1937

As I promised last month, Frank Danzig was trapped into writing this months column. To gather his information, he ran a "West Coast Survey," the results of which, in Frank's own words, are presented here-with:

From the Far West, where 46 members of the Class of 1937 pitch their teepees, greetings. Seldom seen, not often heard, some have smog in their lungs, others rainwater in their thinning hairlines. But 83% of them believe that the West Coast is by far the best place in which to live, and these and other facts come from the just completed Class of 1937 West Coast Survey, with slightly less than two-thirds of all precincts reporting.

Nevertheless, 63% voted "yes" to the question, "my wife says I wear the pants in the family" and 60% voted same to, "I believe I wear the pants in the family." Figure that one out.

Out in the Far West, your classmates expect to retire at 70.6 years of age; now have a children; own 1.6 cars; 1.3 TV sets, 4.5 radios; expect to vacation 2.7 weeks this year; are 83% Republican; widely favor the Dodgers and the Rams; overwhelmingly read Time Magazine; smoke eleven cigarettes a day; and prefer Bourbon.

Up San Rafael way, Art Falk is now Superintendent of Disability Claims with Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. in Frisco. He reports that he and wile Bette visited Connie and Mary Schuck in Buffalo awhile back. And attorney Eric Rafter in Hermosa Beach has another grandson and/or granddaughter on order for April, 1959. He challenges HalEvans to match that one.

Fifty percent of your classmates from out this way hope to attend the 25th reunion; 64% are bullish about the stock market; and 91% claim "my boss is a good guy."

Speaking of apples, up Washington State way, Phil Swain says he ran into Dave Rainey (of Mansfield, Ohio) who in turn ran into Bob Hahn (of Fair Haven, N. J.) who said he was going to Reunion this past spring and didn't. How come? Phil has a daughter graduating from Stanford in 1962.

Regarding television (no two of your classmates have the same favorite show) 43% feel their family spends much too much time watching the little black box.

Don Frank in Los Angeles reports he is book-buyer for Vromans, largest book wholesaler on the Coast, and third largest in the nation. Stu Naramore (same area) writes that last summer he made his first trip to Connecticut since coming West in 1951, and briefly visited Hanover. He reports "I have been with the Inspection Department of Weston Hydraulics, Ltd. since 1951, where I am a very important, over-paid, nobody." (Don't you believe it. - Ed.) Stu reports seeing John Palumbo from time to time, and John reports seeing Stu from time to time. Figures. John writes "What we need are more Kim Novaks - sympathetic ones for the unclaimed single men of our class."

Incidentally, 50% voted "Brigitte Bardot is the greatest," 38% said this was not so, and on this important issue, 12% didn't vote. DIDN'T VOTE?

Ed Skowrup, an Investment Counsellor in San Marino, claims that "Dartmouth needs more men from west of the Mississippi." While John Follett in Sacramento "hasn't seen a '37 man in 10 years."

"I work so hard I deserve more money" brought an astounding 79% vote in the affirmative, while only 30% admit "I drink too much." I wonder why the workers don't start to drink?

Carl Stern, an investment banker in San Francisco, recently saw the late Tom Cohen's parents who visited San Francisco over New Year's. He reports seeing Frank Rothschild in Chicago this past fall. And from ArtHislop: "Between commuting to San Francisco, pruning my orchard of apricots, and struggling with 6th grade arithmetic, I manage to stay out of trouble. Kitty and I have three boys, ages 11, 10 and 7. Hope they all go to Dartmouth. We shall all be present at the 25th."

Concerning the statement: "In thinking it over, I really behaved myself at Winter Carnivals," 62% of the West Coast '37ers said they did, but how about the other 38% who didn't?

And how about Clint Doriss, ex-1937 whom many of you will remember from freshman year, who modestly wonders why he's being queried? Clint writes "hello" to Brad Petersen whom he hasn't seen since 1935. And Brad Petersen, one of two brave West Coasters to attend the recent class reunion, spent some time in New England thereafter, and then lost his appendix. Patient now fully recovered and still a big legal-eagle at Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems. From Rod Harloe unfortunate news that "my wife has been a very sick gal for the past few years and I have been sticking close to home. Did get up to Hanover and Lyme Lodge a few summers ago, and hope to make it again this year."

