Chapter 4 - Miscellaneous Stunts To Increase School Spirit Raising School Sprit

Have competition in "RAISING THE SCHOOL SPIRIT" by using two or three "Balloons," "Thermometers" or "Rubber Plants." (Even a person under a sheet, or in a large box, carton, etc., or a small boy may come out of a box or barrel which is labeled "School Spirit"). Place one of these items on one side of the cheering section or auditorium and one on the other and perhaps, if possible, one in the middle. Then the cheerleaders could take section by section . . . raising the balloon, thermometer, etc. higher and higher depending on the volume made by the section, and thus creating audience competition. However in this manner the balloons go only about three-fourths of the way up. Then the cheerleaders could show how solid teamwork and cooperation by all, in one gigantic cheer, smashes the balloon, thermometer, etc. to bits.

Could This Be You?

Arrange several rows of chairs to represent the stadium seats at a game. Then have the pep club members imitate the way a typical crowd acts at a game. A narrator could comment "Could This Be You?" Then mimic the crowd doing such things as: have someone standing all the time blocking view of those behind; someone eating peanuts or pop corn continually, another walking back and forth thru the aisle to get a drink, hot dog, etc.; a couple of lovers interested in only themselves; a couple of girls chewing bubble gum as hard as possible; a drunk wandering through; someone with the wrong seat; someone spilling coke on another; a girl only interested in powdering her face and looking in the mirror; a boy carrying a big box of lunch and sitting there doing nothing but eat. There is no end to the mimicking you can demonstrate. The narrator could conclude by saying DON'T LET THIS BE YOU. When you go to the game root and cheer for your team.

Little Girl Act

Put on a "Little Girl Act." The cheerleaders could dress as "Little Girls" in gingham dress and be eating giant lollipops and lead a yell.

Yell Competition

Have competition in yelling by arranging the students so that the Seniors and Sophomores are yelling together and the Freshmen and Juniors yell together.

Siesta

Have a "Siesta" after lunch. The old Mexican Custom could be labeled "Football Siesta." Then each day for approximately 30 minutes immediately aftei lunch a special bell could ring and all students would wander thru the halls, on the campus, in the gym, etc. talking nothing but football. Various team members could be placed in all parts of the campus so the students could talk to them and cheer them.

The Ironman

At Jackson High, Ohio, a student was dressed as a robot to represent the school mascot, "Ironman." The game to be played was against the Wellston "Goldenrockets," so a rocket (can be made out of tin or aluminum foil) was made to represent their team. With a great deal of ceremony, the "Ironman" came on the stage and crushed the "Rocket."

Poetry

At Piqua High, Ohio, poems were made about the team members. The poems, or short worded descriptions, would be read by a narrator and the students would be asked to guess them.

The $64,000 Question

The $64,000 Question T.V. program makes excellent background for a stunt. "Hal March," a few cheerleaders and an "isolation booth," could be set up easily. The various contestants of course would always wind up winning the $64,000 check if they guessed the winner of the game tomorrow. MOCK BASKETBALL GAME

Mock basketball game amuses the students. The girls could represent the players and clown up the game. Coaches and referees could wear outlandish costumes. One team could bribe the referee; the other perhaps stretch chicken wire over the basket. Quarters could be two minutes and the cheerleaders could ginger up the excitement.

Boys Dress Up As Girl Cheerleaders

Have a squad of boys dress up as girl cheerleaders and try to lead the student body in yells.

'What's My Line"

"What's My Line" take off. This is another TV program that can be adapted to your program using items and persons in your immediate school associations.

Mock Faculty Meetings

Mock Faculty Meetings where various teachers, coaches, etc. are impersonated.

If Girls Played Football

Cheerleaders or girls could conduct a skit called "If Girls Played Football." The girls can actually wear the football uniforms, pads, helmets and all. And of course do not forget the combs, lipstick, purses, nail polish and their gossip. At Edgewood High, Ashtabula, Ohio where this was actually done they furnished the two coaches with raincoats. The captains of the teams were given balloons. The balloons, filled with water, were blown up and held over the coaches. The Edgewood Captain stood behind his school's opponents' coach and vice versa. Of course both boys blew the balloons above the heads of the coaches until the balloons bursted and showered the coaches with water.

Pantomimes

Pantomiming and mimicking of phonograph records makes excellent entertainment. The phonograph recording of Andy Griffith, called "What It Was, Was Football" makes an excellent pantomime for cheerleaders. Unusual recordings such as "The Flying Saucer" No. 1 and their second No. 7 record, "Flying Saucer No. 2," by Buchanan and Goodman; Luniverse recording. These records can be adapted to mimicking and pantomime, after some practice. Other records, some of them "oldies," which are excellent fun-makers at rallies, bon fires, etc. are: "Doing the Hokey Pokey," and "Bunny Hop" (Ray Anthony recording, Capitol No. 2427).

Pantomimes and imitations of Elvis Presley are very popular with students especially when your school has a popular boy who resembles or can mimic the singer. If your school has a combo, imitations of Presley can be made hilarious if you select a fat popular student who can ham it up.

A Silent Pep Fest

After all are seated, the M.C., who sits on the stage, rises, comes forward as if to speak, but says not a word. Instead, through pantomime, he gets over the idea that the band will play a number, the school song.

The band and the director go through all the gestures and motions of playing the song.

The students applaud but silently by striking their wrists together rather than their hands.

The M.C. again comes forward and in a pantomime indicates that the deaf and dumb cheerleaders will lead the student body in a cheer for the basketball team.

The yells are done in pantomime.

The M.C. then introduces the coach, who in turn introduces the members of the team, who parade across the stage. Everything being done without a sound. The students again applaud silently.

The cheerleaders lead another yell in silence and then some previously cued group, such as the pep squad, starts yelling. This starts everyone yelling and the band again plays the fight song actually playing it this time everyone joins in enthusiastically.

A cheerleader then yells: We've always heard that actions speak louder than words. Well let's have a couple of cheers to see how loud we can make those words.

Team Members As Cheerleaders

Persuade some of the football or basketball team members to mimic the school's cheerleaders and lead the pep rally in cheers. Try to get them to wear similar clothes, caps or beanies. Some other ways this same stunt can be used are:

The Cheerleaders switch places with the team members.

The players, dressed as women, could be the models in a style show.

Announce that the visiting team's cheerleaders are here to lead us in their favorite yell and then have the players appear and mimic them.

The Clown

Dressing a cheerleader in a clown suit and have him go up and down a ladder at a pep meeting according to how much noise the cheering sections made was very successful in one school.

Homecoming King

(This is all to be done in pantomime.) Select three senior boys for candidates for a homecoming basketball king. The three boys are called to the center of the floor during a pep assembly and the cheerleaders are to decide which is to be the king.

As the boys stand there the cheerleaders walk around them feeling their muscles and looking them up and down, judging who is to be king on the basis of muscles, butch hair cuts, etc. instead of personality, popularity, etc.

The cheerleaders should then go into a huddle and proceed to decide. After considerable yelling at each other, decide to let them) all be kings. Then seat them on a wooden throne, crown them with pans from your home economics room and give them corsages of carrots and wax paper.

All cheers to follow are then done in their honor and after each cheer bow to the kings.

