1937
March – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman
April – Band travels to Harrisburg for induction of State Senator Roberts
May – Band and Orchestra Seniors travel to New York City to hear
Goldman Band and attend Radio City show (trip cost was $4.45 per person)
1938
March – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman
April – Band performs two concerts at East Stroudsburg State Teachers’ College
June – Band and Orchestra Seniors to New York City
1939
Feb. – Sponsorship of Orchestra members to attend Rochester Philharmonic at Lyric Theater in Allentown
March – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman (Dinner honoring Dr. Goldman’s association with LHS
followed at Hotel Bethlehem.) (photo: Mr. Ricapito, Dr. Goldman, Richard Goldman)
June – Band performs at New York World’s Fair. Minutes read as follows: “The Band will play in the ‘Court of
Peace,’ and will be welcomed by Mr. Grover Whalen, President of the New York World’s Fair. The delegation from
Bethlehem will be headed by Mr. C. M. Schwab, Mr. E. G. Grace, and that Mayor, Mr. Peifle. President of the New York World’s Fair.
The delegation from Bethlehem will be headed by Mr. C. M. Schwab, Mr. E. G. Grace, and that Mayor, Mr. Peifle.
No member of the Band is to smoke in uniform and Mr. Ricapito asked the mothers’ cooperation with this rule.
It was made clear that spending money at the fair was unnecessary as 50 cents will be given.” [A
side note: Her Majesty’s Band of the Coldstream Guards also performed at the 1939 N.Y. World’s Fair; little did
we know that our paths would cross again!] -Band/Orchestra Seniors travel to West Point via L.V. Railroad
Sept. – Mr. Ricapito said, “…the Band is the largest it has ever been, having 145 members. it is imperative
that all members be present at all games and that they be on time.” (BASD stadium dedication photos: Globe-Times)
1940
March – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman (dinner for Dr. Goldman afterward at Hotel Bethlehem)
June – Band/Orch. Seniors travel to New York City (senior trips to NYC to hear the Goldman Band and/or
tour the city continued throughout the remaining years until the early 1970’s.)
1941
April – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman (also dinner at Hotel Bethlehem)
1942
Jan. – With the attack on Pearl Harbor, our “Mothers’ Club” became immersed in
World War II. Minutes from this month’s meeting reflect the mood of the day:
“.introduced Mrs. A. H. Drummond, a member of the Civilians’ Defense Bureau, who requested
every woman to register with the Defense Bureau and help the existing agencies in Bethlehem
to carry on their work. Mrs. Lester Hendershot offered to instruct members in making
bandages and compresses at the next meeting.”
Feb. – WWII also inspired open displays of patriotism at our meetings:
“The regular meeting on this date [2/16/42] opened with the singing of the National Anthem.
” . a ritual that occurred at subsequent meetings throughout WWII. Strains of “America” and
“God Bless America” were also often sung.
March – In this month’s minutes, the final entry reads: “.refreshments
were served. Surgical dressings were again made after the meeting.”
April – The “Mother’s Club” was not alone in the uncertainty experienced
during this period. Apparently, priorities were reexamined at all levels: “Mr. Ricapito.
read a letter from the School Board Secretary, stating that it was not found advisable to
purchase uniforms for the Band until after the ‘duration’ (referring to WWII).”
-Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman
June – Annual Band & Orchestra Picnic: Father/Son Softball Game. the winners? Fathers!
Sept. – A worry that we are thankfully not concerned with at present-day parent
meetings: “It was decided in case of a practice black out or air raid on the night of the regular
meeting, to have the meeting immediately following.”
Oct. – The Mothers’ Club continued to support the war effort: “Moved and
seconded. that an offering be taken at meetings and be turned over to the local Red Cross for the
“Kit Fund”. A letter was also read from the Red Cross Blood Donor Mobile Unit urging volunteer blood
donors and giving detailed instructions.”
1943
March – “Mrs. Gable, Corresponding Secretary, read two letters from the Red Cross.
One was in acknowledgement of the $10 sent for the “Kit Fund,” and the other was an
appeal for the 1943 War Fund.”
April – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman. A Globe-Times article quotes
Dr. Goldman at the concert: “Bethlehem has the best high school band I have ever conducted
in the East” – this despite the War’s effect on Liberty’s membership. The same article
reports: “A near capacity audience greeted him enthusiastically, nor were all the vacant
chairs in the audience, for during the past few months one after the other of the members of
the band has left to take a place among the nation’s armed forces or in the defense industry.
In fact, as Dr. Goldman told his audience, Director Ricapito had some weeks ago considered
cancellation of the concert because of the loss of many of his players. The white-haired
conductor, however, strongly urged against such a step.”
June – Mothers’ Club minutes read: “Action was taken to cancel all plans for the annual
picnic of the Club which was to be held at Willow Park on June 16, 1943. This action deemed
advisable due to the existing war time conditions.”
November – Annual Thanksgiving Day football game vs. Allen High School.
1944
March – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman
(Carlton Weaver, former BASD Supervisor of Music, directed this
year’s Band Concert. Mr. Ricapito underwent surgery and was granted
a leave of absence from February to the end of the school year.)
1945
April – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman
June – Band parades at Princeton University, New Jersey
Sept. – Band performs at pro football game between the Eagles and Bears. (The band premiered its new uniforms on this occasion.)
1946
April – Guest Conductor, Band – Edwin Franko Goldman dinner at Hotel Bethlehem)
Nov. – U.S. Marine Band, Washington, D.C., performs at LHS