Singing troupe Melo-Dears among shining stars in ’68 (with photos)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Wilkin

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The Melo-Dears were in song, smile and swim in June 1968.

Schenectady’s singing troupe was preparing for its annual Men’s Night Saturday. Some of the mellow women dressed in bathing styles from the early 1900s to promote an Edwardian number — “You Can Do a Lot of Things at the Seaside That You Can’t Do in Town.”

The ladies were happy to act silly during a photo shoot, and offered great smiles and expressive body language for the sake of their art.

The Melo-Dears will be in action for their 61st show on Saturday at 7 p.m. The women in song will take the stage at the Rotterdam Elks Club.

Other groups were into spring swinging in June ’68. Students at the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing danced during their annual formal. Susan Mitchell was crowned queen of the affair, which took place at the Niskayuna Club.

The Junior Etude Club named new officers. Bob Boucheron, the new treasurer, serenaded new friends Susan, Betsy, Louise and Martha with a song from his guitar. Niskayuna teens were also entertaining — the school’s annual carnival was held June 8-10, with “Alice in Wonderland” as the theme.

Deputy Police Chief Joseph A. Peters Jr. was among YMCA fans who welcomed Stanley J. Zdunek Jr. to the State Street facility. Zdunek, a star athlete at both Shenendehowa High School and the University of Southern Illinois, had just been appointed associate director of health and physical education.

And while Sue Gillis and her friends from the 18-Plus Ski club were out of snow for the year, they found other places to twist and slide. The group planned a summer social for June 21 at the Walhalla Country Club.