200608 June 8, 2020
Graphic by Susan Simms
'64-'65-'66 Reunion Postponed Until 2021
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
After much consideration and gnashing of teeth, it appears the majority of classmate prefer not to risk the problems associated with holding a reunion this year and would rather postpone it, hoping things will be better next year. In the survey of classmates, nearly 70% stated they would rather postpone it, with almost 64% of the ones who said they would not attend gave the COVID-19 threat as the reason.
Because of the planning needed including decorations, rooms, meals, and entertainment, the reunion committee found it unfeasible to risk the loss of funds to deposits and contracts for an event which might not be attended by enough classmates to offset the cost. Only 34% of the survey takers stated they planned to attend the reunion planned for 2020.
The members of the reunion planning committee will meet at a later time to coordinate the plans for next year.
Memphis, TN - I had to write a "Dear John" letter last week, addressed to John Drummond. John had submitted the answers to last week's quizzes and wrote to inquire why his submissions were not included with the others who had answered. After searching my emails I found I could not find John's submission and after I checked on the date he had sent it I found a mystery. All of my Traveller emails between May 22 and May 30 had disappeared from my email box. That was the time I had the power outage and lost internet service for three days so I suppose it was due to something happening then, but it is still a mystery. If you also send me something during that time you are in the same boat as John.
I, along with many of you, feel sad we have had to postpone the reunion. For me personally, it is the second reunion I planned to attend which was cancelled for this year. I also received an email from my travel agent informing me the 14-day October cruise Sue and I had booked from Montreal to Miami had also been cancelled. We have also found out there is a 14-day quarantine requirement for visitors to Hawaii in place, so even if we could get a Military Hop to the islands it would not be worth it.
So, stay safe, and enjoy being alive. It's what we must do I suppose.
This Week's Movie of the Week Suggested by John Drummond
This movie was a 1959 American epic historical drama and a remake of the 1925 silent film with a similar title.
It was based upon a book written by a Union Army General who fought at the Battle of Shiloh.
The budget called for more than 100,000 costumes and 1,000 suits of armor to be made, for the hiring of 10,000 extras.
Over 200 camels and 2,500 horses were used in the shooting of the film.
It won a record eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Musical Score, and Best Actor in a Leading Role.
The score was so lengthy that it had to be released in 1959 on three LP records.
This movie saved MGM from financial disaster making a profit of $20,409,000 on its initial release.
Questions:
1. What was the name of the film?
2. Which actor played the title role?
3. Which action scene of this movie is best remembered?
Bonus Question:
Which Union General wrote the book on which this movie was based?
Last Week's Movie of the Week Suggested by Tommy Towery
This week your movie trivia will once again share its usage with an existing song in this issue, the one which was used in the graduation story above. The song "Today" was featured in a movie in which it seemed not to belong (much like the song Unchained Melody we dealt with earlier). The movie was a light-hearted 1964 American western comedy film set in the American Civil War. It was Directed by George Marshall. The film is based on the 1957 novel Company of Cowards about a unit composed of coward soldiers who were given a second chance to prove their bravery. Of course, I saw the movie (at the Lyric Theatre) before I graduated and moved to Memphis. We will leave the questions easy, even though it is a hard film to remember: (Note: too much information will indicated someone searched Google for the answers, but if you did put some personal notes in with your answers.)
1. What is the name of the movie which featured "Today"?
2. Who was the main male star?
3. Who was the main female star?
We only had one person who dared take on this challenge.
John Drummond, LHS '65, "Tommy, this may be the toughest challenge of the game thus far. My rusty memory associates this movie with Glenn Ford, but I draw a blank on the name of the film on the female star. OK, full disclosure. I Googled Glenn Ford and found his 1964 film "Advance to the Rear", an obscure, silly comedy Western involving a bunch of misfit soldiers in the Union cavalry during the Civil War (or, as Mrs, Wikle insisted we call it, the War Between the States). Stella Stevens was the female lead. Melvyn Douglas co-starred. Come on, Tommy, is that all you got?"
From Our Mailbox
Subject: Your Graduation Day Story
Jeffrey Fussell
LHS '66
The graduation night story is some of your best writing.
