Rumson’s shoreline view of the Navesink River Photos/Elaine Van Develde
It’s been downright dank lately. But no matter how the dank sticks in your cranky craw, there’s nothing like a little river time to ease the shrill chill from the bones.
Even when it’s clouded, the view of the Navesink always offers a promise of light and the warm embrace of home. It’s pretty ducky for the ducks, no matter what, it seems. They have the right idea. Reveling in every ripple, every lap of low tide, every grain of damp sand is inviting solace — the terminal homecoming.
The scene may vary with time and vantage point, but for a Rumson-Fair Haven kid at heart, the river is that lifetime friend who never ages, whose loyalty never wanes. It’s always there, waving to you from the shore, letting you know that the chill and gray will go away. You are home. Always. Welcomed.
Remember, cozy up to that waving childhood friend, and wait for the sun to shine again.
Relive some river daze and solace by taking a look at this week’s gallery of the Navesink by Barnacle Bill’s and check out when the sun’s coming out in the weekend weather forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service … (CLICK one photo in the above gallery to enlarge and scroll! Enjoy!)
Fair Haven Brownie Troop #6 square dances in 1968 Photo/Sally Van Develde
With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon and National Women’s Day here, thoughts of girl power and good dance for tradition’s sake come to the forefront.
When talking girl power, scouting, back in the day when girls had little power, comes to mind. And, with the girls, in the 1960s, it all started with Brownies at about age 7. And then there’s that thought process of dancing to your own tune, of course.
RFH cast of The Pajama Game rehearses around the record player circa 1963 Photo/Daily Register staff
Curtain up! It’s that time. Time for RFH Tower Players to gear up for the troupe’s spring musical. And with that wind-up to opening night comes a push for ticket sales and lots of getting the word out — promoting the big show. That’s show biz!
Nowadays, with social media pretty much a staple in getting the message out there, there is no reliance on good ol’ print newspapers to spread the word — and far in advance.
In fact, as of the time tonight that this Retro Pic of the Day went live, the social media word was well out on RFH’s spring musical Mama Mia! It’s out there. All over.
But, back in the day, like in the 60s, for instance, all high schools got a spot in the area newspapers, mostly the Daily Register and Asbury Park Press, with all the show info and a photo for which cast members had to meet and pose, trying to look candid. Oh, then there was the development of film in that dark room. No one knew what the final shot would look like until days later.
But, to say the least, there was some rich promo of RFH shows back in the day. They always had a spotlight, even several, in the newspaper. And they were even reviewed by professional critics, if you can fathom that. More on that later.
Back to this RFH spring musical of 1963. The players did The Pajama Game. This shot showed what was really a pretty typical rehearsal time spent around the ol’ record player. Yes, that would be a turntable, RFHers of the present.
Back in the day, and pretty much through at least the 80s, that was a pretty standard way for the cast to learn the score. Parents of those RFHers would tell you how they heard the score of that one spring musical over and over and over again. Wait, though. In the 80s, there was the 8-track version that skipped as it went to the next track — mid-song!
In this photo, by Register staff, RFH was one of several high school musical casts photographed and advertised for their respective shows. This photo features the leads in the musical: (left to right) Barry Nelson as Hines, Jamie Hughes as Gladys, John Edelmann as Sid and Perry Lyon as Babe.
Recognize those players? The RFH show was set for one weekend only — two days — April 5 and 6. This story was printed on Feb. 11. All area high schools’ musicals were previewed in a full-page spread titled “Broadway in Monmouth” with a subhead of “High Schools Tackle Big-Time Musicals.” Some of the other shows were classic oldies like Bye Bye Birdie, Girl Crazy and Music Man.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: The article elaborated on auditions, casting and show times. It said that 210 students auditioned for the show in a process that lasted a week and a half. For one of the leads alone, 32 auditioned. Fair Haven’s Jamie Hughes landed the role.
