TAC Archives

August 5, 2014

Iconic Images for Sale

I had a bunch of 12×18 prints made for exhibit consideration. It dawned on me that the extras aren’t doing any good sitting in a rubber bin in Mother’s basement, so I took a few over to Annie Laurie’s Antique Shop on Broadway to see if they would generate any interest (and income). We picked shots that we thought brought back memories of Cape or that were generic enough that it didn’t matter where they were taken.

They sell for $10 each. Similar prints of the same images have been exhibited in museums and galleries, so I can say they are suitable for framing, even though they aren’t printed on photographic paper. You aren’t going to get unique images like this any cheaper.

Folks who have been around for awhile will recognize the round barn that used to be on South Sprigg Street below the cement plant.

Friends on Robinson Road

The top portrait is the one that’s available. Bill and Jesse are from Ohio, but you could find their counterparts in Southeast Missouri if you poked around.

Give this to your best buddy so he can see what you guys will look like when you get old.

Toilet Paper Wars

If you know Steve Robert or Mary Wright, this would be a good print to squirrel away for a special gift. A reader sent me a long account of the toilet paper wars in Cape. If you haven’t read it, it’s worth a chuckle.

SEMO Fair

There are several photos from the days when the district fair was still in black and white. I’ve always liked this shot. Years later, I saw that Robert Frank had a similar photo in his classic 1958 book, The Americans.

This would look good in the kitchen

Here’s another fair photo. Look at those prices. I can remember scrounging soda bottles for the deposits so I could stay at the fair “just a little bit longer” after my money ran out.

Shop Class

I suspect that OSHA would have problems with this Central High School shop class photo. If you know the guy, though, wouldn’t it be a great birthday present for him or his kids?

If your friends jumped off a bridge …

I was a little confused about where I took this photo, but my readers set me straight. If you are in this photo, you might want to snatch it up before giving your grandkids the old “if all your friends jumped off a bridge” speech.

Grosvenor Crossing

This has always been one of my favorite news shots. The railroads had gone on strike, and I was trying to figure out a different way to tell the story. I went out early on a cold, foggy morning and shot unbroken frost on the tracks at Grosvenor Crossing near Athens, Ohio. To me, that was a better way to show that the trains weren’t running than a bunch of guys holding picket signs.

Closer to Cape, I found that train crews still wave to you around here.

Dancing in the bank parking lot

I see several familiar faces from the night the TAC club floor was bouncing so much that city officials closed the joint down and the dance moved to the First National Bank parking lot at Broadway and Main. My old debate partner Pat Sommers is in the middle of the shot. Joan Amlingmeyer is to the right of him.

Nellie Vess

Nellie Vess and Peggy Sue sit on a porch near Trimble in Southern Ohio. She was one of my favorite people and her story has an interesting twist.

He’s waiting for you

This gravedigger from Letart Falls, Ohio, could dig a square hole. I’ve used his photo several times, most recently when discussing the skeleton that hung around Central.

This would be good to hang by your alarm clock as a reminder that there are worse things than going to work in the morning.

This isn’t the full selection, and I have more in the rubber bin. Holler if you don’t see one you want and I’ll see if there’s a print already made up. If you are interested in a photo shown here, better grab it before someone else snatches it up.

May 11, 2013

Cheri Pind

A couple of Cheri Pind portraits were on the roll with Tom Holt and his grilling extravaganza. I mostly knew Cheri as a cheerleader, which put her in a whole other social league. Since I didn’t exactly know them, I sort of categorized them.

Anne Buchanan had a classic beauty. Joni Tickel was the All American Girl Next Door who could look good even in those hideous gym uniforms.

Cherie had a twinkle in her eye that always said, “Go ahead and dare me.”

Sassy then, sassy now

Her bio in the Class of 1965 20th Reunion captured her sassy spirit. “Cherie does not work and never will, if she can help it.”

“My hair was beautiful”

“Let me state that I thought my hair was beautiful in high school, but since, I have heard talk about it,” the bio continued.

Here is a photo from the Class of ’65 Senior Banquet. The Missourian’s caption read, “Miss Cheri Pind just realizes that she is the one being described in the class prophesy being read by Chuck Dockins and Steve Seabaugh at the Senior Banquet Tuesday night in the Central High School cafeteria. Jim Stone, background, seems relatively unimpressed.”

Cheerleading skirt not too short

“I have terrific memories of high school and classmates, and I did not think my cheerleading skirt was too short!” she said.

As a male, I would have to agree with Cheri.

Cheri was the second from the left in this photo of the cheerleaders collecting for the March of Dimes in 1963. Norma Waggoner is, alas, keeping us from being able to judge the length of Cheri’s skirt.

Dancin’ in the parking lot

Cheri was one of the dancers to set the floor of the Teen Age Club on Spanish bouncing so much a city inspector shut the place down. Dancin’ feet gotta dance, so the action was moved to the bank parking lot at the corner of Main and Broadway.

Miss Pind is the girl facing the camera in the middle. She shows up in other photos of the parking lot dance.

February 23, 2012

Teen Age Club Meets Mayor

Teenagers filled the city council chambers in August 10, 1967 when members of the Teen Age Club met with Mayor J. Hugh Logan to ask for financial help in keeping the club on Broadview open. Sam McVay, an adult supervisor, said the club would be forced to close September 1 if additional funds were not found. He said that it took about $1,000 a month to run TAC, and that the club treasury would be empty after the August bills were paid.

Most of the club’s funding came from the United Fund. Other service clubs kick in, but they have no set pledges, so it’s hard to depend on their contributions.

There were 1,056 teenagers who paid a $2 a year membership fee, but this covered only one-sixth of the year’s operating expenses. Members also paid 50 cents each on nights when a band played, but this money went to pay the band.

Bands play for free

Four of TAC’s regular bands agreed to play for free in August; more would join in September if the club remained open.

The Missourian microfilm fades out on the right side of the page, so I couldn’t read all of the photo caption. Mayor Logan is on the left, in front of the window; the TAC representatives are Miss Pand?; Sam McVay, director, John Sheets and Walter Lamkin.

TAC Swimming in Sound

A frame similar to this ran in The Missourian’s August 19 Youth Page with the following caption:

Inundated

Teenagers were swimming in sound Thursday night at a special dance held to raise funds for the Teen Age Club. The Great Society Band played for free, and TAC cleared nearly $100, Cathy Rueseler, dance spokesman, said. Putting their all into it are, from left, Mary Beth Wrape, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Wrape, 2521 Allendale; Barbara Yaeger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray H. Yaeger, 1429 Perryville Road, and Dana Kaiser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Kaiser, 1323 Victoria.

Deputy Jon Knehans stops by

Deputy Jon Knehans pulled in to talk with a couple of the fundraisers. Jon was in a couple of my SEMO classes. We became friends because our jobs put us into situations that were a lot different than what most of our classmates faced.

Socks optional

Socks (and shoes) were optional at the dance.

Tag: TAC