| GOSSIP COLUMNS REPLACED BY FACEBOOK, TEXTING, TWITTERING
Calhoun High's newspaper made
efforts toward social networking
By Bob Weaver
It was a humble publication nearly 60 years ago, Calhoun High School's newspaper "The Clarion," printed on a mimeograph machine, with the results often faded and barely readable.
The mimeograph machine was a low-cost printing press that worked by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper, used for decades from the late 1800s through the 1960s for bulletins, school tests and amateur writing.
Calhoun High School's "Clarion," over the years, was then printed on a real printing press.
There is no longer a school newspaper, and efforts to maintain a high school student presence on the Internet have floundered.
The mimeograph, invented in the late 1800s was used
through the 1960s, a "poor persons" way of publishing
A 1952 edition of the school newspaper had stories about the schools enrollment (620), an article about school spirit, sports, and safety tips about going up and down crowded steps during class changes.
Student Jack Smith wrote an article about catching the bus:
"When you ride the bus you have to get up about 6 a.m....afraid you'll miss the bus...You stand in the cold for about an hour until you're fingers turn blue and your nose gets red as a cherry. Finally you hear a big crash and the old tin can (bus) comes along."
An article questioned whether or not 18-year-olds should be allowed to vote since they fight for their country (Korean War).
Jean Yoak caught up on popular music in a column called "Hits on Wax," referring to 78 rpm records that would soon be replaced by 45 rpm records, those with the big hole in the middle.
Yoak wrote, "It seems as though western tunes are going out of style," after which she reviews some favorite artists and tunes.
Jo Stafford's "You Belong to Me," Les Paul and Mary Ford's "Take Me In Your Arms And Hold Me," with some pop tunes holding on from the World War II era, artists like the Mills Brothers, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Ray and Percy Faith.
Jack Smith wrote another article about worry. "There are really only two things to worry about, either you are well or you are sick."
"If you get well of course there is nothing to worry about, but if you die, there are two things to worry about, will you go to heaven or go to h---." The word hell was censored.
School newspapers flourished on gossip items, in the Clarion under a heading "Popular Cheese":
"David Kerby robbed the cradle, baby and all."
"We hear Dot Wilson's slumber party was quite an affair and had an added attraction - boys."
"Joan Yoak seems to like Delmer Sear's company at noon hour."
"Why doesn't Shara Nell Poling and Dick Richards get together on this thing called love."
"It seems that Miss Gunn is up to her old tricks again. Every time the bell rings she rushes out to see E. R. (referring to a male teacher)."
"Dot Wilson will marry Scottie Westfall." (She did)
"Is Janet the reason George Hardman's hair stands in the air?"
In a column asking what character flaw students disliked the most, most said "conceited."
Today, such has been replaced by Facebook, Twitter, cell phones and
See related stories FLASHBACK TO 1942 - Calhoun High's Newspaper Gives A Peek Into WWII Life
CALHOUN HIGH HAD NEWSPAPERS - "Calhoun Hi Life" And "Clarion" But Memories
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