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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,  

   Oh, GOODY!  We have another celebrity birthday to celebrate today!  Hey, did you know that when I was a little girl, when I sang I sounded just exactly like Kathryn Grayson?!?  Yes, it's quite true! Well, in my dreams, anyway!

BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGoO0JKvEMM - Kathryn Grayson Tribute - Always

BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_pPT8hPmJw&NR=1 - Kathryn Grayson - Jealousy, 1945

BONUS #3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGHN3f4J1qc&NR=1&feature=fvwp - Kathryn Grayson - Till the Clouds Roll By, 1946

BONUS #4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlBYm4WWGs4&NR=1 - Kathryn Grayson - Time After Time, 1947

BONUS #5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpLIcVL0YM&NR=1 - Kathryn Grayson - Love is Where You Find It, 1948

HOMEWORK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Grayson

http://www.kathryngrayson.com/kgbio.htm

http://www.movietome.com/people/58524/kathryn-grayson/trivia.html

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0337113/bio

UPDATE:

From The Associated Press - 02/18/10:

           Kathryn Grayson

			LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kathryn Grayson, whose beauty and lilting soprano brightened MGM musicals of the 1940s and 1950s including "Anchors Aweigh," "Show Boat," "The Desert Song" and "Kiss Me Kate," has died. She was 88. Grayson died Wednesday of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, said the actress' longtime companion and secretary, Sally Sherman. Grayson's youthful ambition was to sing opera, but she wasn't able to accomplish that dream until after her movie career ended. While still a teenager, she was placed under contract at MGM at a time when the studio was assembling a stable of musical talent that would dominate the era of great musicals.
	Kathryn Grayson
	"I thought they were wasting their time and money," Grayson recalled of her first days at the studio. "I even told (studio boss) Louis B. Mayer that. He said he knew a lot more than a 16-year-old girl who is and who isn't good material for pictures. "He offered a deal: I would make a screen test, and if the studio liked the test, I would shut up forever. If not, I would go. "It was the longest test in motion picture history. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars; it was almost a two-reeler .... The studio liked it. I told Mr. Mayer I didn't like it. He went home with a heart attack." Concerned, Grayson agreed to stay, and she turned down an offer to sing "Lucia" at the Metropolitan Opera. She later learned that Mayer had two ploys to persuade recalcitrant actors: to cry or to claim a heart attack. Like Lana Turner, Esther Williams, Donna Reed and other MGM newcomers, Grayson was given a tryout as Mickey Rooney's sweetheart in the studio's popular Hardy Family series. She played the title role in "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary" and sang Strauss's "Voices of Spring." Mayer was convinced that he had a future star. She was cast in three minor films, including a musical with Abbot and Costello, then played Gene Kelly's girlfriend in a wartime revue that included major MGM stars, "Thousands Cheer." "Anchors Aweigh," a 1945 hit with Kelly and Frank Sinatra, confirmed her star status. Her bell-like soprano made her the ideal co-star with Hollywood's full-voiced male singers in operettas and other musicals. She made three films with Howard Keel, two with Mario Lanza, one with Gordon MacRae. Normally she was the most congenial of actresses during filming, but she did have one public flare-up with the temperamental Lanza. He lit the fire when he told an interviewer: "I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for Kathryn because she was in my first two pictures." She took offense because she believed as an established MGM star, they were her pictures. She told an interviewer she objected to Lanza's behavior on the set, especially his vulgar language. She was born Zelma Kathryn Hedrick on Feb. 9, 1922, in Winston-Salem, N.C., her father a building contractor and realtor. Because of his business, the family moved frequently, finally settling in St. Louis, Mo. Her parents recognized her gifted voice and arranged an audition before opera star Frances Marshall. She encouraged the girl to continue her music lessons. The family moved to Los Angeles so Kathryn could have more professional training. She came to the attention of Mayer, who had been searching for a lovely young soprano to rival Universal's sensational Deanna Durbin (Durbin had been under contract to MGM, but she was dropped in favor of Judy Garland). When the newly named Kathryn Grayson sang two arias in "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary," Mayer realized he had a new star. Among her musicals: "Two Sisters from Boston," "Ziegfeld Follies," "Till the Clouds Roll By," "That Midnight Kiss," "The Toast of New Orleans," "Show Boat," "Lovely to Look At," "Kiss Me Kate," "The Desert Song" and "So This Is Love" (as Grace Moore). Her last film, "The Vagabond King" in 1956, soured her on movies. She was scheduled to be reunited with Lanza, but he pulled one of his characteristic no-shows. An unknown Oreste Kirkpop (billed only as Oreste), was a last-minute substitution. "He couldn't speak English, so the director, Mike Curtiz, told me to speak his lines. 'But I'm not Francois Villon,' I said. 'It doesn't matter,' said Mike." Oreste's lines were dubbed. "It never should have been made," she told an interviewer." (Composer) Rudolf Friml was so upset about it that he told Paramount he was going out of town for the weekend. He went to Hong Kong." Her film career over, Grayson remained active. She realized her long-held ambition to sing in opera, and she also starred in productions of "The Merry Widow," "Rosalinda," "Naughty Marietta," and "Camelot." She and Howard Keel toured extensively in "Man of La Mancha" and appeared together in Las Vegas. She sang concerts in Australia and appeared in a one-woman show of film clips and reminiscences. She married and divorced MGM contract players John Shelton (1940-1946) and Johnny Johnston (1947-1951). The marriage to Johnston produced her only child, Patricia Kathryn. Grayson never remarried. In a 1988 interview Grayson remarked that she had given up writing her memoirs because it wouldn't be the "kiss and tell" kind the publishers wanted. "I'm a Pollyanna," she confessed. "I had to stop writing because I love everybody and I was saying everyone was beautiful. I just happen to think people are pretty wonderful." Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

