Anyone who has watched such shows as “Glee” and “High School Musical” will know that Drama Club is often ignored, while Football and Cheer Leading programs get most of the attention. American Fork High School was …for the most part…no exception. But since our school was full of very nice kids, “class warfare” wasn't as intense as it might have been. There were the usual tensions between “Jocks” and “Cowboys.” Pot smoking “Hippies” kept to the shadows. If they were there, I wasn't too aware of them. To any former “Cavemen” reading this, these are my memories of American Fork High School…you may remember things differently. But that’s okay…we all look at life through different lenses.
"Andy Williams is my favorite singer" said no teenage girl ever.
When I was still in junior high, I remember an afternoon
spent looking at yearbooks with my friend Kathleen. This is not important to the story…but I
just had to share this bit about Kathleen.
She was a wonderful, sweet, intelligent girl. But she had a fatal flaw. While most of the other girls in our
neighborhood were crazy about The Monkees or The Partridge Family…she was Andy
Williams’ most devoted fan. Huh!? Her closet door was plastered with his
pictures and his music was the sound track to games of Twister. “Moon River” and right hand red!
The hit of "parent chaperoned" boy/girl parties.
Anyhoo...as Kathleen and I looked at all the
pictures of kids having fun in sports, clubs and activities at AF High, I made
a vow that I would make the most of my high school years. My children would find me in lots of yearbook pictures!
I never was one of the “popular” crowd but I was an enthusiastic Caveman
supporter.
Drama Club...
My favorite picture. George and I are both on the front row.
I am the girl on the far left ...George is on the far right.
We were probably fighting that day...lol!
Since I fully intended to be a famous Broadway actress
someday, I knew that Drama Club was the “place to be.” Learning scenes and pantomimes for
competitions was a lot of work. But I
knew that if I ever wanted to star in the school play I would have to pay my
dues. Drama Club kids were the most fun
kids in the school. ..just what this shy girl needed. At any moment a group of us could
spontaneously break out in song. I have
fond memories of a lunch-time musical number…complete with choreography…of a Kellogg’s
Raisin Bran commercial…it was brilliant!
Another time my friend Randy brought the house down with “We represent
the Lollipop Guild” from the Wizard of Oz.
Being tall for a Munchkin…he was hilarious!
We were a pretty close-knit bunch of kids
who thought ourselves very clever, but I’m sure we got more than our fair share
of strange looks in the hallways. I
will write more another time about the plays we were in. This story is about Homecoming. I have my husband to thank for bringing back
these fun memories. A few days ago,
George came across some old negatives that I didn't know existed. It was like unearthing lost treasure...our
Drama Club Homecoming float!
Actual Yearbook Photo...not!
“Happiness is…”
Homecoming 1972
Our drama teacher and club adviser was Mr. Gardner. Such a nice guy and so handsome…we girls
would just stare at him dreamily. Half
the time we never heard a word he said.
But when he announced that this year Drama Club would create an entry
for the Homecoming Parade…we were all ears!
He warned us not to get too excited…we probably wouldn't win the
prize. He believed that “politics
favoring the football team and cheerleaders” would prevail. But he did encourage us to prove him wrong.
Happiness is...
The theme was “Happiness Is…” Snoopy as “Joe Cool” and “Happiness is a Warm
Puppy” were everywhere that year. What
kind of float would we build? Since we
were playing the Springville Red Devils we chose “Happiness is Deviled Eggs.” We envisioned a football field where “Mighty
Cavemen” clobbered giant devil eggs with clubs.
How cool is that?
The finished product...
Building the float was so much fun! I have no idea how we came up with the paper
mache eggs. But they were works of art
in our estimation.
Watching other people work is exhausting!
My cute friend Marilee getting ready for the parade.
Those evil "Deviled Eggs" must be cracked for good!
After the parade some of us took our show on the road. George and Randy...and a few others whose names I wish I could remember...thought it would be fun to wear the eggs in the middle of a busy Main Street intersection and "withdraw into their shells." We thought the honking cars were hilarious. Then for some reason we took the eggs to Lehi and proceeded to annoy the citizens of that community. We had to celebrate somehow...we won Best Float in the parade! It just goes to show...politics aside...Drama Club was the best!
Dear old AF High
Yes, we will love you 'til we die.
Your colors bright,
Of red and white,
Will be a beacon in the night.
Dramatic Arts,
And Ball and Track,
We always bring the honors back.
We'll sing your praises to the sky
We'll always fight for AF High!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
If you haven't noticed...Drama is mentioned first in the school song...so take that, Football!
I'm sure it was my performance at Half Time that won the game.
The Cavemen pounded the Red Devils for a 44-27 victory!
Best Homecoming ever!
Madison...enjoy your high school days!
Note: I was having trouble remembering the correct words to the song. Thanks to an article written by Ruby Buhler called "Origin of the American Fork High School Song" I was able to get it right! Sadly, Ruby passed away a few weeks ago. She was quite the local historian and a lovely person.
