The “Centennial Calendar” unveiling party at the Manteca Senior Center Friday night was a blockbuster hit.
Thirteen months of movie posters employing Manteca senior citizens and others were put together for the Manteca Senior Center Advisory Committee fundraiser designed to help purchase new bingo equipment.
A crowd of more than 100 filed through the front door of the center — many dressed in costumes that they wore for their appearance in photos gracing the calendar’s pages.
Jim Anderson who sings as an Elvis look-a-like is in the January 2018 photo with a group of convicts dancing to his singing “The Jail House Rock.”
The second page, February 2018, features familiar couples dancing together under the title “Dirtyish Dancing.”
March shows a couple standing together on the bow of an ocean steamer.
“Tappin in the Rain” is the theme for April of two men and one woman with umbrellas. The fun comes in trying to identify them as Mantecans.
“Seasoned Grease” is the title for the May calendar page with numerous couples from Rydell High with guys in their leather jackets and women with their hair up in curlers with a sports car in the clouds above. May 19 is a big day on the calendar: City of Manteca’s 100th birthday celebration, the World War I mural dedication and the Hall of Fame induction dinner.
June depicts “The Older Rascals” in the senior citizens loop with a black and white dog among them coming from the silent movie days – 10 seniors in all.
It’s the “Magnificent Squad” on July’s calendar with seven gun-toting Mantecans with the buttes in the background. The group is headed by 10-gallon hat cowboy and Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum.
“American Graffiti” is the theme for August with the lights of Mel’s Drive-In below nine familiar faces that include Manteca Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joann Beattie and other notables.
September pictures members of the Senior Breakfast Club with former City Clerk Joann Tilton looking pretty down and out with her retired gang standing above her.
October brings in a new generation that appear headed for outer space in their flight suits and Space Walker with space craft in the background in a dark sky.
November is listed as “Annie Sr.” complete with a reporter with a press card in his fedora, a dog and stylish women of the day.
December is entitled “A Senior Center Story” with gold ornaments hanging from a Christmas tree with visions of the past and future holiday seasons.
January 2019 has pretty much everything in the theme “The Blues Center” with city councilman Richard Silverman and Tom Stewart of the Manteca Senior Center Advisory Committee dressed as Jake and Elwood of the “Blue Brothers” fame. At the upper left of the calendar page are spry nuns having a great time.
The calendars are selling for $20 and only 1,000 were printed with many of those already spoken for in preorders. Calendars can be purchased at the Manteca Senior Center front desk on Cherry Lane from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.
