Jesters Class of 1965, photo taken in 1963
For years I’ve had a memory–really, more of an image–that made no sense to me. I remember going to a meeting with my best friend in the spring of 1970 before we graduated from eighth grade. Older girls, all strangers to me, were in charge. Some wore jackets with a club name stitched on the back. I can’t remember the name.
A.D.O. club jacket
When I started my freshman year at Von Steuben High School in the fall of that year, there was no invitation to join a club, no girls in jackets to be seen, no traces of the club at all. They had gone the way of beehive hairdos, and in the excitement of new friends and experiences, I forgot all about clubs.
Recently, I’ve been wondering if there ever was a meeting. Did I imagine it or remember someone else’s story and make it my own? Maybe I’ve seen Grease too many times.
Fortunately, as a result of my blog and facebook I have access to people who attended Von before I did. Ferne Slotky Berman, Merle Citrin Monroe and Andy Zaslavsky Weitzberg–all Von alums–offered to meet for coffee and initate me into the world of social athletic clubs or S.A.C.’s. We had such a good time I found myself wishing I was older–the opposite of what I usually wish every morning–so I could have been friends with them in high school.
In the mid-1960s, Von, Roosevelt and Mather, three of the then Jewish high schools, had their own clubs.
The women recalled the Sigs (class of ’64), ELs (’64), Jesters (’65), and Kanalons (’66) as the girls clubs of their day. Boys were Epsilons or Anacondas.
Someone mentioned Sovereigns, but I can’t remember if it was a boys or girls club. And as if it weren’t already confusing enough, occasionally clubs overlapped schools. A Von girl might be a Mather Sweetheart or Roosevelt Lamedola. A Von boy might be a Roosevelt Top Hat.
Clubs weren’t organized or supervised by adults. They had no religious affiliation, but were mostly Jewish because the schools were “98 percent” Jewish.
The jackets they wore came from Ned Singer’s Sports on Lawrence, the same place we bought our required gym suits. The less said about the gym suits, the better.
In the early 1960s, members openly wore their jewelry, sweatshirts and jackets to school. Club photographs were published in the Von yearbook. But in 1965 Von administrators changed their policy and sent home kids wearing club identification.
Jester lavalier
Most clubs had junior members in the elementary schools. Members of the junior clubs were 7th and 8th graders, but back in the ’50s, Peterson Elementary School had a third-grade girls club, the Els. There was also a sixth-grade girls club, the Loafers, that served as a feeder club for the Jesters.
The clubs held meetings, voted for officers, collected dues and organized fundraisers, sleepovers, volleyball tournaments, mixers and dances. If you’re picturing a high school gym decorated with streamers, think again. When the Jesters held their group Sweet 16 celebration, it was downtown at the Blackstone Hotel. They invited their parents as well as dates.
What impressed me the most about these clubs are the enduring friendships. Many members are friends to this day and they gather for reunions. In fact, the ELs are celebrating a group 65th birthday next year.
Jesters Sweet Sixteen Cotillion, September 1963, Mayfair Room, Blackstone Hotel
Famous Local Club Member
Folk singer Steve Goodman would have graduated from Roosevelt High School if his parents hadn’t moved to the suburbs. But while he was still living in Albany Park, Goodman was a Jr. Centurion. In his book, Steve Goodman: Facing the Music, (Amazon affiliate link) biographer Clay Eals quotes Goodman’s elementary school classmate Scott Berman on the evolution of the clubs:
“The clubs were an outgrowth of the tough-guy old days on the West Side, where each of the ethnic groups was fighting with each other. When the Jews moved to Albany Park and looked around and saw they were all Jews anyway, they said to themselves, ‘We don’t have anybody to fight with, so we’re not really a gang, more of a club.”
Eals lists some clubs active at Roosevelt in Goodman’s time: Anacondas, Funny Fellows, Originals, Jovens, Epsilons, Top Hats, Aristocrats, Cabegos, Vampires, Condors, and Torpedos.
