My Hollywood Professional School

Reunion 2000 Experience

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris -- Class of 1974

I'm pictured at the Hollywood Professional School Reunion 2000 surrounded by HPS Alumni from the 70s:

Leon (Fromkess) Bennett, Cathy Diaz, Sara Kessler Ballantine, Glen Campbell, Frank (George) Fukaye, and I'm the little one with dark hair standing in front!

My HPS Reunion experience began on February 6, 2000, when the HollywoodProfAlums egroup mailing list came to life. I have moderated and started other online communities, and I thought it would be a good way for alumni from HPS to get back in touch, so I started our email mailing list that day. I had spent that weekend making a web page about my Hollywood Professional School memories, and so I kicked off our community with a note telling everyone about my memory page.

Thanks to Karin Gifford Thompson 1966, there were 80 email addresses to begin an online community. Little did I know that this online beginning would help make a reunion dream a reality.

Elaine Ballace, 1967, was determined to have HPS alumni reunite in June of 2000 (since in 1985, at The Last Hurrah, many had agreed to get together once again), and the egroup list helped announce the event.

I had the privilege of "meeting" many alumni in the months that followed via email:

One key individual was Michelle Cunningham Heins (would have been 1978), who assisted Elaine with many planning details, and the date of June 8, 2000 became a reality once Allen Breneman helped Elaine by giving her the $500 to pay the Sportman’s Lodge the required deposit. Michelle also made an official HPS Reunion 2000 web site that many have enjoyed.

The excitement was overwhelming and many worked hard to find HPS alumni. Gigi Graciette 1979, now living in Mexico City, found Mr. Laurence Stuppy, who had been the school’s director in the 70s. I tracked down Leon Fromkess Jr. (now Leon Bennett) 1974. Leon found many early 70s grads.

I also discovered that some skaters I knew had attended HPS before I did. One was Jennie Walsh 1968. Elaine, also a skater, called Jennie after I gave her a phone number. Jennie, unable to attend the event, gave Elaine the email address for Roy Wagelein 1961, a 1968 Olympian, and Roy joined our on-line community.

Elaine and many from the 60s classes were on the phone for hours inviting 50s and 60s grads to the event. Our online HPS community grew and grew!

Many recorded their memories and sent in photos. Clark Henry 1961 scanned an entire 1957 Annual; Joy Di Corpo Yates 1960 sent in many photos that made the years in the 60s seem really like "Happy Days"; original Mouseketeer Lonnie Burr Babin 1958 sent in a great memory site of his Mouseketeer days and also great memories of HPS. I learned more about HPS in a few months than I did in the years there as a student! Other memories and photos submitted came from Karin Thomspon, Jack Wheeler 1961, Gary Casteel (who answered many of my questions about HPS in the 40s and 50s), myself, Gary Claussen, Jeani Mack, Clint Miller, Laurence Stuppy, and Michelle Cunningham Heins. Linda Gino (60s) and Bill Dalton 1968 submitted many pictures.

Clint Miller 1967, registered hpsalumni.com, and our official internet home made it possible for more to find us.

I received phone calls from George (now Frank) Fukaye 1974, Leon (Fromkess) Bennett 1974, Elaine Ballace 1967, Michelle Cunningham Heins (WHB 1978), Clint Miller 1967, and Darleen Hutchins Kegle 1963.

I felt like I had reunited with many old and new friends that loved HPS, and couldn’t wait to meet them all face to face!

In May the excitement about our event was overwhelming. There were more emails per day than anyone could possibly read. We got further exposure when we became Egroup of the Week, and received national attention.

My family left Colorado by car on June 3, traveled through beautiful Colorado, and then the desert to get to the Los Angeles area by the 8th. As we stopped in the Grand Canyon, I looked forward so much to arriving in smoggy L.A.!