"Rock and Roll is on the way out." Them's the happy sentiments of 63% of your classmates in the Far West.

Harry Bamford, a lawyer in San Jose, writes "We live in Palo Alto, a community whose schools are reputed to have the highest intelligence level in the U.S. My wife tells me we have helped to swell this depressing statistic. Need I tell you that she went to Vassar, and that my evenings are lonely baby sitting during her numberless alumnae meetings." From Oregon, Don Bauer notes that the steelhead fishing this winter will be the best. He claims he caught and released lots of 'em over five pounds last year, and that fishing for steelhead "can be done resting in a boat (strictly for cardiacs) or wading — and that is the secret of our trim physiques in Oregon, I think."

Incidentally, 49% of the Westerners feel that Southern California is over-rated. Turnabout: 49% feel that it rains all the time in the Northwest.

Bob Cone has joined the home office staff of Security Title Insurance Co. in Los Angeles and is busy learning the intricacies of the 27 counties in which this giant outfit operates. Bob reports a daughter, Carol, who is a junior at Stanford "and doing much better than I did with the grades." Another daughter, Marcia, is a sophomore at San Marino High School "and both of us are having trouble with plane geometry." Bob is an interviewer for Dartmouth admissions but says that "all the top high school football players go to Cal or Stanford." From Menlo Park comes the refrain from Morse Cartwright: "I don't get around much any more. Reason: My wife, Sally, a converted Californian, and I, a dyed-in-the-wool native, are wrapped up in our two adopted native Californians, Susan Roberts, born May, 1956, and Peter Morse, born December, 1957." And from Riverside and Dave Mann who enclosed a Christmas card photo of two most attractive gals: "These are our two teenagers who will hardly qualify for Dartmouth. We have been in Riverside for five years now and are very happy here. Please keep your LA smog at home rather than sending it all in this direction." (What will we do with it? - Ed.)

In regard to living costs, 87% felt they are higher in the West, according to the class Coast Survey. And 21% felt that the A Bomb changed the weather pattern out here.

George Loff's first novel, "The Fork in the Road," will be published early in 1959. His instructions to all men in 1937 — "Buy it. And rave about it." Dr. Bill Thomas, sole representative of our illustrious class in the fair (weather) city of Portland, never can honestly say he runs into anyone from '37. However, he writes that a year ago in the Middle West he had a nice visit with Dr. Jack Richter in La Porte, Ind., and also with Brice Sheets in Rockford, Ill. From Bill Miller in Los Angeles, where he's a management consultant, a nice invite for lunch (for the whole class, Bill?) and the report that he recently ran into Bill Tongue who is living in Chicago and is an economist for the Jewel Tea Company.

In a most gracious frame of mind, 80% of the 1937 Westerners voted that Eastern education is generally superior to that offered in (he West. And because they're in good shape, only 30% noted that they needed to go on a diet.

Bob Ekin from San Lorenzo claims "we have a good group here in San Francisco. Come up and see us and get the smog out of your system." And a final note from Charlie S chaff, a confirmed Southern Californian: "Outside of an occasional glimpse of Eric Rafter and Brad Petersen, I don't see many '37ers. Still am employed by Hughes Tool Co., have the same wife, Fern; and the same children, Susan, 14, and Carol, 8." And then he adds, "The other day I ran into Frank Danzig who is living in sin and luxury and seems to be doing a job as a pitchman and highbinder." (T'ain't true, Charlie, but thanks.)

And thanks to all the Class of 1937 guys on the West Coast for coming through with the survey and the notes to make this column possible. The response was terrific. And despite all this jazz, only 40% wish they could go back to college and start all over again. How about that?

Milton S. Johnston '36 has been named assistant general manager of the eastern areafor General Package-Foodtainer Division ofthe Diamond Gardner Corp.

Secretary, 25 Old Stamford Rd. New Canaan, Conn.

Treasurer, 17 High St., Greenfield, Mass