Moline Memories - MHS 66 Friends






Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Linda Borgmier Norris Dressed Up For Easter


Linda Borgmier Norris (center) dressed up for Easter with her cousins.


Linda posted an Easter picture on Facebook, but the crinkles made me PhotoShop it. Linda wrote about the final product: So beautiful - looks like we are "off to see the Wizard." So I dropped in the poster to replace the background.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

---




Monday, March 29, 2010

Hi - Beverly Hills Reader




I see Beverly Hills show up on Feedjit almost every day. I hope you are enjoying the blog. I try to keep it filled with new material.

Stephanie Sundine and Lawrence Eyre, Fine Arts


More is posted on Stephanie Sundine here.


This describes her talented daughter's wedding.

Pep Girls



Pep Guys



Cheerful Bookstore Volunteers


Not everyone smiled.


Neriads - Classic Swimming



Concert Band, Leo Brunner


Leo Brunner can be seen in the back row of this band photo,
fifth from the right.
Bruce Johnson is in the third row, sixth from the right.
The blogger is the only guy in the front row.

Coveted Awards




Portrait of the Writer as a Young Weight-Lifter


Dave Coopman realized that he was not making
much progress in weight training,
so he turned to writing.


This is the original photo. The Maroons set up an elite weight-training center in the sub-basement. The costs were shared by the K-9 team of the police department and the Fine Arts Council.

Basketball






Reader - 
Should have won the whole state tournament in '65 - Kuberski & Carlson were unstoppable - if only Smithers hadn't THROWN THE BALL AWAY when the Maroons had a lead with less than two minutes to go !!!

The Bad Seed



Jay Schaff Died in January


Jay Schaff, veteran, took no crap from mouthy students.


Obituary.


Jay J. Schaff, 92, of Moline, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, at his residence

A celebration of Jay's life will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, 6601 38th Ave., Moline. Visitation is from noon until 1 p.m. Burial is at National Cemetery, Arsenal Island.

Jay was born Dec. 20, 1917, in Macomb, son of David and Mary Katz Schaff. He married Katherine M. Snell on April 22, 1945, in St. Charles, Mo. She preceded him in death June 4, 1994.

Jay earned his bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and his master's degree from the University of Indiana. He was assistant principal at Moline High School, retiring in 1978. Jay was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Moline Kiwanis, American Legion Post 246 and the Masonic Lodge.

Survivors are son, Terry (Dee) Schaff, Scottsdale, Ariz.; granddaughter, Katie Schaff, Loyola University, Chicago; and sister, Helen Winkler, Bushnell, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be expressed to Jay's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Swedes in Moline


Wooden toys by this Moline company are now collectors' items.


I was looking up information about Vernon Strombeck, who was a regular at Melo Cream. I ran into a lot of information about the toy story. I was more familiar with his religious book store.

Trying to find out more, I found a downloadable book - Swedes in Moline. Many might find it worhtwhile, so I am linking it here.


Bonnie Bartlett - St. Elsewhere and Everywhere in the Arts



Downtown Moline, 1950s: The Barlett Insurance Agency was owned by Bonnie's father,
who helped found the Music Guild.



William Daniels and his wife Bonnie Bartlett both won Emmy awards, 1987.





Here is the program where they starred together in Macbeth at Northwestern University. I hope they have a dog named Spot: "Out, out, damned Spot!"

Bonnie Bartlett, was born elsewhere (get it?) but grew up in Moline. She met her husband at Northwestern University. I remember him for providing the voice of a car named KITT. I found Knight Rider impossible to watch, but St. Elsewhere was a good show overall.

More about Bonnie Bartlett.

About Bartlett Insurance Agency.


Bonnie's father helped found the Quad-City Music Guild:

Quad-City Music Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality musical entertainment in the Quad Cities. For the Guild, the 2005 schedule will mark the 57th season of presenting productions in Prospect Park Auditorium, Moline.

Formed in 1949, the Guild was the brainchild of area residents with the idea of creating a forum in which local talent could perform.

Founders of the organization, all now deceased, were Dr. Frederick J. Swanson, music director; E.E. Bartlett, dramatics coach; Dr. John C. Johnson, production coordinator; Earl H. Beling, first Guild president; and H.L. (Roy) Holst of the Moline High Twelve Club, the Guild’s sponsor during the early years.