Larry Stuppy contacted me shortly after we arrived at my in-laws home in Long Beach on June 5. I had the opportunity to borrow some Annuals from Mr. Stuppy (still hard to call him Larry), and in the days that followed I was able to learn so much about HPS. I discovered many skaters I knew in those Annuals, saw a wonderful photo of the Brady Bunch kids in the library, saw pictures of the school near the last days in the 80s and also pages from the early 40s. Wow, did Miss Anderssen look young in 1941!

On Thursday, June 8, my husband, Dan, and I left Long Beach early in the afternoon for Hollywood. We made it through the Los Angeles traffic quite easily. Packed in our car was my royal blue and gold 1974 HPS Sweater, my 1974 HPS Class Ring, and also a key/necklace that said "Senior 1974" which was also royal blue and gold.

We decided to stop in Hollywood and take a look at the vacant lot where the school once stood. George Gold 1976 had written a note on our email community mailing list about his recent visit there, and I wanted to visit the lot since George's note had been so inspiring.

We arrived at Serrano and Hollywood Boulevard at around 4:00 PM. The area was run-down (many surrounding apartments were boarded up) and the vacant lot where HPS stood was exactly that: vacant. There was an abandoned vehicle parked in what would have been the nursery school classrooms. I could see the ramp we all used to walk into the school on the Serrano side, and the steps down to the drama classroom were still there! I could not believe how small the lot looked! It’s hard to believe an entire school and so many lives fit into such a small space.

After saying good-bye to the lot, we headed off to the more beautiful Studio City and The Sportman’s Lodge. We arrived quite early, so we headed off to a spot in the lobby and began looking at Mr. Stuppy’s HPS Annuals. Shortly after that, Darleen Hutchins Kegle 1963, spotted me and introduced herself and her husband to me. What a treat to meet someone who had also come all the way from Colorado for this event!

Jo Ann and John Alsobrook

John Alsobrook, 1974, spotted me in the lobby, and I was greeted by "JO ANN!" I was embarrassed a bit since I had to ask John to tell me who he was, but once he identified himself, I recognized him right away. Was I happy to see him. He’d just arrived from Connecticut.

We began to try to make our way to the Starlight Ballroom. Karin Gifford Thomspon 1966, spotted me, and introduced herself. Then, Clark Henry 1961 spotted me, and introduced himself. Clark’s daughter arrived, and I met her.

We all started to make our way to the Starlight Ballroom. We arrived to find a long line of excited people! At the front of the line, I noticed Glen Campbell 1974, and waved! I also saw Miss (Ruby) Robinson! She looked exactly the same and gave me a hug. I started talking to some of the people next to us in line, and was delighted to meet Valerie Woody Cox, who I had chatted with on a 1960s CHAT online in our private HPS CHAT ROOM only a few weeks before.

Me and Miss Robinson

As we moved toward the front of the line, I recognized Elaine Ballace right away. Dressed like a princess, Elaine was busy interviewing guests as they arrived. I gave Elaine a hug! We had never met in person before, but I felt like I had known her for years. I was so delighted to see that she had made this event a reality and was so happy to see her!

Elaine Ballace

A video Montage was in the waiting area displaying pages from various Annuals. Was it great to see!

Finally, we made it to the registration table. Michelle Cunningham Heins recognized me and placed my name tag on my shoulder. After hugging Michelle, I met Gigi Graciette, Joy DiCorppo Yates, and William "Biff" Richardson, all "friends" from our egroup community. I just kept getting more and more excited!

Me, Debbie Cannon, and John Alsobrook (all from class of 1974)

Once inside the Starlight Ballroom, I saw Glen Campbell 1974, Debbie Cannon 1973, and Frank (George) Fukaye 1974, so we made our way towards them. There were others from the 70s in that area: Frank introduced me to his sister La'Ise, who gave me a bouquet of flowers. I also met Kim Mistretta 1970. I never knew Kim while at HPS, but felt like I had since his photos telling about his academic honors were in every Annual.

