Friday

THE WEEK OF MAY 25-31, 1952 -- STORM CELLAR, MOVIES, REPORT CARDS, GRADUATION

Sunday Night - May 25
Dear Diary,
  Spent most of last night in my Grandpa Clark's storm cellar, and so did most of the neighbors.  I ran down and got Claudia before it started thundering and raining. Her parents said they would set the storm out under the kitchen table if need be.  Claudia doesn't take to storms too well so we sat at the very back of the cellar.  Mrs. Potts, the town gossip, sat on an old bench next to my mom. The gossipy gray-haired woman entertained us all with the goings on in town.  No need for a newspaper with her around! She talked non-stop most of the time and we ignored her, but then Claudia's and my ears perked up when she started talking about the strange newcomer to town, Madame Sophia.  "Why, she's a fortune teller," she told us all, "and she's setting up shop in the building behind Martha Jo's Beauty Shop." Boy, did she love telling that bit of juicy gossip.   Everyone talked about what a terrible thing that was and they all vowed to never go to her.  I know Claudia and I can't wait to go!
     After the storm passed Grandpa Clark opened the cellar door, looked out and told us all nothing had happened. I saw my mom sigh with relief. Grandpa said, "I sat here in this old hard chair half the night and I could have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry with Minnie Pearl and Eddy Arnold."  Grandma gave him a dirty look.
     I hoped we would forget church, but no such luck. My mom said, "No church, no Sunday afternoon movie!" 
     At church, the minister told us he was surprised at how few people were there, considering how lucky we were that the storm by-passed us Saturday night.     
      After church, us girls, Claudia, Marqueita and Sue went to see "The Greatest Show on Earth."  The scene where Cornel Wilde fell from the high wire with no net below just to impress Betty Hutton  had us all on the edges of our seats.  I hope some fella loves me that much some day!
     Tomorrow is Monday. Not my favorite day, but we only have five more days of school. Thank goodness!

Monday - May 26
Dear Diary,
     I thought today was going to be real DULLSVILLE. Was I ever wrong!  Mrs. Martin, our algebra teacher, is never separated from her grade book.  But, today she was called out of algebra class and left her grade book on the desk. We all gathered around for a look at our grades.  When we heard her coming down the hall, Tim hid the grade book behind the radiator.  She just about exploded when she found her grade book missing. Luckily, the bell rang and we escaped.  We all made a pact, no one knows anything! Tomorrow won't be very pleasant. The fact that she and The Warden are best friends isn't going to help. Only four more days of school left!

Tuesday - May 27
Dear Diary,
     Algebra class couldn't have been worse.  Mrs. Martin told us we didn't need to look so innocent. We were all guilty and were all getting an "F."  Then she had Principal Webster come in and she told him the whole story.  Before he could say anything, Tim points to the radiator and says, "What is that? I see something behind there." Mr. Webster walks over, gets the book and hands it to Mrs. Martin and says, "You must have dropped this," and walks out of the room.  Of course, she still had to tell us how awful we were and how we would all come to a bad end!  She told us she was sure she'd open up the newspaper someday and our names would be in the headlines. And it wouldn't be good!  Can't understand why she thinks we were so bad. We were just having fun.  Hope we get some new teachers next year!  Only three more days as a sophomore!

Wednesday - May 28
Dear Diary
     School is finally out!  That's the good news! The bad news is we got our report cards.  I knew I didn't do well in world history. I don't care though, just so I passed.  (And I did with a C+.)    I was so happy until I saw Nancy Randall crying over her B-.  After class, Mrs. Fields, the history teacher, asked me why Nancy was crying. I told her the B- ruined her chance for a scholarship to college in two years. Mrs. Fields felt bad that she didn't give Nancy more help.   I asked if there wasn't something my friends and I could do.  She said no and then said she was surprised I asked.  She said she thought all I ever worried about was a date for Saturday night.  Imagine that!  It made me feel kind of bad about myself. I think I'll be nicer to Nancy and help her next year, but doesn't Mrs. Fields realize a date for Saturday night is VERY important!

Thursday - May 27
Dear Diary
     Graduation is over! The seniors have gone to the state capitol for their senior trip. Just two more years and it will be our turn!  I hope we go somewhere more exciting.  Who cares about an old capitol building!  I am really sad, though. Billy Maples is leaving Westwood High.

Saturday - May 31
Dear Diary
     We all went to the drive-in movie to celebrate our being juniors!  Three car loads went. Some of the boys hid in the trunk.  The manager came around and said we were making too much noise.  We weren't the only ones celebrating the end of school, so he finally gave up and left us alone. The movie was "Duel in the Sun" with Gregory Peck and Jennifer Jones.  Gregory was so cute, but he was so mean!