The Times They Are A-Changin’
Between the graduation of the Class of 1965 and the start of my freshman year in 1970, girl clubs apparently vanished. The boys clubs, however, survived a little longer. Until 1971 there were boys at Peterson Elementary School wearing Epsilon jackets, and if I remember correctly, they were blue with gold lettering.
Jesters Sweet 16 Cotillion. The women are: Saucy Cherney, Merle Citrin, Nancy Dobkin and Judi Edidin. Judi married, and is still married, to her date, Max Tuchten.
After learning about the clubs, I decided I actually did attend the meeting I remember attending back in the spring of 1970. I imagine it wasn’t an established club, but rather a group of girls trying to revive the tradition and start a new club. They got the jackets, rounded up some prospects and fizzled out before the school year started. But I really don’t know whether I almost was invited to join a club, and in any case, I can’t imagine my class wearing anything but faded, torn blue jeans.
Acknowledgements: For an outsider, the clubs and their history are incredibly complicated, so sorry for anything I may have gotten wrong. Many thanks to Ferne, Merle and Andy for sharing memories of your high school years.
All photographs courtesy of Merle Citrin Monroe.
Source: Steve Goodman: Facing the Music, by Clay Eals. All Steve Goodman will want to check out the book’s website to see a sample chapter, for details about the book’s second printing, and much more. A CD is included with the book!
Just loved loved loved it. Didi’nt see the combined club picture of the ADOS and the Jesters you took directly from the yearbook?
Thanks,
Ferne
You forgot Sullivan High School which was also mostly “Jewish” in those days. In our annual high school year book, The Navillus (Sullivan spelled backwards), you’ll see evidence of the club jackets in the ’50′s and ’60′s. While I can’t remember their names, each club had a jacket with a different color scheme. And the “clubmates” would meet every morning in the “T” to gossip. What a simple life we had in those days.
Ferne, the photos from the yearbook didn’t turn out. We’ll have to scan them one of these days. The other ones (Tower C.) I took did turn out and I’m saving them for a future post.
Thanks Eileen, for filling in the gaps. I’m guessing Senn, too?
I was in the Sigs. I still have my ‘big sister’s’ jacket
Jill, if you don ‘t mind telling, what class were you? I’m trying to build a timeline.
Cobegoes were from Von and mather
Rich, thanks for contributing another club name. I’m going to make a list of all the new contributions, so if you think of others, send them to me.
Here is the correct way to spell Cobegos! I called this to Clay Eals’ attention and he promised to correct it in later editions of the book about Steve Goodman.
Merle, thanks for giving me the right spelling. I’m going to publish a list eventually. BTW, Clay Eals found the blogpost!
This brings me back….. I graduated from Solomon in 1969 and was a SIG — I believe in 7th and 8th grade. I am pretty sure there were no SIGS once we were at Von and I don’t remember if there was a class younger than us. We might have been the last class.
Linda, you may have solved my mystery. What I do remember of the meeting is that it was at or near Solomon. Maybe it was my seventh grade year, not eighth, so that would fit with your recollection. I had never been around Solomon before (the “other” side of Peterson!), so it was all very new and strange to me. But it’s coming back to me and I think it was your class. Thanks for visiting.
I remember playing football and basketball with the Cobegos like it was yesterday. Most of us were from Von.
Arnie, thanks for stopping by. I’m surprised by how many clubs there used to be, because there was just the one, Epsilons, in my day.
I was in the Epsilons, but I can’t remember what year. I know at the time however the Cobras and Anacondas ruled. We all had meetings and basketball tourneys at Deborah Boys Club in Albany Park.
Wow, what great memories…….
There’s something in the back of my mind that says we were uncomfortable deciding who would be a Sig and who we would turn away…. or maybe that’s the adult me hoping that we made a conscious decision along those lines. Either way, you could be right that there was a meeting near Solomon (maybe even in my basement, which was right across the street!) for your class, since at that point, there were very few girls from Peterson.