     Happy Birthday today to   Tina Burroughs Farmer ('62) of VA AND     Janice McCain Rose ('65) of VA AND Elliott Smith ('65) of TX?? AND Mary Frances Southall Waller ('66) of VA!

     Happy Birthday tomorrow to    Meyera Ellenson Oberndorf ('58) of VA AND     Norm Covert ('61) of MD AND Bobby Helmer ('61) of VA AND the late    Bernie Helmer ('61) (deceased 03/12/99) AND   Mike Miller ('65) of NC!

     Happy Birthday this week to:

11 -   Harmon Gordon ('63) of VA;

13 -    Carla Fine Cripps ('65) of Australia;

14 -      Jimmy Parker ('62) of VA AND         My Niece,  Renee Dick Romulus (Booker T. Washington HS - '80) of Northern VA!

   Many Happy Returns to You All!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html 

THIS DAY IN WWII:

THIS DAY IN 1965:

Tuesday, February 9, 1965 - Vietnam War: The first United States combat troops were sent to South Vietnam.

Tuesday, February 9, 1965 - Actress Julie Warner was born in Manhattan, New York.

Tuesday, February 9, 1965 - Janice McCain celebrated her 18th birthday in Newport News, Virginia.

    From Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/06/10 - "'64 Senior Program":

Webdoll, Greetings from my igloo in Maryland. The snow left us with about 30 inches of Global Warming stuff. Here's hoping my son in law will show up soon with his magical snow blower and open a track to the world.        Capt. Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA did not have the attached program for the Class of '64's Senior Assembly which I uncovered from the basement trove last week. I remember that you once had a problem opening or imbedding .pdfs on the site. Thus, I have sent it as separate page images, which I hope you receive properly. I will send three pages hereon and three in a second msg. I must note that one name in the program popped out at me as worthy of mention here.     Nancy Mitchell Wynne ('64) of MD portrayed one of the "Village Women." Saturday night (Feb. 13), Miz Nancy will preside as chair of the annual Mardi Gras of the Frederick Women's Civics Club. This ranks as probably the top social event of the year and is a huge fund raiser benefiting local organizations. Nancy has done her usual superb job. The club honored me as King Proteus in 1992. Norm Covert ('61) of MD

Thursday, May 21, 1964

   WOWZERONI-RINI! Thank you so much for this treasure, Normie! I'm sorry it took me so long to post it. You made it super easy for me, but my brain has seriously been lost in space for a couple of weeks now. Maybe this bitterly cold weather has frozen it, I dunno. Whatever it is, I'm still not thinking clearly.

 This still isn't posted elsewhere on the site, but any day now I'll be able to figure out where and how I want to do that.

