Reunion in Ventura

In August, Judy and Denny Wollan spent two weeks on the beach at Ventura, CA, where they had a surprise visit from Susan Ervin, Fred Hoffman, Charlie Adams, and Arnold (Sonny) Meyerstein.

Fred, Denny, Charlie, Sonny

Fresh from the Los Angeles wedding of Sonny's daughter, they staged a mini-reunion of the SHS classes of '58 and '59. (Fred, Denny, and Judy are '59)

Sue, Fred, Charlie, and Sonny grew up on or near Park Avenue, just south of Washington Park, and Charlie's house was a popular place to congregate in the Butler School years.

Thanks to Judy Brothers Wollan for the pictures and story. You all look great!

Denny, Sue

Judy, Sue

The Harmony Boys: 5

Charlie as Nashville recording artist, 1968

1996: Charlie works at the office of the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk, managing the phone center and handling calls on legal cases. Over the years he plays with various groups, including the Tom Blasko Trio Plus 2 and 2nd Tyme Around.

1998: He organizes a revival concert of Springfield bands, a 5-hour music marathon captured on video. In 1999 he faces severe liver damage from hepatitis but his general good health permits a successful transplant operation.

2006: Charlie retires to Ashland, but he still makes guest appearances and retains a deep knowledge of rock history—as we learned in the trivia contest at our 45th reunion.

Where are the Harmony Boys today? Ben Harmony has a upholstery business in Springfield and provides music at his church. Ray Dippel works at Bunn-O-Matic and has been slowed by health problems.

Gordon Jones spent his career in insurance and risk management. In the early 1980s he was Arizona State Director of Occupational Safety & Health (OSHA), handling over 20,000 investigations. Now retired, he still owns the drum set he got for Christmas in 1946.

Perhaps we can persuade the Harmony Boys to play at our 50th reunion?

Tom Blasko Trio Plus 2, 1969

Thanks to Charlie Harmony and Gordon Jones for their pictures and memories.

The Harmony Boys: 4

Charlie and Ben: Bobbin Records Postcard, 1959

1962: in August the Harmony Boys record a last release: (A) "Lock on the Old Back Door" and (B) "Remember Me." The A side has a Twist beat and the B side is a Stuart Hamblen country tune, rearranged with a bluesy sax solo. To everyone's surprise, "Remember Me" climbs up the Top 40 charts. In 1964 Dean Martin does a version that reaches the top 10.

1963: Charlie serves two years in the Army, based in Alaska, and then rejoins the band, as does Gordon in 1966 before heading for Arizona. Charlie leaves the band in 1967 and Ben continues as The Ben Harmony Combo until the late 1970s.

1967: Charlie takes a job at the McFarland Center in Springfield and works with emotionally disturbed children. He creates a music therapy program and studies in this field at Southern Illinois. In 1973 he takes a course in England on music therapy. He remains at McFarland until 1978.

1969: He signs as a songwriter-artist with Cedarwood Publishing in Nashville, which leads to a 3-year contract with Mercury Records. During that time he releases a single on the JED label: (A) "Never Let Me Go" and (B) "Knock Around Sneakers."

1980: Charlie provides music therapy and programs in woodworking and ceramics at Aid to Retarded Citizens in Springfield. In 1983 he opens a ceramics shop in Ashland, IL, and over the next two decades he writes articles, teaches, and travels widely to demonstrate sculpting and painting techniques. [to be concluded]

Charlie meets Frankie Avalon, 1959

The Harmony Boys: 3

With JA (Jim Austin) at Teenland, 1958

1958: Gordon leaves for college. Bill Waldmire replaces him on drums and Tom Blasko joins on accordion and later key boards. More appearances, one with teen idol Fabian, lead to audition tapes and a contract with Bobbin Records, an R&B label from St. Louis.

1959: on their early records, Ben writes the A sides and Charlie the B sides. The first Bobbin release is (A) "Baby Tonight" and (B) "You Don't Care." The band then plays on "Shower of Stars," a series of live performances with recording artists like Johnny and the Hurricanes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, and Annette Funicello.

1960: the second Bobbin release is (A) "Don't Be Cold" and (B) "Saturday Night Bop." They make many personal appearances on Hop shows (similar to American Bandstand) in Illinois and Missouri, as offers to buy their contract arrive from record companies.

