Grads Reprise Good Ol’ Days in N. Hollywood : 135 Members of High School Class of 1937 Gather to Swap Stories, Hugs and Surprises

At the 50th reunion of North Hollywood High School’s class of 1937, Ed Varney, a 69-year-old South Dakota beekeeper, bragged about how he stole his best friend’s sweetheart in the 11th grade.

On the opposite side of the crowded banquet room, the scorned suitor, Bob McMurray of North Hollywood, told his side of the story.

“I knew our relationship was over the first time Penny Beahlow laid her eyes on that darn beekeeper,” McMurray said.

“Varney laid on the charm and dangers of his family’s profession so thick that Penny fell for it.” He chuckled. “At first I felt very neglected. . . . They didn’t even invite me to the wedding.”

But the buddies-turned-rivals renewed their friendship, laughed about the “good old days” and shared stories with 135 classmates who attended the reunion Saturday at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After all, at our age we won’t have too many opportunities to see our old friends again,” said Dick Halpin of Van Nuys, a reunion organizer.

Indeed, there was a special sense of poignancy at the reunion, which some thought might be the last for the class of 1937. Halpin, 67, said that of the 217 graduates, “We’ve estimated that at least 10% of our classmates have died already.”

The retired real estate appraiser thought about having a reunion after he and his wife, Hilda, returned from a vacation in Singapore two years ago. Halpin recalled becoming acquainted on the trip with another couple from the United States.

“During breakfast I realized that I had graduated with the other woman. It had been 48 years since Kathleen (Curren) Wasem and I stood on the athletic field in our caps and gowns,” he said. But he hadn’t thought to get her telephone number so the couple could get together again.

Seven months ago, Halpin contacted former classmate and UCLA alumni Dr. John See of Sherman Oaks. Pooling contacts and resources, they organized a 15-member steering committee for the 50th reunion.

School Records Destroyed

Although school records were destroyed by a fire four years ago, the committee managed to locate 135 graduates. Advertisements were placed in local newspapers, but See said word of mouth determined the turnout.

Maxine (Roberts) Handin of Salt Lake City heard about the reunion from her sister, Marjorie (Roberts) Schienle, a resident of North Hollywood. “I came because an opportunity like this doesn’t come along too often. But when I walked into the room, the only person I recognized was my sister,” Handin said.

Donning a name tag bearing a photo, Handin scanned the room for familiar faces. But for some classmates, recognition came easily.

The presence of Bernadine (Goodman) Boyd and William Boyd from Oceanside brought remarks like “the lovebirds are here” and “after 46 years of marriage they are still the cutest couple.”

Then someone shouted “madame vice president” as Armetia (Weller) Roberts of Ojai walked into the room with her spouse in tow.

Presidential Wife

“Don’t you remember the president of your senior class?” she responded, waving Elliott Roberts’ hand in the air. “Well, he’s also my husband.”

This surprised many of the classmates, who remembered only that the longtime sweethearts had broken up after graduation. In fact, they did spend several years apart before marrying in 1940.

“And here we are 50 years later with three kids and seven grandchildren,” Elliott Roberts said.

There were hugs, cheers, tears and lots of kisses throughout the evening. Jerome Jones, a retired Air Force colonel from Texas, Dr. Kenneth Roos of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and beekeeper Varney were recognized for coming the farthest.

Classmates who pursued careers in entertainment also attended. Daniel Lee of Glendale won an Oscar in 1971 for special visual effects in the Walt Disney movie “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.”

Former school newspaper reporter Don Ingalls has demonstrated that writing wasn’t a whim. As a television writer and producer, his credits include “Fantasy Island,” “T. J. Hooker,” “Gunsmoke,” “Have Gun, Will Travel,” “Bonanza” and “Marcus Welby, MD.”

Debuted in ‘High Noon’

Eva (McVeaugh) Gordon of Van Nuys landed her first movie role in 1952 for “High Noon.” Since then, she has appeared in episodes of “Cagney & Lacey,” “Simon & Simon” and “T. J. Hooker.”

Virginia (O’Brien) White of Wrightwood became known as a deadpan singing comedian for MGM and starred with Judy Garland in the 1946 film “The Harvey Girls.” She called the reunion “a very special evening.”

“I dropped out of school three months before graduation,” she said. “I returned to complete the work, but I received my diploma while sitting at my desk. In a way, this reunion is my graduation.”

The celebrities brought a touch of Hollywood to the reunion. Music from the Big Band era played softly in the background, but members of the North Hollywood High School class of 1937 seemed too busy talking to notice.