SIO's Article: After calling a square dance for more than 15,000 people in California in
the early 1950's and touring Alberta Province of Canada from one end to
the other, our Cover Caller must have felt that there was nothing "unusual"
left in this world of square dancing. That was before the telephone rang and
a voice informed him that it was the National Broadcasting Company.
Could he, the voice asked, call a square dance for a coming television
special? Arnie Kronenberger, who has recorded on a number of labels,
including one of the few stereo square dances (for Warners Bros. Records)
answered in the affirmative. After all, what could they dream up that he hadn't run
across sometime in the past? He got his answer soon enough when the network
informed him his dancers would be four helicopters. Figuring he had gone too far now
to drop out, he somehow managed to come up with a call that even the whirlybirds
could follow.
Because of the pleasure he has given to so many dancers, not only in his home
clubs in the Los Angeles area, but in virtually every State and Canadian Province, and
because of the encouragement he has given to so many young callers who have asked
for advice or simply followed his philosophies, Arnie, during the past 22 years has
added much color to the square dance scene. We pay tribute this month to Jan
Kronenberger, our Cover Caller's wife and to Arnie. The original Gene Anthony oil
portrait appearing on this month's cover will be added to the Sets In Order American
Square Dance Society's Hall of Fame.