‘Blithe Spirit’ Cast At Work
Pictured at the left are Joyc«; Pierce, Norma Savage, Sue Yelver-
ton, Peggy Jones, Bill Toler, Lueiixd'a Oliver, and CJene Arnold, getting
directions for the first scene from student director, Mimi Brewer.
Cast members for the first dra
matic production, “Blithe Spirit”
have been selected from a large
number that turned out for the
tryouts and are already at work.
Gene Arnold will play the part
of Charles Condomine. a writer,
and Peggy Jones is Ruth Condo
mine, his wife. Sue Yel'verton is
Elvira. Charles’s first wife who
returns from the dead. Bill Toler
and Norma -Savage are Dr. and
Mrs. Bradman, friends of the Con-
domines. Janice Pierce is the maid
in the Condomine household.
Lucinda Oliver plays Madam
Arcati, an eccentric medium whose
actions disrupt the entire house
hold. She holds a seance as re
quested by Charles; but when she
brings his first wife back from the
dead, he doesn’t like it at all.
Doris Cooper is the voice of
Dapliene, Madam Arcati’s connec
tion with the other world.
Stage Is Set
Action of the play, a highly im
probable farce in three acts by
Noel Coward, takes place in the
living room of Charles Condo-
mine’s house in Kent, England. It
is the story of a writer who wants
to experience a seance given bjj a
real medium. At first he doesn’t
believe in the powers of Madam
Arcati, but she convinces him dif
ferently.
Behind The Scenes
There is much activity back
.stage as well as on the stage when
a play is produced. Main “actors”
backstage are Erwin Robbins,
business manager; Mimi Brewer,
student director; Mae Davis, head
ing the advertising for the play
bill and in charge of the ushers.
Mary Buchan is doing make-up,
and Judy Kabo supervises the cos
tumes and poster making. Billy
McIntyre is stage manager, and
with his are Judy Brewer and
Carolyn Rabil, who are in charge
of properties. Larry Gupton de
signed the set, Foy Bradshaw is
head of ticket sales and Myra
P1oj4 is head of the prompters.
Pictured at the left are Joyce
Pierce, Norma Savage, Sue Yel-
verton, Peggy Jones. Bill Toler,
lAicinda Olijver, and Gene Arnold,
getting directions for the first
scene from student director, Mimi
Brewer.
Have you used the
guidance program?
THE BLACKBIRD
Published by Journalism Class of Rocky Mount Senior High School
Do you eat a good
breakfast everyday^
VOLUME XXVI
ROCKY MOUNT, N. 0. TUESDAY. OCTOBER 26, 1954
NUMBER 2
Speaker Urges Perfection
“Don’t try to just get by; aim
for perfection,” said the Reverend
Thomas Smyth, local minister, in
his address at the annual fall tap
ping ceremony of the Romonoca
chapter of the National Honor So
ciety in the school auditorium,
Friday, Octaber 22.
Reverend Smyth, who ;is the
Episcopal minister in Rocky
Mount, was the guest speaker for
the service.
Peggy Whitehurst, Jeanette Mc
Intyre, Joyce Ann Hayies, Joyce
Pierce, Carolyn Rick, Nancy New-
bold, Mai'y Prances Warren, and
Wiley Shearin are the eight out
standing seniors who were tapped
in the impressive candlelight cere
mony.
Jane Hatchett and Erwin Rob
bins opened the program, Jane
conducting the devotional and Er
win singing, “I Walk With God.”
Bobby Savage, president of the
Boclety explained the principles
and ideals of the organization.
Audrey Kennedy, representing
character; Julian Aldridge, serv
ice; Bill Kincheloe, leadership;
and Kay Williford, scholarship,
explained the four basic qualities
•jne must possess in order to be
rfliglble for membership. During
the tapping background music,
“Clair de Lune” was provided by
Paje Batts.
Students are chosen for mem
bership by the members of the so
ciety and the faculty. One third
•Df the necessary average is deter-
j^nefl Dy ’tile stutteirts, another
third by the vote of the teachers,
and the individual scholastic
averages count another third.
Juniors will be given their first
opportunity for membership next
spring and the seniors their last.
Project Display
“Have you done your project
yet?” is a familiar and oft heard
question around school these days
since almost everyone is working
on either a French or English or
a biology project.
In room 116 the “French Quar
ter” in RMSH, maps have the
boundaries of this sector covered.
On the maps you’ll see Paris, the
mountain ranges and all the sur-
roimding countries and bodies of
water.
(See Projects On Page 6)
Seniors Get List Of Privileges
Attention, all students!
Seniors have been granted the
following privileges for 1954-55.
6o read, take note and enjoy if you
are a senior, but respect if you
are an underclassman.
After considering the suggested
priviilege sent in by senior home
rooms, the administration granted
the following:
1. All seniors will be dismissed
for lunch at 12:33. (They get a
two-minute start for lunch on un
derclassmen) .