Sunday

THE WEEK OF MAY 18-24, 1952 - BANQUET AND PROM

Monday - May 19
Dear Diary,
     The juniors started decorating the gym today for the banquet and prom. Gladys had to stick her nose in, as usual, even though she is not a junior, only a lowly (so they think) sophomore. She really is good at that sort of thing.
     We had to go to the study hall during PE period because of the decorating in the gym. Mrs. Ward, the study hall teacher, was very unhappy. We call her the Warden. She called the principal in because some of the senior boys were talking out loud and wandering around the room. She told them just because they had a winning basketball team and school was almost out, didn’t mean they would graduate. No one would ever graduate or even go home at the end of the day if she had her way.
....So long for now. I have Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe to memorize for English Literature. Only two more weeks of school!


Thursday - May 22
Dear Diary,
     Tomorrow night is the big night! Prissy Gladys has been going up and down the halls telling everyone about her part in the entertainment. They couldn’t find a junior who would play the part of Carmen Miranda with a bowl of fruit on her head, so Gladys volunteered and they accepted. Boy, do I ever want to see that! It should really be something. Just got my skirt, blouse and sash all ready for the big event. We girls got red ballerina slippers to wear with out outfits. Are we ever going to look swell! Luckily, since working in the café, I know how to serve, but Claudia is nervous. She sure doesn’t want to spill anything on Mrs. Ward! Need to hurry off to bed to be fresh for tomorrow!


Saturday - May 24
Dear Diary,    
     The grand night is over! And what a night.!! Mrs. Harrison shocked us all, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Billy Maples was there with the Prom Queen, Melba Underwood. I was so jealous. We did a good job serving, even Mrs. Brown said so. We served Mexican food with fresh fruit salad for dessert. Then we got to stay for the prom and serve punch and coffee.
     The entertainment was terrific! The band was dreamy. Billy and Melba started off dancing to "The Loveliest Night of the Year" by Mario Lanza. Gladys did a grand job as Carmen Miranda singing and dancing to Rum and Coca-Cola, and with the fruit on her head, she even looked like her. Everyone loved it, except THE WARDEN and she will never get over it!
     All the girls looked so lovely and grown up in their prom dresses as they swirled around on the dance floor. I could have listened to the music all night. There were so many dreamy songs, like, "Because of You" by Tony Bennet, "Too Young" by Nat King Cole, and "Tenderly" by Rosemary Clooney. It all seemed so magical.
     Of course the bad part was, the teachers were all there. Naturally, Mrs. Ward kept her eagle eyes on everyone. When she told Mr. Williams, the junior sponsor, that Tequila was there, we thought she meant a girl was there that shouldn’t be. Later when we learned it was a liquor she said had been put in the punch bowl, we felt kind of dumb. We had heard of beer and whiskey, but never tequila. Claudia thought tequila was a relative of Marquita’s because they both have funny names. Of course, there was no Tequila. I think The Warden just wanted to catch someone doing something wrong!
    Sue, Claudia and I decided right then there would be NO teachers at our junior prom next year. But then, when the band played "My Adobe Hacienda" and the principal and his wife started dancing, we thought they looked so sweet and cute. A few more teachers joined the juniors and seniors when they played "Across the Alley From the Alamo."
     That was a great surprise, but what was really surprising and shocking was prime and proper Mrs. Harrison dancing to "The Pennslyvania Polka" by the Andrew Sisters. In the song, when they say pick a partner, she grabbed Richie and we all gasped. Surely she didn’t expect "The Runt" to dance. But did he ever!! He was terrific! The boys were jealous and the girls all fell in love. When the song was over, everyone applauded and Principal Webster said, "Meet the new Gene Kelly. I heard some of the boys say they had a whole new respect for him. And of course Claudia thinks she likes him now. She said if Alan Ladd can be a famous movie star and he’s only 5 ft. four, maybe Richie can be famous some day too.
     As the night was coming to a close, the band played "South of the Border," then Gladys led the Conga Line as they played Xavier Cugat’s Conga Song and they even let us sophomores join in on the end of the line. What fun! I felt so grown up! I felt like I was in a movie! Then the band played "So Long It’s Been Good to Know You," and I saw Melba crying as she danced with Billy Maples. Maybe he was telling her so long. I hope so!








THE WEEK OF MAY 11-17 --MARQUEITA'S SLUMBER PARTY, ROLLER SKATING

Monday - May 12
Dear Diary,
     Claudia and I got in big trouble today in Home Ec class. We were the only two who had not finished our skirts for serving at the banquet. Our teacher, Mrs. Brown, who is always in a bad mood anyway, said Claudia and I were jolly on the spot when something fun was up, but when there was work to be done, we were nowhere to be found. I don’t see anything wrong with that. We have a whole week to finish them.

