Forty Year Reunion Attendance: Up Slightly From 2002

Click image to see more interesting facts about our class!

Listed below are a few things that I found interesting about our reunion and about our class that seemed worthy of sharing...

1) Our Brighton High School Class of 1972 had about 390 people; I am not sure how many eventually received diplomas. Actually, we all received pictures of the class instead of diplomas until we turned in our caps and gowns, and sometimes jumped through a few final hoops.
2) About 10% of our classmates have already passed away due to illness and accident. We'll have a memorial table at the reunion so you can see who is no longer able to attend and who we'll miss seeing.
3) Out of 390 people we could only track down solid contact information for about 190 of us. (I keep saying 'about' because I am too lazy to get more accurate counts. It changes daily.)
4) We mailed invites to about 190 people, 88 women and 102 men.
5) Of those 190 classmates we attempted to contact, so far 72 have signed up (not including spouses). That comes to 35 women (40%), 37 men (36%), plus about 50 spouses.
6) With people signing up this week or showing up at the door our reunion promises to be slightly larger than 10 years ago: over 130 people!

Reunion Evening Activities - Part 5

If you have any extra time between now and September 8th, you might want to study up on the who, what, when and where's of the year's most important events. With all the visiting that will be going on before dinner it just may be that only a few people will get around to answering some fiendishly clever 1972 trivia questions. The prizes, if any, may not be too valuable in terms of real $$$ but the respect you'll gain for remembering the answers (no 'smart phones' allowed) will follow you all the way home afterward. Here are some suggested topics for study: movies/cinema, popular music, political events and people, sports and local culture. Hint: Henry Kissinger is the answer to only one of the questions shown here. See how it works...?

From Our Survey: Bengal's #1 Most Mentioned Hangout in High School

Photo Courtsey Utah State Historical Society, taken at 1965 Grand Opening

Free comic books, free baby food, cheap hamburgers and shakes, and somehow everyone seemed to end up there: yes, it's JB's Big Boy! It wasn't all that close to Cottonwood Heights, but then nothing else was either. JB's was always busy on Fridays after games and on Saturday nights too. Sometimes it was full of Olympus cheerleaders, sometimes Hillcrest football players, and sometimes Granite or Murray High students got thrown in the mix. But always, it was a high school hangout at it's core.

Best known for its signature Big Boy burger, a three part sesame seed bun with two thin meat patties, cheese and the special Big Boy sauce (was this the inspration for the Big Mac?), we also loved their strawberry pie and hot fudge cake served with real hot fudge. Like so many other favorite places, it's gone now. Of course 33rd and 7th is still there but following successive remodels that turned JB's into some other kind of food service, restauranteurs just couldn't make a go it. For us it will always be JB's corner, always be Friday night and always have a place in our hearts.

More Insights From Our Survey - Part D, More Favorite Places

We loved our cars and where they could take us. Gas was only $0.29/gallon and even though the old beaters we drove got 7 to 10 miles per gallon, if everyone pitched in a buck it was enough. That was a good thing because nothing was close to where we lived. We had to drive for miles. Drive-In movies like the Highland were the perfect solution to a dating dilemma; we had a car, but where to go? The Highland let us park for hours at a time without attracting too much attention! In addition to seeing a first run movie you got to stay in your car, eat pizza and ice cream, make out with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and play on the playground and look around to see who else was there. The Highland Drive-In was a popular spot with Brighton Bengals in 1972, the year that brought us "Diamonds Are Forever", "Shaft's Big Score" and "The Getaway".

Some movies demanded a more traditional viewing. The Villa Theater was an elegant choice, offering it's wide screen Cinerama, plush velvet seating and it's lower level restrooms below the snack bar. But there was no ADA accesibility in those days. If you were in a wheelchair you just had to wait until you got back home. Still, you could buy a comb, a shoe horn, a packet of tissues or some other useful gadget from the restroom vending machines; better value than the games at Jordan Commons today. At the Villa that year we watched "What's Up, Doc?" and "Jeremiah Johnson". "Deep Throat" was there too, but we weren't old enough to see it. Of course, you could always lift a number from the phone book with Scotch Tape; then carefully cut it and place it over the numbers on your Driver's License to advance your age by a year or two, but you would never do that, would you?

