...And That's My Opinion©
By Sandy Goldman
The Rogers Park Community Curmudgeon
What it was, was Lake View High School and I was a
member of the class of 1950.
1950!!!
That is, can you believe it, 56 years ago?
In 1946, we were required, because of overcrowding at
the main school, to attend an annex at Horace Greeley School. Some could elect to go to Senn High School
and thus avoid the ridicule of attending an auxiliary facility. But we were a sturdy lot and we wanted Lake
View High School because what it was, was Lake View High School. It was our neighborhood school with no
admission fees, no entrance exams and no esoteric qualifications.
We prepared our lessons, particularly Latin, under the
tutelage of Ms. Sphinx, who said, “ If you want to succeed at the Big School
pay attention here,” and we did, I think!
She would also often say,” Some of you are students and some of you are
pupils.” We overcame our freshman
trepidation and became the class of 1950.
We came from various grammar schools: Le Moyne, Nettlehorst, Hawthorne, Blaine and
some I’m sure I have forgotten.
Horace Greeley was a good beginning. We survived the task of finding lockers and
navigating the hallways. We were ready
for the Big School and so we moved on to the big time and our Horace Greeley
friendships moved along with us.
What it was, was
Lake View High School.
There was football and baseball and basketball, as
well as track and swimming. There were dramatics - and a school newspaper - and
band and orchestra as well as a modern swing band - and choir – and
cheerleading and drum majorettes and the brand new girl’s drill team.
Latin Club, Spanish Club, Red Cross Council, National
Honor Society, Girl’s Athletic Association, Unisex Rifle Team, ROTC Bowling
League, Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y were some of the extracurricular activities available
to us.
Most important of all, there was friendship.
We would meet at a place called Harvey’s on Irving
Park, a block west of Ashland. We were
allowed to gather after school until the owner played “ Good Night Irene” on
the jukebox. That was our clue to go
home while they prepared for the adult crowd.
It was a workable plan and it worked well.
What it was, was
Lake View High School.
We didn’t win many football games but we had parties
far exceeding the wild levels that our children think they were the first to
discover!! But we never told them or
anyone else for that matter.
We formed friendships, both male and female, some of
which continue unto today, some of which resulted in marriages and families.
There was a fierce rivalry with Senn High School,
which manifested itself both on the football field and at the fistfights at the
Uptown theatre. This was particularly
true when we each wore our football parkas…Senn Bulldogs and Lake View
Wildcats.
We didn’t mess with Lane Tech. It was an all-boys school and they were
tough. Waller High School, however, was
not welcome on our turf nor we on theirs.
What it was, was
Lake View High School.
Three senior class teachers took it upon themselves to
teach us how to dance in preparation for the senior prom. Most of the boys proved to be better
fighters than dancers. But the prom
went on without a hitch and most of the boys let the girls lead.
We started the first Prom-Date Bureau wherein shy boys
and girls could make known their intentions in strict confidence and couple up
for the desired prom date.
We had the Teens-'n'-Talent show, along with the
crowning of Miss and Mr. Lake View – and the May Festival with the crowning of
the May Queen - and the Glee Club
concert - and the ROTC Cadet Hop and the Turnabout Dance featuring the
presentation of Mr. And Miss Courtesy and a dance contest.
There was an art department that taught drawing and
painting, as well as metal work and sculpturing. There were advanced
mathematics and dressmaking and cooking and first aid and childcare and general
science and practical training for the business world. There was a fully
equipped workshop, one of the few in the city. The shop courses taught
mechanical drawing and architectural drawing and electrical knowledge. An
innovative special course in radio and television, with instructors from the
American School of Television, was added to the curriculum in 1949. There were
also two rooms for those with hearing and sight difficulties.
What it was, was
Lake View High School.
We were particularly proud of a visit, on Feb 17th,
1950 by Mayor Kennelly, States’ Attorney Boyle and Police Commissioner
Prendergast, who spoke to us about our futures.
We grew up to be doctors and dentists; lawyers and
judges; businessmen and salesmen; con men and convicts; fireman and policemen;
statesmen and politicians; working men and working women; mothers and fathers;
writers and reporters; teachers and professors; clerics and clerks; architects
and engineers; bartenders and bar owners; cab drivers and truck drivers. We were all friends then, as we are
today.
Of 282 graduates in 1950, one third planned to enter
college, the bulk choosing Northwestern and Illinois Universities (50) while
the rest were evenly spread among midwestern colleges.
In 1950 the Korean War began. Some went there. Some never returned.
Lake View High School opened in 1874 making it the
oldest high school in Illinois. It has
stood all that time on the corner of Irving Park and Ashland Avenue. We have all been proud to say:
What it was, was
Lake View High School.
In our memories that’s what it still is!!
...And that's my opinion.
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E-mail Sandy: smgoldman@ameritech.net