Compiled by Brett Comstock
In the spirit of reminiscing at class reunions, we are starting a new series called “Reunion Retrospectives,” where we take a look at what was going on during the senior year of the classes that are celebrating in 2025! Read on to find out what was happening at Central High School, and in the world, during the 1959-1960 school year.
School Leaders
Clubs
Featured Groups in the O-Book
FIRST ROW: Fouts, Sayers, Breakfield, Gunn, Wright, Mason, Ginsburg, Wise, Moore, R. Allen, K. Allen, Katskee, Scott, Davis, Emsick, Capellupo
SECOND ROW: Barker, Dodd, Caldwell, Wenger, Booker, Carey, Young, Fiedler, Jim Brown, Jepsen, Guss, Rose, Bryan, Combs, Marsh, Petersen, Turner, Harrold
FIRST ROW: Williams, Wade, Tomanio, G. Sayers, Moore, R. Sayers, Schwennecker, Graves, Joe Brown, Stoler, Breakfield
THIRD ROW: B. Ramsey, K. Dayton, Butler, Morearty, Buchta, Elliott, M. Reimer, J. Dayton, Rich, Bristow, Mertes, Spickerman, M. MacKenzie, M. Ramsey, Fokken, VanDeventer, McCully, Nestle
SECOND ROW: Solomonson, Siref, Purviance, Paskins, Shradar, Weinberg, Carlson, Tabor, Rohaly, Sundall, Syptak, Schweitzer, Brody, Wehrli, Ruderman
FIRST ROW: Buntz, Meyers, Dishon, Mead, Barnes, Sweeney
THIRD ROW: D’Agosta, L. Jones, Butcher, Kraft, Gerelick, Aronson, Fitzgerald, Kennedy, Olson, Nelson, McCormick, Eickler, Bosking, Gathye, Campbell, Gutmann
SECOND ROW: D. Brodkey, Goldapp, Darling, S. Brodkey, Misaki, Williams, Culbertson, Norin, Denenberg, De Bord, Nearenberg, Jackson, Murray, Nanek, Favell, Sherman
FIRST ROW: Miller, Friedman, Donelson, P. MacKenzie, Brookstein, Gere, Brush, Kutler, Makiesky, Boisseree
Notable News in The Register
September 1959: “CHS Remodeling Gives Eagles Modern Facilities”
- The Eagles of 1959 were welcomed to the school year with a newly remodeled main office and other school renovations underway.
October 1959: “Soaring Eagles Stun South, Massacre Abraham Lincoln”
- It was a great year for football with Gale Sayers on the team!
A fun article about Italian exchange student, Giorgio Tonelli.
November 10, 1959: “1859 Is Year For Famous Events Including Central High’s Beginning”
- Students celebrated one hundred years of Central!
November 25, 1959: “Best-Newspaper Honors Given to CHS Register”
- The Register Received the best newspaper award at the annual Nebraska High School Press Association Convention.
December 1959: “Students to Begin Advanced Program”
- Eagles get ready for their new AP U.S. History class starting next semester.
January 1960: “CHS Alumnus Howard Kaslow Receives Rhodes Scholarship for Oxford Study”
- Former Eagle and Yale student was one of 96 graduates from the United States who were awarded the scholarship.
February 12, 1960: “Nared, Basketballers S-i-z-z-l-e In Heat of Four-Game Win Streak”
- Basketball star John Nared scored 40 points in game against Abraham Lincoln!
February 26, 1960: “ROTC to Name Officers, Colonel’s Lady Tonight”
- ROTC announced their new staff at the 23rd annual Military Ball at Peony Park.
March 1960: “Talent Galore! ‘Tis Magnifico!’ Be Sure to See ’60 Road Show”
April 1960: “Lydick, Sayers Top ’60 Officer List”
May 1960: “Weddle to Deliver Class of ’60 Oration”
- Dave Weddle was chosen to be commencement speaker at the Graduation Ceremony for the class of 1960.
Featured Ads in The Register
One of the best ways to get a feel for a moment in time is to look at the ads from that era. What were CHS students in 1959-1960 buying? Where did they go out to eat? Where did they shop for clothes? How did they spend their time on the weekends or after school? What music were they listening to? These questions can be answered, in part, by looking at the advertisements from that year’s issues of The Register.
Other Ads Include…
- Crosstown Roller Rink
- Music Box Ballroom (Dancing and Teen-hops)
- Tiner’s Drive-in
- Fireside Restaurant
- Used portable typewriters for $29.95 to $49.95, Pre-Owned Royal Deluxe Portables for $89
- Green’s Fashion for Men and Women
- Hosper’s Music
- Rocky’s Pancake Ranch
- Roller Bowl Skating
- Harry’s Restaurant
- Todd’s Drive-in
- Free Pookie Snackenberg T-shirts – Oddo’s Drive-in
- Happy House Shop
- Dixie Cream Doughnut Co.
- The Black Angus
- La Casa
- Schultz’s Popcorn Shop
- Manny’s Record Shop
- Van Avery’s Sports Store
- Adler Bakery
- Little Frank’s Steak House
- Corbaley Shoes
- Kilpatrick’s Junior Shop
- Barron’s Teen-Age Summer Guide – Kieser’s Book Store
- Evans Ice Cream
- B&G Hosiery
- Ross’ Steakhouse
- Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. – “Be a Telephone Girl”
- Hinky Dinky Food Stores
- Pounders Golf Range
- Northrups
- Budgeteen Account at Robinsons
- “Evening in Paris” for $1.85 per couple at the Fontenelle Hotel
- Milder’s Junior Bazaar
- “Enjoy a 7-Up Float”
- Cris’ Rexall Drug Store
- Towle Sterling at T.L. Combs & Sons
- Beverly Hills Coffee Shop
- The Ambassador
- Big Boy/Best Girl matching chain bracelets by Speidel at Malashock’s
- Allen Furniture
- Medical Arts Barber Shop
- Taylor Greenhouse
- Herzberg’s Junior World Shop
- Hahn Card and Gift Shop
- Gorats
- Omaha Typesetting Company
- Gerelick Ford – 1960 Ford Sunliner
- Adam Hat Store
- Omaha Stationary Co.
- Graduation Special – Financed Royal Portable Typewriter
- The Record Nook
- The Scope Commercial Savings
Historical Events
(courtesy of www.historic-newspapers.com/)
August, 14, 1959: The first picture of Earth from orbit is taken by Explorer 6.
September 14, 1959: A radar signal is sent to Venus for the first time, and an echo is received back.
October 7, 1959: The first photos of the far side of the moon are obtained by the USSR’s Luna 3.
January 2, 1960: JFK announces his candidacy for US presidency, becoming the youngest Democratic candidate to run for president.
February 1, 1960: In Greensboro, North Carolina, four students stage the first Civil Rights sit-in at Woolworth’s.
April 8, 1960: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a Civil Rights bill, which is passed by the US Senate with measures against discriminatory voting practices.
May 3, 1960: The Anne Frank House opens in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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This Blog Post is the first in our series “Reunion Retrospectives.” Keep an eye out for forthcoming posts about the following years: 1965, 1970, 1975, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2015. If you graduated in one of these years and have some extra material from your time at CHS that you think would be a good addition to our posts, please share with us! All submissions can be sent to connect@chsfomaha.org.