Miss Carolyn Bruce Edgewood High School Ashtabula, Ohio

The Place Kick

Conduct a contest among the members of the pep squad offering a prize to the one that can kick the football the farthest. Place a football on the stage and explain to several contestants that they are to stand in front of the football and kick it hard. The one kicking the ball the hardest wins. The contestants line up ready to kick and the M.C. then states that due to the limitations of our stage we are going to have to blindfold each contestant. Then blindfold the group, remove the football from the stage and let them start kicking one by one.

The Clinic

It is surprising the number of students that are not familiar with the rules of the game. Rules change often and it is important that the students all be familiar with the latest rules and regulations. The reason many people do not attend the game is because they actually do not understand it thoroughly. For this reason it is advisable to have a pep rally stunt that is actually a clinic to bring the students up to date on the game rules. This may be done by having team members and coach or pep squad members actually perform slowly some of the questionable plays that are confusing to the student body.

Snake Dance And Conga Line

Excellent stunts to use at Pep Rallies and other Pep Programs are both the Snake Dance and the Conga Line.

THE SNAKE DANCE, is particularly useful at bon fire pep rallies. It can be used with or without the band's assistance. The Cheerleaders followed by the pep squad members and crowd grasp each other by one hand and the leader snakes the line around the bon fire. You can also use the Snake Dance before your indoor Pep Fest. After the crowd has met on the campus the leader snakes the line around and around gathering new people in the crowd and finally snaking into the gym. CAUTION: do not go too fast, else comeone may stumble and cause an accident or the line may be broken up.

If the band is available or if you can get the crowd to sing, an excellent song to sing while forming around the bon fire is "Hokey Pokey." The record can be obtained at your record shop.

THE CONGA LINE while somewhat similar to the Snake Dance is particularly different in that the students place both hands on the waist of the person in front. The leader then snakes them around as in the Snake Dance and after the line lengthens a little the leaders go into the Conga Step which is one step, two step, three steps then kick to the right . . . one step, two steps, three steps (kick to the left) keeping this rhythm up ... one two three kick; one two three kick, gonna beat Central tonight; gonna beat Central to-night; da da da da; gonna win tonight; go team go and so on. The leader snakes the line, picking up new people all the time; leader winds them in and out ... if in town, around parking meters, etc., everyone hands on waist of the person in front and all keeping up the constant rhythm of one two three kick until the leader reaches the gym or place where the speakers and balance of program is to be held.

Parodies

Find a future poet or a faculty member in your school that can rewrite some famous poem such as "The Raven" by Poe. Use the incidents of last year's game or some up-to-date circumstance. Have it read by a chorus of girls each reading a different line. Keep the mood of the poem close to the original poem. That is, should you use "The Raven" have some joker that will animate the line, "Nevermore." Many poems are easily adapted to your situations.

Mock Cheering

In order to prove to your student body that they are not yelling to capacity, try this suggestion. Make a Mock Cheering section with students that are willing to have some fun. Have these students imitate typical members of your cheering section, such as a loving couple, a popcorn eater, gum chewers, faculty members and finally three persons who really yell.

The cheerleaders should try to get the usual enthusiastic reaction out of these people. A mock game might be staged, to give them something to yell about or a runner might be set to running past the crowd carrying cards giving the score and the time of game.

After the cheerleaders feel the stunt has provided the regular crowd with sufficient amusement they should turn around and lead the entire student body-in some rousing yells.

So You Want To Lead A Cheer

This is patterned after Sammy Kaye's popular "So You Want to Lead a Band?"

Several days in advance students who want to lead a cheer in pep rally submit their names. The day of the rally, names are drawn and each person, in turn, leads a cheer.

A panel of both faculty members and students is chosen. They can be humorously attired and given outlandish names to add to the humor.

The last person leads a large box of the washday powder, "Cheer" across the stage on a little wagon. Since a "good clean prize" is advertised for the person who gets the most response from the crowd, the panel presents the box of "Cheer" to the winner.

Carnival Pep Rally

The Master of Ceremonies is dressed as a sideshow barker. He provides the continuity between each "act" of the Carnival Rally. Down the aisle of the auditorium comes a group of students (three or four) carrying balloons, eating cotton candy and giving other indications of being at a carnival.

They proceed to attend the following concessions as the barker announces each. Price is a loud cheer. If the cheer isn't loud enough, the barker does not raise the curtain until cheer is sufficient. His line may go something like this:

"Step right up ladies and gentlemen for the greatest show on earth. Admission is not one thin dime, no siree, not even one fat nickle, just a lot of lung power. See the dimpled darlings of the diaper set for just one loud cheer. So step right up. Let's hear from you."

Dimpled Darlings. These can be three or four popular boys of the school dressed in short crepe paper skirts and twirling batons while doing a dance. (Cheerleaders lead applause.)

Novelty Basketball Game

At Ironton, Minn., the girls' team played the business men's team. The girls' team was composed of the regular players in the high school.

They were dressed in regular basketball costumes. The men's team was composed of men who knew little about basketball. They were outfitted in various kinds of suits from baseball to work-a-day suits. The fun of the game lay in seriousness with which the men played and the number of free throws the girls won. The game was played at an afternoon pep meeting. (It could be used as a money maker in the evening.)

Operation School Spirit

As the curtain opens a boy is lying on a table which has been fixed up to resemble an operating table. The boy is all covered up with a white sheet and is moaning and groaning.

Several doctors and nurses enter, look over the situation, and declare the only possible hope is in an operation. Ad lib the speaking parts and remarks of doctors consulting each other.

They proceed immediately to operate and after the cutting they discover several infected parts that will have to be removed from the boy. (Intestines, both large and small (use crepe paper, strings and deflated football), lungs, appendix, gall stones, use rocks, etc.) For operating equipment use saws, hammers, knives and a big needle and string to resemble the sewing up procedure.

After the operation is accomplished the patient jumps up and off the table and vigorously yells and hollers SCHOOL SPIRIT HAS BEEN REVIVED. WE ARE GOING TO WIN-WIN-WIN. Cheerleaders then lead with their yells.

Meet The Team

The students are all anxious to know each, of their players better. It is usually impossible to get members of the team to participate in rallies and such participation is usually not necessary. Their presence at the rally is sufficient. If you can get the players to sit close to the stage approach, it is possible then to have the coach call a player's name, have him walk across the stage and the cheerleaders lead in a Yea! (player) yell. The coach should be asked to announce the position the player plays, his number and brief resume of his service, letter, etc.

Paper Bag Yell

A yell introduced in one of the recent summer cheerleading schools has been tried by several schools and results have been very good. Baylor University in Waco, Texas was the first in the Southwest area to use it, and it has developed into one of their most popular yells.

The yell is conducted in the following manner each person is given a paper bag, the pop corn variety, and they are instructed to blow it up. Then the following yell is given:

B! E! A! R! S! S-s-s-s-s-s-s- Boom BEARS.

On "BOOM" everyone pops his bag and a terrific explosion ensues. The yell is very effective in a gymnasium, an auditorium rally and in a football stadium.

The yell, as most new yells, should be presented to the student body in a rally, so all aspects of it can be explained and the maximum effectiveness obtained. Something should be said about popping the bag too soon and ruining the yell, etc. The yell is especially good for a pep squad, booster club, band or other such responsible group to do as a well organized trick in the same manner as card stunts, shakers, etc.

Barbershop Quartet

Have four boys appropriately attired, represent a barber shop quartet. Introduce them as "About to become members of the ASPEBSQSA, better known as the American Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America." Have them sing a few parodies of popular and familiar tunes (relating to the game) and then have them lead the audience in singing them.