Virtual wall of all those lost during the Viet Nam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very interesting link, and those  who served in that timeframe and lost friends or family can look them up on this site.  Pass it on to other veterans who you think would like this.

First click on a state......then when it opens .........a name........then it should show you a picture of the person or at least his bio and medals......

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

   Thank you so much, Jo Ann! I had seen and used this site extensively seven years or so ago, but they took it down and redesigned it, and I had not relocated it since that time.

    From Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 02/08/10 - "THE MIDDLE EAST GEOGRAPHY QUIZ":

      OH, WOW! Thanks so much for this valuable - and fun - site, Glenn!

      From Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 02/08/10 - " Lucky Day":

Worth another look!

Check these out:)

http://www.leenks.com/link245626.html - The Luckiest People On Earth

   WOWZERONI! Thanks, Wayne Honey! It took me a couple of turns to absorb all this!

   From Fred Field (June '45) of CA - 02/08/10 - "The Adoption Process":

Hello Carol,        Mon. Feb. 8, 2010

Attached is something you may consider using.

Fred
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Fred W. Field
Fullerton, CA
fwfield@juno.com

The Adoption Process

Yesterday (Sunday) two spinster-type ladies from a Pasadena cat shelter arrived at our Loma Linda residence. They were bringing a cat carrier with something black and white inside.

Grandpa was in Fullerton for the weekend, so everything herein is compiled from excited phone calls from granddaughter Sara. I have tried to tone down the news a bit.

The two residence cats had been locked away. Once inside the house, New Cat was let out. At first he seemed confused and nervous. But in less than 5 minutes he was purring and affectionate. It was soon obvious that he stands up on his hind legs to indicate his desire to be petted. A family friend had assured us that black and white cats are both intelligent and affectionate. She was right about this one.

The two ladies made an inspection tour of the whole house for feline suitability. They quickly announced that they liked what they saw (I'm happy I wasn't there).

My room had been prepared for New Cat to stay in until he is acclimated enough to be exposed to the regulars (I have been assured that the room will be returned to me by my next visit).

Once New Cat was settled in the bedroom, the two resident cats, Buster and Jenny were released from solitary. They immediately began sniffing around. Jenny seemed only curious, but macho-male Buster hissed at the empty cat carrier. Later he parked himself outside New Cat's room and made sounds of annoyance.

There will probably be at least several more days of isolation before live exposure is attempted. I have suggested that a fresh newspaper be rolled up and kept ready. One of these has been very handy for showing displeasure to cats. In use it doesn't harm them, but for some strange reason it terrifies them.

The shelter ladies brought some toys that New Cat was used to. He was playing with them last night in his (my) room.

New Cat's shelter name was "Ray." We don't want to keep it, but will use some time to see what is appropriate. We have a big list and will probably do some response testing.

Sara is very pleased with New Cat's markings. But then she thinks all cats are beautiful.

Fred

Definition - Difference between a spinster lady and a bachelor lady: A bachelor lady has never been married. A spinster lady has never been married or anything.

   Thanks, Fred!

  From Mike White ('67) of VA - 02/03/10 - "Seniors (#5 in a Series of 19)":

Carol For anyone age appropriate…that means almost everyone in the Typhoon Nation ! Mike

   Thanks, Mike!  

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ABBREVIATED ALERT:

  From Jane Chambers of VA - 07/01/09 AND 02/07/10 - "CNC BOOK BROCHURE & AD" AND 61-62 DECADERS ADDENDA:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CNC-CNU/brochure(2).pdf

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/CNC-CNU/CNC-Memories-Book-219390602.pdf

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/61-63-DECADERS-ADDENDA.doc

   Contact Dr. Chambers at cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.

Thanks, Jane!

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FINALLY:

From ArcaMax Jokes - 02/08/10:

Bird Calls

One evening an avid bird watcher stood in his backyard and heard an owl hoot. So he thought he'd give a hoot back. To his surprise and delight the bird hooted again. The next night the same scenario occurred.

All Summer, the man and his feathered friend hooted back and forth. He even kept a log of the "conversations."

Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in inter species communication, his wife, had a chat with her next door neighbor.

"My husband spends his nights calling to owls," the wife commented.

"That's odd," the neighbor replied. "So does my husband."

Then it dawned on them...

DATES TO REMEMBER: