Contributed by Tom Field (tfield@den.wantweb.net) on December 14, 1999.

I remember the ride on the busses that caught fire. We called it the Broken Golden Flaming Arrow bus company because in addition to the fire, one of the buses broke. They didn't work very well and, the trip took forever. As I recall, it was the trip that took the entire camp to Expo 67 in Montreal. A place where I believe Lenny Busch was able to get press passes for WCP

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern at abanet.org) on December 21, 1999.

So its now two nights before Christmas. As usual for this time of year, I've pulled out a yellowed copy of The Cremation of Sam McGee. Ten or fifteen years ago, I vaguely remembered someone (Larry) casting a spell over us in the sixties, around a fire, doing a performance, assuming the persona of the first-person author. I imagine that after letting the fire die down, he was silent for a bit and then quietly told us he had a story. I dont know how he transitioned from Larry to someone with a burning secret to tell. We were spellbound. A shaman, and I mean that, he was. We invested him with the power to seize our minds. And he took us many wonderful places.

So, years ago I wandered into a library, barely remembering that there was a story about dogsleds and some sort of cremation. The librarian immediately found the poem for me. With a copy in hand, I retreated home and memorized it. Now, each Christmas (One Christmas day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail) I drag it out (having freshened up my memory) and find someone to regale with it.

Did YOU ever hear Larry do a performance of Sam McGee? Were you inducted into the Mung Society? I have no idea how he induced in us a passion strong enough to roll around in the brush, fighting over a can of Eagle Brand Condensed Milk which had been simmered in the coals until it was a gooey, ultra-rich pudding. (Even today I'm hesitant to reveal these details of the initiation, having been sworn to secrecy at the time.)

Larry had a power over us. I miss him. Yes, he got caught by his shadow, but he touched hundreds of lives deeply, changing them for the better, giving us some insight that maybe now in the jaded 90's seems trite. But, trite or not, back then, he was godlike to many of us and many of us continue to be blessed by gifts he gave us...

I sometimes wonder at the fact that there have been a series of men in my life (in addition to my father) for whom I had such a deep, deep devotion. I used to wonder if it's "healthy" or revealed some weakness or lack in me. I've concluded that as growing boys and young men, archetypically an elder male comes into a life and brings wisdom, love, and self-respect. For me, the list includes Larry, my high school physics teacher, my uncle, an Indian guru, Jack Francis, Brian Clifford, the founder of my software company, and others. They've touched me deeply.

And now it's become our turn, guys, to bring whatever wisdom we've gained, giving it back to the next generations. Are you up for it?

"THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE"

There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold The Arctic trails have their secret tales That make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen strange sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.

Now Sam Mcgee was from Tennessee, where the cotton blooms and blows. Why he left his home in the south to roam round the Pole God only knows. He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell; Through he'd often say in his homely way that he'd "sooner live in hell."

On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail. Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail. If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze, till sometimes we couldn't see; It wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam McGee.

And that very night as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow, And the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and toe, He turned to me, and, "Cap," say he, "I'll cash her in this trip, I guess; And if I do, I'm asking that you won't refuse my last request."

Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; then he says with a sort of moan: "It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean through to the bone. Yet 'taint being dead, it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains; So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains."

A pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail; And we started on the streak of dawn, but God! he looked ghastly pale. He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in Tennessee; And before nightfall a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee.

There wasn't a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror driven, With a corpse half-hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given; It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains, But you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate those last remains."

Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code. In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load. In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while huskies, round in a ring, Howled out their woes to the homeless snows -- O God! how I loathed the thing.

And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow; And on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low; The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in; And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.

Till I came to the marge of Lake LeBarge, and a derelict there lay; It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the "Alice May." And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum: Then, "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, "is my cre-ma-tor-eum."

Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, and I lit the boiler fire; Some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher; The flames just soared, and the furnace roared -- such a blaze you seldom see; And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so; And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow. It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why; And the greasy smoke in an inky clock went streaking down the sky.

I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear; But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near; I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: I'll just take a peep inside. I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked," ... then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close the door. It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm -- Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold The Arctic trails have their secret tales That make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen strange sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.

Contributed by Tom Field (tfield@den.wantweb.net) on December 25, 1999.

I finally prevailed upon a friend to make a cassette of one of shows from WCP, from my old reel-to-reel tape. It's the "Sunday Morning Mind Excursion" from a Sunday morning (well, obviously) show of mine from 1967. Sundays were my days off, but I always liked doing a show. So, I'd record it on a Saturday afternoon, after first setting the clock to whatever time the show was supposed to air the following day. The next morning, whoever was the engineer-in-charge (probably Alan Shier) would just put on the tape. I haven't heard the tape yet- - it's being duped this week-- and my friend has already sent me a bunch of none-too-nice emails about the damned tape breaking a bunch of times, and having to splice it, etc.

Anyway, if anyone's interested in having a copy, lemme know and I'll be happy to send it out. I'm not sure when I'll be getting it back from my friend, but I assume it'll be soon.

By the way, it's been great reading all the posts from all you young campers. Now, get back on your beds, rest period isn't over yet.

Contributed by Lenny Busch (lbusch@home.com) on December 29, 1999.

Happy Y2K all you former paradoxians! Hope everyone had a safe new years' eve. Here in South Florida is was uneventful and my teenage kids made it home on time within curfew and safely.

John Schreiber was the actor and the play was Velda Was a Lady redone the summer of "67 and originally done on the Paradox State in"62

Does anyone remember Dave Steinman?

What about Mel Rabinowitz and the infamous trip to Expo "67! I still can't look in the direction of yellow school buses since that day.

If the person claiming to be Carpenter really is carpenter tell us more. I honestly don't believe it was really the "man" himself, unless, of course he has checked the statute of limitations!

I have heard from more and more paradox people since this website has come up. Lenny Busch, the next time you check the board, please note I would like a copy of that tape. I have a hearing in Federal court in late January in New York and will try to set up a dinner with you, me, and Alan Shier.

Who ever came up with the serm "sociogram?" Anyone recall a fellow named Stu Allen? Any of you Philly guys know the whereabouts of Jimmy Stotter or Richie Frank?

That is it for now.

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Lionel Guy) on January 1, 2000.

I just spoke with Rob Clayman, to whom I actually sent a printout of this message board because he was so delinquent in visiting us. He's here reading, but for some reason won't post! He mentioned, incidently, that Jon Schrieber is in the entertainment business. In fact, I saw an article about someone with that name in the NY Times earlier last year (1999). I encourage you all to continue to contact old Paradoxians and let them know we're here.

There were SIXTY hits here in two weeks, but only one new posting. SOMEONE is visiting us, or is it Mike S. coming four or five times a day? :-)

Incidently, "sociogram" is a legitimate term in the field of sociology. I just did a web search on the term and came up with a few dozen hits....

T.

Contributed by Tom Field (tfield@den.wantweb.net) on January 1, 2000.

I just uploaded an mp3 file of side 1 of the 1966 Paradox record album to my web site at www.ctel.net/~jamesa. Its around 5M in size and you'll need an mp3 player to listen to it. I use Winamp at www.winamp.com

Lots of voices from the past - Joe Koplin, Alex Landis, Larry Carpenter, Brian Clifford and many more. It's my first attempt at all this audio technology and I'm not totally satisfied with the quality but I didn't want to delay posting these early efforts. As I get the hang of all this I'll replace it with a better version.

Tom, you can either leave the file on my site or incorporate it into your web page.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net or jim@ci.augusta.me.us) on January 1, 2000.

Great to hear from so many. I would also like a tape from Lenny and I do remember you doing those great Sunday shows marveling how I can see you on a Sunday live and hear your voice on radio. The first signs of technology and Lenny was on the cutting edge. -What was the name of the color war event that everyone participated and I think the last event had something to do with a rolling bed? Thinking back to that, it was an unbelievable logistically creative event (whistling for 10 seconds while you eat crackers). -Anyone remember Jack Twyman NBA star who took care of Maurice Stokes giving a talk? -Dan Franklin, Steve Kuzman.

