By now, at least a few of us must have gained some of that wisdom that is supposed to come with -- dare I say it -- 'age.' So, somebody answer these questions for me, because I STILL can't figure them out:
1. Why did Mr. Montoya allow us to listen to only two records -- Bob Dylan and The Young Rascals -- in Senior Art???? OK, I get it about Dylan -- Mr. Montoya wanted to bring out the 'artsy rebel' in all of us. But, the Rascals??? They were just plain fun! Does anyone know the answer? Does anyone remember any other records?
2. What was that horrible smell that permeated the air every September when we returned from summer vacation? I heard it was rotten peaches that were being fed to the pigs. Is that true, or is this just another one of those unanswered Wheatland mysteries that will never be solved???
3. Does anyone remember an assembly when a really old lady played weird sounding science fiction movie-type music on some kind of 'sonic machine?' The real question here is 'WHY???' Anybody remember this? Anybody know the answer?
Surely, someone in the Class of '66 can come up with some answers!
1. Why did Mr. Montoya allow us to listen to only two records -- Bob Dylan and The Young Rascals -- in Senior Art????
So where is Pat Noel?? She would know!
Actually, I think Bob Dylan made us feel like we could sing -- he sang in my key (off!) I don't think I was much of a deep thinker -- and certainly not a rebel. Maybe *Joe* wanted to steer us away from those long hair'd Beatles!
2. What was that horrible smell that permeated the air every September when we returned from summer vacation? I heard it was rotten peaches that were being fed to the pigs.
You are so smart! That was the PIG 'n PEACHES aroma. Do you remember that we could actually SEE it drift toward the grandstand while watching the football games. That I don't miss. The pigs are gone. The peaches no longer ferment there. And now there is a Pumpkin Farm in that area.
3. Does anyone remember an assembly when a really old lady played weird sounding science fiction movie-type music on some kind of 'sonic machine?' The real question here is 'WHY???' Anybody remember this? Anybody know the answer?
Oh, Lisa, I don't have a clue. Can you believe we had music from RECORD PLAYERS way back then? Maybe it was a pre-historic CD player that the lady had!
I always thought Mr. Montoya only had those albums plus I think I vaguely recall maybe a classical album too, but I don't remember what it was. I think he had like 6 kids so probably couldn't afford any other music.
By the way, he moved on to Sac State about the time I did. He is now Jose and he is a mover and shaker in the hispanic community. His art is selling for a lot of money now.
I don't remember the music lady at all but do remember the peach smell but not fondly.
By now, at least a few of us must have gained some of that wisdom that is supposed to come with -- dare I say it -- 'age.' So, somebody answer these questions for me, because I STILL can't figure them out:
1. Why did Mr. Montoya allow us to listen to only two records -- Bob Dylan and The Young Rascals -- in Senior Art???? OK, I get it about Dylan -- Mr. Montoya wanted to bring out the 'artsy rebel' in all of us. But, the Rascals??? They were just plain fun! Does anyone know the answer? Does anyone remember any other records?
2. What was that horrible smell that permeated the air every September when we returned from summer vacation? I heard it was rotten peaches that were being fed to the pigs. Is that true, or is this just another one of those unanswered Wheatland mysteries that will never be solved???
3. Does anyone remember an assembly when a really old lady played weird sounding science fiction movie-type music on some kind of 'sonic machine?' The real question here is 'WHY???' Anybody remember this? Anybody know the answer?
Surely, someone in the Class of '66 can come up with some answers!
1. BECAUSE WE WERE THE 'YOUNG RASCALS'!
2. THAT SMELL IS STILL WITH ME TODAY. IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST THAT, THE STENCH FROM THE PIG FEED, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY WHAT 'FARMER JONES' PICKED UP AS 'ROTTEN' FROM THE WHEATLAND AND NIGHTENGALE MARKETS, MIXED WITH ALL THE ROTTEN/DESTROYED/EXCESS FRUIT HE COULD COLLECT FROM THE LOCAL ORCHARDS AND REFINERIES. IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF FOOTBALL PRACTISE AND LIKE 'COACH TORRES', I WILL NEVER FORGET IT! WHEN I SMELL ANYTHING SIMILAR TODAY, I REVEL IN IT, MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF ANYONE ACCOMPANYING ME.
3. NOT A CLUE
I remember Joe Montoya (Is he really the celebrated poet laureate and Professor Emeritus from Sacramento?), issuing the directive on the first day of art class: 'don't sniff the glue.' Have told my own students about this, to give them some insight into the California high-school experience in the 60s. Of course, I remember Joe as a political artist, who was more tolerant than we deserved.
the smell in the fall was caused by peach pits being hauled to the field behind the school fo rodden's pigs to eat. cheap pig food but bad for football games
Dottie, I found a picture of Mr. Montoya on the Sac State website. http://www.csus.edu/news/032502jose.htm
in case you are interested in seeing a more recent picture of him.
The 'SMELL' was in fact the peach orchard on one end of town, the Pig Farm on the other end and the Hop Farm in the middle. Hops were used to make beer and the smell was the hops rotting.