1961: the band adds a sax player, Jerry Black. Bill Waldmire departs to raise a family and Gary Turley joins on drums. Their early theme song, "Raunchy," is a Bill Justis tune adapted from "Backwoods," a Southern blues riff. [To be continued]

With Jim McKinney, WCVS, 1958

(click links to hear the songs)

The Harmony Boys: 2

At Big Earl's Hop, 1958

1956: Gordon Jones and Ray Dippel join the brothers and form the Harmony Boys band. They practice in the Jones living room and soon play at a few square dances. Their early style is country-western, but after Elvis emerges they shift full-time to rock 'n roll.

They put together stage outfits: bright red pants, peppermint socks, white bucks, white shirts, and red ties with a little tinfoil sparkle. For beach dates they wear red swim suits and on formal affairs put on tux shirts, black jackets, and black hats.

1957: they play Teenland, Big Earl's Hop (near the airport), the Jim McKinney radio show and Teenage Rage, a live TV show on channel 20. Other appearances are meetings and dances in Lincoln, Taylorville, and St. Louis. They travel in Ben's 1955 Ford, a light-brown job with bar grille, long tail lights, and on the rear a Harmony Boys plaque.

Their play list covers the top 40 rock hits, thanks to radio DJs like "JA" (Jim Austin), who broadcasts a live show from Teenland. Stations give them recordings; Charlie copies the lyrics and Ben, Ray, and Gordon create arrangements by ear.

1958: at a telethon in the Abe Lincoln Hotel, a "Battle of the Bands" pits The Harmony Boys against Hobie Henson's Red Devils. The match is even until Gordon's drum solo: he jumps up and dances around his white Slingerland drum set, twirling sticks in the air and not missing a beat. This act astonishes the band and brings the house down. [to be continued]

At Jerome Village Hall, 1958

The Harmony Boys: 1

The date is June 14, 1958, the place is Teenland out near the Fair grounds, and here are The Harmony Boys: (left to right) Ray Dippel on lead guitar, Benny Harmony, Charlie Harmony, and Gordon Jones on drums.

In 1956-62, The Harmony Boys lived an American dream by going from obscurity to teen fame, with girl fans screaming in a frenzy and mobbing the band offstage. Into the crowds vanished many a shoelace, along with combs, guitar picks, and drum sticks.

The first rock and roll band in Springfield, for a decade they had record contracts, appearances with rock stars, and songs on the top 40 charts. Thanks to our '58 classmates, Charlie and Gordon, I've assembled in 5 parts this brief history of those golden years.

1950: Ben and Charlie Harmony live on South MacArthur Boulevard and attend West Grand School. They begin singing as The Harmony Brothers at talent shows, annual meetings, and live radio shows in central Illinois. They often parody country-western tunes, with Charlie working as the comedian.

1955: the brothers appear on Uncle Tom's Barn Dance, a show telecast live on Mondays from Decatur. The producer adds a Saturday show featuring rock-and-roll music, and the brothers play as a rock act, backed by local musicians. [to be continued]

Pictures from Gordon Jones & Charlie Harmony
Click on them to enlarge

Swimming

Sorry to be missing of late, but I've spent a lot of time in the water. This summer I rediscovered swimming. It happened because a neighbor was away for several months, and she asked me to "watch over" her pool. That meant I could swim there any time, so in the hot days of July I got in the habit of going over afternoons or nights for a dip.

Swimming can get monotonous, so to stay alert I started counting laps. First I did 10, then 20, and before long I reached 50 laps, or a half-mile. Every visit to the pool, I swam a half mile, which dropped from 90 to 70 minutes and seems stuck right there.

I'm not setting any speed limits, and with chronic reflux I have to swim breast or back stroke rather than the crawl. But that's OK, because the crawl always bored me, which is why I lost interest in swimming long ago. How long ago and where did I start? At the old YMCA, on 7th Street? At Memorial Pool on North 9th? In Lake Springfield? (Do you remember?)

Now that summer is past, I continue to swim at a nearby fitness center. That pool is much longer and only 36 laps make a half-mile. The first time up and down those long lanes was a effort, but after a while it got to feel normal.

The water temp this morning was 81 degrees. Outside it was rainy and raw, as Storm Ernesto blew by. I'll go there several times a week from now until next July, when my neighbor's pool may once more beckon.