Linda, I’m just tickled to have my memory confirmed. It seems as though it would have been incredibly complicated to have members spanning elementary schools–it’s not like we could text! I got to know many of you later at Von, but I know at the time of the meeting I didn’t know anyone. Was Sharon a SIG? Because of her waist-length hair I think I remember her being there, but again I could be mixing memories.
I’m Roosevelt alum 1953 a member of the Jovens. We had 3-4 Gentiles in our group but were all brothers. Still in contact today. I’m Elaine’s bro.
Nice to meet you Ron. Thanks for the info. I want to make a timeline so if you remember other club names, please let me know.
Frances It was so much fun and enlightening to meet with you. Anytime you would like to meet, I will be there to collaborate. Pick a topic and we can have fun with it. Thanks for the beautiful trip down memory lane. I can’t wait to share the thoughts and pictures with my two daughters.
Andy, you’re on. After the holidays, ok?
I think the concept of girls’ clubs or loose sororities in Canadian high schools wasn’t as widespread as in the U.S. Certainly sororities in Canadian universities were never very big nor very powerful in the social fabric in campus life. Thank goodness.
In a way, I’m glad since “club” tends to define/harden social boundaries and cliques that naturally exist in high school and can extend into university. For students already from immigrant/low-income families who didn’t weren’t plugged into those familial networks nor had money to allow children to “fit in” or even “dress up” for parties, events, it was already tougher for such students.
High school and university cultural dynamics between U.S. and Canada in terms of large scale trends over the past decades would make a fascinating sociological text. I could go on…..
Good to hear from you Jean, and especially with such an insightful comment. Although clubs died out for carols reasons, it’s interesting that in the particular neighborhood I’m writing about, the clubs disappeared precisely as the neighborhood was becoming more diverse. From one perspective at least the clubs served to reinforce an already close-knit neighborhood. And what I also found amazing was the large number of clubs. So while some kids probably didn’t fit in, there were a lot of opportunities, not just one option.
Happy holidays!
Frances, Linda…. I was in SIGS. I am same age as Jill (Frances, you asked her what year she was) and younger than Pam (so Pam yours wasnt the last year). I graduated from solomon in 66 and have no memory of the club except the jackets, which i also had forgotten til i read this, so must not have lasted TOOO long!!
Marcie, thanks for telling me.
Does anyone remember the “Lucky 6s” at Peterson in the late 30s? Orloff, Gillford, Somlo, Weiner, Elesh, Rogoff…….we envied them their sweaters.
I went to Solomon then to Von. I was a Sig at Von, ’63-67.
Hi, Vicki. thanks for stopping by. So, did you keep your jacket?
My dad was in the Vulcans (I think?), early ’50s, Von Steuben. I think I saw the jacket once, or I might have imagined that. wishing that I could have worn it on “50′s Day” in school in the 70′s.
I graduated from Peterson (1953) & from Von Steuben (1957) and belonged to the Jesters. Our club actually started in about third grade with close friends, and we had several names until we graduated from grade school. Then, we became the Junior Jesters. Eventually, after our “Seniors” graduated from Von, we chose Junior Jesters & became Senior Jesters in the process. It was the only way that “year” clubs, as opposed to multi-year sororities & fraternities, could keep their names going. I still have my Jester lavalier! Many of us are still in touch with each other – 54 years after our graduation from Von.
Vicki Martin…you were HOT! (Probably still are.)