Hope to hear more to see how many of my brain cells have died.

Contributed by Bruce Graye (bgraye@aol.com.) on January 3, 2000.

It was Parathon. The opening event was the giant relay. I don't remember the bed pushing, however, someone had to get out of bed, make it and then do something in the beginning and at the end, the last person had to put on pajamas and get into it.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern at abanet.org) on January 3, 2000.

Tom: I don't know if you'll remember me or not, but I was a counselor at Camp Paradox from 1968 through 1970 (its last season). I worked on the "waterfront," mostly teaching Scuba Diving. I was most surprised to see your web page on the old camp, and thought I would fill you in on those "Doxians" that I have had contact with since leaving the camp (judging by what I've read in the archives, I guess a couple of people do remember me). Firstly, in the early 70's I was fortunate enough to attend a small reunion at a home in New Jersey. Unfortunately, I don't remember anybody who attended (the ravages of time and age) except for Howie Uniman. I do remember having a good time and playing softball. I had contact with Bob Zuch in the early 80's. After graduating from Cornell with his masters in electrical engineering, he went to work for TRW in Santa Barbara, California. Later, Bob told me that he would be returning to the New York area to work in his father's electronics business, and I lost touch with him after that. The only person I have had personal contact with is Jim Ragona. I found him on the Internet, and we met when the circus came to Phoenix in 1994, and I introduced him to my family. We saw him again a couple of years later when he came to town again with the circus. In 1997 I was reunited with Ralph Clayman by telephone (it's a LONG story as to how that came to pass), and it was a really special experience. Ralph and I have corresponded occasionally since then. As for me, following college, I applied to the New York State Police and was accepted. I patrolled in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties from my graduation from the academy until 1975, when I was transferred to a State complex in the Bronx. While so occupied, I met my wife, and we were married in October 1976. Unfortunately, my wife became ill shortly after our marriage, and the doctors said we would have to relocate to a warm, dry climate. In March 1977, I became a Police Officer in a suburb of Phoenix called Peoria. I retired from that department 1n 1997 after over twenty years of service. At the time of my retirement, I was a Lieutenant, and held the position of "Night Watch Commander." My wife and I have three great children. Amanda, my oldest, is a senior at the University of Arizona, majoring in secondary education. My son, Michael, is a Junior at Arizona State University and majoring in aeronautical engineering. His ambition is to be an Air Force fighter pilot. My youngest is my daughter Leslie, who is a sophomore in high school, and hasn't made up her mind yet just what she wants to do. I still Scuba dive a lot. I was a police diver for all but one of my years in law enforcement, and I currently work as a volunteer with an area high school that has a "Marine Sciences" curriculum. As for my memories of Paradox, what can I say. They will remain vivid and with me until the day I pass from this earth. I still have the 1970 "yearbook," and look at it quite often. I also have the records from all three of my years at Paradox (heck, I think I even have my Paradox "letter jacket" somewhere in the stuff I never unpacked when I moved to Arizona). Well, that's about it. I would love to hear from any former campers or staff who would like to correspond or talk. (My phone number is 623-972- 5179) To that end, please feel free to post my e- mail address on your web site. In the meantime, take care, and thanks a lot for taking the time to set up this web site. Jim Flonacher

Contributed by Jim Flonacher (JamesFlonacher@msn.com) on February 4, 2000.

As a result of my recent posting, I just heard from Marc Stern and Alan Shier, and the latter individual solved an ages old mystery as to why my GTO ran so poorly after I lent it to him. Now, if I could only find out what happened to my Janis Ian tape ("Society's Child") I would be the proverbial "happy camper" (eventhough I was a counselor and never a camper at paradox). Personally, I think that it was taken by my bunk- mate, Dan Franklin, to prevent me from playing it over and over and over again. Ah, I suppose that this remain one of life's great mysteries.

Contributed by Jim Flonacher (JamesFlonacher@msn.com) on February 15, 2000.

All these years I thought that Jim Cramer, Howie Uniman, Bart Brodsky, Tom Field and I were the only Paradoxians to become 46ers. I just recently discovered on www.adk46er.org that on 8/6/70 Mark Friedman and Scott Rovner accomplished that feat and then a year later on 8/22/71 Jim Toub did it as well. A much belated congratulations to you guys wherever you are! We all shared some memorable time together on those mountain trails.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on March 5, 2000.

I came upon your site by accident, and stayed for quite somet time. It was haunting since i experienced almost the same thing in my high school in the sixties Brooklyn Preparatory School in NYC. I have recently started my own summer camp in the Catskill Mountains to regenerate some of that old traditional feeling of comraderie that seems to have been lost in all the new fancy entertainments of camping. You guys have a great spirit! If you want to look at my camp see Universalcamping.com bye, mike

Contributed by mike dealy (mgnlantern@aol.com) on April 23, 2000.

Is anyone thinking of going to the Paradox this summer?

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on May 13, 2000.

I'm going to spend five days on Lake George just south of Ticonderoga in the end of June. I'm considering driving by the camp, but, frankly, after my last visit, I'm not sure there's any point. Why do you ask?

Contributed by Tom Field (tfield@den.wantweb.net) on May 20, 2000.

A good way to visit the camp is renting a canoe at the park on the lake and paddling along the shoreline. I did that the last time I was there. Unfortunately I was short on time so I couldn't visit Crawford Island or hike up Peaked Hill.

It's only a four hour drive from my home here in Maine to Paradox so keep me in mind if any of you are planning a visit. Perhaps we could arrange to meet somewhere.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on May 21, 2000.

< I received the e-mail below from Peter Laudin >

Dear Tom, Can't figure out why, but I get a loop when trying to add a comment, so I decided to just email you instead. I was a camper for 3 years and an ACIT for one or two years after and remember many of the things I've seen on the site ( with prompting from the archives!!) . My younger brother was a camper for a couple of years as was my best friend and his younger brother, as well as my neighbor and his sister. I'm Peter Laudin and I live in the suburbs outside of Syracuse NY with my wife of 22 years and 2 children. I sell computer network cable and hardware to the Dept of Defense. In a previous job when I used to sell to Municipal Highway Depts I drove by Paradox and Paragon many times a year. I stopped a few times and walked the grounds, and was only stop/checked once and when I explained myself allowed to roam further. I found remnants of the "steps" that I helped build from Cedar logs to the waterfront, but other than that and the fact that I could orient myself from the old open fields vs. cabin rows upper and lower, the place was pretty much overgrown. You could still see Rodgers Hall from the road and the surrounding Tennis courts were a mess. Someone called and left a message with my 14 year old son about the Paradox site, but whoever it was obviously never had teenage kids because I was never able to get a name( some guy) or a number (don't remember) or a message (something about Camp Internet). A wild guess led me here, (certainly I'm no deductive genius) and it was a nice blast from the past so to speak. [It was either me or Jim Anderberg; both of us have done some "cold calling" off of old Px rosters... Tom] My younger brother Jeffrey Laudin is currently living in Omaha with his family. Ricki Bruskin is in Florida, Larry Bruskin was in CA last I heard. I've had no contact with the Hollenbergs or the Brauns in over 30 years. Thanks for the memory tour, Peter

Contributed by Peter Laudin (iceberg@a-znet.com) on June 10, 2000.

Last weekend I drove past Paradox. (Having attended a Broadway show at the Richard Rodgers Hall two days earlier was a little creepy!)

As expected, it was a little depressing. I was almost unable to recognize anything because it's all overgrown with 20 year old trees, brush, and residences. I took digital photos of Larry and Ramsey's cottage, where I met a man named Alan, a big Camp Paradox fan with a collection of memorabilia. He told me the tennis courts have trees growing out of them. I also have photos of Alex & Ann's home, and the Chez, both of which are residences. Alex's looked almost exactly like it did in the 60's, making me feel a little like I was a time traveller. I didn't get to the waterfronts or even down the bunk line.

