Hey, batter, batter! Choose a bat, any bat. Get up to bat! Get in the dugout?
Continue reading Retro RFH Batty Baseball TimesTag Archives: RFH
Retro RFH Baseball Hit
Hey, batter, batter, swing! Spring is here. Baseball season is in full swing; and, it’s bound to be a hit at RFH this year.
Continue reading Retro RFH Baseball HitRetro RFH Band Playing & Marching on for St. Pat’s Sake
Five, six, seven, eight … march, play, stop and smile! You’re on not-so-candid camera parade, RFH Marching Band of 1993!
Continue reading Retro RFH Band Playing & Marching on for St. Pat’s SakeThe Neighborhood: Steeping in Love of Home to Honor Jane Croft
Here stays the neighborhood. Yes. For the love of home, we’re always steeping in it.
Even though another forever Fair Haven neighbor is now gone, the neighborhood stays, as always — right in that hometown heart. The one that swells with a different kind of pride and comfort that some unlucky souls will never understand.
That neighbor, the latest who has left the block, is Jane Croft. Born in Fair Haven, she lived her entire life there, always with that easy-going smile and soothing, welcoming cadence in her voice.
Continue reading The Neighborhood: Steeping in Love of Home to Honor Jane CroftIn Memoriam: Rumson-Raised RFH ’65 Grad, Marion Konow Frazee, 74
Rumson-raised Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) 1965 graduate Marion Konow Frazee, of Red Bank, lost her battle with cancer on March 8 at Riverview Medical Center. She was 74.
Continue reading In Memoriam: Rumson-Raised RFH ’65 Grad, Marion Konow Frazee, 74RFH’s Coach Amy O’Keefe: A Lacrosse Success Legacy
On the cusp of Lacrosse season, Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) celebrates the success of its girls lacrosse coach, Amy O’Keefe.
Continue reading RFH’s Coach Amy O’Keefe: A Lacrosse Success LegacyRetro RFH ‘Pajama Game’ Show Biz
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?
Now, let’s go on with the show!
Retro RFH TGIF Chill with Cool Kids
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.
Continue reading Retro RFH TGIF Chill with Cool KidsRetro RFHers’ ‘Hunt’ for the Fun in Tradition
Photo/courtesy of Angela Carpenter
With the news of the revival of a newer Rumson area tradition, the Rumson St. Patrick’s Day Parade, comes the news that its grand marshal had a close relationship with the famed Hunt.
Continue reading Retro RFHers’ ‘Hunt’ for the Fun in TraditionRetro RFH Spring Fever Frolicking
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 …
Yes, spring fever is spreading rapidly as we all anxiously await more sunshine, and blooming of warmer days. Apparently, this retro RFH spring frolicking in the high school parking lot was about more than a little spring fever in the 1970s.
Continue reading Retro RFH Spring Fever FrolickingRFH Key Club: Loving a Little More with Memorable Donation
Photo/RFH
They’ve learned to love a little more and share the love in someone’s memory.
Continue reading RFH Key Club: Loving a Little More with Memorable DonationRetro RFH Class President’s Staged Moment
Photo/George Day
Yes, yesterday was Presidents’ Day. The day designated to honor presidents was first observed in 1971, borne out of the birthday of the first U.S. president, George Washington.
Continue reading Retro RFH Class President’s Staged Moment
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