~ Malden Musings ~ Malden High Class of 1975 Celebrates the Big 5-0

By Peter Levine

Malden High School Class of 1975 — The BIG 5-0 is here! Can you believe it? Somehow, 1975 was FIFTY YEARS AGO (yes, 5-0!) — and now it’s our turn to crank up the tunes. (I agree, 1975 music was — at times — pretty lame), dust off those bell-bottoms (purchased at Slack Shak, of course) and party like it’s Bicentennial Weekend all over again (responsibly, of course, just like we did in 1976)! I am filled with so much happiness and so much joy as I ask you to SAVE THE DATE for Saturday, September 20, at the Crowne Plaza in Woburn. We’re throwing the ultimate 50th Reunion Bash: a night of hugs, high-fives, so many laughs and more “Who are you again!?” moments than we can count. Unless you’re Jack Freker, Judi Freede, Billy Settemio, Greg Lucey, Pam Picillo, Dave Angelo, Ann Mirages, Gerry O’Connor or Mark Burns, who seemingly have not aged.

Tickets are reasonably priced at $100 (forgive me, I was instructed to use the phrase “reasonably priced”) with Cocktail Hour (cash bar) from 5–6; a swell feed (buffet, of course) and much merrymaking immediately after. There’ll be dancing (very carefully), tales of yesteryear (we may have heard once or twice in the past), maybe a drunken rendition or two of the school fight song — “Our colors are the Blue & Gold, our war cry M.H.S…” and pure unfiltered 70s-style shenanigans (but with pot smoking legal now — praise the deity of your choice) all night long btw (nap rooms will be available upon request)! RSVP by August 20 by scanning the QR Code for Venmo payment, or go old-school and make checks payable to Pam Picillo — 7 Peterson Rd., Peabody, MA 01960 (or, as Pam and her fellow Tanners like to say, WEST Peabody — West Peabody inside joke!). Need a place to crash after all that boogying (besides your car, that is)? Call 781-935-8760 to snag our special $169 room rate at the Crowne Plaza. Let’s make it a night to remember — because to be honest, at our age we’ll need photographic evidence to piece it together later! It’s our Golden Jubilee, peeps — 50 years since we ruled the halls of MHS, and we’ve still got the moves (or at least the orthopedic inserts). Be there or forever be on Pam’s, Jack’s, Dan’s, Judi’s and Arthur’s (expletively deleted) list.

Oh, and just so you know, Freck is putting his good name on the line with a personal guarantee that this will be an evening for the ages — the kind you’ll be talking about long after the dessert table is cleared and the last Bud Light is pounded. Expect spirited reunions with old classmates, heated debates about the best TV shows we’ve binge-watched over the decades, confessions about who’s officially joined the Social Security club and a friendly tally of just how many hips have been replaced (my current count: two). And if, by some wild twist of fate, you don’t have a stellar time? Well… blame Freck. LOL.

Speaking of 1975… The Red Sox were in the World Series; Ali and Frazier fought the “Thrilla in Manila,” Mayor Gary “G Force” Christenson turned seven years old and Fred Silverman at ABC ushered in the era of “jiggle television.” The year was 1975, our senior year at good old Malden High School and we would be spending most of our free time up “The Mount.” Living our best life, as they say today.

Most nights kicked off on the sidelines of some game. Basketball, football, hockey — didn’t matter — and before long the “drink of choice” for the evening magically appeared like clockwork. From there, the night unfolded with the usual harmless chaos. If Russ Garland didn’t break into a booming, slightly off-key “God Bless America” at some point, we’d all feel cheated. Tradition was tradition. When the games and the anthems wrapped up, the pilgrimage began. We’d make our way down the Mount to Main Street — some walking, others… well, leaning heavily on gravity — bound for Malden Square. The Square was still alive in those hours, with chophouses glowing like beacons, ready to serve up burgers, pizza, fries and a night’s worth of stories.

Late-night greasy spoons drew us in like a moth to a flame. Piece O’ Pizza for some; Brigham’s or Signor Pizza for others; Riley’s Roast Beef for me and my Devir Park slugs. The Square was bumping late night in 1975. There was a newsstand located at the entrance of Main and Pleasant that stayed open until the wee small hours, and Park Street took on a different persona at night (think Reefer Madness on steroids.)

The Square boasted (at least) three “old men’s bars” at the time. After midnight, that’s when the saloons would empty, parties would wind down and all the parks in Malden from Linden to Devir would meet at the crossroads of Malden, Malden Square. Amazingly, there was hardly any trouble. That’s mostly because a lot of wacky tobacky was smoked in the 1970s. All you wanted to do at that point in the night was eat (or at least that is what I am told)! Insert smiley face here. Your only fear in those days were our men in blue. Let’s just say, you did not trifle with the 1975 M.P.D.

Those were the best of times. The Sox, Celts and The J. Geils Band ruled our lives. The music we listened to was exciting and movies groundbreaking. Best part? We lived in Malden. We received great public educations. Many of us came from neighborhoods where it was incumbent on all residents to look out for one another. And we had elected officials that really cared. Fast forward 50 years: Except for today’s lousy music and the up and down Sox and Celts, nothing much has changed. Oh, and the M.P.D. today? One of the best forces in the Commonwealth.

