200420 April 20, 2020

Memphis, TN - The social distancing has increased the participation in Lee's Traveller activities for many of our classmates. I hate that may be what caused the increase but I appreciate the inputs to help make Lee's Traveller better.

Another change has been happening to our society, and that is the use of a social networking video conferencing program called Zoom. The free Zoom allows up to 40 people to connect via video and audio for a 45 minute conference or get together. It is free and requires little more than a computer, phone, or tablet to connect. It might require to download an app or program, which is safe for you to do.

To test this out, I have scheduled a Zoom get-together for 3:30 Central Time on Monday, April 20th. Since it limits participation to 40 people (that's a lot) be sure to check in early to secure your place. The main goal is to test the Zoom software's ability to integrate itself into the Traveller experience and to also evaluate how to best conduct a video conference with a lot of participants. I will be hosting the session and will attempt to control the interaction to the best of my ability.

So, once again here is the link you will use to connect to the Traveller's Zoom session on Monday, so set your alarm or tell Alexa to remind you. It will not do you any good to log in until about 10 minutes before the session.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77686795828

My Dad and Hope for the Future

Janet Holand

LHS '67

My article on Dad is in our church Light magazine this month for those who find his life interesting.

The Great Third Period Pencil Lead Incident

Curt Lewis

LHS '66

Our high school day began with a brief homeroom that was administrative in nature. There would be a roll call, general announcements, and whatever other items the school administrators deemed reasonable and proper. This was followed by first and second period classes. There was a break following the second period class that allowed the teachers to go smoke in the teachers lounges, and the students to use the bathroom, walk the halls, socialize, and generally get the ants out of their pants. The teachers, as a general rule, left their classrooms unlocked during the break so the students of the next class could drop off their books and papers, socialize, or study.

One Mrs. Witch (true identity withheld to protect the guilty) was our English teacher during my Junior Year. She was neither attractive nor well-liked, and had a notable vindictive streak. One day during the morning break, some of her more mischievous students reversed the position of her desk. They rearranged everything on top of the desk to make it appear to be in its normal orientation. When the break was over, Mrs. Witch entered the classroom, sat down, and pulled herself forward whereupon her knees banged against the modesty panel on the desk that normally faced outward. I was not present when this occurred (my class was a different period), and I’m not sure whether or not Mrs. Witch made a big incident of it at the time. The following day the beginning of break found Mrs. Witch’s door locked, and the students could not stash their possessions inside.

The locked door inconvenienced the entire class and enraged one Bob Crump, a friend and classmate and generally a notable person throughout his too-short life. I don’t know whether or not Bob was involved in the prior desk prank, but this had crossed a line. He took out a pencil, inserted the point into the lock opening, and broke off the lead in a manner that precluded the entry of a key. Mrs. Witch was unable to unlock the door when she returned from the break. Pandemonium ensued, custodians were summoned, and the door was eventually opened.

When order was restored and the class finally seated, Mrs. Witch’s first action was to demand the identity of the perpetrator. If anyone had witnessed Bob’s nefarious act they remained silent. Mrs. Witch’s second action was to administer an impossible “pop quiz” that no one in the class was able to pass.

Bob became remorseful later in the day, made a full confession to Mrs. Witch, and I’m sure received a “suitable” if not draconian punishment. I think Bob felt justified in his offense, but couldn’t bear the repercussions on his classmates.

Mrs. Witch was busily and sulkily working in her grade book when a later class entered the room. When one of the students inquired what she was doing, she sourly replied “Erasing the Third Period zeros”.

Last Week's Name That Tune Group

Songs for Social Distancing

Jeffrey Fussell, LHS '66, "More good choices, but I couldn’t place all of them. Number 1 was familiar, but the artist escaped me. Number 5 uses a very familiar chord progression in the intro that’s used on many songs. Hope you and your readers are all doing well. Here’s what I came up with:

“Stay” - ?

“Worried Man” – Kingston Trio

“Yesterday” – Beatles

“Turn Around (Look at Me)” – Vogues

Bb Dm/A G F

Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS '66, got three of the five correct, and beat out Jeffrey on song #5 which was "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis.

