Palisadian., 1925-08-14
LOCAL BILL NYE WAKES HUMOROUS
like FAMOUS NAMESAKE, DESCRIBES
"CL|FFS|DE SCHOOL BOARD FOLLIES"
Says Meeting of August Was Knockout; Show Has
Distinction of Being Only One in World When One
Scene Takes Place Out of View of Audience; Calls
Resembling of Sibley Appointment Unfair.
August 10, 1925.

To the Editor:
On behalf of the Citizens School
Committee of the borough of Cliffside
Park, N. j., am sending you the fol-
lowing letter for publication:
'The comedy performance put on by
the Cliffside Park Board of Education
at the High School last Friday eve
ming, August T. was knockout. 1t
did not resemble anything ever seen
before on any stage anywhere. The
comedy stuff would have done credit
to any bunch of comedians ever as
sembled The acting of the would-be
leading comedian put Ed Wynn and
Charlie Chaplin to shame. The open
ing act gave little promise of the
hilarity that was in store for the large
and expectant audience present. There
was very little action and talk was
cheap and voluminous.
"This new show of the Board of
Education has the distinction of being
the only one in the world where one
of the scenes takes place entirely be-
hind closed doors, out of sight OF the
audience. This is what makes the Sec
ond act of the school board show so
extraordinary. The actors all retire
to the seclusion of their dressing
rooms to hatch the plot, and the effect
is amazing. 1 recommend this meth
cd to all producers of reviews, farces,
comedies, and musical shows as sure
fire hit. The novelty produces sus-
pense and puts the audience on edge
for the denouement. Sometimes you
find out something and sometimes you
don't In the school board show the
spectators are left way out in the
jungles of darkest Africa. So are the
actors as it develops later.
'As the third act opens the would
be leading comedian approaches from
the right, and in the voice of Roman
gladiator preparing to eat raw meat
demands that the papers be signed at
once. The manager of the show pro-
claims that the papers are illegal.
Illegal or not, Eliminates the afore-
said wouldbe leading comedian with
the voice of Roman gladiator, the
papers must be signed. The gladiator
chorus draws near with shield, helmet
and buckler and echoes The papers
must be signed Forthwith the pa
pers are signed by the gladiators.
"The show ends abruptly and at the
time of this writing no one has been
able to fathom the meaning of the
words contained in the above men
toned document. The only thing that
anybody, including the author of the
M iy
that at the previous farce comedy en-
acted by the board Mr. Sibley was
appointed architect for the addition
to the High School and now he amt.
Mr.. Goemann says that he is, and adds
that the board acted illegally in its
endeavor to deprive Mr.. Sibley of the
appointment after it had been unani-
mously made at the previous perform
ance. Most of us who are morally,
but not materially, interested in the
schools of this borough believe that
Mr.. Goemann is right, and that the
unfair document in which the Board
of Education repudiates their own
words will be expunged from the rec
ords.
'.The reasoning of the musketeers of
the Board of Education, like the
heather Chinee, is peculiar. 1t seems
not to be directed towards the one
who does the best work, but towards
he who gets the simoleons This
seems to be the interesting thought
that is uppermost in their minds all
of the time. Is it any wonder that
three representative citizens of Cliff
side Park resigned from the Board of
Education when they realized who
they had to fight and how they had to
fight 'em? Now, all you well meaning
Cliffside Parkians, who believe in fair
dealing, have no one to fight on your
side. You must fight alone and for
yourselves.
"Now, what is the meaning of the
plot of the follies put on by the Cliff
side school board? 1t is very simply
and very plainly this. First, their
plan is to dispose of Mr.. Sibley and,
second, it is to appoint in his stead
w. Mayer Say what you like, Ralph
Hacker hasn't chance in the well
known world. Furthermore it is the
opinion of most architects of high
standing in the profession that no
architect should bid against Mr.. Sib
ley, who has given much of his time
over a period of many months, at the
behest of the former board, towards
preparing the plans for these new
-GlissS:r.166Ia school projects. Every
bf reputation who we have
says such procedure is
ethics of the profession.
You want to witness the
his Board of, as it were,
be on hand at every per-
The writer will guarantee
i'll get two eyes and two
comedy that will make you
i'd Or don't you care an
m how your school affairs