Alan also has the "CP" stylized monogram from the Rodger's Hall stage curtain.

I'll post pictures of all these shortly.

Contributed by Tom Field (tfield@den.wantweb.net) on June 27, 2000.

Just wanted to post that my mother is selling her home of 40 years and in the garage is the original signs from the canteen, shower house, post office, and dining hall. I made a visit in 1976 and the camp was intact. Took some memoribilia. Was surprised that the equipment shed has not been touched. Could not leave with out a bow-still have and still use. The camp though was like a ghost town. Well does anyone want the signs, we can create ebay Paradox. Only kidding.

Jerry from Bunk 4,7,8,10,12,16,18

Contributed by Jerry Shier (JeShoes@aol.com) on June 28, 2000.

I just finished e-mailing my twelve year old son at camp, and always feeling a twinge of guilt at having to send him to our old foe Brant Lake, I did a random search on Camp Paradox. Little did I realize I would spend the next hour reviving old memories and reliving old times. The web site is great and many thanks to you Tom and all other contributors. I stopped by the actual site about three years ago after Visiting Day for my son at that "other" camp. I had to show my wife where I spent my summers 1965-1969. Leaving the Northway and heading towards Ticonderoga, I was sure I would recognize the old site immediately! What a shock when I realized I had driven all the way to the eastern end of the lake and hardly anything looked familiar. Backtracking I found a tiny C/P sign by the side of the road. Disappointed but intrigued, we introduced ourselves to the current residents and explored. Hidden deep in the woods, like a relic from an ancient civilization, was one of the (I think) junior bunks. What a blast to see old familiar names carved into the wood and written on the rafters. We hiked from one end of the camp to the other - it was difficult to remember how "developed" the waterfront was - so much had been reclaimed by nature. I remembered how big the camp appeared to me as a little kid and what a hike it was from the senior bunks to the dining hall - going back everything seemed so much smaller. I remembered the good luck of being in Bunk 15 one summer, up on the hill with a commanding view over the baseball field to watch the counselors play softball and even better to be the first to see our parents arrive on visiting day - now, no signs of the fields or the hill - only lots of memories. Reading through this web site I see I'm not the only one with the memories. Sorry I lost touch with everyone - haven't even seen old Hollis / CP neighbors (Laudins, Bruskins, Schreiber, Friedman, Zwerdling) in years. In retrospect, I may have left camp a year or two too soon - always wondered how the summers of '70 and '71 went - but '69 was certainly a high point. Special memory - watching the moon landing in our bunk (was it Margolius's secret tiny TV) with a fresh blueberry pie from Ramsey and making our own ice cream (thanks Jim A). That was great!

Contributed by Jim Hollenberg (jhollen1@optonline.net) on July 6, 2000.

I just got back from a visit to the camp. Pictures to come. It was really difficult to find but there is at least one old cabin and it looks like someone took Cabin 10 (the two level one which once housed the sophmore rec hall and, at other times the nature lodge (I think) and has developed it. I made it to both the old boating and swiming areas and spoke with some of the local residents.

I also spent the night at Sunderland which is owned by the heirs of Bill Sunderland whow as a counsler there from 63 until about 68.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on July 14, 2000.

Marc, the bottom level of Cabin 10, as I recall, had ping-pong tables and the photography lab. I remember spending many hours there with Mark Eisenberg developing photos. All the black and white photos on the Paradox photo page were developed there. The nature lodge was the first cabin in the bunk line next to the freshman cabin.

Speaking of photos, does anyone else have some they could contribute? I'd love seeing ones other than those I've had all these years. I know Tom is limited on space for the main Paradox web page. There are a number of web sites that give you some free disk space for storing images. Eg. www.altavista.com offers a free account with 20M of storage for photos: go to the site, select the "images" tab and under Photo Albums you can "Create your own album". If you post your photos there you could just post the pointer here.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on July 16, 2000.

I'd be happy to add links to any sites any of you put up with photos.

Tom

PS Please note the new e-mail address

Contributed by Tom Field (tom@canby.com) on July 16, 2000.

You're right about the bottom of Cabin 10 having ping-pong tables, knock-hockey,and the like, in later years. In 63 and perhaps 64 it was the nature lodge before it got moved to the Cabin 1, or at least so I remember.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern@abanet.org) on July 19, 2000.

This is great!! I am thrilled to see that the Camp spirit is still alive!! I recently did my umpteenth Internet search for Paradox and found nothing till today. Immediately I called Scot Rovner who is still my closest friend and we read all the postings!!

The quick history, etc.: I live in Calabasas, CA with my wife Monica and two kids, 6 and 7 (boy, girl). I went to Drexel U and got my degree in engineering, moved to Cali, threw it out the window and forced my way into the music business! I am an independent record producer, my wife is a publisher, and life has been very good!! Actually, right now if any of you have teenagers you'll probably see my name on the back of a lot of your kids records - (my latest production "P. O. D. " on Atlantic Records just went gold). Paradox was a huge influence on my life - I heard "Light My Fire" for the first time when I was Mike Swerdlicks engineer at WCP and ever since that moment knew what I wanted to do. I ran the A&R dept. at Giant/Warners about 5 years ago and had the pleasure of meeting Ray Manzarek of the Doors and told him the story of the Camp in the Dack's and how I first heard that mesmerizing organ intro of his. When Rovner came down to visit me a couple of years ago (he now lives in Frisco and is a shrink!) we both hung out with Ray. That was very cool! I heard form Jim Flonager about 5 years ago - he just retired and was a Police Officer in Arizona. Rovner can fill us in on Richie Frank. I would love to know what happened to Alex and Ann. The trivia question that Scot and I can never figure out is - What was the Landis dogs name?? Please let us know. I went to Paradox in 1993 and agree with all the aforementioned descriptions. But I took a video of it and if I can get to it I'll try and upload some of it. My Paradox mug is still looking at me on my desk, my 3rd level P is still pinned to the wall, and I still remember being frightened by "The Clicker" story at Campfire, the flying saucer hoax (the scariest moment of my life), jumping into Lake Paradox for the first time with scuba gear on, jumping off the 3rd level of the cliffs, eating burgers and lots of fries at the Chez, trying to whistle Ameci with saltines in my mouth during Parathon, driving to Idylwild, hiking to Fortners, OCC in Scroon, ICC at Rodgers Hall, Clifford throwing my loafers over the sophomore unit showers, being blindsided by Frank in Coe- Grinnell, REMO-RIMO-REX, climbing Owl Pate (who cares!!), watching Rovner always win the AAPHERS,Woodstock, hearing Pinball Wizard blaring out of the WCP speaker, the blue vans, the 33, 75 motorboats, the sailfish being caught in the weeds, canoeing through the narrows and up the Snake River, et al!! Most of all, I remember the feeling of it, the massive growing and experience of Camp Paradox that someone who never was there could never understand - Where Outdoor Living Moulds Character.

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on July 28, 2000.

More stuff: The year after Paradox closed Scott Davis and I went on an AYH (youth hostelling trip) that went right down RT 74. We stopped into the Camp and, being that it was only the year after it closed, seemed like it was open with campers and maybe they were in the dining hall  it was very spooky  everything was as we had remembered. Then in 77 Rovner and I visited on our way to climbing Wright Mtn. Still looked like a little mowing and some paint and then open up the waterfront! But in 93 when my wife and I went it was unrecognizable. She thought I was nuts, running around here was Bunk 6, here was Coluni Field, here was the dining hall, etc. But I did walk the very overgrown trail down the hill to the aquatics area and looked out to Crawford and that really hit home. Then back up Cardiac Hill to where bunk 2 was (Panther I believe). Interesting though, the bunks by the boating area are intact. I think it was bunk 22 on the path that still had the names of Brodsky, Fields, Uniman et al inscribed on the rafters. That was eerie.

