Imagine a group of high school girls (ages 16 and 17) being told that they were going to be part of a television show where the worlds cutest man (at the time) besides Davey Jones and David Cassidy was coming to Your High school. Well that is exactly what was happening that January of 1976 when the hit show Emergency not only needed our gymnasium to film, but also needed our gymnastics team! It was to take place on a Thursday in January. Finals had been held already, so it seemed ok. The trick was to talk our parents into signing the release form so we could miss AN ENTIRE DAY OF SCHOOL! We girls were excited, and trying our best not to gloat. We had to maintain our cool. We discreetly and quietly began planning what we would wear that would have us stand out on national television to our family and friends. Now this was a big deal. You see, high school is stratified into groups, clubs, cliques, etc. The girls on the gymnastics team were just beginning to be noteworthy. We had achieved notoriety by the fact that we had one Class 1 gymnast, who had her own private coach. She graced us with her presence and competed for us so that we placed in CIF. I loved gymnastics, but I loved dance and song leading more. I was using the gymnastics team to stay in shape for the end of junior year when I would try out for the title of all titles...song girl. If you could maintain college worthy grades, be seen with a cute boy, AND be on a team or club that people noticed, you had maintained some level of coolness. But you dont admit that..not too much..just enough to secretly gloat with your friends, that NO ONE else in the school go this opportunity. So all was set up for this great day...there was however one obstacle..my Dad. I had to somehow convince him to sign the release form. This meant missing Algebra 2, and well...my father the physics major, whom I had endlessly battled with over math problems, was not going to be easy to convince. I raced into the gymnasium after school when our release forms were due. I excitedly told my friend LInda that my Dad had miraculously agreed that I could participate. Provided that my next test grade was no lower than an A minus. We exchanged excited hugs and eagerly awaited to see who else would be included on that very special day. I cant believe my Dad said yes! I screamed. Linda hugged me with her typically warm hug and I had that feeling of approval and oneness that all high school girls strive for. I secretly marveled at how other girls seemed to get their parents permission for things so easily. Girls, listen carefully, our coach Sue Dallek reviewed the procedures and liabilities for participating in such a big day. This will be a big day. You are to appear at school at 7:30 am and warm up in the cafeteria. Your hair needs to be braided, and you need light make up. Please pack a sack lunch, as we dont know if we will be released to eat. Cami will have her class 2 routine ready and on hand should she be asked to perform. We went through practice that day eyeing Cami and her stylistic moves. Uggh..would I ever measure up? Thursday finally arrived. I arrived at school and felt amazingly unique and special as I sported my red and gold Adidas sweats, and my hair was neatly placed in Princess leah buns, which took me hours to do. We all gathered in the gymn and were scooted in a herd over to the corner and introduced to our supervisor for the day. She told us that every time we heard the word action we were to begin an endless series of cartwheels across the gymn floor. I think I seriously must have done about 800 cartwheels. After awhile my legs started to ache and I lost track of the camera or what the star was doing. My hope of course was that I would be seen whisking across the background in a series of perfect cartwheels. My friend Linda was spotted and asked to go over to the unevens...I was soooo happy for her. Her leo was purple and white tye died and easy to spot on telelvision. My leo was black but for some unknown reason I had mustard colored yellow tights that I was hoping would be quite noticeable on television, so cartwheeling away I went. I kept hearing the director yell, cut. The star of the show fell off the beam and the cute paramedics came and made sure she was ok. Meanwhile cartwheel, cartwheel, cartwheel,...millions of them in the back ground. You never knew which one would be the famous one. Attachments area Preview attachment 104092.jpg Image 104092.jpg
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:21:51 +0000
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