I was also a SIG – along with Marcie and Jill (Peterson School class of ’66) and I still have my club jacket – which was purchased from Ned Singers for around $15.00. We were voted in by the older girls and then had a candle lighting ceremony. My big sister was Annie Shear who I recently met at the Deerfield Dog Park – recognized her right away – xoxox
Hi, Fran…Bonnie Liss Hanna just notified me of your blog…certainly does bring back lots of memories. I think that you can probably tell by my e-mail address (von1961@aol.com) that I’m still very firmly planted in 1957-1961. My club, the “Regular Fellas,” which spanned three schools (Von, Roosevelt & Amundsen), had a reputation, to be kind, of being a little “rough around the edges.” While we were about 90% Jewish, we had several non-Jews in the club…but, to be honest, I don’t think anyone even realized it, and, certainly, nobody cared. We were just good friends, meeting each week at Deborah Boys Club, played a lot of basketball, played 16″ softball at Hollywood Park and River Park, and, we attended “mixers” which, for those of you who don’t remember the term, were parties that a girl’s club held at one of their homes, and invited a boy’s club to “mix” with them. Wow…were those ever innocent times!! BTW, the Regular Fellas jackets were gold and royal blue, and, were reversible. A “RF” logo was on the front left side, and the reverse side had the club’s name spelled out in Old English lettering. We just had a 50th reunion of the guys last September, and, we’re having another one just next week…much smaller, but I’m sure it will be just as much fun. The memories might be old, but, they’re irreplaceable.
Howard, thanks so much for stopping by and providing all these old stories. First I heard of the connection between Amundsen, Roosevelt and Von through an SAC. Did Amundsen have Jewish kids? Send me photos from the reunion! I will send you an email so you have mine.
Amundsen had a lot of Jewish kids…mixed amongst a lot of Greek kids. Back then, nobody gave much thought about those things…they were just “friends.” The majority of the Jewish kids lived north of Montrose and east of Kedzie…more often than not in Budlong Woods. There was also a great “deli” in the Amundsen neighborhood…anyone remember Bert’s, on the corner of Foster and California?
We knew Burt’s, and Burt’s now adult children are around and in touch. A great deli. Before moving to Central Park Ave., my family lived on Argyle at Washetenaw. I went to Budlong, so that’s what I call my old old neighborhood.
Francis,I am Burts niece from Burts deli. Graduated from Mather in 1962. My dad was Normie from Normies restaurant, in Lincolnwood, Burts brother. Spent one year at Sullivan, and when Mather was built transfered.to same. Who are you in touch with from our family? We are having a family reunion next month. and will say hello. My husband was a regular fella and graduated Amundsen 1960. Thanks for the memories. Lynne
I am on of the five sons of Ned and Bernice Singer of Ned Singer’s Sport Supply Company–3344 West Lawrence, later at 3334 West Lawrence and finally, at 3247 West Lawrence.
My mom measured near everyone for their club jackets and she helped design the logos/artwork for the jackets–my dad also helped develop the artwork and designed most of the jackets. It was a labor of love for the two of them since they gained the privilege of meeting most all the kids in the neighborhood and found much joy being so involved in the community. I remember the jackets of so many of the clubs. The Top Hats (black and white with red trim), the Anacondas (maroon and gold), the Regular Fellas (I recall them have colors of red, blue with white trim), the Epsilons (black and gold), the Condors (blue and gold), the Characters (green and white), the Cobegos (were they blue and gold, too?), Many, if not all of the jackets were reversible–I still have my Condors jacket. I was a Junior Condor in 1962 and 1963.
Back then, we were members of SACs–Social Athletic Clubs. My jackets has the initials S.A.C. at the base of the Condors script on one side of my jacket. The other side has the chenille letter “C”.
We had basketball tournaments at Deborah Boys Club. Al Sacks, Jerry Shapiro (who recently passed away) and Freddie Greenberg were there working for Deborah, organizing the tournaments. Was a blast!
I recall watching Richie Weiner hitting those long shots while I sat on the floor while a member of Von’s Upper Grade Center watching Von beat teams that year of Richie’s stardom.
Great memories!
Jeff, how exciting to hear from you! Singer’s was such a neighborhood institution, and I’ve mentioned the business in various posts here. I’d love to post a full story about your family’s business. I’ll send you a direct email–let’s talk!
Frances,
My younger brother Jeff, sent you some very valid info regarding our parents’ business:
Ned Singer’s Sporting Goods Store. Ned and Bernice Singer are Jeff’s and my parents. They are deceased.
Yes, I even wore a club jacket from a junior high age club, the Colts. I think we were the younger brothers of the Regular Fellas. I attended Hibbard, and the ‘Branch’ (Junior High) at Roosevelt High for 7th grade. I attended Von 1959, graduating in June 1963.