Even more eerie: when we went in 93 we stayed in a little motel off the Northway and 74. When I was checking out the next morning I asked the owner at the front desk if he had heard of Camp Paradox and he pointed to a shelf above his head. All I saw were what looked like rolled up long photos. He unwrapped the first one and it was the Camp Picture from 1965 and, there in the second row, was me. Ill try to send scan and send it to Tom. (My wife said: boy, were you fat!)

I was at camp from 65-70. Luckily my first counselor was Brian Clifford who was a great guy to have as your first overnight camp counselor. All I can say is , thank god for Flonager. Scuba Diving became my passion for the last 3 summers. I couldnt wait for TVA so we could dive all of the time! The lake George dive one summer stands out in that it was such a clear lake compared tp Paradox  lest anyone forget that Lake Paradox was a VERY dirty lake compared to Schroon and George. You could not see down to the bottom in the 3rd level swimming area. I can remember Jim wrestling with the cheap air compressor that Alex bought us  it never worked.

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on July 29, 2000.

---- BOB COLUNI and HUGH HURST found!!! ----

So, Howie's mention above of Bob Coluni reminded me of him. A quick search (with no state specified) found exactly ONE Robert Coluni, in Ampsterdam, NY. Certain that I had found him, I called. It was him! He's 69, retired. He "works out alot," and "used to play with the Brooklyn club." (I'd forgotton that.) I reminded him that we actually named a ball field after him! He's not familiar with the Internet, but I told him I'd send him a letter with this site's address that he can take to the library or to a friend's house to view us.

Bob mentioned Hugh Hurst, who I hadn't thought of either in years. Yahoo's People search found about ten people with his name. The third call yielded THE Hugh Hurst. I spoke with his wife a bit and gave her this site's address.

On a lark, I tried "Rick Schuck" but there were 34 of them, only some on the east coast. I didn't want to take the time today to call them all...

Tom

Contributed by Tom Field (tom@canby.com) on July 29, 2000.

Wow, someone who remembers Owl Pate! When I get around to story telling about my camp counselor/trip leader days, this is one I remember vividly.

It was 1966, my first season as a counselor. I had never done a trailless hike and figured Owl Pate would be a good warm up to the trailless high peaks. Owl Pate is the mountain you can see in the distance from the boating area. It didn't look that difficult. Looks, it turns out, can be deceiving.

Going up a mountain is the easy part, it's pretty hard to get lost since once you get on the mountain side you just keep going up. When there's no more going up to do you are at the top. It's going down where you have to be skilled with a compass and, even more important, have faith in your compass skills. That faith only comes after many successful trips finding your way back. Being my first trailless trip I hadn't developed my faith, but that is not something you want to let on to those who you are leading.

Going up was tough; steep climbing and lots of scrub brush to push through. Once you got to the top there was no view - quite a disappointment after all the work climbing there. The going down was terrifying! Somehow we didn't end up going back the way we came up. The highlight, as I recall - and I'm sure impressions will differ - was getting down over some steep cliff we encountered. I just remember going down first and then helping catch the other campers as the other counselor (and I don't remember who he was) lowered them down to me. And it was steep - we were looking down to treetops. Howard, I don't remember why, but you were one camper that I particularly remember at that point. Perhaps you can fill in here.

Besides the difficulty of descent the thing I was dealing with was - "Are we heading in the right direction?" And I didn't want to say that out loud. Spirits were low enough. It sure seemed longer going back than I expected and not having yet developed any faith in my compass abilities I was concerned we weren't going to find the road I was trying to hit.

Needless to say, some character was sure moulded that day!

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on July 30, 2000.

Jim, I can remember why you remember me on that day. That was my first climb ever and I was a little scared, and I remember complaining a lot! Rovner says that he was there too and overheard me whining "Where is the top???" (I still get grief from him over this!) I remember a very rainy, miserable fly infested hike. But, it must have had an impression: when I was 20 I climbed Matterhorn Peak in the Sierra's, a 13,000 ft trailess climb poetically described in Kerouacs "The Dharma Bums" (which, along with the Owl Pate experience, inspired me to climb again!). Then I climbed Mt Whitney twice (14,000ft) and San Gorgornio twice (12,000)ft. And, FYI, my climbing friend knows nothing of Paradox, but he knows "Hiking to Marcy" now !!

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on July 31, 2000.

Contributed by (scott.rovner@kp.org) on August 2, 2000.

Hola PX Rogues! Howard Benson and I have been talking about setting up a CP website forever and then we discovered this one! IT is so so great to hear from so many of you. Howard, by the way, is a major player in the music business. He lives in LA with his wife and 2 children. Anyway his latest project with the band P.O.D. has gone platinum. That is a serious accompllishment. The timing of our discovery of this website could not be better as Howard is coming to visit me for this weekend. I am psyched for PX talk into the wee hours. There is a rumor we will conference call with Howard's cousin Richie Wiener. Rich is a psychologist living in Philly no doubt painting more yellow submarines! OK real quickly here the skinny on me. Following college (Clark University) I took what I thought would be a one-year break teaching skiing and ski patrolling at Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts in Utah. Yes, it is the giddy truth that I loved the lfestyle and stayed four more years doing that in winters and working for the Forest Service in summers. A few years later I returned to graduate school and earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I spent 6 years in practice in Boulder, Colorado. Eighteen months I relocated to the San Francisco area to set up shop as a shrink. Things are good out here as long as the earth does not shake and there is a sushi restaurant nearby. For whatever the reason (probably too neurotic) I am single.

Enough of my vitals on to the good stuff! God, we all were so fortunate to have experienced CP. What a great place to get turned on to cometitive sports, mountain climbing, all water sports, broadcasting, and everything in between. Even with cheese steaks life in suburban Philly paled in comparison to Paradox. Yes, it was the giddy truth we all had something special to look forward too every summer. Do you remember parathon, TVA; tetherball; being a hopper; CC award; "Up in the air junior birdmen"; listening to " light My Fire" during bunk clean up; Bruce Graye's "Sport Shorts" every morning; the boating area; canteen; visiting day: junk shoots at the rifle range; Neil Neushatz; the oh so cool painted submarine; Coe-Grinnel; climbing the ADK high peaks; The Chez hamburgers; nock hockey; the Arkady Tournament; the green vermiculite stadium; the UFO hoax; Ranzy Tucker; Andy's Pizza in Schroon Lake; ICC's/OCC's; infiltration at night; etc,etc!

Oh, by the way Tom Field just informed me prior to CP Jim Anderberg never set foot in a forest and had not climbed any mountains. I want my money back! Hey Jim Anderberg I always considered you the Zen Master of the High Peaks region. How in the world did you pull that one off? I always thought no one could navigate the trailless peaks better than you! Oh, by the way, hey Jim Cramer remember when you asked me to let you know when you were acting like an ignorant misguided slut? Well all those nights in camping out in lean tos (spelling?) when you and Bart Brodsky would play all those word games. You know. For example, "Is it dat patch?" "No, it is dispatch" Or, "Scott what is the capital of Thailand? "Gee, Cramer, I don't know." "Scott, it is Bankok (then he would threaten to castrate me with one quick punch!). Oh, by the way, where is Uniman and Jim Toub? They seem to be missing in action.

Aloha, for now, enlightened rogues. I have got to see a teenager threatening to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge. Ah, California. Oh, before I forget I read Mike Salnick's wondering Rich Frank's whereabouts. I see Rich a couple of times a year. Rich is happily married with twin girls age 6. Rich lives in Irvington, NY and is a part owner of a sports novelty business based in Oakland, CA. Hey, Rich put down the peanuts and turn off ESPN and say hello to everyone!

All for now. Stay well. I'll be back.

Scott Rovner

Contributed by scott rovner (scott.rovner@kp.org) on August 2, 2000.

