I remember sitting outside the classroom with Betsy, and we had a little old turntable – extension cord going into the room – and we played The Beatles – this one. Over and over. The green apple in the center of the vinyl spinning round and round.
I remember the brou-haha when Steve W. put his head through a window. He was running a race with another kid and he couldn’t stop himself and went plummeting through the kindergarden window head-first. Betsy and I, blissfully listening to the Beatles across the playground, were called out of our reverie by the tragedy. (He was fine, by the way, eventually – but it was a very bloody scary day at the grade school!)
I remember we would traipse through the woods looking for Indian arrowheads. We always believed we found some. Those woods were crawling with arrowheads.
I remember the smell of the kickball, the squeaky feel of it in my hands. The dust in the field.
I remember the dome on the playground. The dome. Where little children could break their frickin’ BACKS during recess. And there we were, dangling all over it, like little chimps. The dome is no longer. We all laughed about it and how dangerous it was at our reunion.
For some reason I remember so vividly that we had a ‘debate’ in 6th grade. We had teams – and we were assigned a position on a certain topic – and we had to research it and then debate our side. It was great practice because even if you actually disagreed with the side you were assigned to – you had to debate FOR that side. A good debater doesn’t only rely on personal conviction. Debating is a SKILL. Of course we were 11 years old – but the whole thing was very serious. The boys had to wear suits, the girls dressed up – there was a lectern – we had to each go up, make our speech, listen to the opposing side – and then come up and make our rebuttals. It was great because we had to work as teams. (Uhm – did I say we were 11?) The topic was: Does violence in cartoons have an effect on the kids who watch them? Funny – at this point, we were pretty much talkin’ about ROADRUNNER, mkay?? I was on the side that the Roadrunner’s antics DO have a negative effect on kids. (Uhm – us.) Now I already had strong opinions about this and felt that cartoons did NOT have a bad effect on kids. I watched Roadrunner every week and you didn’t see me dropping anvils on people willy-nilly. But I took my position and I stuck to it. My debate partner was Andrew W. This was at the HEIGHT of our love affair which culminated in a certain spitball. Ahem. My love for him was beyond anything I have ever felt for any other man. I swear to God. My heart just SOARED at the smallest thing. I remember I had to go up to make a rebuttal – one kid on the other side had said, “But we see the creatures in cartoon get right back up again after getting thrown off a cliff – it’s obvious that they’re okay and that it’s fake.” Oooh, I saw my in and I took it!! I got up and said, “So if the characters in cartoons DON’T get hurt when they fall off a cliff, then what will stop kids from saying ‘I won’t get hurt if I throw myself off a cliff.'” And I heard Andrew mutter, “Yes!” behind me, as though I were Mike Eruzione making a goal or something. We won the debate. It was a glorious peak in my love life.
I remember, more than anything else, that Betsy and I were so into Oliver! (I mean, besides the Beatles) that every single day we would perch on top of the jungle gym at the recess and sing through the entire score. You think I exaggerate? I do not. We even sang Boy for Sale. We sang it ALL. And here’s the best part: crowds of small children would gather around the bottom of the jungle gym and listen. Betsy and I were totally the BOMB. Oh – and even better than that: the school play in 6th grade was Oliver. Betsy and I had a freak-out about this that is difficult to describe or even re-live. We were FIERCE. We HAD to be in this show. I can’t remember if there were auditions – but I do remember the day when the cast was announced by our music teacher, Mrs. Shea (she was also my piano teacher). Mrs. Shea read out: “Nancy will be played by Betsy!” HUGE gasp from behind me – Betsy was sitting behind me – hand clamped over her mouth – HUGE eyes. Then: “The Artful Dodger will be played by Sheila!” HUGE gasp from me – and Betsy’s hands gripped onto my shoulders from behind – literally clawing at me with tense excitement. And finally: “Fagan will be played by J!” J was sitting next to Betsy – another great friend – and this bit of casting was TRULY the wild card. Nobody saw this one coming. Betsy and I – while we were thrilled to get those great parts – kinda knew we would be cast … but J. as Fagan … Nobody was more surprised than J. I remember turning around to gape at her in utter shock and wonder, and she had slid herself all the way down in her seat, until her torso was completely truncated. Her eyes were enormous, glimmering, terrified, thrilled.
I remember a fish tank smashed and my hand got cut open. I stlil have the scar.