I belong to a group in Los Angeles, California called “The Chicagoans”, all graduates of Chicago High Schools. It is predominately made up of men and women from Von and Roosevelt, some from Mather, Sullivan and Senn. I can connect you with Roosevelt grad, Merle Tokarsky, who heads our group of Chicagoans.
We are having our 50th Von reunion in two years. I attended the 40th in Chciago.
Looking forward to seeing my past friends for our reunion.
Sincerely,
Joel Singer
Joel, so cool to hear from another Singer! Would love to connect with Merle, so I’ll send you a direct email to stay in touch. I want to do a post on your parents’ store. Thanks for stopping by.
Greetings to all.
I graduated from Roosevelt in 1961 and am a member and past president of the Top Hats and our group still meets to this very day. It’s a pleasure to read about our days on the North Side and Albany Park in particular.
The days and nights at Deborah Boys Club and Max Strauss Center will never be forgotten. I remember the Top Hats ran a Fright House in the gym at Deborah during Halloween.
We also played lots of basketball there. That’s what being a member of a S.A.C. was all about.
I met my wife Jan (Kaplan) in my second year at Roosevelt and she was a member of The Serigas. My sister, Judy, went to Von and was a member of The Vee’s.
I enjoyed the article in the recent Von Alumni Newsletter which directed be to this blog. I also remember the Regular Fellas (different from the Funny Fellows) as a social athletic club that met at Deborah (on Tuesday nites which I believe was “Tween Night”). A few bloggers mentioned Deborah Boys Club and some of the “unforgettable characters” who worked there. Anyone remember Herman who checked membership cards at the door? I think I recall him being a former fighter? Junior members of clubs also attended Solomon Elementary School in Peterson Park. To answer a question raised in the original blog by Frances Archer-The Sovereigns I recall was a boys club. Thanks for stimulating some warm memories.
Stan, thanks for visiting. I didn’t know your sister but her name sounds familiar to me. These are great details for my upcoming post on Deborah.
Frances – another cool blog bringing back so many memories. I graduated Von in 1960 and was a member of the Psi’s – our sister club (and great competition, I might add, was the Jesters). My husband Tony Perna (the only gentile) was a member of the Condors that graduated in ’58. They played 16″ softball. I remember that Von Steuben, prior to my arrival in ’56, was known for it’s ‘cashmere clubs’ – it had a ‘snooty reputation’ in those days. The word was that you had to own a certain amount of cashmere sweaters to get into their clubs. There was nothing like that by the time I got to Von. Many of the clubs put on dances with proceeds going to charity – particularly “Lest We Forget” was to support the Les Turner fund – I think….Remember the bids? Every girl hung them on her bulletin board in her bedroom. I remember that as we approached our Jr. year, we selected a group of grammar school kids to be our ‘Jr’s” and carry on the name.
I’m really inspired to create a Lawrence Ave. business district hall of fame now. With everyone’s help, we’ll get all the stores from Kedzie to Kimball.
Stan, I have a photo of Peterson class of January ’41 and there was a Louise Nudelman in that class. Any relation?
Hi, we all love this site and love reading all about everything that all of us so remember! Our class is having our 50th re-union this coming September 2012. I would love to see if you have something that I can post on our Save the Date letter going out soon… and we will post this site so others can also enjoy as well.. We are searching for some of our lovimg but missing classmates.. Maybe we can even find them here as well. Thanks for anything you can find .. I will be looking. I have enjoyed so much.. Love Alice and thanks again for all you have submitted. .. All credits will be given to you and all the work you do…. It would be an idea if at all possible maybe if we could even present a video presentation at our re-union of significant memories relating to our time.. 1958 — 1962 … maybe we can share this thought and see if it is possible and how it may be able to work. I have other questions and thoughts as well. Feel free to contact me . Thank you again. Alice Hirsch…
Alice, thanks for thinking so highly of my blog. I’ll do my best to help. I’ll send a direct email to you.
