A Look Back:Class of 1941 shares in Fantopia

Have you ever heard the word “Fantopia”? I dare say you probably haven’t.

I must admit I hadn’t either, but for the students attending Huntington Beach High in June of 1941 the word would have been on every student’s lips.

Fantopia was the name chosen for the school’s fifteenth annual distinguished service award banquet held June 6, 1941, to honor those special students who achieved the highest number of service points during their years at school.

This banquet was the school’s way of honoring the students who have distinguished themselves at their school.

The school’s cafeteria dining room was made to look like something in a make-believe world.

The walls were covered with colorful cutouts of animated insects and fairylike creatures, and sausage balloons hung from the ceiling.

On each table were candles made in the shape of miniature animals and hand-colored place cards and favors were placed in front of each seat.

These were made through the assistance of Miss Trafford and Miss Cooper and members of their committee that included Doris Hager, Louise Conrad, Helen McDermon, Lloyd Cline, Leonard Applebury, Donald Harding, Chester Hemstreet and Tadao Munemitsu.

Sterling Dale Silliphant from the Walt Disney studio would be the guest speaker at the banquet.

Silliphant was one of Disney’s advertising executives at the time.

He brought along several pieces of artwork used in the making of the hit film of 1940, “Fantasia.”

During the program Silliphant told the students what went into making this animation and live action film that featured Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra and Mickey Mouse as the sorcerer’s apprentice.

In a land made fantastic by ingenious decorations reigned “Peaches” Arthur, the daughter of Rev. Luther A. Arthur, who was chosen as the Queen of Fantopia and was that year’s student body president.

She was nicknamed by her friends because her real name was “Alverda” and her friends said she was a real Alberta Peach.

Her committee, which included Doris Hager, Jeanne Clark, Jack Kettler and Vernon Houser, spent many long hours assisting Queen Arthur in preparing for this student banquet.

This event would bypass the usual speeches about that year’s accomplishments in athletics, drama and music, but instead would concentrate on entertainment.

The entertainment began with the Royal Court of entertainers that included Dorothy Murdy, Jessie Case, Bob Prichard, Don and Bob Hall, Bob Tucker, Bob Enoch, Florence Dale and Georgia Allen.

The Waltz of the Flowers performed by the Orphus Musett was a great hit as was the Two Little Bluefinches by the Pipes of Pan.

Next came a vocal selection, “Walking the Dog,” done by the Mushroom Sextet.

This was followed by an original skit by the Court Jester that concluded that part of the program.

School principal M.G. Jones handed out awards of school monograms and gold awards at the conclusion of the banquet.

School monograms were awarded to the highest five percent of the students for service to the school.

Receiving their honors were Peaches Arthur, Ted Bennett, Alene Barnes, Barbara Brisco, Barbara Jean Bristol, Barbara Chamness, Patti Colvin, Jack Kettler, Dorothy Murdy, Maxine Murdy, Nadine Peebles and Phyllis Schuth.

Jeanne Clark (192 points) and Bob Knisley (191 points) received gold awards for having amassed the greatest number of service points during their four years at Huntington High.

This would be the last chance for many of these students to be with each other before graduation and for many of the young men fighting in World War II, it would be years before they would see their old school friends again.