Two things were paramount in my life as influences: Land of the Lost and Little House on the Prairie. Oh, and Witch Mountain too. Tia? Fuggedaboutit. I wanted to BE her.
i love that you had an audience when you sang the score at recess! a true performer from the beginning, eh?
Great snapshots! I loved Tia from Witch Mountain. Especially that starcase with the strap. Man, I wanted to be a witch. I even thought Elizabeth Montgomery was the bomb, and could not understand why she put up with that “no magic” rule (which was constantly broken) in the house. I would do magic ALL THE TIME.
I have this memory that my mom, brother and I went to see that movie at the Will Rogers movie theater and when we came out there was a blizzard and we had to help everyone dig their cars out of the parking lot and my mom used her old 1968 Chevy Bel Air to get decent tire tracks embedded in the snow so everyone could drive out. But… I just checked IMDB and it says that movie came out in 1975 and as we all know the big Chicago snow storm was in 1979 and my sister was alive then and I KNOW she wasn’t at the movie theater, so I have clearly short-circuited something in my memory banks, and dammit why didn’t I either keep a journal or know Sheila then?
The End.
Jeez too many “snapshots” to comment on, but I’ll try:
1) I’ve had a crush on Kim Richards long before others did (Maybe not at Witch Mountain timeframe, but definitely by Hello Larry). Most people forget that she played the daughter of James Garner and Mariette Hartley in the Kodak comercials in the early 80s. Also, many don’t know that she is technically the aunt of Paris and Nicky Hilton… Um, I’d like to discuss more about her, especially her work in the underrated Tuff Turf, but the restraining order prevents me from going too deep into this subject.
2) It’s ironic that you make reference to the “Red Album” (which IMHO is the best “best of” album in history) just a couple of days after Apple Records lost a trademark infringement lawsuit to Apple Computer in GB… Okay that’s getting really geeky, moving on…
3) “One boy… boy for sale… he’s going cheap… only 7 guineas” (can’t remember the rest). Would LOVE to hear grade school girls singing that bass solo.
4) Okay. I can see casting you as the Artful Dodger, but a girl as Fagan? Did you have a shortage of boys at your school? (not that I think she didn’t fill the part wonderfully, but just wondering.)
5) I still dream of Sleestacks to this day… Fortunately, they move as slow as zombies.
OMG. Witch Mountain. I haven’t thought of that movie in dozens (dozens!) of years (or so).
I love these snapshots. Everything is so vivid when you’re a kid.
i was a policeman in that musical.
Ann Marie – HAHAHAHAHAHA //Man, I wanted to be a witch.// I can’t get past it … I SO agree.
Hmmmmm about the short-circuit … could it have been a re-release of the film, maybe??
JFH – hahahaha Kim Richards! Yes!!! I love that you know her entire resume. Hello Larry! She was just so COOL as Tia – I loved the name Tia – and dammit, I’m with Ann Marie when she says: “Man, I wanted to be a witch!” I so did!!
“So long fare thee well
Pip pip cheerio
We’ll be back soon”
Etc. until the bell rings
JFH – I can’t remember if we had a shortage of boys. We had a boy as Bill Sikes (as a matter of fact – Bill Sikes was played by Steve W – the same boy who plunged his head through the kindergarden window)
J. was great in the part. She wore fingerless gloves and was supremely evil. At age 11.
Ummm…no memories of Fonzie? None?? None at all? Can you think of even ONE???????
Fonzie memories:
Happy Days really HIT when I was in the 4th grade. Keith M., as we all know, became the epitome of Fonzie – and put a comb in his back pocket, imitating the Fonz.
Since i was a girl, I couldn’t BE the Fonz – however I did somehow get my mother to buy me a long leather (plether) jacket – of a light brown color – which I wore religiously. I have pictures of me at Sturbridge Village wearing it. It was my homage to the Fonz.
I fantasized that Fonz actually had a long-lost little sister – and that little sister was me.
I remember so vividly the first time I saw the Christmas episode – where Fonz lies, and says he has a big family gathering to go to – do you remember this???? Richie invites him over, Fonz says “Nah nah, I got a great family … gonna go be with them …” AND THEN … there is the TRAGIC shot (I still remember it) of Fonzie sitting alone in his little lonely room, on Christmas Eve, eating macaroni out of a can. Do you remember this episode??
