In an e-mail in December, Yogi mentioned Steve Carlson of Cheyenne who went on to a career in film and television. He was in a quartet with Johnny Hermansen, Harry's older brother, in high school. I got to looking on the internet for information on Steve, found his home page and sent him an e-mail. He replied a few days later and just recently sent me a notice about a novel he has written. It occurred to me today you might like to see his e-mail and the details on his book.
>On Dec 19, 2008, at 7:03 PM, www.stevecarlson.tv Contact Us Page wrote:
>
>>Submitted By: Phil White
>>Email: mailto:philwyoming@yahoo.com
>>Phone: 307 742-9363
>>Submitted: 12/19/2008 7:03:12 PM
>>Remote Address: 71.209.83.220
>>
>>Comments: Hi Steve,
>> I'm coming at you from the Class of 63 in Cheyenne. I lived a
>>half block from the Hermansens and spent a lot of time with classmate
>>Harry and Johnny. I live in Laramie now. I've been e-mailing old
>>class photos and stories with some classmates lately. Yogi mentioned
>>Steve Carlson and I remembered you and Johnny in a quartet, was it?
>>Yogi remembered Jim Weitz and Dennis Steele were the other members and
>>he thinks you were "The Crewcuts." We've also been talking about Neil
>>Diamond who was born in 1941 and spent 44-46 with his family while his
>>father was at WAFB. An article in the Tribune-Eagle says he attended
>>Churchill School, but it sounds to me like he could only have attended
>>kindergarten before going back to Brooklyn.
>>Yogi said you attended Churchill under your original last name and
>>later adopted your step-father's?? Back in the 60s and 70s I saw you
>>regularly on TV. Didn't you emcee a gig with Dick Clark? At any rate
>>I hope you're doing well. If you send a message I'll pass it along to
>>some Class of 63 folks.
>Subject: Re: www.stevecarlson.tv Contact Us Page
>Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:42:48 -0800
>To: philwyoming@yahoo.com>
>
>Phil,
> Nice hearing from you. Yogi had his facts close but off a bit.
>Yes, I was in a barbershop quartet with Johnny. Dennis Steele was part
>of the first four guys picked for the group but didn't last very long.
>Personalities didn't quite gell. The group we ended up with; Johnny -
>tenor, me- lead, Jimmy Weitz - baritone and Dave Capps - base, sang
>together for three years and had a great time. We were called (again,
>Yogi, close) the Shortcuts.
> Since you came to me from my web site, you have an idea of
>what I've been up to the last 40 years. That quartet led me to
>operettas, which let me to doing stage shows whether they had music or
>not, which led me to an enjoyable and satisfactory career in the film
>industry for most of my life.
> And, yes, I did, co-host a couple of gigs with Dick Clark.
>Great fun.
> I did, in fact, attend Churchill School, k - 3. I was little
>Stevie Saltmarsh then before being legally adopted by my step-father,
>so I've been a Carlson since I was around ten.
> I didn't know anything about Neil Diamond ever being in Cheyenne.
>Interesting.
> I retired from acting about 7 years ago (the last episode of
>Seinfeld was my last show). My wife and I are now living on 2 1/2
>acres of wooded land in So. Oregon, by a charming, little, historic
>town called Jacksonville. You expect to see Wyatt Earp walking down
>the street any day now. We like it a lot.
> I also like that I've been able to satisfy another dream of
>mine, being a novelist. I had had 3 non-fiction books published on
>various forms of film acting but had always wanted to sell my stories.
>Well, about three years ago, St. Martin's Press bought my first novel
>ALMOST GRACELAND, followed by the buying my second, FINAL EXPOSURE.
>This one's a mystery and was just released about a month ago. I'm
>currently finishing up rewrites on another they are interested in
>publishing and have a new one started. It keeps me off the streets.
> When I'm not writing, I like to take advantage of the many
>golf courses in this area. I've also got a great bunch of guys that I
>play with here so, I'd say things worked out pretty darn well.
> Thanks for this little tromp down memory lane, Phil. Things I
>haven't thought of for a while. I hope life has been good to you as
>well.
> If you get a chance to look at my books, please enjoy. I also
>wish a very merry Christmas and a grand new year for you and yours.
>
>All the best,
>
>Steve Carlson
Rex
Thanks to GoogleMaps, I now know where Kentucky is.
Merry Christmas
db (David N. Barclay - Ed.)
Wow, they've got lists for everything.
Saw Harry Hermanson's name there, too.
Anyway, I'm in a little Christmas play at California Actors Theatre in Longmont, Colorado. We had 3 shows last weekend and they went pretty well. Only 3 left this weekend.
Friday & Saturday 12/19 & 20 at 7:30pm
Sunday 12/21 at 2:00pm
"A Carol Christmas Story"
Loosely based on Dickens, except we're Lawyers instead of accountants (Phil is my role model), Tiny Tim is a girl, and there's only one ghost (me).
http://www.californiaactorstheatre.com/
The website is not what you would call "Updated", but it tells how to get there. It's in Twin Peaks Mall.
You all qualify for the senior discount - $11.00 (I think) and they have free wine.