Wednesday - May 14
Dear Diary,
     We finished our skirts after school today. Now we can go to Marqueita’s slumber party without thinking about those skirts. All my friends will be there, even some junior and senior girls. We will make chocolate fudge and pop popcorn and read True Story magazines. We will have to hide them from Marqueita’s father. She is not allowed to read them. He says they are just too trashy! I bet he’s 40 years old and just don’t understand!

Friday - May 16
Dear Diary,
     The slumber party was really swell. Never had so much fun. The boys...Wayne, Patrick, Tim, and Bobby drove by in Wally’s convertible. We waved from Marqueita’s bedroom window, but weren’t allowed to go outside. Will be glad when I’m my own boss. Mrs. Kimble, our English teacher, who is our favorite teacher in the whole world, (she is young and beautiful and hasn’t been married very long, really understands us) says, we will never be our own boss. I hate to think that is true!

   Can’t wait for tonight. I’m going to the movies with my good friend Tim. The first thing I did when I got home this morning was wash and roll my hair. I love that Lustre-Creme Shampoo. Did my nails, then waited on customers at the café. They had something to say about my hair being up in pin curls. Later, when I was plucking my eye brows, my mom told me it took me all day Saturday to get ready for Saturday night and if I had the time and it wasn’t too much trouble, might I get to the ironing. Which reminded me, I had to iron my yellow blouse. I wanted to wear it with my new brown skirt. I hoped it would set off my black hair and brown eyes. Billy Maples came by the café, got a Coke and candy bar and asked if I was going to the movie tonight. I said I was with Tim. He said maybe I will see you there. I’m so excited!


Saturday - May 17
Dear Diary,
     What a fun Saturday night. We were all in Rex’s Drive In. Sue and Bobby, Marqueita and Charles, Claudia and Wally and Tim and I. Billy Maples and some other senior boys came in, walked right over to our booth and suggested we all go to the roller rink. We skated with all the senior boys. I skated with Billy Maples more than once. Wayne Morrison was there. Claudia got to skate with him. She hasn’t come down from the pink cloud yet. Patrick Jamerson was there. I also skated a couple of times with him. We all had a great time. Especially for us girls, maybe not so much for our dates. Of course, Tim didn’t mind. He is like the brother I always wanted. And I guess I am still on a pink cloud myself..

Wednesday

THE WEEK OF MAY 4, 1952 -- JOHNNIE RAY SINGS "CRY"

Wednesday - May 7
Dear Diary,
     Not much happened today. I listened to Johnnie Ray sing "Cry," while I did my algebra homework. I’m going to bed early and look at my new movie magazines with Betty Grable and Jane Powell on the covers. Know they will be good. They are two of my favorites.
     Good night, Diary - tomorrow will be a busy day!




THE WEEK OF APRIL 27, 1952 -- BOYS BULLY RICHIE SANDERS



Tuesday - April 29
 Dear Diary,
      Worked at the café during the lunch hour. The place was overrun with kids from school. I got really mad at Wayne Morrison. I don’t care if Claudia does like him. He’s such a bully! He and his friends make fun of Richie Sanders because he is small for his age. They call him Runt and Short Stack. Today they held the door to the café so he can’t come in. I told them, “He can’t help it that he’s small for his age. You’re just a bunch of overgrown bullies and you can help that!
      After school Claudia came by the café while the Coca-Cola soft drink man was putting up a new sign. It had a really cute boy and girl sitting at a lunch counter drinking a Coke. Claudia thought it looked just like she and Wayne. She has such a crush on him. She is sure that he is in love with her. I think it’s the other way around. He never looks at her. She says it’s because he is just bashful. I happen to know he asked Sue to go roller skating. She wouldn’t because she knew Claudia liked him. After the Coca-Cola man left, we each drank a Coke and ate a Coconut Grove Candy Bar. Claudia talked about Wayne while I dreamed about Billy Maples, that handsome senior. I wish I was a senior so I could go to the prom with Billy. Some lucky senior girl will be his date.
Have to go--Goodnight, Diary.

Tuesday

THE WEEK OF APRIL 20, 1952 -- SOPHOMORES GET TO SERVE AT BANQUET/PROM

Monday - April 21
Dear Diary,
     Finally! It’s almost here–the Junior/Senior Banquet and Prom. Us lowly life sophomores had our meeting today with the Junior Class Sponsor, Mr. Williams. Gladys modeled her peasant blouse and skirt. Old man Williams said he thought the white blouse and black skirt was very grown up but he didn’t like the multicolored sashes. I spoke up and reminded him that the theme was Fiesta Time-South of the Border. Us girls couldn’t very well serve at the banquet in just our black and white school colors. Fiesta means bold, bright colors! Something pale-faced Williams knows nothing about.

