Sixty-five years ago, as a ten year old, I first visited the
auditorium at Mariposa High School. The school building itself was
only six years old. How beautiful it seemed for a very small town
like Mariposa to have such a school. I was only in the fourth grade
at Mariposa Elementary and could hardly wait for the day when I was a
student there, could be on that stage and sit in the beautiful, and
at that time, hard seats. Saturday night I attended the Christmas
concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra (Founding Music Director
and Conductor, Les Marsden) and never in all my years have had I ever
heard such a sound.
I have been of the impression for lo these many years that the
acoustics in the auditorium are poor. Not so. This beautiful
orchestra brought the room to life like I have never heard. Now to
give you an understanding of my connection with this room and
experiences there in, I will tell you that I have heard numerous High
School Band concerts, choirs, solo performances, etc., over the years
in that establishment and thought that it would be enlightening to
now tell the range of uses to which the facility had been put.
First of all, graduations from both the High School and MES took
place there because, at least in my day, only about 27-30 students
finished their curriculum in each year. The first orchestra I
attended was the High School's own, which during WWII years was
taught by Elsie Mae Johnson and Florine Johnson, mother and daughter,
because no accredited music teacher was available. That was a break
for Mariposa because the Johnson's were skilled professional
performers and teachers who had toured the county performing in many
of the premier venues of the day. They created an orchestra with
violins, cellos and such, never to again be seen when the music
establishment re-established itself after the war. They also coached
the choir presenting Gilbert and Sullivan and the like. They
developed the talents of a local girl, Lois Light, who ordinarily was
the daughter of the lady, Lena who worked at the soda-fountain in the
drug Store, and Casey Light, who was the second in charge at the very
short staffed California Forestry Station out Hwy 49. There was
nothing ordinary about Lois's ability to sing. Much like Mr.
Marsden, the Johnsons found talent in this little war time town and
had the skills to recognize ability and to develop it.
On the other end of the spectrum, one shop teacher, Roy "Pop" Moore,
brought the post war Japanese Olympic Wrestling team to Mariposa.
They covered the stage with mats and Mariposa Students, including at
least one of the Menzies twins, provided the competition. It seems
that Moore had been with the occupation of Japan earlier in his
career, and being wrestling coach, was impressed into assisting the
Japanese in recovering their Olympic program. Actually, Stuart
Cramer of Whitlock Road, then a student at MHS, also coached Japanese
but in ski orienting a bit later.
This exposition of culture for a group of kids in dirty Levi's (the
girls had culture and wore dresses) was provided by a touring
national program, and through that effort we saw John Carridene
perform Hamlet on our very stage. What started out as a rowdy,
(usually) audience suddenly was brought to silence by the booming Mr.
Carridine and his Shakespeare performance. We had had magicians, and
dancers before, but nothing like this gaunt Hamlet holding the skull
of poor Yorek.
As the years wore on the Mariposa Lion's Club began the tradition of
performing, first a Minstrel Show, the black face made some folks
uncomfortable, and then evolving into a talent show. There were many
more young families at that time, no television and this wonderful
auditorium that needed use. In the early years, the cream of the
community put on the shows with the female parts being portrayed by
some of the most gangly and least attractive of our community. It
was said that in order to prepare for their performance, small
quantities of liquid courage would make its way into the back room at
the High School. I never observed nor participated in this activity
myself, but gossip in town would lean in that direction.
Most of these young men were WWII veterans who had seen much worse
in their days. So it was not out of context for them to pretend to
be blacks or ladies. However, as we more fundamentally cultured
Korean War Vets arrived on the scene, black face disappeared. Not,
however, the gentlemen who had the strength of conviction about their
manhood to dress as over stuffed females for the various dancing
pieces. It was amazing how skilled these carpenters, welders,
farmers and merchants were in exposing hidden talents.
We put together a band that played for what was now called the
Lion's Follies. Ed and Barrie Lannon arrived in Mariposa in the late
60's. They had been headliners on the Keith Vaudeville circuit.
Somehow I wound up with one of Ed's photo albums when they passed.
Both were ballroom dancers and Barrie could play anything on the
piano. Uncle George Radanovich also would play a special piece
during the show. Dr. Robert J. Evans and I would demonstrate how
otherwise serious professional men could debase themselves as
various characters. Shirley Fiester, Rods mother, would sing like
Florence Foster Jenkins, the lady who never sang in key. It was all
great fun and I have some pictures to prove it. Thanks to Fran
Phillips I have a bag full of snap shots showing a period in time
when people just had fun.
Richard Fiester was the music teacher at the High School from around
1960 until retirement. He loved music and history, and taught both
with great skill. They have named the auditorium in his honor. He
started a chamber group locally with yours truly on bassoon, Gay
Rowney on oboe, Pearly Barnes and Ruth Massey playing violin, Esther
Miller on either saxophone or clarinet, plus a few more that we cannot remember. His high school bands were excellent, although no
marching band. His choir's also excelled. He constantly complained
about the acoustics in the hall. He should have heard the Symphony.
Many years of stage presentations including Drama Class at the High
School. Jon Turner presented wonderful programs as well as Brian
Starchman with today's crowd. The Story Telling Pageant graces the
hall every March. This is a nation wide event with story tellers
from across the county sponsored by the Arts Council.
I have also attended various economic development presentations as well as public hearings about various subjects. When the Golden Bell Mine project
was proposed, the BOS hired a world renowned mining engineer to
examine the technology offered by the mining company. When he came
to the hearing telling us essentially they did not have such
technology that could be judged, that spelled doom for the mine. But
his comment that wild animals (Hippo) as I recalled, drank out of the
tanks of cyanide in South Africa without effect, the audience roared.
So this hall has served Mariposa well for almost 70 years. I
suppose that it needs replacing by a larger venue like the gymnasium
and that will come in good time. But still, this is a fine
auditorium and should be preserved. One thing. What happened to the
original cut glass chandlers that disappeared during one remodeling.
Shame.
Leroy Radanovich
Leroy Radanovich Email:
Leroy Radanovich
To Read More By Leroy Radanovich:
Leroy Radanovich's Mariposa Life Archives
To learn much more about Mariposa County along with
historical photos:
A signed copy of "Images of America" - Mariposa County,
By Leroy Radanovich can be purchased at his web site:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County
that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1920
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
Scott Pinkerton is a book about the oldest courthouse in California that is still in use today.
The book is signed by Leroy Radanovich.
To purchase the book:
Radanovich Galleria & Books
Mariposa in 1860
This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a
warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books