Hope you can come
Merry Christmas
David N. Barclay
Judy,
I'm quite surprised and disappointed by your remarks that Saint Mary's appeared to be "elusive" and "snubbing" to anyone at anytime during Reunion45 weekend.
It turned out to be such a wonderful weekend, especially for the St. Mary's group who are usually greatly outnumbered by many more attendees from East and Central. We had the opportunity for fellowship with a good number of our fellow classmates that we had been able to locate and reconnect with through good networking & emails.
When we got together, there was a lot of sharing and exchanging of information going on throughout the weekend. I believe friends want to reconnect with friends, no matter which school they went to, or what year they graduated in.
The idea of a reunion IS to reconnect with your friends and classmates which for most of us, included people from all three schools.
This reunion was a first for some, and an opportunity to reconnect with others we hadn't seen in 45 years.
Here's hoping more friends and classmates will be able to attend #50.
Kathy Finch Gude kgude@tampabay.rr.com
Dear Classmates,
August 1 will be here before you know it, so we wanted to pass on a few updates to help make the weekend run as smooth as possible.
Looking forward to seeing ALL of you in August!!
Pam Braziel Slaughter
pslaughter@satx.rr.com
210-432-8867
Kathy Finch Gude
kgude@tampabay.rr.com
813-962-7116
To the Class of 1963,
I have had to take a little time to get to the point where I could write this note to you. And it took me a bit of time to find this website.
I am Albert Lucas’ wife and I wanted to express my gratitude to those of you who took the time to reach out to him when you heard that he was dying.
The letters that you sent that were filled with memories brought a smile to his face as I read them to him, and he recalled not only who you were, he remembered many of the incidents that you spoke of. I can not thank you enough for giving him that joy during those last few weeks.
I especially want to thank Vici Foster for implementing the letter writing campaign. Her compassion for his well-being and her ingenuity in finding some way to bring a little happiness into his life during that time is a real blessing to the class of 63. The world needs more Vici Fosters!
Linda Lucas
You're invited to the 45th Reunion of Cheyenne High Schools Class of 1963.
Yes, there will definitely be a Reunion45. The weekend of August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Pay As You Go! Neither reunion reservation nor deposit required!
We heard your requests and read your emails for fellowship with your classmates this year, even if it meant just hangin’ out together somewhere or a picnic in the park. So, we set up Reunion45 over that weekend so you can have that fellowship! See old buddies and friends from 1963, again!
Forget your gowns and suits, girls and boys! This is a casual shindig all the way.
EVENTS
Friday, August 1st 7:00 - 10:00 P.M.
Join your classmates at our Ice Breaker at C.B. & Potts! Inside or out on the patio!
Coca-Cola, cocktails, or beer! Snack on appetizers or full-blown meals! Great atmosphere!
Located at the southeast corner of the Frontier Mall parking lot at 1650 Dell Range.
Saturday, August 2nd 5:30 - ?? P.M.
C.B. & Potts has reserved their dining room just for us!
Cocktails before dinner or order your meal right away. The choice is yours.
Plenty of time to rekindle old memories. There’ll be a cash raffle, as usual.
View the menu at: http://www.cbpotts.com/menus/wyoming/cheyenne.shtml
Sunday, August 3rd 9:00 - 11:00 A.M.
Gather in the meeting room at County Buffet in Frontier Mall for Sunday brunch!
Seniors $ 7.89…plus tax for all you can eat. One of Cheyenne’s most popular restaurants.
View the menu at: http://www.buffet.com/pdf/breakfast.pdf
Everything for Reunion45, including the mall, numerous restaurants, and “big box stores”, is within walking distance from the Fairfield Inn and Oak Tree Inn motels. The Rodeway Inn is under a mile away.
Fairfield Inn $120.00 per night
Oak Tree Inn Awaiting rates from corporate.
Rodeway Inn $89.99 per night
For specifics on these motels or for a look at the other motels & hotels in Cheyenne, click on the link below: (Allow time for the maps to appear.)
http://cheyenne.org/listings/index.cfm?catID=7
For information on Cheyenne Bed & Breakfasts and Camp Grounds, click on “Places To Stay” on the left side menu on that same site.
If you need shuttle service to get you from your motel to the reunion, contact us.
Go to this message board at http://blog.cheyenne63.com/, for updates or to leave a comment.
We want Reunion45 to be a fun, informal experience and we want to see you.
Be there or be square!
“Class of ‘63 BFF”
Email: classof63bff@cheyenne63.com
Disclaimer: Due to the expenses involved and limited responses, the official Reunion Committee voted not hold a formal reunion this year. So, this casual "get-together" (Renuion45) has been organized by four of your classmates, "Class of '63 BFF". We know EVERYONE will show up for a great time!
I just looked at the Website to see where you were at with the reunion. I
was one of the ones who did not respond. Because of my job, it is really
hard to get away during certain times of the year. Knowing I wouldn't be
able to be there, I didn't feel it would be fair for me to respond.
I am the only student loan processor at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center. I will be retired before our 50th reunion and I do plan to attend.
I don't have anything to add to my profile since I last filled it out.
