NOTE: THIS story can stand alone. One year Around 1980 a whole movie
set from the demolition of Massey Ferguson was moved to our
high school auditorium. Play Chuck Berry’s SCHOOL DAYS while
reading below. I mean it. Get the recording going…
EPISODE 284 MASSEY FERGUSON DEMOLITION: PARKDALE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE BEOMES A FILM SET
alan skeoch
March 2021
About the time the Massey Ferguson factory was being demolished, our high school, Parkdale Collegiate was a big
part of my life. One day I brought the two together…the demolition site on King Street West and PCI on Jameson
Avenue
If life is to be enjoyable then laughter is a key element. At PCI we tried to mix the good times with the rigour of
academia. Successfully done I feel.
One day while rummaging through the wreckage at the Massey Ferguson factory
I noticed a film crew doing the same thing. Rummaging. They even made the wreckage look worse by having graffiti artists spray
symbols all over the bricks. I think it was supposed to be the wreckage of New York City after some disaster.
Bottom line is that when the film was finished and the set was piled with the trash I moved in with my truck and loaded up all the discarded props and
set material. Garish signs with big dollops of paint over and under. A real mess. Looked terrific. Drove the stuff to Parkdale
and staff and student remodelled our auditorium into a rock and roll music hall in New York City. Some of the staff and
students were already rehearsing “School Days”, that fever pitched song promoted by Jerry Lee Lewis I think. No, it was Chuck Berry.
Mary Hunter, staff member, had been a cheerleader in the past and gave leadership not that much was necessary. The school was exploding with anticipation
Up in the mornin’ and out to school
The teacher is teachin’ the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You study’ em hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won’t leave you alone
Ring ring goes the bell
The cook in the lunchroom’s ready to sell
You’re lucky if you can find a seat
You’re fortunate if you have time to eat
Back in the classroom open you books
Gee but the teacher don’t know
How mean she looks
The teacher is teachin’ the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You study’ em hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won’t leave you alone
Ring ring goes the bell
The cook in the lunchroom’s ready to sell
You’re lucky if you can find a seat
You’re fortunate if you have time to eat
Back in the classroom open you books
Gee but the teacher don’t know
How mean she looks
We dressed ourselves up as outlandishly as possible for our annual rock
and roll assembly. We did this often each year but that one year was really special because the set design was
perfect. About mid way through our preparations there was a visit by a young man. “It’s about the movie set.”
He had planned to pick it up as well. In other words he knew it was junk. But good junk. “Yes, come into
the auditorium and take a look.” He was impressed. “Do you suppose I could have the New York subway signs
when your show is over?” “Sure, take what you want.” The music of Chuck Berry was busting up the the
speakers. Everybody gyrating even if not on stage. This was one grand use for a discarded movie set.
The pictures of staff and students above and below will give you an idea. With all he feverish energy that only
teen agers can inject. Sorry, not true. i meant to say all the feverish energy that only teen-agers and their teacher
could inject.
NOTE: This is only Part One: The pictures are from various rock snd roll shows. And from the Parkdale Centennial celebration.
ENOUGH SAID…TOO MANY WORDS WOULD SPOIL THE IMPACT
alan skeoch
March 15, 2021
alan skeoch
March 15, 2021
Up in the mornin’ and out to school
The teacher is teachin’ the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You study’ em hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won’t leave you alone
Ring ring goes the bell
The cook in the lunchroom’s ready to sell
You’re lucky if you can find a seat
You’re fortunate if you have time to eat
Back in the classroom open you books
Gee but the teacher don’t know
How mean she looks
Soon as three o’clock rolls around
You finally lay your burden down
Close up your books, get out of your seat
Down the halls and into the street
Up to the corner and ’round the bend
Right to the juke joint you go in
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that’s really hot
With the one you love you’re makin’ romance
All day long you been
Wantin’ to dance
Feelin’ the music from head to toe
‘Round and ’round and ’round you go
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that’s really hot
With the one you love you’re makin’ romance
All day long you been
Wantin’ to dance
Feelin’ the music from head to toe
‘Round and ’round and ’round you go
Hail, hail rock’n’roll
Deliver me from the days of old
Long live rock’n’roll
The beat of the drum is loud and bold
Rock rock rock’n’roll
The feelin’ is there body and soul
The teacher is teachin’ the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You study’ em hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won’t leave you alone
Ring ring goes the bell
The cook in the lunchroom’s ready to sell
You’re lucky if you can find a seat
You’re fortunate if you have time to eat
Back in the classroom open you books
Gee but the teacher don’t know
How mean she looks
Soon as three o’clock rolls around
You finally lay your burden down
Close up your books, get out of your seat
Down the halls and into the street
Up to the corner and ’round the bend
Right to the juke joint you go in
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that’s really hot
With the one you love you’re makin’ romance
All day long you been
Wantin’ to dance
Feelin’ the music from head to toe
‘Round and ’round and ’round you go
Drop the coin right into the slot
You gotta hear something that’s really hot
With the one you love you’re makin’ romance
All day long you been
Wantin’ to dance
Feelin’ the music from head to toe
‘Round and ’round and ’round you go
Hail, hail rock’n’roll
Deliver me from the days of old
Long live rock’n’roll
The beat of the drum is loud and bold
Rock rock rock’n’roll
The feelin’ is there body and soul