, LHS would put on their annual Christmas Concert. In 1971, it was on the 21st of December. (Full disclosure here: Yes, I was in concert choir due to the urging of my mother at the time. She was in the LHS choir back in the late 30’s, early 40’s and she had a great singing voice. I had a naturally deep voice and, who knows, maybe they needed me because, you know what they say about the bass!)
Years later, I would remember the line from Paul McCartney’s song, “Wonderful Christmastime” when he sings, “The choir of children sing their song, They practiced all year long!” And, really, I think the best part of being in this show is the whole production and, in the end, the audience participation. Walking in from the lobby holding candles as we slowly, in our choir robes, and heading towards the rafters on the stage of The Civic Auditorium, the 170 Concert Choir members then took their respective places as we all sang in unison. Hey, I get goosebumps just thinking about it!
A highlight of the evening was the Symphonic Choir Folk Group which was headed by Amy Wooley and Dan Lofgren. They featured selections from Godspell and other folk tunes. The Symphonic Choir, which boasted 116 members did selections which included a Rock Contana featuring drums, guitars and piano.
When I say audience participation, the choir director would ask any of the LHS alumni from years past to stand up (or if they could make their way to the rafters) and sing “Alleluia” and, my favorite, “The Lord Bless You And Keep You”. And, of course, The Lakewood High School Alma Mater written by The Class of 1958.
Also, it should be noted that Elise Miller was awarded first place and a $100 bond for her singing in the William B. Hughes Memorial Oratoria contest the month before. Second place went to Marsa Kingman who received a $50 bond, which back in 1971, was pretty good money!!
The Varsity basketball team under the tutelage of Coach Harry Groman and despite being the shortest team in the Lake Erie League, still managed to have a 9 – 9 record. The leasing scorer was senior Skip Hanson and the leading rebounder and foul-shooter was Mickey Connors. The Senior co-captains were Dave Borish and Pete Yousko and senior Ken Gober “provided a spark of leadership” playing in the last home game.
Christmas in Lakewood, or Northeast Ohio for that matter, was always such a special time. At least for me it was. With both Bailey’s (not to be confused with the Bailey Building and Loan from “It’s A Wonderful Life”) Department Store aka Neville’s closed in 1968, we could still travel to Westgate Mall in Fairview Park or go all the way out to North Olmsted to the Great Northern Mall. But, I think ALL of is know THE best way to shop in 1971 was going to downtown Cleveland to shop at one of the three big stores, Higbee’s, Halle’s and May’s (alas, Sterling-Linder Davis, with the largest decorated Christmas tree in the state of Ohio, was demolished back in 1968).
Want to getaway and go to the movies in December of 1971? Well if you were feeling lucky, well, do ya, you might have wanted to take in Clint Eastwood in “Dirty Harry” or Sean Connery’s last outing (at least for 12 years) as secret agent Bond, James Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever”. Or take in the black comedy “Harold and Maude” or something a little bit different, “A Clockwork Orange”.
What were you listening though your transistor radio back then? How about “Family Affair” by Sly & The Family Stone, The Theme From “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes, “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” by The Hillside Singers, the Archie Bunker-esque sounding novelty song “Once You Understand” by Think and “Imagine/Happy Christmas” by John Lennon (and us not knowing that 9 years later, he’d be gone). And you went out and bought the Santana III album, if you so desired!!
And, of course, if you were taking a break from doing your homework, or whatever, you could be watching “All In The Family, “Sanford and Son” or “Marcus Welby, M.D.”
Winter break lasted from December 22 to January 3, 1972.
So, Truckers: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays!!