My point: if you don't like the way you look or feel, try swimming. The Mayo Clinic says it's the best exercise for people over 65, regardless of our condition. It strenghtens joints and muscles, burns fat, tones up flab, and improves cardio and brain function. It's not the Fountain of Youth.....but remember those swimming scenes in Cocoon?

If you want to learn more, visit the US Masters Swimming page, which has information on the benefits of swimming for seniors. And in 2008 I'll see you at Lake Springfield, rain or shine.

State Fairs

Once again, the Illinois State Fair has come to Springfield. Last August many '58s sent in their memories about this annual institution. The prevailing view was that we recall the Fair fondly and assume it will endure.

Today a story in the New York Times reports that Midwest state fairs are in deep financial trouble. They have lost money steadily, because city folk no longer care about farming (fairs began as agricultural expositions) and they can find more sophisticated entertainment at the flick of a switch.

What can we say? Folks no longer want a carnival ride, soft-ice cream, or a lemon shake-up? Before we all mutter about cultural decline, take a look at this other story in the Times: food competitions at fairs are thriving, but now the contests are over bagels, biscotti, and ostrich burgers.

If you plan to attend, here's some advice in the SJR on how to eat wisely, as befits our senior years. Your comments are welcome!

Leslie and Ann

Now here's a good-looking quartet, left to right: Bob and Leslie Sandlin, with Ann and Dick Hart. In '58 we knew the ladies as Leslie Heinicke and Ann Tobin. Leslie sent me the picture, taken at our 45th Reunion in 2003. She's looking forward to the 50th and sends thanks to our Reunion Committee for all their hard work.

Leslie and Ann both attended Butler Grade School, and their families were prominent in local business. Tobin Jewelers and Heinicke & Company greatly contributed to local employment and commerce. The Tobin company is still active, but sadly, Leslie reports that "the lawn mower factory building on South 8th Street (there since 1902) was a victim of the April tornado."

Leslie and Bob now live in Savannah, while Ann and Dick are in Springfield. Both are active in the Elijah Iles House Foundation and Dick is the current president of the Abraham Lincoln Association.

Allan Stephens

Allan Stephens, our irrepressible maestro, has retired from his faculty position at the Model Laboratory School of Eastern Kentucky University, where he has trained many generations of school band leaders. Music has played an enormous role in Allan's life, bridging his two careers as professional soldier and educator. Of course he owes it all to Springfield, where he got his early training at Butler Grade School from Bertha Corell and Ralph Bowen and at SHS from George Patrick.

On June 2, 2006, Al's MLS students gave him a surprise birthday at Casa Fiesta, where they dressed him up with love beads and a Zorro hat, which he wore with characteristic elan (see below). Actually, the elan escaped and they had to substitute some embroidery. In honor of the occasion, the students built a website where you may see many more pictures of the surprise party at Casa Fiesta and a post-party-party at Casa Stephens.

Thinking he could return to work the following day, Al had a second great surprise when many band alumni showed up to wish him well. Check out the movie of his moment of revelation. Never at a loss for words, he responded: "Oh, good grief!" His future plans include teaching at summer band camps in Ohio and California, playing in concerts with the Central Kentucky Concert Band, and enjoying life with his lovely wife of 31 years, Mary Lou Stephens. Congratulations to Al and best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.

Virginia Newell

Here we see Bob and Roxanne Newell, and in the center, Bob's mother, Virginia Newell, who radiates good health at the age of 88.

My memories of Virginia go back to 1948-52, when she was our Cub Scout den mother. Bob recalls that she was a super athlete as a swimmer, golfer, and tennis player. When he was a kid, she got picked before him in neighborhood basketball games. (Probably she was taller?)

Until a few years ago she participated in Senior Olympics and rode a bike up to the age of 82. Now she goes to swim therapy, slowed only a little since knee and hip replacement.

At an early age Virginia lost her mother and step-mother, so she was raised by men and in turn raised a husband and two sons. In the mid-1960s, she and Bob Newell moved from Springfield to Rockford, where he passed away in 1995. She still lives in Rockford among many friends and is a loyal fan of the Cubs, Bears, and Big Ten sports teams.

She remembers Bob's classmates well and enjoys hearing from them, so please drop her a line at ginnew@aol.com.

Thanks to Bob Newell for the picture and his memories.