Scott! Glad to see you show up. You didn't mention you became a member of that very elite club - the 46ers, a fact I discovered 30 years late. I'd be interested in hearing about that climb which you did with Marc Friedman. Do you know what became of him?

I've been doing a some sleuthing in an attempt to locate Jim Toub. I found a Dr. Jim Toub that teaches art at Appalachian State university. I emailed him (toubja@appstate.edu) but there has been no response.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on August 2, 2000.

After consulting with Mike Salnick, it was determined that the Camp "Mascot" the Landis's dog was named Gay-boy...good job Salty>

Contributed by Alan Shier (Alan553@aol.com) on August 8, 2000.

Gay boy, are you kidding? That is the name of the Landis's dog! I am sorry but that is pretty lame. It was nice hearing from you Jim Anderberg. Last Sunday, August 6th, was the 30th anniversary of my getting all 46 peaks! Jim, I always thought you were at camp during the 1970 summer but I guess not. I got Street and Nye with Mark Friedman and Jim Toub, but I am drawing a blank on anyone else who was with us that day. I have great memories of all the climbs-the Cold River Region, the slides on Haystack and McComb, Avalanche Lake, the Great Range Trail,etc.

This past weekend Howard Benson and his family came to San Francisco to visit me. Yep, we talked about tons of CP stuff. Anyone interested in a Paradox reunion next Memorial Day at camp?

I hope everyone is well. Where are you Jim Toub? And you, Scott Davis? Aloha.

Scott Rovner

Contributed by scott rovner (scott.rovner@kp.org) on August 8, 2000.

hi tom - couldn't figure out how to add comments directly to the site - hope you can help me out with this posting.

by the way -- thanks for persevering and putting this living chronicle together. i always thought it was very hip!!--scott rovner just e-mailed me to alert me to the site....

paradox was one of those life-shaping forces that becomes more apparent to me in glimpsed memories as i recall my boyhood joys. great to hear all the old names again and scan the grey matter (or is that red and grey matter) for visual snapshots.

anyone remember my counselor from 1965's bunk 10 - yang yong boon long from thailand - of course he learned the fine art of sensitive guidance from his colleague - bob coluni -- who i think taught me that duckwalking was a pre- requisite to good shortstop play. richard nixon's five o clock shadow paled in comparison to his , by the way.

got a master's degree in urban planning at berkeley - but couldn't get over the thrill of the annual staff softball games and have been selling licensed sports apparel since graduation.

living in irvington new york -- never would have pictured myself in the nyc burbs - spent a number of yrs in san fran, brooklyn and manhattan before moving here 7 yrs ago -- but when i saw the highway exit for ardsley-the neighboring town - i remembered bruce singer and his wmca good guys sweatshirt- cutoff sleeves i believe- and immediately set camp.

marc margolius a rabbi? - i slept in the bunk below him for at least two summers and figured he was was heading directly to a job in sports journalism -- i hope his congregation enjoys listening to marv albert impressions during the sermon... what a talented and interesting environment -- i remember the burning bus on the way home from expo 67 -- they had us out in a field doing jumping jacks in the cold night waiting for a back-up from the burning arrow bus company.

i remember the huge screen of a drive in theatre in the distance-- am i deluded or does anyone else recall?i remember my parents being upset when my sister reported an occ with her new paragonian bunkmates to see barbarella at the theater in schroon lake -- trips to gaslight village and begging the rollercoaster to slow the ride down so i wouldn't lose it all over rovner who was seated next to me laughing as i turned green...

remember a summer interlude with ruth bonamo - of turkish taffy fame -- and the thrill of learning that a fresh $20 got deposited on your orange canteen card -- and later squirreling off with a box of tootsie roll pops when uniman and i were the co-directors of the place.

bruce gray -- thanks for letting me intern on sports shorts -- i was lousy -but you were a legend at 17----loved to hear from any of you and definitely interested in a reunion try --- is eric landis still bouncing quarters off of poorly hospital cornered beds -- and grinning madly when they don't bound to the ceiling -- i remember the beautiful sound of rain on the tin? roofs of the cabins and running across hurst field during a downpour knowing you were going to get drenched by the time you got back to your cabin from the upper fields but giving yourself over to the inevitable....remember the taste of my first mountain dew from the soda machine --ya hoo .......hi to all

Contributed by Rich Frank (WCNRFRANK@aol.com) on August 12, 2000.

I recently returned from 2 weeks of white water rafting down a remote river in the Yukon, British Columbia and Alaska. I certainly did not expect to find Larry Carpenter in Alaska, and I did not. In fact during the 2 weeks I encountered no other human beings except the other 14 who were with me. In any event, as we were camping out every night and had a campfire each night, when we reached Alaska I took the occasion of reading "The Cremation of Sam Magee" to the group, in large part inspired by the reminisce of Tom Field about Larry and the poem earlier this year. Perhaps, somewhere among the bears, eagles and winds along the Alsek River Ole Lar was listening. So Tom, that one was for you (and me) and all the others of you have been fondly harkening back to those simpler but significant times in the 60's. Jesse Strauss

Contributed by jesse strauss (nstrauss@home.com) on August 18, 2000.

A reunion next year would be interesting, but if you've seen my pictures, having it at camp is ... difficult at best. However, it might be interesting to invite the people wholive there, they all seem to have have some degree to be "Camp Paradozophiles."

Contributed by Marc Stern (Mstern at abanet.org) on August 20, 2000.

Well I thought it was time for a Paragonian to write in, so you'll know we are out there! I went to Paragon from 66-70 (all of the years) and Alex is my uncle. My older sister Andrea was a counselor at Paragon (she is also reading this site) and my brother Scott was a camper and counselor at Paradox. My cousin Robin called me the other day and told me about this web site. It's been great seeing this site and bringing back wonderful old memories. Paragon and Paradox were a very big part of my life as well. In 1976 I went back to Paradox to ghost around. First, I went to LF McCoy's house in Schroon and he took me and some friends out to camp and we stayed the weekend in his old place. I have a slide of LF in front of his old truck (when I can find the slide I'll try to put it on this site). I too have thought about Larry Carpenter and wondered where on earth he is. Actually, I've done some travelling in Australia and New Zealand and tried looking him up in NZ. After 30 yrs., I still remember the alma mater..... By a lake on a shore In the summer far from home I have formed a family And I am not alone In the fountain of truth I find Fun is just a state of mind And if this is to be I know it's up to me...

By a lake on a shore In the summer Where my talents combine With the new ones I find I am forming a Paragon of me.

Look forward to hearing more from this s

Contributed by Margery Landis (margiel@suscom-maine.net) on August 20, 2000.

I'm a virulent opponent of on-line jokes, since I get far to many, and of them, most I've seen on- line before, sometimes years ago. But, the message below stuck me as topical.

The Kind of Letter from Camp We Dont Need

Dear Mom,

Our scoutmaster told us all to write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only 1 of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh, yes, please call Chads mother and tell her he is OK. He cant write because of the cast.

I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps. It was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it hadnt been for the lightning. Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire, so he probably didnt hear him.

Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? The wet wood still didnt burn, but one of our tents did. Also, some of our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back. We will be home Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasnt his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left. Scoutmaster Webb said that with a car that old you have to expect something to break down; thats probably why he cant get insurance on it.

We think its a neat car. He doesnt care if we get it dirty, and if its hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 10 people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and talked to us. Scoutmaster Webb is a neat guy. Dont worry, he is a good driver. In fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive. But he only lets him drive on the mountain roads where there isnt any traffic. All we ever see up there are logging trucks.

This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldnt let me because I cant swim and Chad was afraid he would sink because of the cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. it was great. you can still see come of the trees under the water from the flood!