More From Our Survey: Part C, Some Favorite Places

It was with sadness and regret that we mourned the passing of Snelgrove's Ice Cream Parlor. Most of us grew up taking Snelgrove's rich and creamy ice cream for granted: a place to take a date after a movie, a place to celebrate after a sports victory, or a place to just hang out looking to see who else had nothing else to do that night. Sometimes the line was back to the front door. The 'magic eye' doors were ahead of their time. The back wall was covered with the names of dozens of flavors of ice creams and sherbets. Is it my imagination, or was the lighting at the edges of the parking lot blue? One thing was certain, if you waited for a booth-then waited for your ice cream, you waited a long, long time.By 2008 the franchise had been purchased by Dreyer's and the store closed, leaving us only with fond memories of carmel pecan malts, cashew conquistadors and banana splits.

The Cottonwood Mall is another favorite Bengal hangout that has passed on into history. Who can forget the novelty of first shopping "indoors"? Let your memories take you back to ZCMI, lunch at the Hot Shoppes cafeteria, the circle stairway to the second level, Bud's Duds, Florsheim Shoes, The Record Shop, Hart Brothers Music, the "Singing Christmas Tree", Woolworths, Skaggs Drugstore and Penneys. How much time, youth and money was spent at the lower mall, either at the bookstore or at the slot car track across the hallway? You could buy your groceries at Albertson's, get your hair cut, go bowling at the Cottonwood Lanes and eventually see a movie at the Cottonwood Mall Theaters. And with a good imagination it's all still there, just like it was in 1972.

Reunion Day Activities: Anyone Can Plan an Event

Some of you bengals have wondered about whether or not we have planned any daytime reunion activities. The short answer is: we haven't planned any. A shorter answer is: none.

This isn't to say that some activities couldn't happen, especially since so many classmates will be in town for our evening events. Why waste the whole day getting ready? One person has compared this to a Prom; we like to get dressed up and have a fun event that we can look back on for years (like Prom) but during the day we may want to get together as smaller groups for what kids now refer to as a "day date." This "day date" might be golf, a daytime picnic, a visit to Brighton High, a tour of all the old hangouts that don't exist anymore (can you say Cottonwood Heights or Mount View Elementary) or any number of other informal, dress down activities.

To try out this idea we thought about using this class website to help people connect. If you have a plan, an idea or an event, or if there are certain people you don't want to miss, we can use this site as a sort of personal ad section. Email your event idea including a place (that you have reserved or know you can use), a time, how many people you want to join you, and your name and contact information to photos@brighton72.com. We will re-post it like a classified ad on the right side of the webpage, near the bottom. If your event fills up (like a golf foursome might) be sure to let us know and we'll announce it on your notice. If it doesn't, try promoting it on Facebook.

Reunion Evening Activities - Part 4

Checking in at the door: Come prepared to leave a message on our "graffiti board" as you arrive and receive your name tag. Our name tags will have your yearbook picture, assuming it's available and you give us enough advance warning that you're attending, and your current name. The "graffiti board" is a way to share something interesting about yourself, a favorite quote, a note about where you've been hiding out, a sketch of yourself, or a note to someone to find you at the reunion etc. If you're really organized you could bring a family photo, a business card, something that you borrowed and give it back (hint) or one of those papers with little strips to tear off with your phone number. For most of us there will be paper and pens to fill something out on the spot. During dinner we'll be sharing these nuggets of wisdom with the entire class so compose carefully and don't embarrass yourself. Just say it... you've wanted to for 40 years!

Highlights From Our Informal Survey - Part B

Some of the cars we drove to school in 1972... don't we wish we still had them? Gas was $0.29 per gallon. Who remembers the green VW bug playing chicken with Gary Cowley in the Brighton driveway? Their door handles collided. The owner claims they once had eight girls crammed inside! One owner of a little white Toyota claimed they were never stuck in the snow due to the capabilities of the car combined with 50 lbs. of salt in the trunk. The driver of the Corvair convertible claimed he or she could climb anything with it... Mt. Olympus? But their Dad kept killing the engine because he always tried to "double clutch". The driver of a 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne mentioned that the backseat floorboard was rusted out so that you could see the road rush by as you drove along; they considered it quite refreshing. Many of us drove our parents cars to school, while others of us never drove to school at all. I remember one night driving along 2700 E in the backseat of a classmate's parent's station wagon, trying to get it up to 100 mph! Headed south, we missed the curve and drove part way up the hillside, almost hitting a house. Remember the advent of seatbelts? Cars: barely alive with 'em, but can't live without 'em.

Highlights From Our Informal Survey - Part A

Who are they and why are they on our reunion website? They happen to be four of the top vote-getters in our online survey asking who were our favorite teachers and why. One of them taught drama: "He was very talented...," remembered a former student. Who could ever forget The Miracle Worker and that other play? One taught creative writing and tennis: "He taught me concrete and valuable things about writing." Can you use Runes, Head and Wilson in the same sentence? One taught English and debate: "She pushed all her students to be better..." I hope she doesn't ask me to diagram any of these sentences. And the other taught math: "Simply the best math teacher ever," said another former student. "Great sense of humor..." Remember his proof that 2=1?