Bunn Capitol

Bob Newell recently wrote to me that wherever he traveled, the sight of a Bunn-O-Matic coffee-maker reminded him of his home town. That's still true, but today the original 166-year-old Bunn Capitol company is sold and moving to Lincoln, according to a Journal-Register story.

Below the story, reader comments express dismay that another large business is leaving Springfield. A vendor of food products throughout Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Missouri, Bunn Capitol employed 200 persons at its local plant on Stevenson Drive. How many of those jobs will transfer to Lincoln is not clear at present.

Bunn Capitol began as a grocery store in 1840, and the Bunn family later branched into banking (Springfield Marine) as well as beverage equipment. Bunn-O-Matic, a separate corporation, continues to employ 500 to 600 persons at Springfield.

The View from New York

Laurel Loibl McKee, one of two '58s living in New York City (the other is George Bunn) writes enigmatically, "The big town has made the big time." She refers to a travel story about Springfield that ran today in that pinnacle of journalism, the New York Times.

The writer, Ann M. Morrison, describes the Lincoln sites, Route 66, Cozy Dogs, Horseshoes (the sandwich), Mel-O-Creams, the Thomas House, Maldaner's (see above), Oak Ridge, and a few other places and meals new to me: Charlie Parker's on North Street? Sammy's Sports Bar? Time is passing me by.

From the top of "the flashlight," the 30-story Hilton Hotel, Ms. Morrison sniffs a bit at "the pancake-flat landscape," but then the lady has food on her brain. Had she visited any of Springfield's grand old parks, from Lincoln and Iles to Washington, she would have found hills, stream-cut valleys, and even a pond or two. Also, she omits Lake Springfield and its handsome parks, drives, and golf courses.

Anyway, nice publicity for the old town. My one concern: hordes of tourists from Noo Yawk looking for bagels and egg creams. Let them drink black cows, I say.

Ray's CHILLI Products

Our '58 chili/chilli fans should know that Ray's Chilli and Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce are still for sale in 21 states. If not sold in your region, visit the Ray's Brand Products Online Store. The store offers chilli with or without beans, and with or without orange grease: see the Reduced Fat version.

Ray's company site offers a 92-year history of the brand name, as it moves from Texas to Illinois, from Springfield to Decatur, Ray's present location. Earlier versions of the Ray's brand sold as Chili Man Chili, and the company also made Kelly's Potato Chips.

Bob's Famous Chilli

Yvonne Beveridge sent in this prize-winning chilli recipe that Bob Beveridge got from his uncle, who was a regular at Mae and Ollie's Tavern in Springfield, where the recipe originated. The tavern closed a few years ago and the owners are now deceased (we think).

Yvonne writes that the recipe is "very close to the Steak and Shake Chilli-Mac Sauce...just heat a serving up, pour on cooked pasta, and add a little red beans and ketchup... cheddar, parmesan cheese and onions on top, and enjoy."

She also recommends taking Beano before eating and Tums after. Thanks, Bob and Yvonne, and Happy Fourth of July!

PS: to enlarge the recipe, just click on it.

Gettysburg

Jo Ankeny Lindamood recently visited Pat Flamm Crowner and her husband, David Crowner, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of Gettysburg National Military Park. They toured the famous battlefield sites, including Little Round Top (below) where the 20th Maine held the line and swept Confederate forces down the hill.

Jo writes, "I read about Gettysburg and watched Ken Burns' Civil War series but still did not get the proper feeling until I saw where the fighting took place. Standing on top of Little Round Top and looking down at the rocky slope into Devil's Den and imagining the carnage is incredible."

Gettysburg was a three-day battle, July 1-3, 1863, fought in wheat fields and peach orchards. Losses were heavy on both sides and neither claimed it as a victory. On November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared that those sacrifices created "a new birth of freedom" that made all American citizens equal. If you can't visit on the Fourth of July, here's a virtual tour.

Chilli Capital

I try to keep controversy out of these pages, but word has reached me that Texas is disputing a resolution of the Illinois state legislature in 1993 that declared Springfield the "Chilli Capital of the Civilized World."

Please note the spelling: chilli versus chili. Chili is an old Texas border dish, originating in the 1840s. Chilli is from Springfield, dating back to creation of the Den Chilli Parlor in 1909. Was the name misspelled or did the Den want to pay tribute to ILLinois?