Scoutmaster Webb isnt crabby like some scoutmasters. He didnt even get mad about not wearing the life jackets. he has to spend a lot of time working on the car so we are all trying not to cause him any trouble. Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works! Also Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the leftover chicken. He said they got sick that way with the food they had in prison. Im so glad he got out and became out scoutmaster. He said he sure figured out how to get things done better while he was doing time. I have to go now. We are going into town to mail our letters and buy bullets. Dont worry about anything. We are fine.

Love, Jim

Contributed by Tom (tom@canby.com) on August 23, 2000.

I'm going to go way back to 62, 63 timeframe and test all of your Paradox memory. What was the name of the littlest of the powerboats? The small outboard, that you got to pilot if you passed the safe boating course. More gems to follow.....

Contributed by David Armstrong (davidarm@us.ibm.com) on August 23, 2000.

Back again. Wasn't the small boat "the 35?" Or was there a smaller one. Anyone aquaplane lately? I have fond memories of doing this considering for awhile I was a little overweight and couldn't get up on water skis. Glad to see everyone is responding and that some real old names have come out of the woodwork. We still need to get the likes of Eric Landis if he has the guts to log on. It would be nice to hear what he has to say. Anyone ever catch up with Mark Kaufman or Tony Braun. Never cared for Tony (did anyone?) but Mark was a great guy. Remember Chuck Rodgers and Dan what's his name singing "I don't Give a Damn About a Greenback Dollar?" For years I think Alan Shier had a reel to reel tape of them singing Mr. Bojangles. Wasn't the other guy who sang with Chuck Rodgers Don Rynd? Many of you are referring in your entries to Ramsey Tucker. Let's get this straight folks: His name was Ranzy Tucker, he was from South Jersey, he was idolized by Kenny Kohn aka "the Kohnner" and Ranzy was every nice jewish boys' hero at the staff softball games on Mondays. He was almost a cult hero until the summer he discovered drinking and drank his way out of a job. I know that Alex and Eric covered for him many times but the drinking caused his exit. I can still recall him smelling from lunch, putting on a pair of shorts and playing in the game. He would point to left field and never seem to be able to hit it over the fence. Remember Wayne Rowe or Ken Stiles? What was the name of that blond haired nut counsler who was a campcraft guy (Ken something?) he was crazy. Was it Tom Eslinger or John Bradman who was killed in Vietnam?

It gets sadder and sadder each time I pass by the camp because it is less and less visable except for Alex and Ann's place and Chez Paradox. Who remembers Gabriel Erasmi or Gonneke Spits? Other than MIke Karol, who can tell us who Joe McKamey was and what was it that he did in 1964 that amazed us all? (No, it wasn't urinating on the campfire on Sunday nights!) Anyone still have their third level "P" jacket? I have mine but can barely put one sleeve on! I think I will save it for my three year old son when he gets a little bigger! Anyone out there have their old canteen cards? Nowadays at camps they let you actually use money....imagine that! That is it for now. Somebody needs to get a reunion going one of these years before we are all too old to travel! I would rather see all of you then continue to type on a web site but this will have to do for now. Please make sure to log on to Bruce Singer and tell him yes, you will vote to save Public Radio. The camper who was a better looking girl in the play "Velda Was A Lady" was John Schreiber when it was done the second time. Scott Landis was in it the first time but trust me, he was a much better looking man than woman!

That's it for now. Tom Field, as I told you in an "e-mail" a few weeks ago....I am back!

My older son is applying to colleges and one is Ithaca. Think he should use Hugh Hurst's name as a reference? See ya.

Contributed by Michael Salnick (Lionel Guy @ AOL) on September 9, 2000.

It was Chuck Rodgers and Dan Dyer that sang together. They are on the audio piece I posted from the 1966 record album singing "I'm being eaten by a Boa Constrictor". Does anyone remember the other singing guy - Don Lange. I think he's the same guy listed on some of the Kate Wolfe CD's.

It was John Bradman, a campcraft counselor and Cabin 7 counselor that was killed in Viet Nam. To this day I am still haunted by the fact that while I was hiking in the Adirondacks and water skiing every evening for staff ski, guys my age were being killed in the jungles of Viet Nam. I recall meeting a woman from Paragon the summer of '66 at the Chez one night - we hit it off real well and made plans for getting together for sailing the next week. Later when I tried contacting her I was told she had been notified that her boyfriend had been killed in Viet Nam and sort of went psycho and had to leave camp.

Does anyone know of the whereabouts of the photography counselor Mark Eisenberg. I'll never forget the the Saturday I set out with him in his old car with a couple of other counselors to go to some rock music festival we had heard might have some good bands. It was August 16, 1969. I think we got within 20 miles of the place when his car lost all its oil pressure. The oil filter had come loose. After getting the car repaired we figured there wouldn't be enough time to go the the rock festival and probably it wouldn't be that great anyway. That's how close I came to experiencing Woodstock.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on September 10, 2000.

Wow Jim, you really missed a good show - Can you imagine going to Woodstock?? The bands I work with now are in their early 20's and some of them never heard of it or don't care - I am like the old sage in the studio with these guys. I was just in Chicago seeing a band that I am producing for Elektra Records called "Lucky Boys Confusion". I said to them "It must be cool for you guys to be on the same label as the Doors and The Eagles". Blank look. Their hereos are Limp Bisquit and Korn etc. I sometimes have to watch what I say to these kids!!

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on September 11, 2000.

Recent news:

I called Rob Clayman two nights ago, not having spoken to him in at least a half a year. Not knowing I was living here now, he told me in passing that he was flying to Portland, Oregon the next day. So, we spent the morning today together. I picked him up downtown, we drove out to Kathy and my home in Canby, and then went out to lunch before dropping him at the airport. He confessed that HE ACTUALLY VISITS THIS PAGE, BUT ISN'T MAN ENOUGH TO POST.

WHO ELSE is out there who lurks here without posting. We KNOW Eric is out there, but he apparently prefers not to make himself known...

Other news: Rob brought me the cassette tape letter from GER (circa 1992) which I will digitize shortly and post. (Jim A., got any server space for it?)

I think I mentioned that I exchanged e-mail with John Schrieber, who I read about in the NY Times. He's in a very creative business in NYC. He told me he'd visit some months ago, but hasn't... Eric not visiting I can understand, but John and Rob ... heck, they have nothing to hide. (Maybe we can shame all of them into posting?!)

Also, I have received some photos of Ole Lar dating from the pre-Camp Paradox era. They're interesting. I will posting them shortly.

Once again, if you're reading this and not posting, we kindly request that you take a moment and let us know you're here. Rest assured, if you're concerned, that there's no way that any of us can trace back to find you... or even e-mail you if you choose not to reveal your address.

Tom

PS Rob hadn't seen, but surprised (as was I) to see an Alex/Larry photo from the summer of 1962. We didn't know (or perhaps didn't remember) that they had had a season back then. I was disappointed not to see any comments on that photo or the guys who were in it. It's by far the most interesting of the bunch to me. (Too bad they didn't included counselors in the photos in subsequent years...)

Contributed by Tom Field (tom@canby.com) on September 27, 2000.

Tom/Rob et al: Come on! You didn't know 1962 was the first season of the Alex/Larry-owned Camp Paradox? The camp was closed in 1961, but I remember GER telling me about the prior seasons and how much better things had gotten under the new regime (this was of course way before he got bitter about the camp closing). In the 1962 pic, I am in the front row, second from the right, between Mark Lowen and Neil Hartstein (I think that's them, anyway). As for Mr. Clayman, he was a bunkmate of mine that first year, I think, or at most lived next door. Weren't the Claymans from Woodbridge NJ? Anyway, cheers--Michael

Contributed by Michael Karol (Paradoxboy@planetaccess.com) on October 5, 2000.

Have to say that I check this site at least once a week- enjoyed seeing the pic's of the entire Camp - I will send Tom mine from 1965. I also discovered some pics from 1977 when Rovner and I went exploring at Camp, and I also have some from 1993 I'll send in (with pic's showing writing on the rafters that the current occupants left on in Bunk 21 or 22) I think somewhere in the attic in Philly are the booklets from the summers of 67- 70. I'll try to find them.