Henry Winkler was wonderful. Somehow the lie was revealed – and he was invited to spend the day with the Cunninghams … The whole thing just burst my heart at age 9. And forget it. I was a Fonz Fanatic from that day forward.
Tough guy with a sensitive core? I am so there. Guy who puts up a good front cause he has a huge sense of pride? Sign me up.
I never really submitted to the Chachi mania – mainly because I was jealous – Fonz was supposed to have a little SISTER, remember? And frankly nobody could come CLOSE to the Fonz in sheer coolness. What a great character he created. He had it all.
That’s it. I am calling you tonight. I have to call you and tell you all my theories. Henry Winkler, when offered the role of Arthur Fonzarelli, said he would take it ONLY if he could show his other side, the reason why he has to act so cool, the reason he has to act to put together. Kind of a mirror of his own life. Oh, Henry, I understand!!Sheila,is this what it has felt like all these years to have a c.crush???? How do you get through the day??? I wonder what Henry is doing right now?? Is he online do you think????
Beth – I love this and I COMPLETELY support your crush!! He is such a worthy object of affection!
Call me tonight. Let’s talk about the Fonz for 2 hours.
I think about the Oliver singing often because during one of our performances I chipped my tooth on the jungle gym – a lasting memory!
Oh God, Bets, I’ll never forget that. It was terrifying.
Now you have me back in the 5th/6th grade. I remember that there were auditions because two plays went on at the same time. The other was The Emperor’s New Clothes and that cast was announced first. (Maybe it was just my class doing that play). I was not cast and I was just a little bit confused. Then the Oliver cast was announced and we all got lead roles – obviously the two directors had planned the casts together.
I remember during Consider Yourself you had to do a cartwheel and you had tons of change in your pocket. As you spun in the air change went flying all over the stage!
I was too embarrassed to wear a bra under my see-through Nancy dress (purchased at The Salvation Army) so I wore band-aids.
Skinny little K. Schoonover was Mr. Bumble!
Two Olivers –
“Strong men tremble when they hear IT…”
hahahahahahahahaha “Strong men … tremble when they hear IT …”
“What’d he die of, shortage of breath?”
How ’bout:
“If I should say he isn’t very greeeeeedy –” (CRASH BANG CRASH goes the stack of plates backstage)
And I so remember the change falling out of my pocket and going EVERYWHERE – which actually makes sense – Dodger probably would hoard change in his pockets.
I loved your Nancy dress. I remember you standing up on that table, singing Oom pah pah … you were so courageous, band-aids and all!!
Sheila, I had no idea you played the Dodger. So did I! 4th grade. So funny! Diane Ferguson as Fagin was a big deal for us. Made sense, though. Total jock.
Kate – you played Dodger?? hahahaha We are such kindred spirits, man. I love that!
J. was not a jock. As a matter of fact she has gone on to immense fame and fortune in another field – ahem. The entire world knows her name now! But I know her as Fagan!! And my friend crouched in her seat with huge glimmering scared excited eyes.
OH MY GOD. Okay. I get it. It’s perfect!
“Iiiiiiiiiim reeeeeeeeeeeeeviewing
the situation
I’m a bad ‘un and a bad ‘un I shall stay
You’ll be seeing
NO TRANSFORMATION
But it’s a wrong to be a rogue in every way …”
She kicked some serious butt with that song. In her 11 year old way.
Oh, and please add this: She wore a fake beard.
I love grade school.
This was beautiful – thanks for sharing and for triggering such awesome grade school memories! Reminded me of how the big girls in school used to re-enact the 1982 movie version of “Annie” in the quiet area at recess and we would watch adoringly. And one time they were late, so the girls in MY year started acting it out and the big girls watched and I nearly SWOONED. I played Miss Hannigan.
Also, Tia – I’m so there.
To all who are interested in such things: Kate (commenting here) just had a ringing success as Nancy in Chicago! Playin’ the whore with the hearta gold!
“Small pleasures ..
small treasures …
Who would deny us these?
Gin toddies
Large MEASures
No skimpin’ if you please …
IIIII rough it
IIIII love it
Life is a game of chance
IIII never tire of it
Blah blah a merry daaaaaance …”
Sadly I did not get to see the production. I would have paid good money to see Kate in that part!
I just learned that Paris Hilton is Kim Richards’ niece. Inconceivable. And do you remember that Bette Freakin Davis was in Return from Witch Mountain? And Christopher Lee? Wow.
Kate – did you need band-aids too?