It all began on the evening of June 22, 1949, when a small group of faithful supporters sat on park benches in the old Chautauqua building to see the first Guild show, Victor Herbert’s "Sweethearts." Tickets cost $1.50.

The idea flourished and the enthusiastic response to the new organization’s first show prompted presentation of three shows in 1950, a pattern that has since been followed. Audiences continued to respond, and in 1996, QCMG welcomed its 500,000th patron to Prospect Park in Moline. Since then, 50,000 more patrons have visited our theater.

Prospect Park provides a historical setting for all QCMG productions. Nestled among trees, the park overlooks the Rock River valley. The Tri-City Railway Company built the “Prospect Park Pavilion,” as it was then known, in 1903 on property that later became a Moline city park.

In earlier days visitors could arrive via trolley provided by the railway company. Often referred to as a little “Coney Island,” the park housed a switchback railway ride similar to a roller coaster as well as pony rides and a zoo. Although the theater originally served as an auditorium for the popular Chautauqua programs, it fell into disarray after the advent of motion pictures and automobiles decreased the demand for such entertainment.

During 1949 the Quad-City Music Guild chose the theater for the site of its first production, ultimately saving the pavilion from demolition. Over the years many improvements have been made to the building. A cement floor was laid, dressing rooms furnished, curtains purchased, and orchestra pit developed and a workroom constructed beneath the stage.

Today audiences can enjoy the view from the theater perched atop a picturesque lagoon. Hand-dipped ice cream cones, hot dogs, and popcorn available to patrons before the performances and during intermission are a throwback to a bygone era where park-goers often picknicked and swam in the lake.

Quad-City Music Guild has provided the excitement of live theater exclusively using Quad City area performers. The QCMG founders’ decision to use only local, non-professional residents in all production aspects became a governing principle of the organization. Through the years thousands of area residents have been involved in the productions, some for a single show, others for a season or several years, real veterans for decades.

One of QCMG’s original goals included awarding monetary scholarships to these participants for further study in a musical or dramatic field. Although organized as a non-profit entity, QCMG has provided over $30,000 to the Quad City community since first awarding training grants in 1953. QCMG allows area audiences to further reap the rewards of its scholarship program by also providing a creative outlet for application of these skills learned by past grant recipients in their studies.

Quad-City Music Guild relies heavily on the volunteer spirit for all aspects of their performances, including the directing, acting, choreography, orchestration, lighting, sound, set construction, and concessions. Guild workers range from senior citizens to grade school youngsters, contributing countless hours of community involvement to the Guild.

To date, QCMG producers and directors have utilized the skills of over 15,000 participants. To paraphrase a page from “The Vagabond King” program (1950), "The actors, the actresses, the members of the ensemble on the stage,... the men and women backstage, in the orchestra, and those who have worked for many months on the multitude of details... these are your neighbors and friends."

In June 2000, QCMG completed a $1.4 million renovation of the theater. The project included: a new 4800 square foot lobby; new restrooms; handicapped accessible parking; a new roof; new maintenance free exterior; a new ticket office; a new concessions area; air conditioning and heating; and reupholstered/restored seating.

The complete project was met with great enthusiasm from our patrons. All of our 2000 productions were complete sellouts.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

David Coopman's Book Coming Soon:
May 10, 2010


Dave Coopman is the media historian of the Quad-Cities.


Captain Ernie

To discuss his book - Davenport's WOC AM-FM-TV

Book Description:
Beginning in 1922, Davenport's WOC has charted an impressive list of broadcasting firsts: the first licensed commercial radio station west of the Mississippi River; first station to establish logging, the practice of recording program schedules down to the minute and second; the use of time signals at the beginning of programs; first to build and use audio mixing controls that allowed multiple microphone usage; first to broadcast from a state legislature; and first to broadcast programming meant specifically for children. WOC-TV was the first television station in Iowa on the air when it began regular programming in 1949. This volume of images presents an overview to the history, facilities, programming, and technology of the WOC stations and provides a glimpse at the stations today, as new ownership carries on an outstanding tradition in Quad City broadcasting.