Bon Fires

Many cities prohibit bon fires but where permission from the Police Department has been obtained a good winter bon fire can really stir the students and community up. Be sure the police and fire department set aside a location for you to have the bon fire. Perhaps they will assign a fireman to supervise. Have students gather the wood several days in advance starting with a large base and building the pile cone shaped. Under no circumstances use any gasoline. Ask your fire department for permission to use a small quantity of kerosene if the wood is damp and you believe there will be some trouble starting the fire easily. This fire lighting should be the "big moment." Be sure and have some popular person such as the team coach, principal, school superintendent, mayor, etc. make a short speech and have him ignite the fire. Perhaps you could build a small platform for the speaker to stand on so he can be seen and afterwards throw the box on the fire. A few other hints on bon fires might be precautionary. If a good sized pile of wood has been gathered it might pay to have an all night and day guard watch for someone setting the fire prematurely. Your opponents delight in such maneuvers. Be sure and make plans for cleaning up the mess made by the fire so you will be permitted to have another fire by the officials.

Bon Fire Stunt

Prepare a straw and paper "dummy" to represent your opponent. Have the dummy big enough to be seen and hang him in the school all through the day of the bon fire. The cheerleaders could carry the dummy through the rooms on a stretcher. Then on the night of the bon fire have the students and pep squad meet some place in town. Then on the way to the fire location stop on corners to give a cheer. Sing songs on the way. Stop by the coach's, principal, players, etc., homes on the way and give a cheer. As you near the bon fire location form a conga line and after the speaker starts the fire dance around the fire waving hands overhead and form into a snake dance. Then at some designated time the "dummy" of your opponent is thrown, with ceremony, into the fire. Have a player or two do this, if possible.

The Deflated Opponent

Scene: Arrange four or five balloons blown up as large as possible, at the front of stage. Each of these balloons should have a football helmet on them and paint a smiling face on each with lipstick. On the other side of the stage there is a balloon just partly blown up. The cheering squad is on the stage.

Principal or Narrator: To start off our pep rally today we have here part of our strong hardy football boys.

Cheerleaders: Let's give them a cheer gang. Lead a yell.

One Cheerleader: Well, Mr. Speaker, who is this supposed to be? Pointing to the partially blown balloon.

Speaker: That, cheerleaders, represents (opponents) and that is the way they are going to look after our boys beat them tomorrow.

Novelty Yells

Making up some yell to depict the slogan of visiting teams offers variety and surprise to a meeting. (Dress the part and practice.)

"The Viper Is Coming"

School song

No. 1 Person: (Crosses stage with worried expression saying:) "The viper is coming in two years!"

No. 2 Person: (Crosses stage as the first saying:) "The viper is coming in one year!"

No. 3 Person: (Crosses stage as the second, saying:) "The viper is coming in six months!"

No. 4 Person: (Crosses stage saying:) "The viper is coming in one month!"

No. 5 Person: (Crosses stage saying:) "The viper is coming in one week!"

No. 6 Person: (Crosses stage saying:)

"The viper is coming now!" runs off stage followed by the viper!

The viper crosses the stage, very slowly. (An old scrub woman comes on stage with mop and pail and mops up the floor.) I am the viper, I have come to vipe the vindows.

Cheerleaders: That's what we're going to do to, (what ever team they happen to be playing!) we'll mop them off the floor! (vipe) dem off de floor!

Cheers by the cheerleaders are given between persons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Slogan Day And Sign Day

In the same manner as the Color Day Stunt has been arranged have a special day for everyone to wear a slogan button or ribbon, such as "Beat Wood-row Wilson" or a sign could be pinned on each student, such as "I'm boosting the Tigers."

Bus Trip

A simple stunt to prepare is a "bus trip" before or after a game. The only properties required are chairs arranged like seats in a bus, with imaginary windows. Do not try to have planned conversation, but make it informal. Have the team tell jokes, sing songs and generally have fun. If they will cooperate, let them make their own conversation and use their own jokes. To make it more humorous and realistic the team may bounce gently up and down as they would do in a real bus. (Opponent's team going to the game all happy and gay. Next scene shows return trip, everyone sad, some bandaged, etc., all dejected and thoroughly beaten.)

A Court Case

Scene: Cheerleaders are on the stage and a speaker is about to talk to them but just before the speaker starts talking a boy wanders across the stage carrying an empty cold drink case. The speaker addresses the boy

Speaker: Now just what are you doing?

Boy: I'm taking my case to court. Speaker then turns to cheerleaders but just as he starts talking the boy appears again this time carrying a ladder and the empty case.

Speaker: Now just what are doing this time?

Boy: I'm taking my case to a higher court . . . he says as he walks off the stage. Then after the speaker gets ready to talk to the cheerleaders the third time, the boy walks on the stage looking all around for something

Speaker: Just what is the matter this time?

Boy: I lost my suit. (Enters with coat hanger).

Big Game

A large head of a Tiger (the slogan of the opposition) is placed on one side of the stage. A member of the faculty, who is handy with a bow and arrow, aims an arrow at the Tiger hitting it between the eyes. This is followed by loud cheering and applause and the cheerleaders leading a Victory yell. (Other varieties of this can be adapted to fit team mascots.)

Silent Spectators

Have a group of spectators on the stage to resemble a crowd at a game. Then in pantomime have them act out what they should be seeing in a game. This is made interesting and amusing because in the first row of the audience have the group director instruct the group's movements. Each of the spectator's heads, arms, etc. should follow the director's movements. The movements represent the ball in most cases, but if pop corn is used; when the director eats some pop corn the spectators do likewise. Banners can also be used. This stunt can be used to represent various games. Tennis, basketball, football, etc.

Color Day

Advertise around that a certain school day is School Color Day. If your school colors are red and blue then everyone must wear red and blue ribbons, or somewhere on their person show the colors. The colors could also be displayed on cars, in class rooms, etc. A penalty could also be charged for those students not wearing school colors on Color Day and a prize offered to the best dressed student in school colors.

Clash Color Day

For something different to arouse school spirit advertise around that a certain day is School Clash Color Day. Students on that day should wear only colors that clash and as riotous as they can make them, e.g., wear certain shades of the basic colors, green and yellow, purple and orange; chartreuse and maroon, etc.

The Rubber Plant

Equipment for this stunt: 1. A small flower pot; 2. A small rubber hose; 3. A balloon (long, spiral, preferable).

One of the cheerleaders tells the audience that Mr. So and So (e.g., the biology teacher) ran across a strange looking plant while looking for some botany specimens, and he took it home and tried to make it grow. He watered it and watered it but it just wouldn't grow. Finally he got so mad at it he shouted, "If you don't grow I'll throw you out." To his surprise the plant spurted up and grew a little.

Now you can imagine how puzzled Mr. Was at this, but as usual he soon found the answer and decided it was one of those rare specimens of plant life that actually grows with noise and confusion.

Mr. has graciously consented to let us use the plant at our rally today and give you a chance to help it grow.

Let's give a quick yell and see what happens. A yell is given and the plant grows a little. This is done several times until the balloon is blown way up and finally bursts while the crowd is yelling the loudest. This usually proves very entertaining and gets the crowd to yell.

This stunt is done by inserting a rubber tube in the hole in the bottom of the pot and attaching a balloon to the end inside the pot. The hose is then run concealed behind the curtain where a husky boy blows through the base on the given cues and inflates the balloon. If a good size balloon is used a ball pump or tire pump should be used to insure a sufficient supply of air. Try this sometime. Your crowd is sure to get a "bang" out of it.