Still live in Bellevue Nebraska, still have two children and 6
grandchildren. I do come to Cheyenne once in awhile to visit relatives.
Hope this finds you well and thank you for being on the committee. I know
that is a lot of hard work.
Sincerely,
Linda Forister Adams - Central
Cheyenne63 committee:
In the past, many (high school activity - Editor) themes were based on the small percentage of affluent families and their experiences. Perhaps, one should look at a more general coverage of time to include those families that were growing up in lower social economic groups and who did not have access to Sock Hops and other activities other few reminice about. You must remember that Central was a public school the the diverse social economic groups were wide.
As I grew up, I was excluded from those activities because I was the local "Jap" and many fathers never came back from the war. I was the scape goat of the rath of white majority. Many others were poor white, ethnic, or did not fit in the popular cliques.
If you desire to make a good reunion, then include activities that can include everyone from all walks of life. Make it so that they do not feel uncomfortable and that as a class we are glad to see them.
The task is staggering for many who dealt with their own clique. I do not mean that remark as a weapon or a lash out toward people, but it is the reality.
I apologize to the committee for not being able to make it to your meeting. I am heavily overloaded with committments to the end of the month.
Lloyd K. Hashimoto - Central
Class of 63 reunion committee met Thursday, November 29. Those attending were Rick Ammon, Suzanne BALES Dawson, Chuck Kisicki, Dennis Davis, and Vici Foster.
Dennis had contacted the Plains for more information and was told we could reserve a block of guest rooms at a discounted rate of $89 per night. He will continue checking alternative options such as the Legion, the Moose Club, the VFW and check if we can get discounted guest room rates at some of the more affordably priced hotel/motels. He will go back to the Plains again to see if we can still get a guest room rate if we have only the Friday icebreaker and the Sunday brunch there.
Suzanne checked out:
The Buckle Club - $300 rent + $550 deposits (refundable) + caterer + beer/wine and snacks.
The Elks Club - $400 rent + caterer + bartender
The best price for catering was Uncle Fred’s. Suzanne will confirm with them for the night of August 2nd. Seems the Buckle Club is our best option so far. She will contact them for additional information.
Rick reported that The Depot is already booked for 2008; however, he reserved it for our 50th in 2013. Good to plan ahead. He also found that chartering a bus/trolley is $100 per hour + tip to the driver. He agreed to report on possible Downtown Plaza and Tent rental at the next meeting.
Chuck will contact the Knights of Columbus Hall to see if they might have something suitable for the Saturday night dinner.
Also discussed was the small number of classmates showing interest in being part of the committee. Even though we have received a good amount of interest in a 2008 reunion from those residing elsewhere, we all feel unable to proceed without more committee members. Canceling is a strong possibility.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11th, 7PM, at the library.
The first planning meeting for the 45th Class of ‘63 reunion was held Tuesday, October 30th.
Those attending were Rosemary KORTE Torres and Chuck Kisicki representing St. Mary’s; Mike Gregorio representing Central; and Darald Dykeman, Dennis Davis, and I, Vici FOSTER, represented East. Suzanne BALES Dawson was absent due to a death in the family and Rick Ammon was driving the Cheyenne trolley during one of the Halloween Ghost Tours.
It was great to see these classmates again and of course we spent a few minutes “catching up”.
Our first discussion concerned a time and place for the next reunion. It seems more convenient for those attending from out of town when we use a hotel rather than several locations and it’s nice to visit in the lobby and get reacquainted. Due to members being involved with preparation for Fourth of July and Frontier Days activities, it was decided we would stick with our customary early August dates, if possible. Also, late August may be inconvenient for any who are raising school age children and for those who teach or work in the school system.
Dennis volunteered to contact The Hitching Post, The Holliday Inn, Little America, and The Plains Hotel to see what kind of a deal we can get.
Mike volunteered to create a new database for us in Excel so it can easily be used by those on the reunion committee as needed and so that the data can be saved for future reunions.
Up to date contact information is still missing for quite a number of our classmates. Rosemary will be doing some research and try to locate as many as possible. This is a big job for one person. Please look through the list of those unaccounted for on our website at cheyenne63.com and help update the class contact list by providing current contact info on yourself and any other classmates you can. Forward the information to us at committee@cheyenne63.com or by posting to our blog (click Yakkety Yak on the website).
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 15th, in the Windflower Room on the third floor of the Laramie County Library.
In addition to reports from Dennis, Rosemary, and Mike, we will discuss a few additional roles necessary to do what will need to be done. To ensure a successful reunion, many details and arrangements need to be taken care of.
We have received a good response from those classmates who no longer reside in Cheyenne. Most are looking forward to attending the reunion in 2008; many have not attended in the past.
Your reunion committee will need more help!
If you are in the area and...
...are willing to help plan activities and events, please come to the meeting.
...are willing to help with contacts and communication, please come to the meeting.
...are willing to give your opinions and suggestion, please attend the meeting!
...can give moral support, please come to the meeting!
We need all the help we can get. Please, come to the meeting!
Please don’t hesitate to get involved. We have a lot of work to do but we also have a lot of fun!
Sincerely,
Vici
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