Sylmar High Folklore/Tributes

The '63 class prank!

by Gil Moya

The prank was not so memorable as the 64 class but just as spontaneous. As I recall a stealthy team put a large 15' S'63 on the midfield yard line of the football field by pouring diesel on the grass which caused it to turn brown and die. It was visible through out the 62'-63' football season. Unlike the '64 class event, the team comprised of notable sports figures were committed to their vow of silence. I learned it was a closely held secret until 2012 when I received a letter from one of the participants and was reminded of the event. We were reminded frequently by school administration and our student leaders that as a new school everything was intended to be a tradition. Some traditions have survived and evolved such as the senior rock and plaques. You can still see the rock and plaques in the senior quad. I attended El Monte High (Lions) in 9th and 10th grade. Their yearly prank was to paint their arch rivals (Rio Hondo) High mascot Blue.

MR. BILLINGSLEY, "A GREAT PRINCIPAL"

A letter written 2-22-2014 by Dr. Arthur Hernandez, art teacher at Sylmar High, 1961-66

I had an interesting experience one day at Sylmar High. It was a gorgeous day, clear blue sky and the mountains still had snow on them and I decided to take the students outdoors. As we went out I would stop and ask," What do you see?" Most would answer, buildings, a kid walking to class or nothing. Finally when we got to the green area I asked again, " What do you see." Same answer. I said my responsibility as a teacher is to teach you about the beauty that exists in the world of art so here we are in the middle of an absolutely gorgeous day and you don't recognize it. So let's just sit here and enjoy it. They agreed and sat down and started talking to each other. Just then Mr. Billingsley walked out of his office and saw the students out there just sitting. My first thought was, oh oh I am in trouble. I explained it to him and he looked around and said you are right. He then sat down and started a conversation with a couple of students. When the bell rang he got up and said thanks and just went back to his office. He had just had a meaningful conversation with a group of students that he did not expect and I realized I had one hell of a great principal. Years later after meeting and working with hundreds of principals he was by all measures the best one of all. You were very lucky to have been a student there at the time. See the year book Saga. Vol. II MCMLXIII on his page and you will see why. He was the top. He is still alive in a nursing home.

A BELOVED HOMEROOM TEACHER

An excerpt from a facebook post by Edwin J. "Jesse" Marvin in March 2014.

This is for Mr. Boone my Homeroom teacher at Olive Vista Junior High. Homeroom 14, that is where our day started. Mr. Boone earned our affection. Like a general in battle we were his boys and everything was for Homeroom 14 and Mr. Boone. We loved Mr. Boone We didn't know it at that time, but as I aged it became apparent to me that that was exactly what it was. Never a more loving teacher. When you were talking to him and he had to consider what to answer, he would take his left arm crossed his chest, place his right elbow in the palm of his left hand, and with his right hand grab his chin with his fingers. He always reminded me of Charlie Chaplin.

When we graduated into high school, as a parting gift we bought Mr. Boone a transistor radio to listen to the Dodgers' Vin Scully. Tears welled up in his eyes as he rocked back and forth in a Charlie Chaplin manner, little was said, and little was needed. We knew it all already............ Thank you, Mr. Boone

THE SYLMAR PADDLE

The famed paddle was not an aquatic instrument. It was only known and seen by occasional trouble makers. An example, was participants of the senior ditch day. Many sports figures received one or more swats with the paddle. Its rumored there were two paddles. One in the gym and one in the administration offices. My first swat came when I cut a class to attend the Paul and Paula special assembly. I got caught near the auditorium and sent to Mr. Carbaugh who administered the blow. The second time came when I cut a morning class and went to Newhall to pay a traffic ticket. I took a girl from the 64 class with me. On our return we stopped at the rapids on the old road to make out and a police motorcycle officer caught us. He escorted us back to Sylmar High and turned us in. That time I got two swats. They were worth it. Although she had braces, she was a great kisser.....anonymous author

Recollections from Mr. Art Hernandez:

08/31/14

I was there on opening day. It was a small faculty and we were all young. We looked forward to the first class. Three years later we hardly knew any of the faculty. We grew that fast. The original group were the ones that kept the drive of the first year viable.I designed the band uniforms with reversible jackets. During formal concerts the jacket reverts to a blue instead of white. The original design was then copied by number of endless band groups . The principal was not happy at Halligan the music teacher for going to the gold or bronze colors when the school colors were blue. Later it became Spartan bronze although the color was the same. Hallagan liked to piss off the principal. Hallagan was a clown. Any time that I would walk in to see him he would have the band play " La Raspa" He was a fun guy well liked by the faculty. In most school plays I had to interact with the shop guys, Ray Peel, Haverty and Mrs. Wiser the dance instructor and the band under Hallagan. We all got along very well and had lots of fun putting on the performances. Those five years were one of the most enjoyable years for me. Keep me abreast of your reunions. Dr. H.

EL RETIRO Girls School (1919 to 1965) by Gil moya

For those who remember when Sylmar High began in 1961, there was an olive grove across the street at Bordon and Astoria. Next to the orchard at Polk and Bordon there was a walled facility that we later learned was a LA County girl’s detection center named “ El Retiro”. It was famous at the time for one of its former inmates. She was the daughter of actress Lana Turner, Cheryl Crane. The daughter had stabbed and killed Lana Turners’ boyfriend, Mafioso Johnny Stompanato in 1958 when she was 14. The Sylmar Park and pool now occupy the grounds. There are three of the original buildings still on site. A small administration building faces Bordon. It was originally used as an entry and visitation building. It is now used as a Sylmar Park pre-school location. There is also a two story building (Susan B. Anthony Building). It housed some of the girls on the second floor which was divided into small cubes or rooms. The first floor of the facility held classrooms and a recreation room with a fireplace. The building also has a cellar which is prone to flooding. The building is used primarily for storage by the park. This main dormitory building is rumored to be haunted. Many Park employees and LA city inspectors have reported smelling sulfur and experiencing a spiritual presence. The third building is near the Fire Station. It is primarily bathrooms and showers. The Park service uses it as the Park Maintenance building. Barbara Moya (Gils Wife) was Sylmar Park Director from 1994 to 1998.

I remember walking to Sylmar High past the detention center which had a high chain link and concrete wall. The girls would ask for cigarettes or magazines through open areas in the fence as we would walk by. The more desperate ones would make gestures and promises for cigarettes. Too bad I did not smoke. The good girls went to Sylmar High, the bad ones went to El Retiro. The school closed in 1965 when Sylmar juvenile Hall opened near Foothill and Filbert.