This same principle can be used in many other skits, such as: Have a figure of the opposing team's mascot come out on the stage and have announced that you brought him over to see what a real pep rally was like and you bet that what he sees will really make his eyes bug out. Then the balloons he has for eyes will expand as the yelling increases.

Make 'Em Talk

The narrator explains that a demonstration of genuine old world horror is to be presented. Two large boys then drag in a smaller boy. The big boys are yelling, "make 'em talk, make 'em talk." They then say, "so you won't talk hey? Well we are going to make you talk and talk plenty." A rope is then grasped by one of the big boys. "Give him five lashes, that will make him talk." After the lashes are given and the little fellow does not talk, two more lashes are delivered. One large boy then exhibits a knife. "Let us cut his neck" . . . "yes" the other big boy says, "cut his neck yeaaaa his neck ... tie right off." This they proceed to do. "So he still won't talk, hey?" Let's cut his tongue right out, says one large boy and then the other agreeing says, "Yes, let us cut the tongue right out of his shoe." "Still won't talk hey?" The large boys then decide to "box" him (they box his ears) and "cut his heart out" which is changed to "hard earned shirt out." The boy still refuses to talk. The narrator then says, "folks what you have just seen is an authentic method used in the old world to make people talk. We actually wanted this young man to say (your team mascot) would lose tomorrow but we are very happy to report he uttered not a sound. Now folks we know you are all enthusiastic about our school and our team and there is no need to put you through such torture to prove your devotion and loyalty but we want you to be there tomorrow night at the game and root and yell for our wonderful team. I hope you'll all be there!" How about it now can we count on you?

Chewing Gum

Have two boys in audience dressed as girls. There is a great deal of confusion in the loud speaker. The Master of Ceremonies goes to the microphone and says: "What are you two girls doing down there?" The "girls" make several wise remarks, such as, "We just lost it that's all there is to it... funny how it got away from us." . . . The M. C. then after trying to go on with his announcement says: "There's a show going on here and we would like you girls to quiet down." The girls make a few more wise cracks and then break out with "I found it, I found it!" The M.C. then says: "You found what?" Girls reply, "Our Chewing Gum."

Dramatize Your Mascot

Many schools have someone dressed as an Indian or a Tiger, etc., that goes to all the games and appears on the field and goes through some antics to get a rise out of the crowd. Texas Tech College whose mascots are Cowpokes begin each game with a cowboy on a white horse riding out on the field in the style of the Lone Ranger. The University of Illinois has their Indian chief, Chief Illinwek, who does a dance after each touchdown, etc., and adds much color to the game. Tryouts to win the job as Chief Illinwek, one of the most coveted student positions on the campus, are almost as rigorous as football practice.

The Water Glass

Scene: There is a pitcher of water and a glass before the speaker in the customary manner. The pitcher and glass may be placed on the speaker platform. Just as the speaker begins to talk a student dashes out on the stage . . .

Student: Excuse me sir, . . . and he pours a glass of water and leaves with it. The speaker again tries to get started talking and again the student rushes in with an empty glass and…

Student: Pardon me sir ... and the student pours another glass of water and leaves with it. The speaker then tries again to get started talking and the student again rushes on the stage with an empty glass which he fills and rushes of the stage with it to the disgust of the speaker and when the student returns again with the empty glass the speaker . . .

Speaker: Wait just a minute here. I am trying to address this audience and I ...

Student: Well sir, I'm awfully sorry. I didn't want to bother you, BUT YOUR CAR OUTSIDE IS ON FIRE!

The Princess

Narrator: Once upon a time, Ladies and Gentlemen, in Never Never Land there was a beautiful princess.

Scene: Princess enters. The princess is a boy dressed in a Royal Robe, Formal and Veil.

Narrator: The princess vowed she would not marry until she met one who would love her for herself and not her beauty. When she made this declaration she donned the veil she wears never to remove it until her wedding takes place.

Scene: Princess goes to the chair and makes a big drama out of what has just been said.

Narrator: Many a suitor had come and gone when one day a handsome suitor happened to gaze upon the beautiful princess.

Scene: Enter player, timidly. Princess and player stare at each other. Narrator: Instantly they knew they were born for each other. Scene: They fall into each other's arms and walk off the stage arm in arm.

Narrator: The moral of this story is: If Coach boys can make as fast a time as the suitor in our story, we are certainly going to win tomorrow!

The Storm

Narrator: Our skit today requires the services of some of you in the audience. First we need five people to represent trees. (Cheerleaders get five students and they are placed on stage in a group and told to hold their arms out like tree branches.)

Narrator: Now we need a whirlwind. (This is the "goat" of the stunt so be sure and select a good natured popular team member, student ar faculty member that does not object to being teased.)

Narrator: Now one day a tremendous wind blew up. The "goat" is told to start running around and thru the trees to represent the whirlwind.

Narrator: The wind blew and blew and the tree limbs began to fall. (''Tree" arms are lowered.)

Narrator: And then one by one the trees began to fall. The '"goat" keeps running around to represent the whirlwind as the "trees" fall down.
Narrator: Finally . . . the trees were all blown down BUT THE SAP KEPT EUNNING!

Getting Boys To Yell

Have the cheerleaders for a full school day excused from classes and instead assigned to teach yells and songs to the boys at their physical education classes. Then have all boy assemblies where you may review what you have accomplished.

Acoustics

The following stunt may be pulled on a program just before the guest speaker is introduced. Be sure to select a friendly speaker who enjoys a friendly gag.

Narrator: Before we introduce our guest speaker today we would like to test the acoustics in our auditorium. We want to be sure everything is in order before we present our Mr. So and So to you, so please pardon this slight interruption in our program.

Scene: Cheerleader walks over to one side of stage and yells with her hands cuffed to her mouth.

Cheerleader: BALONEY.

Scene: A voice of another cheerleader in back of stage echoes BALONEY.

Cheerleader: Let us try it now in the center of the stage. BALONEY.

Scene: A voice backstage echoes BALONEY.

Cheerleader: Now let us try it on this side of the stage. Our guest speaker Mr. So and So is a wonderful speaker.

Scene: Voice in background echoes BALONEY.

Narrator: Whoops now, wait a minute we better use the loud speaker here today. (Narrator shoos cheerleaders away.)

The Fortune Teller

Madame SEESALL KNOWSALL sitting at the crystal ball, seeks information on the game tomorrow. She announces she sees a close score. The coach enters and asks her predictions . . . after considerable examination she announces she sees a tie score. The audience then sighs as she continues to examine the crystal. Looking further, she sees a 14-13 score in your school's favor to which the crowd begins to yell acclaim . . . then she continues to examine the crystal and the louder the students yell the bigger the margin in their school's favor is stated until she finally sees a terrific victory for your home team. The cheerleaders then lead the yells.

Note: Instead of the "crystal ball" you could use a football or basketball for the purpose. Be sure to set the "ball" up in appropriate dish so that it assumes the part of the "crystal ball."

Greatest Fights Of The Century

Set up a ring with mats. The ring announcer calls attention to the No. 1 bout of the year to determine the championship fight between (opponents) on my left and the (your mascot) on my right. Have two men appear in trunks. One very small, and labeleld with your opponent's mascot name, and the other your mascot.