ISBN: 9780738577807

# of Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
On Sale Date: 05/10/2010

Author Bio: David T. Coopman is a former employee of the WOC stations, a former teacher, past president of the Rock Island County Historical Society, and a local history buff. He has authored two books on the history of local broadcasting and Rock Island County in the Images of America series.

Coopman's WQUA book.

Stephanie Sundine - Garfield Gashouse Gang - Opera Singer


Stephanie Sundine



Source of this verbatim quotation:

"As a third-grader in Moline, Illinois, Stephanie Sundine knew that she wanted to sing. In her interview with OperaMom, Sundine recalled sitting in her classroom enraptured, listening to the beautiful soprano voice of her music teacher. "I remember being so happy whenever it was time for music class, since we did a lot of singing. That same teacher became my homeroom teacher in fifth grade, and everyday I would go into class and say, 'Mrs. Leland, are we going to have music today?' She was patient for a while, and then finally told me nicely to stop asking her!" The daughter of supportive and high public-profile parents (her father, a newspaper owner/editor and her mother, one of the first women in the U.S. to have her own TV talk show), Sundine sang her first solos with her church choir when she was still in eighth grade. "I most admired my voice teachers and music teachers, and appreciated their encouragement and hard work with me." Her first opera recording, La boheme with Victoria de los Angeles, was evidence of her admiration for full-throated soprano voices, which grew to include Tebaldi, Freni, and Nilsson, among others.

After graduating with her B.M. from the University of Illinois, Sundine remained in the Chicago area for four years, performing regularly as a freelance artist with small opera groups as a lyric mezzo. For two summers she was an apprentice with Chautauqua Opera, and attended opera workshops run by Boris Goldovsky, the famed conductor and impresario. "I did three national tours with Goldovsky Opera, singing small roles as well as performing various roles with small companies in New York City." It was at an audition for one of these companies, New York Lyric Opera, that she met her future husband, conductor Victor DeRenzi. "I had seen Victor conduct a couple of performances for them. At my audition, totally unbeknownst to me, he decided he wanted to marry me, and made sure the company hired me for Meg in the Falstaff he was conducting." Very soon after rehearsals for Falstaff began, they got together - the beginning of a relationship which would have a profound and positive impact on her career and her future. "When I met Victor, he felt that I had much more voice than I was using. He encouraged me to change my vocal technique and helped me to develop a much more professional sound." Through the guidance of DeRenzi and her voice teacher, Sundine made the transition from lyric mezzo to soprano. "Over the course of a few years I went from singing Cherubino to singing Isolde, with lots of roles in between!" she exclaimed."

More Stephanie Sundine information.

Stephanie's website.

***

GJ - The Sundines went to Garfield. Every so often we saw Pat Sundine in her TV makeup at the school. Mrs. Leland, one of our teachers, had an exceptional voice, so she led our Christmas programs. The teachers traded off certain classes, so we had Mrs. Leland for singing. I remember my mother saying in a hushed voice, "She was first soprano in the Augustana choir."

Augustana was known for its music program. Note the connection with the Moline Boys Choir and Dr. Fred Swanson.



---


Pat Sundine included a brief news report on her show.


Captain Ernie has a great post on the TV show hosted by Stephanie's mother, Pat Sundine - Especially For You. I have copied a little from it and borrowed the above photo:

However - on with the show. I simply adored being the on the air hostess of E for You! I had a completely fabulous time - George Sontag was a dear man (I called him "the chocolate bear") - why, I don't recall - I met and cherished many people, home grown and celebrities! - one of my most favorite segments was called "Fables of our Times" - I then had fascinating interviews with people about their lives, people who were then at my age now! The aim of the show was to entertain and inform - I guess we accomplished those goals - among the famous guests were; Pat Boone, Sebastian Cabot, singing quartet The Ames Brothers, Vincent Price, Duke Ellington, Clyde McCoy, orchestra leader Montavoni, actress Celeste Holm, famous orchestra leader Carmen Cavallero, film actor Joel McCrea, bandleader/singer Bob Crosby (Bing's brother), President Ronald Reagan (I filmed him when he was spokesman for General Electric), American society figure Perle Mesta, actress Sylvia Sidney, Loren Green, Robert Young (several times - his doctor lived here), Mary Ann Mobley who was one of the Miss Americas and many others.

