My East St. Louis youth Thanksgiving recollections date back to the 1940's and 1950's. It was a tradition-rich predictable day. Please note that those years did not offer high school football State Playoffs. Therefore, the East St. Louis high school 'Flyers' and Belleville-West Township high school 'Maroons' met for a season-ending contest. This football match up often decided the Southwestern Conference Title.
Naturally, the games was hosted by one of the two rivals. No matter where, a crowd in excess of 10,000 fans crammed together, regardless of weather, to cheer their respective teams. The Wednesday before this Thanksgiving football contest was a special school rally day for each school. The Belleville students called the rally, 'Hobo Day.' The East Side kids referred to that rally as 'Pep Day.'
Automobiles, not floats were decorated in school colors and paraded ceremoniously up and down the Belleville 'hill' near Edgemont...a border area between the two cities. Sometimes those parades became a tad bit continuous.
Before the East Side students headed out for parade activities,,we assembled in the school auditorium for a 'talent show.' Let me state unequivocally, East Side had some incredible singers, dancers and musicians. They all showed their stuff!
After the game, which East usually won. My family congregated at Grandma Roustio's house deep in the Washington Park area. Great food, especially pies. When I was very young, we wait later into the evening to hear a traditional broadcast from the North Pole where Santa Clause was telling us about his impending trip. When I was a high school age teen, I prepared for the annual Football Formal Dance. We are 'talking' FORMAL. The 'Football Queen' coronation was held and we danced till midnight at the Shriners' Ainad Temple.
As Archie said, "Those was the days!"
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