Narrator then says: "It is to be a three round match." The bell rings for round one and the big fellow of course gets the best of the round. Same in round two and then in round three your mascot knocks your opponent to the floor winning by a knockout. Your mascot stands with one foot on the defeated (opponent). Stretcher bearers then come in and carry off your opponent while the cheerleaders lead a yell for your mascot.

The Race For The Bacon

Hang a large piece of bacon or ham on one of the goal posts. A large piece of cardboard colored to represent bacon or a cardboard ham used for advertising purposes could be used. The race for the bacon should be between a large plow horse and a small race horse or riding pony. The jockey who rides the large horse should wear dark or white riding breeches and a cap and sweater of the opponent's colors. On his back is a large pennant on which is written the name of the opposing high school. The jockey who rides the small race horse should be dressed similarly, except that his cap and sweater should be of the local high school colors and the banner on his back is the local high school banner or pennant. Be sure that the names of the two schools or towns are large enough so that they can be read by everyone on the sidelines.

The race starts at the opposite goal post. At a given signal the race starts. Needless to say, the small race horse should reach the goal post first. As he rides between the goal posts the jockey snatches the bacon and wins the race. If desired, he could then ride over to his team and hand them the bacon.

Visiting Cheerleaders

The day before the pep meeting is to be staged, give considerable publicity to the fact that the cheerleaders of the visiting team will be guests of the local school at their pep meeting. At the proper time, the master of ceremonies makes the following announcement.

"We are always happy to have our friends from other schools visit us, but we consider it only the brave who are willing to come before this group, and favor you with the cheers of the foe. Anyway, since these youthful, lusty representatives of tonight's opponents are here, we've asked them to demonstrate some of (name of opponents) pep."

At this point, three large, ungainly boys, dressed in sweaters and skirts come out on the stage. If possible, they should wear as many clothes as possible in the opposing team's colors. To cover up their boy hair cuts, each should wear a scarf, tied around the head in a fashion girls wear them. Be sure to have them all well rouged. Each could carry a pennant in the colors of the opposing school. They give two or three yells, using the name of the opponent's school and of course, do it in a very unenthu-siastic way, and dull manner. At the end of the second or third yell, they run off the stage waving their pennants in a rather childish way, but definitely very pleased with themselves. Master of Ceremonies: Thank you! We'll expect you at the game tonight in the same form! Now you, gang (to the audience) ... How do you feel about our cheerleaders? (Hearty applause.) Hometown cheerleaders come out and do some yells.

Sausage Mill

Equip a large box with a grinding handle and a spout on opposite ends of the box to imitate a sausage mill. On one side of the box using your school
name, mascot or coach's name entitle the stunt as "Terry's Sausage Mill." Attach several long balloons to the spout to represent link sausages. Then as a boy dressed in your home school colors turns the handle of the mill a small boy dressed in opposing team suit springs up in the box screaming and moaning. On the side of your float or box use signs announcing "Special Today!" (then your opponent's mascot name), "Sausage."

A Television Football Quiz

Set up a television studio on the stage, microphone, desk and have a "panel" of five or six students who are to be quizzed on their knowledge of football, basketball, etc. The narrator asks each a question in the way they usually do it on the TV shows and one panel member at a time answers. If the answer is wrong you could ring a bell, or push a buzzer, etc. In this case the panel contestant could be made to stand in front of the audience and lead a yell, or do a specialty act or as a suggestion the narrator could ask a simple question such as "show the audience" what you do when our team makes a first down. The quiz questions should be easily answered questions on the game (football or basketball) such as "how many men are on a football team? What is done when a player dribbles the ball?"

THE ANNOUNCEMENT Scene: Someone in the audience walks up to the speaker's platform and gives the speaker a piece of paper with a message on it. The message is read by the speaker. . . .

Speaker: Will the owner of a brand new yellow Buick Convertible License No. 6341 please report to the front office at once. A big truck just hit the car.

Someone in the rear of the audience immediately jumps up and shouts . . .

Student: Oh! No! Not that beautiful car. Oh ... No. Heavens . . . what will I do? etc. and carries on in that manner and then as she is half way out the aisle she shouts . . .

Student: Wait a minute, where am I going? ... I don't even have a car.

Pride Humbled

Partly inflate a large rubber balloon, the colors of the opponent's school if possible, and place on a box on the stage, the box being large enough for a boy to be under it. A rubber tube passes down through a crack in the box. As the demonstrator tells how the rival's pride grew, the balloon is inflated by the boy hidden in the box. The demonstrator then praises the home team, makes some passes over the balloon with a pin, exploding it. The pin can be in the end of a stick on which is a placard with the word "Victory" and the name of the home school. The balloon is thus punctured as the placard is thrust up through a wide, long crack in the box and the placard takes its place as if it had been left by the balloon exploding.

What's My Trademark

This is a takeoff on the panel show "What's My Line." Have a "panel" and also the Master of Ceremonies and after the usual introduction of the panel have the cheerleaders, one by one, enter pantomiming some advertised trademarked article which the panel is asked to guess. (Football players could also be used with the cheerleaders pantomiming some of their various characteristics, actions or habits.)

Toast Of The Town

Have a program arranged similar to Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town." Right in your own school you can probably find a "Julius La Rosa"; a comedian; material for a few good acts and a person to mimic "Ed Sullivan." You can always pick the coaches, members of the team, etc. right out of your audience, as Ed Sullivan does.

Joke Contest

Advertise several days before the pep fest that you are going to have a big contest open to everyone, at the pep fest. A prize is to be given to the person telling the most amusing joke. The one that makes the crowd yell the loudest to win. Then at the pep fest the Master of Ceremonies has the various contestants appear and read or tell their favorite story or joke. The crowd of course applauds and yells after each joke is told. Finally someone appears with a placard, news clipping, etc. of your opponents which reads "Indians (or your opponent's mascot) to massacre (your mascot). The crowd screams and this joke is declared the winner by unanimous consent. The prize is a box of "CHEER."

Arrows And Darts

Ashland, Ohio uses the mascot the "Arrows." The Tunior Varsity has been named the "Darts." At pep rallies they sometimes place balloons on a board and under each balloon they place a label with the name of an opposing player. Then as members of their team throw darts at the balloons and as they are bursted the cheerleaders lead the crowd in yells.

Powerhouse Stunt

To symbolize your powerful football team have one of your "mighty" football players pull a wagon across the stage. On the wagon place a gaily decorated box and label it in large letters " (your mascot) POWERHOUSE." In the box hide a "willing" student that loves to scream, groan and yell and make all sorts of noises. From a slot made in the back of the box, have a large cardboard cutout of a player in the opposing team colors. As the "mighty" football player pulls the wagon across the floor the "willing" student yells and groans and slowly pushes the "player" out of the box.

Devils Lake High School, North Dakota

Elsie The Cow

Obtain a large piece of cardboard and cut it out to resemble a cow's head. Cut two large holes for the "eyes" and in these holes place a balloon arranged so that someone in the background can blow it up. Then to make the cow's body you will need two cheerleaders under a sheet. Arrange this to resemble Elsie the Cow. Lead the crowd with yells and the louder they yell the bigger Elsie's "eyes" get until they bust. (Any other team mascot could be used just as easy. The opponent's mascot could be found wandering around, and "be brought to the pep rally to see some real rooting that would make his eyes bug out.")