Thursday - April 24
Dear Diary,
     Claudia and I got in big trouble today in Home Ec class. We were the only two who had not finished our skirts for serving at the banquet. Our teacher, Mrs. Brown, who is always in a bad mood anyway, said Claudia and I were jolly on the spot when something fun was up, but when there was work to be done, we were nowhere to be found. I don’t see anything wrong with that. We have plenty of time to finish them.



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LINDA'S BACKGROUND INFORMATION

     Before I start revealing the pages from my diary, let me give you some background. My name is Linda, I was born in Westwood, a little farming community of about 2,500. In the middle of World War II my father passed away. With only a high school education and very little money down, my mom purchased the town’s coffee shop and café.
     My three best friends were Claudia, Marqueita and Sue. Through good times and bad times we were always together. Tim, my friend since second grade, was not exactly my boyfriend, but he was special. We were there for each other. Having no brothers and sisters, my friends were very important to me.
     Westwood was one of many small communities in the county, which were all within 12miles of Fairview, the county seat. The main attraction was the Saturday midnight show at Fairview’s Palace Theater. For the most part in the early 1950s, there were no complications of drugs, alcohol or premarital sex. We had peer pressure, but not to the extent of the peer pressure of today. Of course it wasn’t blissful every day. We had our share of disappointments and heartache and sometimes life was interrupted with death...and as my diary will reveal, even murder.
     Maybe my teenage years in Westwood weren’t very different from any one else’s in the 1950s. But I think it’s important to document how life was back then. I encourage the reader to leave comments on this site about the memories of their youth. I’ll be updating weekly, so follow me through high shool until graduation. Start blogging about your happy memories or put them down on paper. It is important to document your youth for your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As we move father away from that time, those days will fade forever

Monday

DIARY OF A 1950's TEENAGER --HOW THE IDEA FOR THE BLOG BEGAN




     I have my 13-year-old granddaughter, Lizzie, and her friend Kate, to thank for starting this blog. After watching “High School Musical” my granddaughter and her friend told me they couldn’t wait to be in high school. With great enthusiasm, they declared, “It’s going to be awesome!” I told the girls I knew exactly how they felt. I revealed that my high school days were pretty awesome back in the 1950s. I told them, "Of course we didn’t use the term awesome back then. We said, "swell" or just plain ol’ "fun"! Actually, it was the best!”
     The girls looked at me with disbelief. After all, they were fairly certain their generation invented fun. Lizzie was quick to say, “What could you have done for fun back then? You didn’t have video games, computers or cell phones. You couldn’t text your friends or go to the mall. Did they even have movies way back then?”
I guess I should have been insulted. Did she think I was a teenager before movies were invented? My teenage years did seem like a hundred years ago, but then in a way, to me, it seemed like only yesterday.
I told the girls that not only had movies been invented, but they were a big part of our lives. Then I provided a few details of what a really "swell" Saturday night was like.
     I told them, "The night would start out with everyone dragging main street, either with dates, or with a group of friends. The boys would have their 1950 Chevy's and Fords all clean and sparkling bright. After dragging main, to see who all was in town, we would go roller skating until time for the midnight show at the Palace Theatre.  I remember seeing "Sunset Blvd." the night a couple of boys got kicked out of the show for throwing popcorn."
     This didn't add up to a lot of fun to them. Of course they didn't know what it was like to see dreamy William Holden bigger than life on the screen. But then I told them, "After the movie, most of the kids would go for Coca-Colas or milk shakes at Rex's Drive In. We usually got home about 2 a.m." Just thinking about it made me smile. There was one thing missing that I don't think they realized. I had to tell them, "Not only was it fun for us kids, it was all innocent fun!”
     If I read their faces correctly, it seemed they agreed my typical Saturday night sounded fairly "awesome." I think what really sparked their interest was when I told them we stayed out until 2 a.m!
     Lizzie couldn't wait to ask, "Were you a freshman then?"
It was obvious where this was going. She hoped if I was a freshman staying out that late, then I would be able to convince her parents that she could stay out past midnight too. After all, if Gran did it, why couldn't she. Two a.m. sounded very appealing. I knew I needed to explain in more detail about how things were different back then. They needed to know that "innocent fun" was just that, FUN!
     I quickly informed the girls that I was a sophomore when all this happened. I told them that the kind of fun we had was special, and if they really wanted to, they could have that kind of fun now. To be more convincing, I told them I kept a diary.
     Kate seemed curious and said, “You mean you blogged back then?"
     Lizzie followed with, "This I have to see!”
     Upstairs, from an old trunk, I brought out my sophomore diary. As Lizzie and Kate flipped through the pages I could see they saw me in a whole different light. As my life unfolded before them, I wondered if they noticed that the worst thing we girls ever did was try and smoke a couple of cigarettes. I think my life seemed appealing to them. I wondered if others would feel the same.
     And so from the pages of my diary, this blog was born.