When most of us think of the 1950s, we think of rock ‘n’ roll, greasers, hot rods, Elvis, Annette, Fabian, D.A. haircuts, and teen-age rebellion. But there was a flip side to this era — the side of harmony, innocence, and the sincerity of dreams. It is the side that’s been lost in the shuffle of progress. It was a time when most parents and kids listened and danced to the same music; when families partook of the ritual of gathering in front of the TV to watch their favorite variety shows, like the Ed Sullivan Show or the Perry Como Show . It was a time when every family worked hard to fulfill the American dream.

It was a period when four-part guy groups harmonized their way across the airwaves, jukeboxes, and hi-fis of the country. Throughout the land, they would stand at a quartet of microphones, crooning a multitude of chaperoned prom-goers into dreamy romance.

They wore dinner jackets and bow ties (or perhaps cardigans and white bucks). Each move was drilled to precision. Each vocal arrangement soared to stratospheric heights of harmony a sound that crested right before rock ‘n’ roll stole the heartbeat of music across the globe.

This is the story of such a group — Forever Plaid.

Once upon a time, there were four guys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx, and Frankie) who loved to sing. They all met in high school, when they joined the audiovisual club (1956). Discovering they shared an affection for music and entertaining, they got together and dreamed of becoming like their idols — The Four Aces, The Four Lads, The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s, and The Crew Cuts. They rehearsed in the basement of Smudge’s family’s plumbing supply company. It was here they became Forever Plaid — a name that connects the continuation of traditional values of family, home, and harmony. Although rock ‘n’ roll was racing down the fast lane like a candy apple "‘vette," they believed in their music, they sang at family gatherings, fund-raisers, and eventually graduated to supermarket openings and proms. They supported their fantasy by holding down day jobs and devoted themselves to their singing at night and on weekends. Then, finally, they landed their first big gig at the Airport Hilton cocktail bar - The Fusel Lounge.

On February 9, 1964, en route to pick up their custom-made plaid tuxedos, they were slammed broadside by a school bus filled with eager Catholic teens on their way to witness the Beatles make their U.S. television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is at that moment, when their careers and lives ended, that the story of Forever Plaid begins, for they are allowed to come back to perform the show they never got to do in life, and through this production their dreams live on forever.

Sparky	Brian Schultz
Frankie	Greg Matysik
Smudge	Rick Henslin
Jinx	Roger Roethlisberger
Uncle Chester (The Bass player)	Ken Kuehl
The Pianist	Peggy Dallman
The Announcer	Rich Novotney
The Usher	Dee Baldock

Our thanks to these local restaurants for participating in the Dinner and a Show promotion:
 

These performances are being staged for the benefit of the Verona Food Pantry. All profits will be donated to the Verona Food Pantry, 130 North Franklin, in the lower level of the Public Library.

Debbie Bass was instrumental in starting and maintaining the Food Pantry.  She was recently asked to talk about the Pantry.  Here is what she had to say:
 

“Verona Food Pantry was started by Salem United Church of Christ in 1986 as a distribution point for surplus government commodities. Gradually we added more and more food to the commodities we gave out once a month. The government stopped distributing commodities, but by then people depended on the food. We started in a closet at the Church and when we ran out of room we stored the food in the Park Printing warehouse.  I would get referral calls from First Call For Help, pack up a box of food and take it up to Salem Church, where the clients would pick it up when they could. 
Last May we moved to a permanent location in a lower level of the Verona Library. We are now open Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00. People still have to be referred by First Call For Help (246-4357). We serve only the Verona Area School District, although we have been known to serve Belleville and the west side of Madison.  We also serve people who work in Verona and may live elsewhere. 
We get all our food donated, but we buy milk, butter, cheese and eggs which we give out once a month. There is a food collection point at Millers and the High School has a food drive. The Verona area teachers also give once a month. The Boy Scouts and the letter carriers each have a drive in the spring. We give out approximately 150 Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter food baskets. They cost $15 each and we also give a box of non-perishables.  At Christmas we give out a $10 gift certificate to West Towne Mall. 
We can always use volunteers to man (or woman) the pantry on Mondays and Thursdays. People can call 845-2499 to find out about the pantry and leave a message that I will return.”