As time went on, the 70s group took a few tables, and as the evening progressed I said hello to Sara Kessler Ballantine (who I remembered as being the most popular and most bubbly girl in school). Leon and his wife Karen soon arrived. I was so happy to see him! He had also brought his HPS ring and class key. During dinner, we had the pleasure of getting to know Michael Patrick Peters who attended HPS in 1st grade, but would have graduated in the 70s if he had stayed.

Some of the 70s gang:

Frank (George) Fukaye, Cathy Diaz, Glen Campbell, John Cowsill, Leon (Fromkess) Bennett, Carol Christensen, and me--Jo Ann Schneider Farris

As the evening wore on, Willis Collier 1975 arrived. I don’t know if Willis remembered me, but I remembered him. John Cowsill 1974 remembered me! He even mentioned how much he enjoyed reading my memories. Glen Campbell mentioned that reading my memories were like reading his own. It made me happy to know that my thoughts had made others happy. Carol Christensen 1975 arrived in our area, and I remember her exclaiming, "Jo Ann, Jo Ann, Jo Ann!" Wow did that make me feel good.

John Cowsill 1974

I also got a chance to meet Jenny Rappaport 1973 and Patricia Bowles 1970. I remember Jenny mentioning she lived in Sacramento. I am still amazed how far many traveled to attend this event. Jenny and I had recently talked on a 70s CHAT only the week before. Pat asked me about a skater named Jill Talbert that attended HPS when she did. Elaine introduced me to Jerrilyn Crandall, who was a skater that attended HPS way before I did. I had just seen Jerrilyn's photo in a 1960 Annual the night before. She did not know who I was, but I felt like I knew her since skaters do have sort of a bond.

I introduced myself to Harriet Cadish. I had just read on the HPS board about how nice she was. I didn't go to HPS when she was there, but it was a pleasure to meet her. Gary Casteel came over to the area I was at and introduced himself. I was delighted to meet him. His web site about his HPS memories was truly fantastic and had meant so much to so many. Linda Gino also came over to my table and introduced herself. I sought out Clint Miller myself and introduced myself to him. Bill Dalton 1968 introduced himself to me and I also got to meet his family.

Yes, it was so nice to meet some of the friends the email mailing list had brought together; I felt as if I had many, many new friends!

It was also fun to take group pictures. I proudly wore my HPS Sweater for the photo. Miss Robinson and I stood in front of the 70s group. I’m only 4 foot 10 inches tall, and always end up in front! As all classes stood in front trying to get organized, I met Joan Davis Edwards and her brother who I had just talked with via email the week before. It was great putting a face with a name.

The entertainment was wonderful. I will never forget seeing the Mouseketeers sing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song together. It was neat to see The Gino Sisters together again. Richard Addrisi was incredible as he sang "Never my Love". The Steiner Brothers were wonderful.

The Original Mouseketeers singing the Mickey Mouse Club Song together

As the night wore on, my husband and I knew we had to leave early. We had to begin the drive back to Colorado in the morning. I hugged Elaine and Michelle good-bye and thanked them for organizing such a wonderful event. I got to meet Michelle's wonderful husband who helped Michelle with so much of the organizing. As I went back in to the Starlight Ballroom to say good-bye to the 70s alumni, Gigi Graciette was on the mic thanking many for the event and sharing her memories. She introduced me to everyone. That meant alot!

As we headed out the door, we met Michael Blake 1975 and had a brief conversation about Colorado Springs.

What an evening! When I returned to Long Beach, I couldn’t help but log into my in-laws’ computer (at about 2 or 3 AM!), and write a message to our HPS egroup just telling everyone how great the Reunion was!

As we drove back to Colorado, we were glad we took the trip. Thank you everyone who helped make HPS come back to life. I am looking so forward to seeing the Reunion 2000 video, and have spent many wonderful hours watching the 1985 Last Hurrah video and the recent Montage of Annuals that Allen Breneman and Elaine Ballace put together.

Happy Reunioning and Remembering to all!

Jo Ann Schneider Farris (Class of 1974)

August 6, 2000

Read my Memories of Hollywood Professional School -- click here