You may read the history of chilli, and of today's chilli parlors, in this issue of the Illinois Times. At one time, Springfield had more than a dozen parlors selling the spicy bean-and-meat stew. Remember Allen's Cigar Store, near the Post Office? Or the Sugar Bowl, at State and South Grand? The Dew and the Den, who could tell them apart?

The Den survives today as Joe Roger's on 9th Street, near the Lincoln home. They still offer a Firebrand chili, and if you eat one bowl, your name goes up on a wall list. Last time I was there, I saw the names of two nuns from Ursuline Academy. Way to go, Sisters!

Taavo Saviste

More sad news: Taavo Saviste has died. A refugee from Estonia, he entered Butler Grade School in 1952-53. He was a natural athlete and ran track during his SHS years. The text of the obituary from the Journal-Register follows.

SPRINGFIELD - Taavo Saviste, 68, of Springfield died Saturday, June 10, 2006, at St. John's Hospice.

He was born April 8, 1938, in Tallinn, Estonia, the son of Oskar and Olga Kumpus Saviste. He married Nita Norris in 1962 in Springfield. A son, Brian Saviste, preceded him in death.

Mr. Saviste was a U.S. Army veteran, serving with the Special Forces as a Green Beret in Fort Bragg, N.C., and attained the rank of sergeant. He was self-employed for 35 years with a family business, Saviste and Son Builders. He was a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Survivors: wife, Nita; son, Robert (wife, Dorothy) Saviste of Cape Coral, Fla.; brother, Ahto (wife, Bobbie) Saviste of Springfield; sister, Ene Hamm of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Glen VankerKloot officiating. Vancil Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Dale Jeffers

Messages from Jim Herron and Judy Vicars Van Hagen report sad and belated news: our '58 classmate, Dale Jeffers, died on July 26, 2005. The last address we have for him was Winter Springs, Florida. Cause of death is presently unknown. Dale's brother, Lyle Jeffers, is currently in Springfield to attend a memorial service for Dale.

In the absence of an obituary, I compiled this outline of Dale's life from the notes he sent over the years for our Reunion booklets. In Springfield, he attended Harvard Park School. After SHS he attended Bradley University and then entered the Air Force. During his service in Germany, Japan and Korea, he earned credits from the University of Maryland and later completed a degree in industrial management at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

He married Christine Jeffers and they lived in Milwaukee, where he worked in management for Allis Chalmers. They had two sons, Mark and Paul. By 1988 they had moved to Bradenton, Florida, where Dale worked for Siemens Power Corporation. In 1993 Dale reported himself as single; Mark and Paul were then 21 and 18. In 1994 Siemens transferred Dale back to Milwaukee. He attended our 40th reunion in 1998. By 2003 he had returned to Winter Springs, Florida. The last e-mail I had from him was in 2004.

Orpheum Organ

A few entries ago, a question about the Orpheum organ came up and I said it was now in the SHS auditorium. Judy Vicars Van Hagen sent the following information:

The Barton Theater Organ was originally in the Orpheum Theater, used for silent movies and Vaudeville, and is now housed in the SHS auditorium.

It is presently played for public concerts by Mark Gifford, a wonderful musician in Springfield who has an avid interest in the upkeep, repair, and restoration of this magnificent musical instrument. An Organ Organization raises money for maintaining the organ, supported by money earned at the concerts.

At our 45th Reunion Mark played an organ concert for us (see picture below), and he opened and closed the concert with the SHS Fight Song. Up until that time there had been no keyboard arrangement of the Fight Song, so Carolyn Baldwin Quinlan notated the song for Mark and he composed an arrangement for the keyboard that he played for us at the Reunion concert. It was exciting to hear it played that way!

An excellent story on the Orpheum theatre and its organ appears on the SHS web site. The story notes that the last person to play the organ in its Orpheum site was Wendell Kennedy, father of Alan Kennedy '58.

A little history: the Orpheum company built 45 theatres in 36 cities throughout the USA and Canada. They provided vaudeville and movies until the advent of cable television in the 1980s. Some towns have saved their Orpheums as public auditoriums. For a reminder of that opulent era, see the Orpheum at Galesburg, Illinois.

Mark Gifford at the restored Orpheum Organ,
SHS Auditorium (Barton Theatre)
Picture by J. V. V. Hagen