NHS class of 1938, concert help Fox get 'cool'

Historic theater

is raising funds to

buy air conditioner

By Chad Frey

Newton Kansan

This weekend could be considered the kick-off for fund-raising efforts at the Fox Theatre for an air-conditioning system.

With a rock concert at the theater Saturday night, it would be an easy assumption to make.

But the campaign really got off the ground when another era came to an end, when the Newton High School class of 1938 chose to stop having class reunions.

But the class had money in the bank — $1,650 to be exact.

“To get rid of the money, we decided to give it to them,” said Mable Nicodemus, a member of the class of 1938. “This was motivated because it was a high school group that has the Fox, and it would be good to help them.”

The Fox season begins in the fall and ends in spring, namely because of the lack of an air conditioning system.

On Saturday, the band Relapse will be on the Fox stage, playing classic rock and roll.

Tickets for the show are available for $10 at the door before the concert.

Profits from the concert will go to the air conditioning fund.

Nicodemus said she hopes the story of her class will inspire others — whether it’s going on Saturday night or to write a donation check.

“We gave all that we had, all that was in the bank,” Nicodemus said. “It was money we had gotten when we had reunions and had money left. ... I hope people will find out what our class did and find a way to help them with the air-conditioning.”