It was time. All my preparation, all my research, it all came down to this moment.
Well, fifteen minutes of moments, to be precise.
Last night, at the Shaker Ridge Country Club, I was the guest speaker for the Albany High School Class of 1964 50th reunion banquet. I did this gig two years ago for the Class of 1962, and now it was time to see if I could repeat that success.
Even with all the research, I still wanted to incorporate some last-minute stories of what Albany and Albany High were like in that “last days of Kennedy, first days of the Beatles” school year. I talked to some attendees, and took some mental notes. I noticed that some alumni were at the event, and they were key subjects to some of my anecdotes for the night.
I took the podium.
Immediately I began my speech by welcoming the Class of 1964. And right after that, it was into the time machine.
“Let’s take a typical day in November 1963. What was playing at the movie theaters that week?”
And instantly I went to one of my old blog features, the “When It Played in Albany” feature. And the minute I said, “If you went to the newly-built theater on Washington Avenue Extension – you know, the Hellman…”
Applause. I didn’t have to say two more sentences, everybody remembered the Hellman Theater.
I brought back memories of the other movie palaces at the time – the Hellman, the Strand, the Ritz, the Leland. I talked about the popular restaurants and eateries – including John’s, the little eatery across from the school campus (I overheard one of the alumni talking about how she would meet her Vincentian Institute boyfriend there after school).
I threw more cultural references out – Carrol’s hamburger place; WPTR and “Boom Boom” Brannigan; Whitney’s Christmas Parade (which resumed their senior year after nearly a decade absence).
Then I went for the home run.
“The football team back then went 4-4 on the season,” I recalled. “Charlie Leigh was the top player on that squad…”
Cheers and applause at the mention of the name.
“But he wasn’t the only star on that squad. Ed Lewis was a halfback for the team, and that season he had a game against Gloversville where he scored two touchdowns on 57 and 68 yard runs.”
Applause. And Ed Lewis, who was at the event last night, raised his hand in acknowledgment.
“The quarterback had an easy playbook that year… hand off to Leigh, hand of to Lewis, hand off to Leigh again…”
And the quarterback – Rick Hasenbein – was also in the building. Another moment of recognition.
I then talked about Albany High’s basketball team that year, which had a so-so record, but still achieved a big 100-73 win over Troy High.
From the dinner tables – “Hey, I scored 37 points in that win, the best game I ever had!”
I smiled. Another win.
I also touched on some of the cultural aspects of the 1963-64 year. “In your last days as juniors in school, your president was John F. Kennedy, the pope was His Holiness John XXIII, and the songs on the radio were by the Four Seasons, the Tokens, Bobby Vinton and the Ronettes. One year later, as you picked up your diplomas at the Palace Theater, the president was Lyndon Johnson, the pope was His Holiness Paul VI, and you could go ten songs in a row on the radio with the artists having British accents.”
More applause.
“A show of hands. How many of you watched as your neighborhoods were torn down to build the Empire State Plaza?”
More hands.
This allowed me to touch on the evolution of time – the chronicles of change, if you will. The things that we remember. The things we hold close to our hearts. The things we don’t ever want to lose, the talismans of our being and our existence.
I wrapped up by stating, “I have been honored to participate in this reunion, and I’m marking my calendar for the 75th reunion. So if you’ll have me back in 2039…”
Laughter and applause.
Another win. This feels good. And I’m glad.
I had a really great time last night, and I thank the organizers of the Class of 1964 reunion for inviting me to be part of their event.
Full aces all around.
Chuck The Writer 