Alumni Welcome

Very often at pep rallies ex-students and ex-team members appear for the usual reunions. Be prepared to lead the crowd in the familiar and universally known song, "Auld Lang Syne." In singing the song the person's name and your school can be added in the song quite easily in the second stanza.

Sing Stunt

Four, six or eight girls or preferably four boys and four girls may be used. Have one line of a popular song first sung by the group, then the next by the boys, then the girls and then, using a dummy mike, have the four girls sing into it, but have the boys' voices actually sing into the real microphone, then the next line have the boys appear to be singing but the audience hears the girls.

You could also have the girls bend over and sing their line while the boys stood and appeared to be singing and then alternate on each line.

The singers should be in a group. A song such as "It's Friendship, It's Friendship," is the type to use.

Using The Pep Band At Pep Fest

Have the Pep Band go thru the halls collecting students and players and have everyone assemble in the gym. Form a large circle with the band at the top and cheerleaders in center. Then have a short skit, a few songs and some cheers.

Slumber Party

The cheerleaders carry on as though they were having a slumber party. Dress in robes (over your clothes) and be eating apples, cookies, sandwiches, etc. and have blankets to sit on. Talk all the gossip about the players, some of the teachers and the rest of the kids in the school. Make it resemble a real and regular slumber party.

Cheerleaders Style Show

During a pep fest cheerleaders put on a style show showing what the cheerleader used to wear in days gone by and what the best dressed cheerleaders wear today. Have five or six cheerleaders put the acting on and one or two in the back operating the phonograph with the music of the day.

The Grass Skirt

Tnis skit works best on a stage and while the cooperating speaker is making his speech, a girl, dressed in a grass skirt (and decorated in the op
ponent school's colors, if possible) steps out from the wings and realizing she is in the wrong place says...            .

Oh! Excuse me ... I'm so sorry (in a sultry voice) and she walks on across the stage. The speaker continues his talk, then from out of the wings where the girl made her exit comes many screams EEEE EEEEE and back across the stage dashes the girl in the grass skirt still screaming. Before she gets very far out walks the team captain pushing a lawn mower or working some hedge shears as if to be trying to cut the girl's grass skirt.

Acrobatic Stunt

A simple, yet decidedly effective, half-time entree for cheerleaders is to burst out of a runway, or from under the stands in a tumbling routine of cartwheels, handsprings and flips and continue this routine to the center of the field or other positions from which the climax cheer is to be given. The animation serves to enliven spectators.

B.C.

The comic strip "B.C." now running in daily newspapers can easily be adapted to a pep rally stunt.

Dress a few cheerleaders cave man style and have them act as though they were cheerleading. Then have two or more cheerleaders dress as monkeys, insects, animals, etc., and have them mimic the cave man by saying such things as "they must be trying to win some sort of game," etc.

Pep-O-Meter

Paint the shape of a thermometer on a piece of white cardboard 2 ft. by 5 ft., at the top fasten a loop with a coat hanger, or some such wire. Have someone backstage pulling the long, thin cord to indicate the crowd temperature. As the rally progresses this individual should pull the crepe paper up, finally on the last yell pull it clear over the top.

The Clothes Line

If your school has an auditorium with stage, curtain drop, etc. and the pep rally is to be held in it, a novel stunt to start the pep fest off is to raise the curtain slowly exposing the backs of two girls' legs. Do not raise the curtain higher than the girls' knees. The girls then drop a few articles of clothing one at a time while the audience watches with amusement and speculation. The illusion is to make it appear the two girls were undressing and dropping their clothes to the floor and the audience was seeing something not on the program and the curtain was up by mistake. After sufficient time has been allowed the curtain is raised and the two girls are seen in shorts hanging out clothes on a wash line. A banner might be hung on the clothes line, such as, "Let's take the Indians to the Cleaners," or, "Let's clean up the Lions," or "We're going to wash up the Tigers," etc.

Bulldogs Vs. Bulldogs

Occasionally your team may play a team that has the same mascot as yours. If such is the case you are faced with this problem of similarity each time you play that team. As an idea that may be adapted to similar situations this is what the Plainview (Texas) Bulldogs did when they played a rival team whose mascot was "Bulldogs."

The pep rally was known as our "Victory Doghouse Pep Rally." To carry out the theme of "Let's Have a Dogfight" each of we six girls made a doghouse. The houses were made just large enough for us to get into while in a kneeling position.

Before the student entered the gym, we took our regular places, covered by the doghouses; and at a signal from the band, we burst from the doghouses spelling F-I-G-H-T FIGHT.
 
The houses were easy to make and furnished an original skit to encourage spirit for our game. Each of the girls secured a box, in proportion to her height and made a roof by using the flaps from the end of the box, leaving the front of the box open. Then covering all sides with white paper and the roof in crepe paper (in school colors); we painted a door in the front. Over the door each girl painted her name. To add to the atmosphere, we placed red dog dishes and a box of dog food before each house. Red dog collars, worn around our necks added color to our white uniforms.

Sadie Hawkins Day

Have your Pep Club sponsor a "Sadie Hawkins Day." On this day each girl should pin a patch on her date for the rally that night. All through that particular day she has to do the various things a gentleman should do, such as: opening doors, carrying books, helping with coats, etc.

That night the girls are supposed to furnish the transportation for their dates and pick them up at their homes. They should also present their dates with weird corsages so the boys can wear these. Devils Lake High School, North Dakota.

Pennies For Luck

Friday the 13th lends itself automatically to the idea of a jinx. Make the 13th your good luck day and transfer the proverbial bad luck to the opposing team. You could even use as your slogan "Jinx the (opponents)."

To carry out this good luck theme, present the members of your team with shiny new "Lucky" pennies. These could be mounted on a small card and decorated with ribbons of your school colors so the boys will wear them for the remainder of the season. Place a large decorated sign, in the shape of a penny, in your main school hall and paste the pictures of all the team members on it. Label the picture "Pennies Brought Us Luck."

Plainview High School, Texas.

Comic Figures

Rocky Grove High School, Franklin, Penna.

Using large pieces of cardboard or paper, sketch the bodies of 4 or 5 comic figures on them. Do not place any heads on the pictures. The "pictures" are supposed to be "bodies" of comic characters; movie stars; glamor girls, etc. Set these on the stage in such a manner a person can stand behind the picture and place his head over the "body." You could possibly attach them to a curtain and then fasten the pictures at each end and in the middle leaving room for a person to put his head only in the picture.

A narrator could then be used to introduce the football or basketball players or whoever you have selected for the stunt.

The Violinist

A gag to get the pep rally started could be to introduce Fritz Buick (not Chrysler) and his home made Violin. You could have "Fritz" shown on stage with a home made box on a pole (or even a broom could be used), with one string fashioned to represent an instrument he made in the mountains while on his summer vacation. Fritz with his home made "bow" could then play the school song on his "instrument" to the surprise of the audience ^the real music however is made by one of the orchestra's violinists hidden in the background.

Impersonations

An easily concocted stunt or skit may be worked up by imitating the various teachers in your school or at your camp. Select students of course who can be dressed to somewhat resemble the teacher to be mimicked. The teacher's dress, walk, look and mannerisms should be practiced. Several such characters could discuss the next game; the players grades; the student school spirit, behavior, etc. As a jest one of the most sports minded faculty members could be dribbling a ball or demonstrating a pass.