I had such a fine and rewarding time - I still dream about it!

I have been Mrs. Fredrick Jasper Edwards for 18 blissful years and I couldn't be happier - Jack Sundine is living in St. Petersburg, Florida - we see each other and talk often. My two daughters are a blessing to us - Krista Kruse lives in Moline and Stephanie Sundine lives in New York.

John Patrick Sundine, my son and their brother, died this past December due to complications from diabetes which he suffered from at the age of seven years.

I must mention Anita Sundin wrote commercials and when I was away, took my place on Especially for You. She was just awarded by the State of Iowa a prize for being the person in the whole state that for years has read books for the blind. Quite an honor and quite a gal!

Love, Patricia Sundine

---

John Sundine's obituary.



He played Mars in Man on the Moon, by John Phillips.


---

Quad-Cities Online

1951 -- 50 years ago
Jack Sundine and Gil Johnson, both of Moline, have been named editor and production manager, respectively, of the Moline Dispatch, it was announced by the publishers. Sundine replaces the late Wilbur Mueller, who died last year. Johnson, who had been telegraph editor of the newspaper, will be replaced by C.H. Woods of Davenport. The position of production manager recently was created.

Orchestra


When the hard-working M staff prints a photo in the binding, scanning and creating a montage are tricky.

Girls Tennis Team Discovers Love Means Nothing




Penny Queen Terminates Year


The M staff stayed late to create these headlines.


Madrigals and an Impossibly Small Choir Photo:
Directed by A. Partridge




The M Staff: Industrious, Sober, Frugal, Disciplined

Hard-Working LOT Staff




Honor Society


Joining this group required studying and doing homework on time, a real deterrent for most of us.

Moline Band Plays "The Stripper" for Barb Garst Day


Clustered around Stan Smith's head are the blogger, Jim Medd, and Karl Zobrist, JD.

Maroon Sluggers' Quick Fielding

Baseball Team




Seniors Keep the Ball Rolling




Saturday, March 20, 2010

Student Activities at Moline High


The late Don Servine is pictured on the lower right.

Moline High Departing Seniors Note Continuing Progress



Moline High Penny Queen



MHS Photography Club



The Line O' Type Student Newspaper




We had print shop, where we learned the valuable skill of setting up type manually, upside down and backwards. That resume item sure saved me from a life of poverty.

The Moline Dispatch donated a few lineotype machines to the school. They impressed us with their speed at melting down lead type and refashioning it at record speed, filling the air with heavy metal fumes.

The student newspaper was named after that fabulous invention. Before that, newspapers were rather small, no larger than eight pages. Afterward the invention, they could reach massive size.


At Coolidge I learned how to carve a picture out of a block of linoleum to use as an illustration in our student newspaper. I did not draw. I just carved. Needless to say, I omitted that skillset from my journalism school application.

Prom Captions To Make Us Wince Today




Contemplating the mysteries of Shangri-La?

Humoring their tired feet and empty stomachs?

Perhaps someone will collect all the great captions from all the student photobooks, publish them, and make a billion dollars. But no one will remember who thought of it first. No, he will be buried in a pauper's grave.

Do you know who invented email? No one does. But we remember Thomas Edison, who fired the almost-forgotten Tesla, the greatest genius of technology.


Ray Tomlinson invented email, but you knew that already.

The 1965 Flood



Moline High Golf



MHS Tennis



Eighth Grade at John Deere Junior High



Left-click on the class photos and you will get a quick memory refresher about those half-remembered classmates...and their names.

Eight Grade Homerooms, John Deere Junior High



Eighth Grade Classes, John Deere Junior High



John Deere Junior High, Student Activities



John Deere Junior High, Drama


John Deere Junior High, Tomahawk Staff



Friday, March 19, 2010

Deere Cheerleaders




Weren't some of them posing as grade school students
on other blog pages?
And as Brownies?

John Deere Junior High, Pow Wow Staff




We knew each other from church, from walking to each other's homes. Many of our parents also went through school in Moline.

The 1963 Pow Wow was well organized - with high quality photos, labeled carefully. I am using them to help people remember classmates. And just for the fun of seeing old pictures.

Trivia question: whose brother appeared in The Fly and Blood Simple?