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on October 9, 2000.

A Happy New Year to all! I'm amazed every time I return to this site at just how much it has grown. Tom, you are to be congratulated. I'm also tickled pink by the memories that coming flooding back with each arcane reference. Some of you guys have memories like elephants, it's awesome. I love looking at the photos. I tried to find myself in 1963 but I was there only for four weeks that year and I'm not sure if I'm in the photo or not. It blew my mind, though, that while I could not recognize myself, certain faces just popped out at me, names and all. Others, well... The amazing thing was how many kids I remembered. I'm looking forward to the 1965 photo. One last note for now: I, too, remember the UFO incident fondly. Being one of those who was picked by Larry (I guess) to be in on it, I thoroughly dug the reaction, especially Don Blumensteil's (sorry about that spelling) overthetop freak out as I recall. I remember the heating up of rocks to look like metorites, I guess, and one of the counselors putting his arm in a sling as if he was hit by one. And, of course, the "actual" photo!

Also, Marc with a C Stern -- we did a leadership thing once where we all had to sit in Lar's and guess the actual timing of a minute. You were on the money and no one else was. I've always wondered, was that real or was that staged by Larry as an esteem booster?

anonymously contributed on October 16, 2000.

I also remember the flying saucer incident. We heated up slag from the old iron mines. I think Mark Eisenberg faked the icture

I think it was the AOL (or am I getting my acronyms mixed up) As far as the minute went, I don't know what Larry was doing. I actually counted to 60 and got it right. At the time it didn't do much for my esteem or anything else. Interesting that you remember it. Now that you mention it, the memories come flooding back, but until then, nothing.

Contributed by Marc Stern (mstern @ abanet.org) on October 16, 2000.

It was Mike Blake whose arm was in a sling...He claimed he was "attacked" while on his motorcycle

Contributed by ALAN SHIER (ALAN553@AOL.COM) on October 17, 2000.

In answer to the question I posed to those that were around in 62' the small boat with an outboard was named "Charlie Brown". Here's another question that I don't know the answer to "there was a store down the road from camp that "we snuck out to" usaually the whole bunk where we got sodas, etc.. does anyone remember the name? Here's a really obscure memory; there was a guy that worked in the kitchen that drove a "Vespa" scooter, who would ride you around on the back... what was his name?

Contributed by David Armstrong (davidarm@us.ibm.com) on October 23, 2000.

Of course the store was named "Fortners" (or however it's spelled.) It was run by a woman who I thought was a German widow; we called her "Frau Fortner," but maybe not to her face.

I recall that Curt Williams and Ward Someone loved "Slim Jims" from the place.

I looked at the store last summer when I drove by and of course, it's gone.

I think of the place whenever I see Slim Jims.

Tom

Contributed by Tom Field (tom@canby.com) on October 23, 2000.

Counselors arrived at camp for training one week prior to the campers arriving. One of the things I recall being told to do if there was some camper that was particularly upset was to "sneak out of camp" down the road to Fortners and buy them a chocolate Shake-up (or something like that). We were supposed to have them shake it exactly 30 times before drinking it.

Contributed by Jim Anderberg (jamesa@ctel.net) on October 24, 2000.

About that flying saucer: I have somewhere a piece of the melted rock!! If I can find it I'll get a pic of it to Tom.

I was thinking about cliff diving - I don't believe that any camp would allow that in this day and age. That 3rd level was pretty high!! I remember canoeing out to the cliffs, climbing up from the right side and always being scared to jump, but did!! Another memory: Infiltration(much better than capture the flag).

Remember Turtle Rock on a rainy windy day - how ominious it looked from the swimming area. And here is some trivia for you - the name of the 3 islands in Paradox Lake: Crawford, Birch, Grass. If you camped out on Birch you remember the mosquitoes!!

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on October 26, 2000.

greetings and salutations fellow paradoxians! as you might have guessed i just discovered this wonderful site this evening (27 oct 2000). it's funny where life's twists and turn will take you.

i tried to find some paradox-stuff for years and was unsuccessful. i had heard about some reunion years ago, but unfortunately i was leaving in an ashram (yes, an ashram in long island) and was unable to attentd.

over a year ago i even tried to start a paradox group on myplanet.com or something like that, but i had no one to invite.

about a year ago a ran into bob zuch (i believe) in a gondola at stratton mt. where he is an instructor! what a surprise. now i find that one of my patients is friends with him.

note to mike salnick (et al) i am a chiropractor and nutrititional consultant in port washington, ny. and thank you for correcting ranzy tucker's name. i still remember him lifting me overhead his head with one hand and helping him in the kitchen.

i was married and divorced twice -- presently single and living with my two cats and dog.

and to answer your earlier question: jon bloodwell was a prestidigitator. not bad as amateur if i recall. and i think he was from louisiana.

back to this website... i started dating a psychologist from town last week and on the way home from seeing the rocky horror show in nyc we began to talk about camps. when she said she knew someone from paradox, i got very excited. then she told me it was the illustrious lenny busch -- i was flabbergasted. finally she told me she dated him for several months and that he was living in princeton. i called him and he just sent me the link to this site.

it is after 2 am now -- i couldn't stop reading the posting -- even with tears in my eyes. which reminded me... i still can't hear dvorak's new world symphony with a dry eye and remembering the final nite of camp, the awards ceremony, the candles on the lake and duel taps from crawford island. also interesting -- i have a patient with a house on schroon lake who sent me postcards of paradox lake this summer, crawford island was clearly visible and brought back a ton of emotions.

incidentally, do you recall that route 74 used to be labelled route 73 before they conformed with the state highway numbering system for east-west routes (even #s)

i graduated from rutgers college in december of '73 and saw kenny kohn a few times, he lived nearby. but i always felt bad that i didn't maintain contact with my friends from camp. you are all right -- paradox provided a very special place for us. as i said to lenny busch -- it made us all feel so special regardless of our shortcomings (no pun intended). i also knew that a very high percentage of our fellow campers would be very successful.

do you recall the summer of '65, i believe, in cabin 17, when 4 us blew up our toilet bowl on the 4th day of camp and it wasn't replaced until a few days before parents day! that tree outside the cabin was never the same!

i, too, recall going back to paradox after it closed. i know ricky mittelberg was with me and i think mike salnick was there, too. i remember getting chased off the property. but at the time it looked the same.

i've wanted to go back for years and haven't. and i'd love to have a large scale reunion. i think we can manage that by next summer if we work together.

note to tom: check out myfamily.com -- i started a family tree there. would that site be easier for posting notes and photos? i think you did a great job here.

also, who else was on the february trip to the camp where we stayed in cabin 30 (no heat - about 20 below zero) and then went to lake placid-- skiing and bobsled run. very thrilling altho i got frost bitten then. rick shuck and his brother were on that trip as was larry, but i can't remember who else was there.

i do remember hiking up mt washington one august and finding the ice arch and the snow flurries on august 12th. years later i climbed it again and skied tuckerman's ravine.

do you remember eric landis' birthday. bruce iglis and i stayed up late and silk screened 150 t-shirts with erics image on it and we all wore it to flag retreat. what a goof!

thanks to jim flonacher for the scuba, too. but i remember diving without a bc vest in those day, jimmy! i still love it and am an advanced padi diver.

i was very moved to see that camp had such a profound effect on the staff as well as the campers.

and yes, i remember dave steinman and still have the movies of our water skiing adventures. also with victor ??. i also ran into steve berkowitz, when i started chiropractic school in '77, but don't know where he is now.

do you remember morrie siegel? he was from cuba and only in the camp a year or two at most.

leave it to alan shier to grab all that paradox memorabilia. great going!

that's all for now, campers. please stay in touch. i'd love to hear from each and every one of you. write or call 516.767.2988.

yeah, where is eric stotter?