Lauderdale's Spirit

Each year, at Ft. Lauderdale High School, a boy is chosen to act as our school mascot. He becomes the representation of all the pep and enthusiasm that has made the lasting tradition of Ft. Lauderdale High. He is our Spirit. He is present at all football and basketball events of the year. Appropriately enough, the Lauderdale Spirit is dressed m a long white costume and wears a white hood over his head. To complete our school colors, blue and white, he wears, on the front of his costume, the symbol of our school the blue Flying L. It is the Spirit's job to encourage the spectators to cheer, to play a drum, and to help in the cheerleaders' rhythm cheers.

The Lauderdale Spirit also has special chants to lead. One of these is "Ahh Bulyah". After this chant is announced, he begins to run up and down the field or count slowly raising his arms until they are above his head. This indicates to the crowd to yell "Ahhh", gradually getting louder and louder. Finally the Spirit drops his arms; there is a pause; and then the crowd yells: "Bulyah." (Pause) "Lauderdale." (Pause) "Team." (Pause) "Fight!"

Cheerleaders Mock Players

We had 11 girls dressed in football uniforms waiting on the left side of the stage where they could not be seen by the students. A cheerleader on stage, dressed in Coach's pants, hat and jacket called each player out, one at a time, giving an odd name to each girl but using the girls last name. Such as, Crazy Legs Kantor; Baby Face Boarts. When the entire team was on stage we did Calisthenics (the wrong way). We then went into a huddle and ran through a few plays, tackling our own players. The quarterback called odd plays, such as: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9. We then left the stage leaving the students in a hysterical mood-Kittanning (Penna.) High School

Uh-Uh

The week before our pep rally our halls were covered with small uh-uh signs. These signs aroused much curiosity to the student body and they looked forward with great anticipation to the pep rally.

With the words uh-uh the Plainview High School Cheerleaders began their third pep rally. The six cheerleaders entered the gym floor looking very downcast and shaking their heads, they said, "uh-uh". They slowly walked to their places and began talking rhythmically:

"A guy from Hereford said come on Dogs,
I said uh-uh, I said uh-uh.
He said the Hereford team is going to the top
I said uh-uh, I said uh-uh.
Can't you tell your team doesn't have a chance?
I said uh-uh, I said uh-uh.
He said come on over here your team is a'dying
I said uh-uh, I said uh-uh.
He said your team will lose just as sure as you know,
I said uh-uh, I said uh-uh.
I said NO! uh-uhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Be Prepared

In Plainview's game with the Brownfield "Cubs" we used the famous motto of the CUB SCOUTS, which is "BE PRE-PAEED," for our pep rally skit.

A cheerleader walks to the microphone and introduces the team members one by one as they come onto the stage. She is very enthusiastic about each in her introduction. The team members are then seated on stage. She then introduces the "opponents" team, the Brownfield Cubs. These cheerleaders or pep squad members, march in, platoon style. They are dressed in Cub Scout hats and scarfs, humming "The Bridge on the River Kwai." They march to the microphone in a straight line and say "we are the Brownfield Cubs and WE ARE PREPARED, are you?" They then march off the floor.

Cheerleader at microphone then asks the student body "Are we prepared students to beat Brownfield?"

Wood Blocks For Clap Yells

Some school cheerleaders use plain wood blocks about 3%x6xl to beat the rhythm on clap yelk. The blocks make more noise, save the hands and are more effective.

Mittens For Pep Club

Interesting and effective routines can be worked up easily by Pep Clubs with the use of large oversize Mittens. The mittens may be made in two school colors for each hand or they may be made to have one color in one hand and the other color in the other hand. The Pep Clubs can make their own Mittens easily as a project or they can be economically purchased for about $1. each. They also serve to keep the hands warm on those real cold days. Waving of the mittens of course should be done in unison, so practice your routines well before taking them to the game so everyone waves the mittens at the same time and in the same manner.

"Sob Sob"

First cheerleader comes on stage bending knees as she walks. She is saying: Sob Sob Sob Sob Sob over and over as she walks. When she gets far across the stage she stops and keeps saying "Sob Sob Sob Sob Sob." When she gets half the distance before she stops, another cheerleader starts coming out bending at the knees as she walks. When the first girl stops and says, "Sob Sob Sob Sob Sob" the second girl should be at the first girl's side. They are still bending at the knees keeping the slow Sob Sob rhythm.

The second girl says to her "What's the matter (girl's name) ?"

First girl: "The cheerleading squad ain't got no pep." Both girls say: Sob Sob Sob Sob Sob. Then say "Pep pep pep pep pep."

The third girl has been coming out on the stage slowly so she will be by the second girl's side when the two girls finish saying "Pep pep pep pep pep."

This process is followed until all the girls except one is on the stage. After the last girl has said "What's the matter (girl's name)" and the othergirls have replied they are all in a line bending at the knees. The last girl comes out with a jar labeled pep tonic and a spoon. She skips out and says: "I have the tonic that will give you pep. Hurrah Hurrah rah rah rah."

She places the spoon to the first girl's mouth and the girl joins in on the "Hurrah Hurrah rah rah rah." This process goes on until all the girls are saying it. Then they get in formation for a pep yell.

Christmas Time Stunt

Cheerleaders enter wearing big bows and knee socks and carrying suckers. Stage is set with fireplace and two beds. As "little girls" they sing to tune:

All we want for Christmas is a victory, a victory over (Opponent)
Gosh, if we could only have a victory
Then we would have a Merry Christmas.
Our team is tops, our spirit high
(Opponent) will find us very hard to beat.
Gosh, oh gee how happy we'd be if we could only beat (Opponent) (One girl says: "We paid the Refs so Sweet")
All we want for Christmas is a victory
Then we would have a Merry Christmas.

Boys from the team enter in loud pajamas. The boys all carry red flannel socks. The littlest boy carries a very long one. The boys ad lib about Christmas presents, Santa, etc. They go to bed, one boy tucking them all in. Santa enters. From his pack he takes out a bundle of switches that he is saving for the opponents, commenting that they have been bad boys. He then brings out a huge package on which are pasted the letters VICTORY FOR (home school). Boys wake up and cluster around. Packages went to the coach (a towel which the opponents coach was throwing in); to the captain (a bottle of vitamin pills for the team just in case); to one player, a slide rule to figure out the opponents plays, etc. Santa exits throwing candy kisses to the audience.

"Charge"

Many schools are now having the band s trumpet player sound a "call" such as "charge" on his trumpet. When the "call" is sounded the pep squad jumps up, yell "charge" and throw their right hand out. It is very effective! Should the band not be available try to have a pep club member or cheerleader learn to play the bugle. It is not very difficult and one can become quite proficient in a short time. Bugles are also not very expensive. A bugle call now and then will help stir up your cheering.

Spectator Of The Week

Each week at your pep assembly announce a "spectator of the week." The cheerleaders could determine the winner by Vote and choose the student they observed as having the most school spirit at the last game. This same idea could also select the "player of the week."

Special Occasion Yells

Cheerleaders should have in their list of cheers a yell to give when some person or group does something special for your school. Very often you will have on your program a civic leader, alumnus, sports celebrity or etc. A yell such as the following can be changed easily for this purpose. Cheerleaders: Here's a guy who's really swell, so for Let's give a yell. Students: Rah, Rah Rah

Lolly Pops

A good song group using the old but still popular song "LOLLIPOPS" can make the song a "ringer" if they would purchase a quantity of the small lollipops sold in dime stores. At the end of the song all singers could scatter throw them to the audience. Be sure to hide the candy (probably near the footlights) before performing, where it can be reached quickly.

