...and there is a complimentary book plate, in my copy unfilled after 98 years "when he could have."
The first pages are deluxe ad pages, and the entire book is printed on heavy coated stock.
Tantalizing ads include Princeton's "no cramming" quote and the ad for Zark Myron Bickford. A wandering minstrel (of Manhattan and Taft) Zark was an astrologist who taught madolin, which helps to explain his first name which is elsewhere spelled "Zahr."
In the second advertising section at the back of the book, there is an ad for this prep school, which a 1993 Times article refers to as "a football training school." It appears to have since folded.
Unlike other editions, the 1920 does not include a Headmaster page, and the only mention of Mr. Taft is here, at the top of the faculty section. Second is Harley Roberts, and third is another classics Master, with the strange name, Olin Coit Joline.
Olin Joline, whose name may or may not rhyme, wrote for this annual a three-page, informal, first person account of the school's history to date, which can be read by clicking here.
The class of 1920 chose to be photographed at the perfect Hemlock in front of the old Hotel, or perhaps they just liked hanging out at the fence.
The Hotel was quite close to the 1911 gym. At the highest window can be seen a fire escape ladder with no upper landing.
The Gun Club decided to be photographed at the new building, and no one dared argue.
A shot of HDT from the front substantiates the theory that ivy was attracted to Mr. Taft's House.
A desk in a typical boy's room was equipped with a luxurious electric desk lamp and lockable drawers.
Instead of desks, this recitation room was equipped with pews "all the better to worship your Master, just as it should be," a past Master patiently explained to me. The overhead ducts and asbestos-clad steam runs indicate that this is a basement room, probably the one right next to the gym basement, to make it even more clammy. Note the thermostat, ready to slam in those radiators! And to the right of the bookcase is a return air grille.
The 1911 gym served many purposes including rehearsal hall, and that it was sound-proofed was in its favor.
Before Bingham was built eleven years later, the boys, some in knickers, attended silent pictures at the 500-seat Community House Theatre, which became the Cameo when talkies came in. There is no mention of an organ, so I assume the accompaniment was a piano. It had a stage, and at least once, a Taft show was such a hit that it was moved from the Old Gym to Main Street for all the Townies to see! How thrilled they must have been!
Note that the 1920 future Masque and Dagger Society production (bottom) was "never staged."
The question is begged, "why never staged?" Diphtheria is the one word answer, as is explained on page 229. Blandy, who breaks all speed limits packing, is also the stage manager, and his full name was Dallam Eddy Blandy.
For unknown reasons, the school enrollment of two hundred and fifty-six was lopsided among the the classes, with more than twice as many lower mids than seniors. The senior class numbered only thirty-seven, plus the eleven below who didn't make it to graduation. On the list is Horace Taft Mallon, which proves that even changing your name to that of the Head's counted for about zilch.
Horace Dutton Mallon and Dallam Eddy Blandy schooled with the wonderfully-named Stiles Burpee, and the head monitor was Robert Doughty Weeks, although the boy below was clearly more qualified.
Junior, Bronxville, "Johnny," Yale. It makes sense.
This boy spent a lot of time smoking , but he started too late and then got caught, apparently by Mr. Taft himself, what an honor!
One Master whose name is mentioned in a dozen bios is Garfield "GM" Weld, whose brother Beanie also taught at Taft. G.M. was a funny guy, as the below attests.
And that is the two hundred and sixty-two page 1920 Annual reduced to twenty-five pages or less.
For an index of other Taft School articles, click here.
November, 2018