2. During the first five minutes
of lunch all seniors may, break in
either cafeteria line in front of the
juniors and sophomores. (Another
jump toward getting lunch earl
ier) .
3. The walk by the flagpole will
be known as “Senior Walk” and
may be used by senior's only.
(Teachers, of course, are seniors,
but underclassmen are requested
to stay off.)
4. Seniors will be dismissed first
from assemblies with the under
classmen remaining seated until
the last senior has left. (This is
to prevent their being trampled to
death before they finally get that
little piece of sheepskin).
5. The senior class meeting will
be turned over entirely to class
business, excluding group guid
ance. After the business is com
pleted, the seniors will be dis
missed for lunch. (That’s what
they get for having so much busi
ness!)
Members of the Privileges Com-
mittee were Jane Hatchett, Jackie
Davis, Pat Edwards, Ronnie Fel
ton, Bill Toler, Kenneth Killibrew
and Doris Cooper, chairman. They
were appointed by Nancy Newbold,
the president of the senior class.
Musettes Active,
Help Teachers,
Give Coke Party
“Achieving Through Participa
tion” is this year’s theme for the
Musettes, and it describes them
as one of the most active clubs in
school.
This organization is for students
who are interested in becoming
teachers. Thi'oughout the year,
the Musettes sponsor many worth
while projects such as placing a
“Thought For The Week” on the
bulletin, writing a letter of wel
come to new teachers, helping
them on the first day of school,
and giving a Coca-Cola party for
new teachers.
Bids were issued to Margaret
Williams, Myra Floyd, Patseyi Hig-
son, Shirley Parham, Sylvia Po
land, Katherine Batten and Bruce
Miller. The first meeting of year
was a social hour honoring them.
Following the social hour a report
of the CTA Convention was given
by Jessie Pittman. Mrs. R. H.
Baker, a member of the Delta
Kappa Gamma, the teacher’s
service organization which spon
sors the Musettes, entertained this
group at her home for its second
meeting of the year.
(See Musettes on Page 6)
Sales End, Sophs Lead
As the magazine campaign drew to a close, it was
evident to the entire student body that the school was
falling short of its 9,000 dollar goal even though the
final tabulation has not been announced.
Mr. Doak, representative of the Curtiss Publishing
Company, conducted an assembly, October 6, to ex
plain the campaign and show the prizes that would
oe awarded the high salesmen of each day and the
winner of the annual project.
The overall salesman will have
Mag
ician
Here
Chan 1.00, famous magician, ap
peared li 'ay directly from the
Mystei/ ctacle, Sim Sala Bim
in Cl '’ . I
Chi — ■ deit and skillful
finger. • :» magic web of won
der and iOi. lance as he performed
the feats which have been care
fully guarded secrets of ancient
China’s Imperial Court for thous
ands of years.
In China, the oldest civilized
countryi in the world, secrets of
magical mysteries have been care
fully guarded for many thousands
of years. This is the setting from
which came Chan Loo. who is also
known as the mad mandarin.
the opportunity to select 35 dol
lars worth of merchandise from
a local firm. Other prizes given
are watches, fishing sets, knives
and the high homeroom receives
a free trip to Raleigh to attend
the Ice Capades.
Part of the money received will
stay in the school. Each class
keeps one third of Its earnings.
Ml'. Doak wrote a challenge to
the students: Goldsboro — 13,
Rocky Mount — 13; Goldsboro—
$9,000, Rocky Mount—????
Shrine Bowl Yells
Another laurel was added to
Rocky Mount’s honor crown with
the announcement that the local
cheerleaders have been selected to
be the yell leaders for North Caro
lina in the Shrine Bowl at Char
lotte, December 6.
This game will be played be
tween Senior all stars of North
and South Carolina. The players
are to be selected later by the
coaches and sports writers.
Gene Arnold is head cheerlead
er, others on the squad are Charles
Bateman, Margie Parker, Bill
Nelms, Sue Yelverton, Marvin
Barnes, Nancy Newbold, Ray, Joy
ner, Judy Carr, and Peggy Daniels.
The group will receive an all ex
pense paid trip to Charlotte for
the contest sponsored by the
Shrine Club to benefit worth 'while
charities.
Chan Loo
3 RMSHS Boys
m
Attend Congress
Bobby Savage and Fred Ruben
were representatives from RMHS
at the State Student Council
Congress. Marvin Barnes was a
representative at national con
gress so he went to the state con
gress to lead a discussion group.
It was voted by the student
council to invite the SSCC to be
RMHS’s guest next year. If they
accept, RMHS’s president would
automatically be treasury for the
congress. In case they refuse, Fred
liuben would be nominated for an
office.
Marvin lead a discussion group
on “Projects for the Student
Council.”
Shelby was the host of the
state congress this year. Bobby
drove the boys down on Sunday,
October 24 to register and got
back the 26.