FHS Reminiscing

FHS Reminiscing
[ FHS Reminiscing ]

Teen Tempos

Posted by Panzey '62 on February 21, 2025, 4:05 pm

Does anybody remember Teen Tempos, a show on one of the Jackson TV stations? It was a dance show on Saturday afternoons, and kids from various high schools would appear on it.

Great Thread, Panzey!

Posted by Kaye ‘63 on February 25, 2025, 10:50 am, in reply to "Teen Tempos"

This is such a refreshing thread, Panzey. Thank you so much for starting it. And thanks to all of you that took the time to participate. It shook a few cobwebs from my brain and revealed some bright spots I had totally forgotten about. Maybe there will be more.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Bo'62 on February 21, 2025, 9:16 pm, in reply to "Teen Tempos"

My recollection is that we,Class of 62,were on in the late fall of 1961,maybe October or November.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Sue ‘62 on February 23, 2025, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Bo, do you remember who all from our class went?

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Bo'62 on February 23, 2025, 7:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Sue,the two couples I know sure were you and I and Panzey and Jon Deal. Just a mere 63 or 64 yrs.ago.Seems like we had 10 or 12 couples that Saturday afternoon. I have several classmates in mind,but not certain. Maybe some of one's who were there can add to this post.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by MargaretAnne ‘64 on February 24, 2025, 10:52 am, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

I remember Teen Tempos and went with the Forest group in 1963, I think it was—my dance partner was John Townsend. The hostess for the show was Nanette Workman, or she may have co-hosted with Alon Bee—John was in Mrs. Hays’ Mixed Quartet and they sang on the show—The Mixed Quartet was Gail Waldrip, soprano, Susan Doty, alto, Dick Tolbert, tenor, and John was Baritone or maybe 2nd Tenor. A year later, our Class of ‘64 went to New York as part of our Senior trip and went to the Broadway play, How to Succeed in Business… by the summer of ‘64, Nanette Workman was the understudy to the lead on Broadway and she came out after the show to meet us. She went on to work in Canada during most of her music career. I have always been grateful for opportunities afforded to us growing up in Forest. We had good teachers, coaches, band directors, choral director, speech teacher, piano teachers, and supportive parents who encouraged us to “broaden our horizons” and see and participate in activities at the highest levels in our state of Mississippi and beyond—all the way to Washington, D.C. and even New York City.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Panzey '62 on February 24, 2025, 3:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Margaret Anne, thanks for sharing your memories. I had forgotten about the local talent performing in addition to the dancing.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Kaye ‘63 on February 24, 2025, 1:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

What a wonderful memory, MargaretAnne. Thank you so much. And, yes, I’m beginning to remember lots more now that you have shared. You are right on target about our experiences growing up where we were taught by example that education was so important. We were indeed encouraged to broaden our horizons and to learn as much as we could. Such a refreshing reminder of how we were taught that we could do anything, anyWHERE if we worked hard.
Good to hear from you.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Bo'62 on February 21, 2025, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Teen Tempos"

Pansey don't you remember the car commercial that you,Sue Bounds,an I were in On Teen Tempos, A convertible and I blew the horn and sent the producers into shock.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Panzey '62 on February 24, 2025, 3:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Bo, Sue and I were talking about that commercial recently, which prompted my post. You could always be depended on to shake things up!

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Kaye ‘63 on February 21, 2025, 6:27 pm, in reply to "Teen Tempos"

Yep, Panzey, I definitely do. I think certain schools were featured each week. In addition to teens dancing, I believe some of the local talent was featured. I don’t know why, but I seem to remember someone from FHS singing “Oh my Pa Pa…” she was a little older than us and had a beautiful voice. Wish I could remember her name….Charlotte Wicker maybe??? Anyway, I don’t think ‘63 ever got to go but your class went didn’t they???

Wasn’t Teen Tempo a take off on the national weekly teen dance show called American Bandstand?

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Panzey '62 on February 24, 2025, 3:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Kaye, I'll bet that American Bandstand was the impetus for Teen Tempos. As I recall, Charlotte Wicker had a marvelous voice. There was a whole lot of talent in that little town.

Re: Teen Tempos

Posted by Kaye ‘63 on February 21, 2025, 7:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

There was not any info in the article to say which MS schools these teens came from, random photos, but I think one of the dancers looks like Loren Ormond. What do you think?
(Obviously these are unedited photos from news clippings so please overlook all the extras….or….get a good laugh!)

Dick Clark and American Bandstand

Posted by Kaye ‘63 on February 21, 2025, 6:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Teen Tempos"

Re: Dick Clark and American Bandstand - personal note

Posted by Norm '65 on February 22, 2025, 9:43 am, in reply to "Dick Clark and American Bandstand"

My US Army Infantry School squad consisted of Williams, Williamson, Wertheimer, and Zook. Spencer Westheimer was a regular on ABS growing up and told me many "behind the screens" stories about the "regulars" and the show. He is a Philadelphia lawyer, married to Muhannas Ali's daughter and was on the Grammy selection committee. We still stay in touch!
You meet so many interesting and diverse people in the military.

Re: Dick Clark and American Bandstand - personal note

Posted by Robert '62 on February 23, 2025, 9:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Dick Clark and American Bandstand - personal note"

Everybody should remember Teen Tempos! Forest got to go twice, as I remember. They didn't do it by class, just by whether you were in school there.

Re: Dick Clark and American Bandstand - personal note

Posted by Panzey '62 on February 24, 2025, 3:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Dick Clark and American Bandstand - personal note"

One of the things that Sue and I had wondered, Robert, was whether a certain class went each year or how the participants were selected. You have an excellent memory.

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