It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• We get letters… Jenelle Devitts — the class act that she is — reacted to a recent comment Joe, Dana and I made about her: “Three great men. Thanks for the shout out though I’m surprised Dana and Joe didn’t also agree I was annoying as hell! In all seriousness, I had two great role models that valued integrity and community, and doing the right thing when no one is watching. If it wasn’t for those two coaches, I wouldn’t be where I am today with the women around me – that is for certain.” Well said, JD! Say hello to pops for me!
• See Click Fix can be fun! When the blues got ya down, there is always SCF to brighten the day. Maldonia, I present to you — SCF of the Month: “Noise – saxophone being played outside, and badly: The horn player is driving the neighborhood crazy. You can hear it at least two blocks away. This is happening outside on a tarp-covered back porch for all to hear, and at random times all day and evening. This should really be done INSIDE.”
• Sandra (Silverman) Levin, 87, of Malden, Revere and Chelsea. A “beautiful soul.” May her memory be a blessing.
• Who else is loving the tree garden that is now blooming at the One Salem Street site? Excellent idea to turn this land into a green space with trees and shrubbery and such. The trees will mature soon and all Maldonia will get to enjoy these beautiful shade/weed trees. Said facetiously, of course.

As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — Throwback Thursday on Friday Redux — Ghosts of Malden’s Past brought to you by Presley Street’s John Surette — here we get “just the facts” from guitarist/singer/founder of the Malden punk-pop band Boy’s Life: “The night before we played with The Jam, we were asked to take them out for a good time. Met Paul and Bruce at the Newton Marriott hotel bar. First rule, no limos. So, we (my brothers David and Stephen) took our own cars. Paul (Weller) and I hit it off right away. U2 were playing at The Metro so we figured we would check it out. Upon arriving The Metro refused to let us in because we were playing (at the rival club) The Channel. We ended up at The Underground in Boston. I kept pestering Paul to play a couple of songs. He finally said if I would, he would. So, I assembled a band comprised of me, Paul, Bruce Foxton, Richie Parsons, Port Charles Quintet (Cam Ackland), and another Maldonian Dennis McCarthy from the Prime Movers. We did ‘Substitute,’ ‘Heat Wave,’ ‘Slow Down’ and ‘Batman.’ We didn’t know how to end Batman. Bruce put his bass down and said that’s it! I think we did one more song, but I can’t remember…this also was our first show back at The Channel after being banned. I almost forgot, when we stepped off the stage, who was standing up front? Bono and The Edge!!!! Bono asked Paul what was up? Paul responded, ‘Just hanging with my mates’ and we walked away.”

Postscript 1: “And now, here’s something we hope you’ll really like…” A little Fourth of July piece of Maldonia history brought to you by Kevin “He of the Very Large Brain” Larson. Without further ado… “I don’t remember the year nor did my dad, but he remembers on Fourth of July as a young boy his grandmother, Mrs. Fagan from Russell Street – that would be my great grandmother on my grandmother’s side – went up to Malden District Court to become a United States citizen. She was well prepared before she took the test. She was being sworn in with others by none other than the legendary Judge Emma Fall Schofield. At this point, it was just a formality to be sworn in but part of the swearing in was a question that they asked. What does the 4th of July mean to you? Mrs. Fagen paused then replied: ‘the most beautiful city in the world, Malden, and the wonderful parade that goes through this city!’ The rest is history.”

Postscript 2: While Devir Park lit up once again for another legendary 4th of July celebration, one familiar face was notably missing — Eddie Larson’s little brother, Kevin. This year, duty (and horsepower) called him north to the great state of New Hampshire, where he and his cherry-red vintage Mustang had the honor of rolling through the Laconia 4th of July Parade. And of course, he wasn’t alone in that convertible — he was proudly escorting none other than the 2025 Miss Winnipesaukee (with full approval, of course, from his ever-gracious and lovely bride, Ann).

Postscript 3: Now, Kevin might not have taken home many blue ribbons in the old Devir Park sack races or free throw contests back in the day, but when it comes to patriotic passion, the man is red, white and wicked blue through and through. His love for the 4th at Devir? Let’s just say it’s engraved in his soul. Or, in his own words: “My heart will always be with my beautiful memories of our beloved Devir Park 4th of July activities. God bless you Billy Callahan, Dominic Fermano, Bobby McCarthy, and my main man Paul ‘The Shining Beacon of Edgeworth’ Condon!”

Here’s to you, Big K. Even when you’re riding high in another zip code, your spirit’s right here in Edgeworth.

Postscript 4: A (very) short — (very) brief Emma Fall Schofield refresher: Emma was a stone-cold Maldonian and one of the very first female judges in Massachusetts; her father — George Howard Fall — served as mayor…wait, I ain’t done, her mom’s Anna Christy Fall was the first female lawyer in Massachusetts! “Hokey smoke!” How about that!

Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at Pe*****@*ol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.