Competition back in the day, decades ago, was strong for the RFH spring musicals. And the casts were usually quite large. It also wasn’t just Tower Players in the show. The fall drama was one for which only Tower Players could audition. The musical was for all, school-wide.
Pajama Game was directed by Paul Grammer, who is very familiar to RFH students of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Grammer later became solely vocal musical director of the shows. Instrumental, as in orchestra, was directed by Ken Walter. Remember him? He was the marching band chief in the 70s and 80s. And, in a special cameo as choreographer was none other than Lois McDonald, the woman who became the lady in charge of The Barn Theatre down the street from the high school.
Now, that’s show biz! Your favorite show? Director? And how many auditioned in your era? Now, about that rehearsing by record player … What score did you wear out, show folk or not, on the ol’ turntable?
The chill is still in that winter air. It serves as a reminder of the old TGIF days and ways for RFHers looking to chill out with some warm memories of partying with friends.
A day of spring boxing in the parking lot at RFH in the 1970s Photo/George Day
A reprise in honor of the fight for a break from the chill in the winter air and some real spring fever, close encounters and emergence from omicron winter isolation …
Press “Play.” Sometimes light peering through stark, hazy darkness is a beacon to play time that’s drawing near. It can transport a daydreamer to past play, too. Warmth. Vision. Clarity. Contentment.
The pin spotlights scream silence — peace. They remind: There is a light to follow forward and back. Each spot shines a light on one memory at a time, bringing focus to the haze, bringing back the warmth. Each spot draws us to a brighter tomorrow, too. Each reminds: There’s a way out of the dark haze, forward or rewind. Either takes us back to the same place. Home.
When two iconic playtime scenes — an otherwise bustling iconic Victory Park or Barnacle Bill’s gathering haven — are somber and still, it’s then that one can see the power of place clearly. Feel it deeply. The more stark, the more profound. The more simple, the more black and white, the love of home.
Get lost in the light to find your own way home.
— Photos/Elaine Van Develde for R-FH Retro only (CLICK on one to enlarge and scroll. Enjoy!)
And lighter days are coming to the area. Here’s the week’s weather forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service, for the Rumson-Fair Haven area …
Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside 2022 Photo/Rumson PD
Hail to the chief! He’s taken the plunge and triumphed again.
Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson dove into the icy ocean waters of Seaside on Saturday and emerged the plunge’s top donor once again to benefit his cause — Special Olympics New Jersey.
“Chief Paterson would like to thank all of the generous donors, along with friends and supporters, who reached out to wish (him) Scott well with yesterday’s Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge,” a Sunday post on the Rumson Police Department Facebook page said. “It was down to the wire, but we’re happy to report that Scott was able to regain his #1 spot as highest individual fundraiser for another year. He could not have done it without the support of all you!”
The chief solely ended up with a total of $41,337 raised for his cause. He plunged with the Little Silver Crocs team once again. The largest of the final hour donations was from Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade at $1,005. So, in the end, Paterson ended up top donor for what may have been his final plunge.
As a whole, the 2022 Plunge at Seaside garnered $1,935,180, surpassing its goal. The goal was $1.8 million.
Congrats, Chief!
Rumson Police Chief Scott Paterson at a previous Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Photo/Rumson PD
Sally Van Develde at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair in 1969.
Sally Van Develde and Mary Farley
Our now annual reprise honoring the inspiration for R-FH Retro — my mom, Sally Van Develde — on what would have been her 99th birthday. A birthday wish … Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom. You remain in the hearts of so many … Besides, I won’t let them forget.
“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with! Is that right?” ~ Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz
For the love of home and a Fair Haven mom … that’s right.
Sometimes a birthday without her is about lighting the candles, making the wish, sustaining the simple legacy of going home, staying home with my mom, Sally Van Develde.
Today would have been her 99th birthday. If she had lived to blow out all those candles on her cake, I wondered what she would have done. What her wish would have been.
You must be logged in to post a comment.