| Tuscaloosa News, Saturday, September 19, 1992 | |||||||||||
ROCK BACK THE CLOCK |
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Nostalgic group often By KELLI
WHITLOCK Sometimes a song on the radio can trigger a memory from high school – first dates, class dances or graduation. For Helen Lemonis, music is a key to her high school years at Tuscaloosa High School. Lemonis, a member of the class of 1958, was a majorette in high school and choreographed the Junior Talent Show during her junior year in school. When she and her former classmates were planning their 30 year class reunion in 1988, she came up with an idea to get a group of people together to perform to music that was popular when she was in school. She used former high school cheerleaders and majorettes, and former band members as well as other members of her class. She borrowed a "Back to the Future" theme, and cast several high school and University of Alabama students in the program. The show was a success, and added something special to the reunion. "It was something different than you would find at most high school reunions, and people loved it," she said. Lemonis, owner of Tropical Delight yogurt shop in University Mall, didn’t realize she had created such an instant hit. But her idea was very popular and other classes asked her to perform darning their reunions. As reunions were held for the classes of 1960 and 1961, more people became interested in taking part in the production. What was once a small group of high school friends getting together to share memories with former classmates is now a large group of people, spanning four high school classes. "I think this is wonderful," said Susan Elmore, a member of the class of 1961. Elmore joined the group in the last year. "We were a close class and many of us feel it is important for us to stay close." The current group consists of 23 members of former graduating classes of Tuscaloosa High School, and a few known as "the ones who were lucky enough to marry in." They call themselves the Rock Back the Clock Review and seem to be the hottest thing in class reunions since name tags. |
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"It’s a great ice breaker," Elmore said. "the people really seem to enjoy what we do and we have a ball doing it." When Lemonis first got the idea for a "Rock Back the Clock" theme, she enlisted the help of some musician friends who recorded a "Rock Around the Clock" without words. To make the event special for the high school reunions who asked the group to perform, she wrote her own words, including the name of the high school which was holding the reunion. Lemonis designed all of the sets for the program, including a little juke box and a car, and choreographed all the dances for the 45-minute program. "Everybody always jokes with us and asks us if we have cardiologist waiting in the wings in case one of us overdoes it," Elmore said. The group dances to many songs from the 50s and 60s. The women wear poodle skirts, scarves and oxfords and the men wear cuffed blue jeans, short sleeves shirts, Some wear leather. The group has played for several high school reunions, including a reunion for rival school Tuscaloosa County High School. Tuscaloosa High School was divided into Tuscaloosa Central High School, East and West campuses, several years ago, leaving many members of the group a little sad about the loss of their old school. "We have no Alma mater," Elmore said, "But, this takes us back to high school and the good times we had there. This is almost like bringing back our old high school." |
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"Some people aren’t lucky enough to be able to be with their high school friends after high school," Elmore said. "We are lucky." "We really work hard at this. This is a good group of people. We all get along well and we have a lot of fun doing this." Sandra Baker, THS class of 1961 Thanks to Susan Elmore
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Currently the group does not charge a fee to perform, but that may have to change in the future if requests continue to pour in. All costs for costumes, sound equipment, stage sets and travel expenses have come from the members in the group, and expenses are beginning to mount. "We really work hard at this," said Sandra Baker, a member of the THS class of 1961. "This is a good group of people. We all get along well and we have a lot of fun doing this." The group spends hours getting ready for a show, practicing in their homes and in their businesses. |
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Page created: 10/19/00 |
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