Today's Member Email from Neil Menzies S'64

[SUSAN J. SILVESTRI]

Hi administrators for the web site!

I think this email should be directed towards Carole Wells.

My name is Neil Menzies S64 and I was responsible for getting the museum display for Heather Menzies put together along with Jeanne Hon and Jerry Massey.  

I came across another alumni who I feel should be recognized via the museum. His name is Randy Tuten S65.  Randy was a prolific and extremely talented artist while he was at Hollywood High.  He went on to become a rock genre artist and did album covers, play bills and posters for The Cream, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Pointer Sisters, Jimmy Buffett, Grateful Dead, The Doors and many many other groups.  I was blown away when I came across his web site and realized what he had been up to all these years.

My first trip to the museum happened when I dropped in to the front office of the school back in the 90's to inquire about the alumni association.  I was immediately directed into Dr. Hon's office and she said I have something to show you.  She called Jerry Massey in and together we went over to the old library. I had no idea at the time what this was all about.  When  we entered the building and I turned around and saw all those photos on the wall I was awestruck.  Dr. Hon told me she was touring all the 10th graders through the building when they first started their school year. Immediately I realized what she was trying to do.  The staff at the time was dealing with changing demographics of the student body and when those 10th graders walked through and saw all these alumni up on the wall and the other displays it gave them an immediate sense that this school has a history that is remarkable and if these people can do it so can I. I was also struck by the fact that not everyone up on the wall is a show biz celebrity. Right away I saw Warren Christopher's photo.  I had no idea he had gone to our school and that really impressed me.

At the time my sisters photo was not on the wall. I asked Dr. Hon why it wasn't up there she asked me "what did your sister do?"  When I told her she was one of the seven kids in the film The Sound of Music  she said "we had one of our students in the Sound of Music?"  I said "yep". I explained that Heather only went to Hollywood during 10th grade.  My parents had moved over the hill to Burbank so she ended up graduating from John Burroughs High School.  Dr. Hon said I don't care if she went here for 10 minutes she ours!!  We started on the Sound of Music display that day!

Although Randy is not a well known celebrity except in his own field I feel its important for the younger generation of artists to see that someone can go out there and make a really big contribution in that arena.  Have a look at his web site and you can see what I am writing about.

Randy's web site is: rtuten,com 

 

Thanks!

Neil

-- 

Neil Menzies

Tour Coordinator
Email: [e-mail]
Web site: www.setravelclub.com