Tom Davidson, LHS '69,

Name the Artists

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

This week we are going to offer a different challenge for you music lovers, one which I know Linda Collinsworth Provost will hate. Instead of offering several different songs to identify, you can try your skill in identifying the different artists all singing the same song. Linda wrote several weeks ago she knew the songs but had trouble with identifying who was singing the featured songs. Knowing the name of this song will not help - I'll even give it to you up front. It is "Unchained Melody" from the movie "Unchained." It was such a hit it has been recorded by many great singers. So, I offer you a challenge to identify the artists in my "Unchained Melody Medley."

Last Week's Movie of the Week Submitted by Don Wynn

Scene: A housekeeper calls a man at his office to tell him “a mad dog is in the street and coming this way.” The man leaves work quickly and heads home. Shortly, he arrives at home and the housekeeper points out the dog who is still down the street. The dog is jumping around and is clearly ‘mad.’

The man takes a rifle out of the car, takes careful aim and kills the dog with a single shot of 75 yards or more.

His two kids who witnessed the shot were stunned because they had never seen their Dad hold a gun, much less make such a difficult shot.

Questions:

1. What is the name of the movie?
2. What actor played the lead role in the movie?
3. What actor played the mystery man behind the door?
4. Who wrote the book this movie was based upon”
5. Where were you when you saw this movie?
6. Who were you with when you saw it?

Spencer Thompson

LHS '64

To Kill a Mockingbird

Lead Gregory Peck

Actor behind the door Robert Duvall

Book written by Harper Lee

Saw it by myself

Lyric Theater

John Drummond, LHS '65, answered all the questions and added: "Harper Lee wrote the book, which was published in 1960 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Maycomb was a fictional version of her own home town of Monroeville, Alabama. The character of Dill was based on her childhood close friend and next-door neighbor Truman Capote. Though the book and movie were both sensations, Lee was averse to any invasions of her privacy by the media, and refused all requests for interviews after 1964. Many fans wondered why she never produced another novel. However, a sequel to TKAM, "Go Set a Watchman", was posthumously published in 2015.

I have no clue where I saw the film, but almost certainly it was at either The Lyric or The Grand. No recall with whom I saw it, but in 1962 it was probably not with a date.

This Week's Movie Submitted by John Drummond

Scene: The movie opens with a drunk being arrested and sentenced to two years in a Florida chain gang. He does not question his physical incarceration, and initially has no thought of escape. But his spirit is not, imprisoned like those of his fellow inmates,. This free thinking is, from the outset, noticed by the institution, its functionaries (the guards), and especially its leaders. His struggle for supremacy peaks when he leads a work crew in a seemingly impossible but successful effort to complete a road-paving job in less than one day.

1. What is the title of the movie?

2. Who played the movie's title character?

3. What crime was committed that sent him to prison?

4. What is the most famous film quotation delivered in the film and who spoke it (name or role)?

5. What did the main character claim he could do which set off a betting frenzy?

From Our Mailbox

Subject: Psyco

Barb Biggs Knott

LHS ‘66

I’ll never forget the first time I saw that movie! My father (unbelievable a parent would take a young child to see that movie) took me to see it. I definitely wasn’t likely to forget the incident!

Subject: Stuff

Mary Burns Cattadoris

LHS '65

Tommy I really enjoyed last week's issue of "The Traveller." Thank you for allowing me into your private memories. Now that I've reached the twilight of my life you have inspired me to "clean house." After all, why would I want to leave all of my sacred "things" for my children to get rid of? It probably won't be too hard to get rid of most things but my "Silver Sabre" will remain.

Subject: To Kill a Mockingbird

Max Kull

LHS '67

Robert Duvall's appearance as Boo Radley was his first movie role. He was recommended for the part by Lillian Foote, wife of "Mockingbird" screenwriter Horton Foote who won the Oscar for "best adapted screenplay". Frank Overton who played Sheriff Heck Tate could also thank the Footes for his part. In 1953, he played the Sheriff in the original TV production of Horton Foote's 'Trip to Bountiful' (starring Lillian Gish). Foote found him very believable which made him a natural fit for the part in "Mockingbird".

I had the great pleasure of meeting Horton Foote in New York back in 2007. My daughter was in his play, 'Divinding the Estate', so we got to chat a bit in the lobby after the show.

My other "Mockingbird" story...My daughter got to play the dubious rape victim, Mayella Ewell, at Hartford Stage in 2009. Matthew Modine played Atticus Finch.