Now, can you remember who was who? Of course you can. Hint: Their names are Mrs. Macris, Mr. Payne, Mr. Sacos and Mr. Bowers. Mrs. Macris is the woman, duh. Mr. Sacos is Tevye from The Miracle Worker... no, Man of La Mancha... no, it was from that other play. Mr. Bowers... Mr. Payne... where is that old yearbook when you need it?

And maybe it's just me but don't they all look younger than we look now?

I ran into Mr. Payne at Dixie College in St. George in the late 1980's. He was teaching writing and tennis still. Has anyone seen the others since graduation?

Reunion Evening Activities - Part 3

Who could ever forget the music from the 1960's and '70s? Music from the Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and more. Do you remember "Lucky Man" by Emerson, Lake and Palmer or "Horse With No Name" by America, played by our stage crew over the auditorium speakers while we all filed in and out of those riveting high school assemblies? Well, plan on hearing them again. From 6:00 PM until we leave we'll have a local DJ making sure that we get our fill of nostalgia-laced musical memories (giving our own Steve Carlson a rest and a chance to mingle). If you have any requests for that night leave them, along with your comments to this post. We'll make sure that your favorite song goes out with a dedication to that special someone in your life!

Reunion Evening Activities - Part 2

We'll have a photo booth set up from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM for free (okay, it's included in the registration fee) instant pictures you can take with spouses, old friends, or possibly just someone you thought looked nice and dragged into the booth. Various period costumes will be provided  to encourage your cleverness and photographic creativity. Be warned though: we'll be burning the photos onto a master CD and later we'll make them easily available to all class members. Not to give anyone any ideas... Please feel free to bring your own cameras as well! Nikon, Canon, Polaroid Swinger. Whoever thought Paul Simon's song Kodachrome would be nearly undecipherable to today's grads (except for the part about all that crap we learned in high school). Anyway, it'll be a great chance to record how old all those other people look.

Reunion Evening Activities - Part 1

Well, how about a new class picture? We have a photographer scheduled for later in the evening to record the
group once more for all time! We don't plan on arranging everyone to sit in the shape of a star like we did at
graduation, but we would like to get everyone to sit with their face toward the camera. As for "Stand(ing) In the
Palm of America", what did that mean anyway? Stay tuned, because we have more things planned than this...

It's Not Too Late to Start Getting Ready

For those who are wanting to make a great second (or third, or fourth) impression, did you know there are experts who can help? They even produce videos!

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-attend-class-reunion-without-going-bonkers-536149.html?cat=4
One vaulable piece of advice however, from past reunion attendees: get plenty of rest! Has anyone else noticed that staying up until 2:00AM doesn't really work out for them anymore? And why is it that you always wake up one minute before the alarm goes off?
Anyway, remember the lessons learned by Romy and Michelle: everyone already has a cell phone and no one will believe you invented "Post Its". Check out their preparation by clicking here: Romy and Michele Get Ready for the Reunion

Reunion Invitations... Check Your Mailbox

Reunion invitations were sent out to those with addresses we had on file. Mostly. Turns out we had a few addresses we didn't realize we had, so we'll send out more invitations as we figure out where people are living. Contact us if you didn't receive an invitation so we can add your information to our list. Also, if you know where classmates are now, please let us know so we can contact them.
If you are wondering why these three classmates were selected to have their picture on our invitation instead of you, here it is: our committee of classmates spent hours with the Magic 8 Ball reviewing everyones photo from the yearbook. Each person with a photo in the graduating class yearbook had a chance. When asked about possible reunion success using each picture, the 8 ball answer usually came back "Don't count on it" Only these three elicted the answer "Yes-definitely". Of course we had to do what it said...

Reunion Dress Code

A word about our reunion dress code: I know, it sounds like the 1960's but this is going to be at a country club, not a ranch. 

Men, at least wear long pants, preferably not denim if at all possible, and no T-shirts... shirts must have a collar. Women, same thing or a dress/skirt and blouse. 

Everybody, please wear shoes... and clean underwear (your mother said to remind you but no, we won't be checking... if protesting dress codes is still your thing then clean underwear can be your venue).
Beards are okay, long is hair okay (ha ha), un-shaved look is okay... same for men.
Feel free to submit a picture of your own outfit for class comments... and hats are optional.