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 28, 2000.

now i remember -- it was victor bell who performed amazing feats of water skiing prowess with me for parent's day. (and they said it couldn't be done!)

jeff cohen is an attorney for the state and living in burlington, vermont. i believe his brother richie is living in nyc and is president of his father's company.

Contributed by bill rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 28, 2000.

dave armstrong's pix of his bunk that he labels as 63 with leo lefkowitz is actually his 62 pix. i was in cabin 10 with leo in 63 and our shirts had the c/p shield on them that year.

i have cabin pix from 63 - 65 did they stop doing it after that year or are my pix just m.i.a.?

i also have the names of everyone in the camp photo in 63 and 64. it helps! i scan the 64 pix and list when i get a chance.

take care.

bill

Contributed by Bill Rice (drbill@writeme.com) on October 29, 2000.

I haven't posted anything here in a long while, but reading the comments of those folks that I know so well from 1968 through 1970 has biven me a terrific sense of nostalgia. I hope that you are all doing well. In the past few months I have had e-mail contact with Howie Benson and Marc Stern, and both were very welcome. The other day I got an e-mail from Bill Rice who suggested a reunion in 2002. I think that this is do-able, though the logistics are daunting to say the least, what with all of us scattered across the country. I, for one, will commit not only to attending, but to assisting in any way that I can. There is a trememdous talent pool among the former campers and staff of Paradox, and there is nothing that we can't do if we put our collective minds together.

Finally, if any of you are planning a winter vactaion to Arizona, please let me know as I would love to see you.

Take care all.

Jim Flonacher

Contributed by Jim Flonacher (BlueKnight356@hotmail.com) on October 31, 2000.

Hey Flonacher, if we can pull off this reunion, how about a night dive?? We can mke sure Ragona gets bitten by the snake again (or was it a turtle?).And I for one would love a trip to the aquatics area at night,singing Ameci watching candles float out towards Crawford. I'll make the candles!

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on November 4, 2000.

OK, Howie Benson's aspertion towards me as to whether it was a Snake or a turtle has forced me to come out of the woodwork. It was a snake. That's my story and I'm stickeing to it! Well, alright you twisted my honesty bone. I am now big enough to admit that on that evening 30 years ago, I panicked. I shot to the surface and risked the bends because I got a good look at Benson's fat mug all sucked into his face mask. There I have said it!~

As the only former Camper not currently a Lawyer or Doctor and as the on of the only gentiles ever to attend Paradox, I feel I can speak freely. I was in fact the Ringmaster of Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus for 18 years. After 10,000 performances in sequins and a Top Hat, I traded my train room for an Office in Florida. I am currently the Talent and Production Manager for Feld Entertainment, the parent company of the Circus. My job is to locate and hire new talent for our shows. I travel the world in search of that talent, but to be truthful, it is a very cool job. I know that you are the only other human beings who can possibly understand what my 9 years at Paradox meant to me. Everything I know how to do I learned at Camp. My warmest childhood memories are centered on that place. I have taken the lessons learned there about teamwork and friendship and translated them into a lifetime of creative and productive work. I was a shy fat kid with no real sense of worth until GER put me in a dress and made me a star. (I've lost the dress, but I have the star) Mike Karol is right. We were best friends who just could not manage to return a serve from that dam backboard against Roger's hall. We were able to memorize the lines and songs for the 8 full scale productions we mounted each summer. And while we did that I was able to earn a silver bow archer award and an expert waterskier distinction. It taught all of us that accomplishment and excellence was possible. I have been able to develop a second career doing voice overs for commercials. Every single time I enter a studio and step up to a microphone I see that dingy attic WCP studio high atop the Hall and I hear Lenny Busch's voice coaching me to "speak-up". I have always felt that Camp Paradox was the best thing that ever happened to this Italian kid from Scotch Plains, NJ. I am glad to have found the site and I will return often. As summer camps go, We Rocked !

Contributed by Jim Ragona (jragona@feldinc.com) on November 17, 2000.

I think Jim didn't believe that anyone would remember that cowardly act!!. By the way Ragona, I took my kids to see "Anything Goes" this weekend-do you remember who was in that play at Camp and what year??

Contributed by Howard Benson (maxibenson@aol.com) on November 17, 2000.

Had a lot of fun today going over the comments added since I last posted. Some things brought out memories; The Moon Landing, Fortners, Cliff jumping etc. But those memories prompted a few more as well. Discovering Freihoffers Chocolate Chip Cookies, (An upstate brand), The first time I ever tasted Mountain Dew, AND the first time I poured it out of a can.(What are you drinking there Peter?) (Would surely love to know just what year it was introduced. Was it really something new in 67 or was I just slow?) I also realized, to a large extent, why those years resonate so deeply in my mind. I was born and bred in NYC, it was all I knew. But in those impressionable pre-teen years I had the good fortune to be shipped to this other world, Camp Paradox, where I was first exposed to things not even conceivable from Queens. OF COURSE it builds your self esteem when you try something so scary as to race around on top of the water on waterskis. Or the first time you take to the stage and perform in public (with make-up all over your face no less!) or pretend to be Murray the K with your own Radio show and an audience of dozens! Or to reach the summit of the highest mountain peaks in the east... For all his faults, I think that that is what the genius of Larry was: to take these nice little boys from the urban middle class and help them grow and learn and experience all that might be possible in the wider world. And to give the Landis's credit where credit is due, Larry was no administrator, he was a dreamer. The Landis family made it possible to make the dream real. And I think part of what has made the memories stick so long and so well, was the fact that I wasn't growing and discovering this alone. I was part of a group and accepted as one of the boys, and we were sharing the adventure together. And I think that is why these postings are so much fun as well; what I forget, you remember, and I get to enjoy those memories again. Thanks to you all. Peter

Contributed by Peter Laudin (iceberg@a-znet.com) on November 18, 2000.

What can I say? I knew I was holding my folder full of paradox paraphernalia for a good reaso. I just took out my pen to use tomorrow from my Paradox mug. Iam now looking at my honor camper and "expert skier" patch (I think Billy Rice lent me this) and others woven onto my Paradox felt mat. It is so great to read about everyone! How are you? I never went to another camp since CP. I actually wanted to buy a camp but that, too, is on the back burner. Do you or anyone else want to invest with me? Anyway, here goes my update. Thank you to Billy Rice for contacting me about this web site. I have been a Floridian since 1978...yes , my vote was one of the ones recently recounted. That really helped the image of my state. Anyway, I live in Miami, am a partner in a CPA firm and now am branching out my practice to also include financial planning. I have been married 21 years this November 25th to my wife Amy from Philadelphia (no, it is not Amy Frank) and have three children; Rachel age 19 and sophomore in college, Brian 16 and a super baseball player, and Alissa 14 whose Batmitzvah we just celebrated. They all have gone to a Camp Highlander in North Carolina for the past 7 years. It is a wonderful place but nothing to me can ever replace our camp. I guess I'm just a bit prejudice. My brother Barry is an attorney (we seem to have alot of those) and he lives in Parkland, Fla. (near Boca Raton) and Leslie (a Paragonian) lives in S. Eugene, Oregon with her husband and two boys. We met people who know Bruce & Glen Graye. It is hard to believe it has been thirty years? When are we all getting together? My brother sometimes runs into Solly Salnick in Palm Beach County, I think? Anyway, this was just supposed to be short note. I'll regularly check in and would love to hear from you and everyone else. Some fond memories: The Chez, Bunk 30...I never got to the big one, the gray team (did we ever win?), the baseball toss (could never beat Alan Uhr) Brant Lake Camp, The Bilhelm Bilidoff & Rick Little radio show (Billy Rice & me) remember my first song announcement " Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie " by Jay and the TechniQUES. Well better go. My daughter has to finish her homework. Keep in touch. I know I will!

Rick Mittelberg

Contributed by Rickey Mittelberg (Rickeym5@aol.com) on November 21, 2000.