April 13,1999

Do you remember the Peekskill and Paramount Theaters? The Hollowbrook Drive-in? No? not what we did but those good old movies.

I started to give you a run through of some of the movies. This changed when ILooked at the pictures and tape of our last reunion. Then it struck me, WOW! We're not teenage boppers and greasers anymore, but men, and women who began together, years ago, a FEATURE PRESENTATION.

All our scenes were then done in the city of Peekskill, New York where everyone knew everyone and where we had the best school (at least we knew that for sure!) that

this century had to offer. P.H,S. was on Ringgold. Street, South Street was the hubbub of downtown and where on many weekends most of us lined up to go to the movies.

Our introduction to dances, fads, styles, hairdo's and music came from the pictures, can't you remember picturing yourself as Jeff Chandler in "Chochise", Debbie Reynolds, as "Tammy, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin the idols. of teenage.romance, Elizabeth Taylor (just to look like her) and of course Jimmy Dean because he was handsome cool and just a hunk!

Think of it, this century has been like the previews. I really have to hand it to all of you that reunion picture had me seeing a lot. The reviews get even better!

The new century will be our retirement years. This should be an interesting development.

During tonight's 40th class reunion we will again remember those high school memories with old friends, warmth and much laughter We will focus in on all those old flashbacks of our youth picturing ourselves not as we are now but as we were then.

Our latest scene Peekskill High School Class of 1959 will be when we pose together tonight for our latest flick. Say cheese, smile, we're all stars in one great movie. Get ready for the next 10 years to collect our OSCAR, we've earned it.

Mary Ellen Murden - Tompkins