Joel Singer- Love learning more about your Mom and Dad. My husband Harold Hirsch and his 3 other Brothers all lived in Albany Park their entire life and lived on Spaulding and Anslie and were very very familiar with everyone who worked together on Lawrence Ave. Harold was a Condor granduated in January 1963… I graduated from Von in JUne 1962. We are planning our 50th Class re-union in September 8, 2012. Joel Bernstein lives in LA and has been working to help us locate our Missing Alumni. Since you mentioned you have a Chicago Von and Roosevelt Group– Is there a way I can send you our Notice for our Re-Union. We would love to do that…. That is great that you can all get together!!! I know the class of Roosevelt is planning their 50th Jan. 1962 in April ‘s as well. I will pass this info on to them if that is okay. Love reading everything on this Great Great Web-Site. P.S I actually had the pleasure of personally meeting your Mom many years ago.. I had a Botique in a Beauty Salon (Teddie Kossof in Northfield) and she came in one day) We got to talking and she knew Harold Biological Mom who passed away in 1953.. She shared some very moving stories about Harold and his family. It is a small world, but that is Why Albany Park is so Special! Thanks Alice Kirsch Hirsch..
Alice, thanks for your touching comment. We’ve got to talk. I can create a blog post about your reunion and that may help you get in touch with some of the missing alums.
What about the Beta Phi’s????
I’ll add them to the list. Thanks for visiting and Happy New Year.
Love this blog! I was a Top Hat from 61-65. Lots of fond memories. Thank you
Hi, Ed. Thanks for stopping by. What were the Top Hat colors. Do you have any photos of your club?
Eddie, I remember you were a lifeguard at a condo building pool at Hollywood and Lake Shore Drive. You even snuck me in once! I am your age (Class of 65), but I dated an older Top Hat for a while.
Imagine my surprise, while roaming the Internet, to see all of my lost but still dear friends. Those really were “the good old days”. I suddenly remembered everyone’s names and all the good times we shared. What a wonderful gift.
Hi, Nancy. I’m guessing you know Merle. Nice to meet you, and thanks for stopping by.
Hello Frances,
A friend from Von (class of 75) just forwarded your latest post to me. It’s bittersweet seeing my beloved cousin Saucy in all of your photos. I’m going to send to her boys as I’m sure they will love to see this. Maybe they will print them out for Aunt Bette. Thank you for posting.
Leslie, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Merle shared all the Jester photos with me. Send me a direct email via the contact form and I can put you in touch if you like. She may have more photos of Saucy to share.
Hi,
My cousin just forwarded me the article and I love it. My mom is Saucy Cherney and she is in all of the photos. While sad, it is neat to see her as a teenager and I still keep in touch with some of her friends. If anyone has more photos please send them to my email at jpearl@sd25.org. Thanks for the article. I will print it out and give a copy to my grandma, Bette. She knows just about everyone in the photos.
I was a “Character. I beleieve the club originated at Roosevelt and we became Jr. characters because Harvey Meyer’s brother was a Sr. character and they kind of adopted my buddies to be the Jr.’s. I went to Von, graduated Jan 65 and pretty much saw all the glory days of Von basketball with the likes of Richie Weiner, Steve Handler, Artie Gillis, Louie Green, Mark Dolasinski, Fred Weinberg, Gary “Goose” Goldberg. etc etc. Our club played basketball and softball against the Top hats, Cobegoes, Epsilons, Condors to name a few.
The guys in the Jr. Characters were and IIapologize if I miss some were Lee Light, Baron Perlman, Jake Goldberg, Aaron Fisher, Jack Bleichman, Harvey Meyers, Steve Fox, Dave Sossin. Al Weintraub, Shelly Stramn Jerry Hobfoll, Herby Roman, Morrie Schulman, Marty Grube and Kenny Turkin.
Wish i still had my club jacket which was bright green. I wore it once to the pier at South Haven Michigan one summer night and was the most popular guy on the pier LOL. Musta been the jacket !!
Great times growing up with great guys.