Uni History

15

Jun, 2018

How Uni has changed – or not: A look back at Uni in 1968

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Class of 1968, Dan Hirsch, Dave Simmonds | Comments: 0

[Posted June 15, 2018] The year of 1968 was one of massive changes and turbulence in America, with the Cold War and the Vietnam War both going strong, wild swings in politics, devastating violence in our cities and against civic and political figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. What was the environment at Uni 50 years ago this spring? From the 1968 Chieftain, this from Fall (1967) Student Body President Dave Simmonds: “Uni is a fine school, but it is still far from perfect. […]

25

Mar, 2018

Uni graduation was a magnet for stars in the studio-system days

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Graduation, Roddy MacDowell | Comments: 0

[Posted March 25, 2018] No end to the comments about celebrities who went to Uni, especially during the heyday of the Hollywood studio system, when Uni was often the preferred high school for graduation of studio-taught, contract-player teenagers. Louise (Kosches) Iscoe ‘46 sent a note to us and remembered: “After so many years (1946), I have fun looking back on Uni and reading your newsletter. When I read about the stars who attended graduation, I thought about my graduation. One day, at a rehearsal, the door opened and six young […]

10

Mar, 2018

More on that famous ‘58 Grad Night Party!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: | Comments: 1

[Posted March 10, 2018] Someone has got to do a book or documentary on the Class of ‘58 graduation and grad night party … you know, that one with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.? Ted Tanaka wrote in with more on the amazing celebration of a class which included Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra: “I was there, invited by S’58 Elsie Tominaga. I was a Uni Imperials of W’57, only about 165 in the class. (https://santacruzcore.com/) Pali Hi site grounds were just starting to be leveled before opening in ’61. “I clearly […]

7

Feb, 2018

Uni the backdrop for a 1971 U.S. mental health film!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Arnold Rubinoff, Brian at seventeen | Comments: 15

[Posted February 7, 2018] Uni has been the scene of much filming since its opening in the 1920s, including many feature films. But it was also used by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health in 1971 for a troubling, 29-minute film called “Social Seminar: Brian at Seventeen.” According to the description, the film “Presents an adolescent’s view of his educational needs and how school is and is not fulfilling them. Gives a perspective of his educational experience, his parents and life in general.” The film doesn’t have much to […]

25

Jan, 2018

Uni in the aftermath of the 1933 Long Beach earthquake

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: | Comments: 0

[Posted January 25, 2018] UHEF co-president Judy Wolfenstein received a note from 1939 graduate Mits Kayagowe, who actually attended Uni for five years – from the eighth grade in 1935 through 12th, in 1939 … the last class to graduate prior to the outbreak of World War II! Among the highlights were memories of how the campus changed after a major earthquake: “After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, the main administration bldg. was unusable so the city had to import half-canvas, parklike cabins for classrooms. These were lined up on […]

15

Jan, 2018

Who are Collins & Katz in the Collins & Katz Family YMCA?

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: | Comments: 0

[Posted January 15, 2018] With the opening of the Collins & Katz Family YMCA on December 9, the question has been asked: Who are Collins and Katz? We can tell you! The “Collins” is Jim Collins, who graduated from UCLA in 1950 and enjoyed a long career in the restaurant business as a franchisee for Kentucky Fried Chicken beginning in 1960 and as the owner (and expander) of the Sizzler Family Steak House chain from 1967. Now 91 and (mostly) retired, he and his wife Carol (pictured above) have been […]

26

Dec, 2017

Uni’s yearbook: from “Chieftain” to “Paw Prints”

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Chieftain, Yearbook, Paw Prints | Comments: 1

[Posted December 25, 2017] In Uni’s first year, the yearbook was titled La Estrella – “The Star” – but was changed to Chieftain for 1926 in honor of the school’s Warrior mascot. Thanks to an edict from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Uni became the “Wildcats” for the 1998-99 school year and the yearbook was entitled “Enter the Wildcat.” Moreover, the yearbook staff decided that in keeping with the change of name, the reference “Chieftain” was no longer appropriate. For the 75th anniversary yearbook, published in the spring of […]

15

Oct, 2017

Did you know: Uni pioneered the Academic Decathlon in LAUSD!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: academic decathlon | Comments: 1

[Posted October 15, 2017] Did you know that Uni was the first-ever Los Angeles-area school to participate in the Academic Decathlon? It’s true (details here – see p. 6)! The concept was originally developed by Orange County Superintendent of Schools Robert Peterson, with the first event held in 1968. Although a considerable local success, Peterson wanted to expand it well beyond Orange County and the next logical spot was just to the north: “In 1978, Dr. Peterson met with Dr. William Johnston, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, Harry […]

15

Sep, 2017

Uni’s Alma Mater: History, controversy and apathy

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Das Deutschlandlied, Alma Mater | Comments: 0

[Posted September 15, 2017] We got an enormous amount of response to our September 4 post about Uni’s school song. We shared a Uni “Spirit Song” sheet passed on by UHEF co-President Ivan Finkle ‘50, which included our alma mater as follows: Standing high upon the hill-slopes By Pacific’s pounding blue, Mother of our fondest memories, Alma Mater! Hail to you! May we never prove unworthy, Bow your head, or cause you tears, Let your radiance shine upon us, Seen through mist of space and years, Let your radiance shine […]

10

Sep, 2017

Remembering Richard Anderson ‘44

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Richard Anderson | Comments: 0

[Posted September 10, 2017] One of Hollywood’s most respected – and recognized – character actors, was also a Uni alum: Richard Anderson ‘44. He passed away on August 31, at age 91. He was most popularly known as Oscar Goldman, the government’s supervisor of the “Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman” that ran on ABC between 1974 and 1978. But he appeared in dozens of films and as a guest star in many of the dramatic television series of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Variety had a detailed […]

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