"A Lift In The Locker Room"

Here's how to give your team some last-minute spirit before a big game! Decorate their locker room.

Posters, mobiles, cartoons, and dummies as well as an individual poster for EVERY member of the team, are made by the Montclair cheerleaders on the night preceding the game.

On the following morning, we cover the walls of the locker room with posters, streamers, banners and confetti. The remaining space is used for writing cheers in chalk all over the walls, and hanging all sorts of things from the ceiling (such as: a beet with a sign saying beat 'em or a squash, saying squash 'em).

Even though we are not there when the team arrives, we wish them good luck by means of a tape recorder. When our team comes out on the field they know that we're really behind them. Why not support your team and give them a big welcome ?

Montclair (N.J.) High School

The Evolution Of A School Teacher

A cute skit would be to have a "style show" depicting the type of dress that might have been worn by teachers from the Cave dwellers up to the present day dresses. Example: Gay Nineties, Indian days, The "Flapper," etc. The band could supply some appropriate music.

Note: If the teachers actually model the clothes it is more effective.

Mr. Pretty legs

The basketball squad dresses in uniform (trunks, shirts, tennis shoes, etc.). Each one walks behind a curtain which reveals legs only (from hip down).

Four contestants chosen from the audience (faculty and students) write the name of the owner of the legs. Winner (perfect score) receives a humorous gift.

For added appeal ... a girl in hose, heels walks across the stage. Narrator says, "Oh, how did she get into the act?"

When all the boys have appeared, they appear as a group before contestants (legs only). The contestants decide on the prettiest legs (girl not included).

Winner is introduced to audience by cheerleader and given a scroll (painting of a girl's leg life size.

Pequot Lakes High School, Pequot Lakes, Minn.

Beauty Contest

Choose about five to seven boys that are well known around school. Dress them up in skirts and blouses or sweaters and high heels. Give each one of them a banner to pin across their blouse saying "Miss Opponents School". Each boy should represent a girl from the different schools around with which the home school competes.

Let the word get around school that at the rally a beauty contest is being held with the finalists from the neighboring schools.

Announcer: Today (home school) is proud to be the host for the first annual league beauty contest. We are privileged to have with us the finalist from (read off the names of the schools).

To start things off we have from (Contestant walks across the stage wiggling and throwing the audience a kiss).

Next we have from (and so on).

(Finally the boy representing the home school walks across the stage and at this point yell leaders run out and prompt the crowd to really yell).

(The contestants line up and judges make their decision and announce that the home school is the winner. The yell leaders run up on the stage, pick the winner up and carry him out).

Las Lomas High School, Walnut Creek, California

Signs

It has been the policy of the Ruskin Pep Club to put up signs and posters in the school's halls before every game. These signs consist of general fight signs, a very large "Beat so and so" (particular opponent), and smaller opponent signs.

The Pep Club purchased a huge 30-inch roll of white paper for these signs. Colorful felt pens were also purchased to use in making the signs.

Many signs were made during two different work days. These work days took place on a day we didn't have school and a Saturday. In addition, flash cards and pom-poms were made on these days. The entire club participated. A sign committee made signs to supplement these when needed. All these signs have been labeled and filed for reuse.

The signs sometimes carried out a particular theme such as "Lick 'Em Day." Many "Lick 'EM" posters were put up. Another time an idea found in "The Megaphone" was adapted. A landing midway to the cafeteria, was covered with brown paper. On this a large bulldog (our opponent that evening) was drawn (complete with pansy over the ear, red toe nails, and a bow on his tail). On the wall a "Tromp the Bulldogs" sign was placed. This idea proved very effective and successful.

Ruskin High School, Mo.

Mottoes

If your school is having school spirit problems or should there be bad behavior on the part of the students at games, or on the campus that you would like to see corrected try using Mottoes.

Select a motto that is short and each week hang several of them in the halls, in class rooms, etc. Study your school's problems and behavior and select a motto suitable. Here are a few examples:

"COURTESY IS CONTAGIOUS" "WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW, THE TIGERS ARE GOOD
SPORTS"
"MUSTANGS CHEER BUT NO JEERS"
"WE DON'T BOO, HOW ABOUT YOU?"
"BE GOOD LOSERS AND GRACIOUS WINNERS"

Wash Day

The cheerleaders appear on stage and they are in the process of washing clothes using a wash tub and a scrub board. A clothesline is stretched across the stage.

The actual articles of clothing are drawn on cards and each card is hung up on the line. On the back of the card is a block letter. (Not shown to the audience at this time).

After the washing is all done and the cards are hung up the girls say, "Well, that's that, now we can all go to the game." Then one girl says, "Say girls, this wash will not dry like this, we have to have it facing the sun. Quickly, let's turn them around." As the cards are turned around they spell out BEAT (OPPONENT) or some other appropriate slogan.

Mystery Person

A good way to keep the student body pepped up for the big game is by announcing to them that it will be to their advantage if they say to everyone they pass on the school campus "Cage the Lions" (or the slogan for the week). Inform them that several students and faculty members have been secretly selected to be "Mystery Persons." If a student says "Cage the Lions" to the right person he will be rewarded by getting a free ticket to the game; or it could be a dime, quarter, souvenir, etc.

Parents' Night

At one of our football games each fall we honor the parents of our players and cheerleaders. All the parents are sent invitations to the game and upon arrival at the gate the "B" team cheerleaders pin on name tags; not the name of the parent, but the name of his son or daughter. Since our school colors are red and white, we cut white construction paper in the form of footballs, and a red magic marking pen is used for the name.

The parents sit together in a reserved section and during the game the cheerleaders lead various yells to honor them. Anyone glancing at this group of parents sees many a very proud face.

After the game the parents are invited to the school for coffee and rolls to be served by the cheerleaders. This snack gives the parents a chance to meet one another and also become better acquainted with our coaching staff.

Cumberland High School, Wise.

Ramanara

Bishop Hogan High in Kansas City, Mo., used an Oriental theme for their 1960 Homecoming. A week before the homecoming, huge multicolored Japanese fans were hung in the corridor halls during school. These served as posters to announce events and arouse interest in the Homecoming.

At the pep rally held in the school gym instead of seeing the familiar faces of cheerleaders, the students stared at Japanese dressed as cheerleaders. As the skit unfolded the coaches and football players became slant-eyed orientals wearing Japanese hats.

Confucius, the emcee, sent his servants to Shangri-la to find three cocoons from which would emerge three beautiful butterflies as good omens. As the excitement rose, these three good omens, containing the names of the queen and her attendants, were brought from Shangri-la by three Japanese maidens. With the tension mounting, each sound of the gong preceded the naming of these three girls before the entire student body. The Homecoming dance carried the Ramanara theme beautifully. After presenting a very tiny fan ticket at the door we entered a lovely decorated gym and danced under lighted glittering colored lanterns. The highlight of the completely Oriental week was reached at the sound of a gong and the coronation of the queen.

Bishop Hogan Pep Club, Kansas City, Mo.

Pep On Trial

At one of Allegan High Schools, (Mich.) basketball games it was noted the attendance was big but cheering was little. At the next Pep Rally a Mock Trial was held. Among those on trial was the principal of the school and a girl student, charged with not cheering at the games. Their sentence was that they lead a cheer at the game that same night or right then at the rally. The principal and the girl then led a cheer for the school which was the loudest yell heard at A.H.S. in a long time.

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