by Priscilla Dudley, Merry Kells, Billy Hastings, and Fred Johnson

It’s a beautiful June evening in the year 1963 - just the right night for an open-air movie. The remaining old maids and bachelors of the class of "53" decide to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Those left are Freddie, Bill, Merry, and I.

As we roar into Dinerman’s Delightful Drive-in in our powerful, potent, Pallatt-made Ford, neatly faking Neal Brown’s hot rod into a nearby ditch, we notice that our old classmates Joan Rooks and Barbara Durkee are still in the theatre business. They’re working their way up--from candy to tickets. After Rosalyn Colella collects our tickets, Dick Parletta directs us to the spot where we will see the most. We lift the voice-box off the hook and hear Barb Pettis’ melodious voice, accompanied by Billy Alberg at the bells.

As it is still light, we decide to take a walk. On our way to the refreshment stand, we pass Ken Ferris’s "48" Chevrolet, which looks a little heavy because of the added coats of paint. When we arrive at the booth, we are amazed to find that what used to be a mere refreshment stand has now grown into a miniature amusement center, Porter’s Pleasure Park. At the refreshment stand selling soft drinks is Bob Cooney, one-time popular young profligate of Swampscott High, with John Cambece dropping the ice into Bob’s lemonade. Weiner-wash Winer is skillfully washing the weiners. Next to Ron are Janet Owens, Margaret Delisio, and Janet Sullivan, applying the mustard, relish, and onions. In the next booth Mary Lou Carroll is spooning out dishes of applesauce. Across from the monkey cage white-capped Tommy Champion and Charlie Batchelder are serving ice cream Bon Bons. As an added treat, Jackie is boxing Peters’ Preciously Packed Pop Corn. Walking around the park, we notice the bottle-warming service, under the direction of nurses Carolyn Bessom and Vera Wiltshire. Next door is the Fifteen-Minute Free Diaper Service, run by Toni Jaffee and Mary Hughes. The sign reads:

Wet nights aren’t so much fun:
Ask Jaffee and Hughes; they’ll tell you ‘bout some.

A feature of this service is a box of Malcolm’s Talcom at a reduced price. Across the way we see Kitfield’s Kiddie Corrall, featuring free pony rides. Jay Barber, the stable girl has as her assistants Maura Farmer, Ann Davis, and Pricilla Merritt. This little corral also features a playground under the direction of Eleanor Ryan.

When we’re back in the car again, the show finally starts with a selected short subject, a fashion show presented by Mon-sewer Scheffler’s Model Agency. Beverly Cowan comments here and there and mostly everywhere on the dresses which models Jean Engstrom, Carol Mascott, Barbara Singer, Patti Cohen, and Sylvia Manchin wear. It is noted that the dresses were designed by Barbara Bresnahan and made under the direction of Sally Smith. They may be purchased in any of the E&E dress shops, which are run by Lois Englander and Doris Eisenberg.

Now the secondary feature flashes on the screen. The film, aptly titled "I’ve Got Desires," stars Priscilla Parks, Barbara Young, Derek Hepworth, and Bob Fuller. The film was directed by the experienced hand of Ed Deschenes and produced by Paul Langan, who appointed Jordan Freedman and Marshall McStay to handle the photography and the lighting.. After the first film,
there is a short intermission, during

which Adrienne runs around taking
up a collection for a worthy charity, Pease’s Personal Problems.

With a flash and a roar, the remains of a "50" Chevy coupe pulls into the vacant spot beside us. Upon closer inspection we can distinguish, under a ten-year’s growth of peach-fuzz, the unforgettable features of Peter Better-Late-Than-Never Waldo. Since we were such good friends at S.H.S., we jump at the chance to catch up on all the gossip. We learn that he has just returned from New York, and he informs us that his sister Nancy and Patti Cook are still drinking ginger-ale at the Band Box. He also saw Harry Goldberg and Jimmy Lane walking arm in arm into the Piccadilly, carrying a curiously shaped bundle. We inquire further about the whereabouts of our former classmates and are not at all surprised to learn that Bill Durgin, Dave Graham, Lenny Lundstrom, and Paul Johnson are still at work trying to build a hot-rod that runs and that Cynthia Wyman now has a library of her own. As the news-reel begins, we bid farewell to Peter, his wife and six Waldoettes.

The first news item is the report of the present Presidential campaign. Elaine Andrews is running for re-election on the Republican ticket against Adlai Olanoff, who is trying again. Ferrying him on his tour is pilot Mary Savino, oil tycoon Jimmy Bettger, and that great authority on foreign relations, Dick Gilman, We are very much surprised to see many of  our friends making the headlines. Elaine  Harman has been chosen Poet Laureate  of Timbuctoo; Stanley Gordon is in jail  for dodging the draft; and Sue Rafferty  has been named first woman president of Yale for her research in oto-laryngology. Other distinguished members on the faculty are Katherine O’Leary, head librarian; Ann Maitland, chairman of the music department; and Dick Goldberg, physical education director. The next news item depicts the World Series. It is narrated by sports caster Arnold Goldman, who, in the inimitable Goldman style, describes the brutal battle between Lefty Dunphy and Mighty Casey. The big item of the week is the election of Gladys Coletti as Secretary General of the United Nations. As an added note of interest, we discover that Eleanor Bothroyd is now president of the Reynolds’ Pen Company.

After the news we are given a quick glance at the coming attractions. On the shelf for next week is Sonia Ryan, starring in a revised edition of "Anna", and "Double Trouble," featuring the Valpey twins.

Now comes the main attraction of the night, "The I-Don’t-Care-Girl." The climax of the film comes when the "G" men Gibson, Grimes, and Greenstein grab Gangster Getchell as a result of the information divulged by Talkative Tattle. This unique cinematic offering was produced and filmed by Sam Schawbel and Campbell Soutter.

After the show is over, we fight our way toward the exit. We notice a distinguished young gentleman in the car in front of us. Upon a closer inspection, we discover that our old classmate, Tom O’Leary, has been at the drive-in alone. Officer Keating tells us to keep moving, and we almost run down Harding Clark and Irwin Strogoff, who are putting up the sign for tomorrow’s show. As we drive home, we reminisce over all the memories that tonight has called back, and we are sure that the seniors of "53" are still better than ever.

P.S. - We confidently prophesy that this will be the last reunion for remaining old maids and bachelors.