TONY as teens

Who is that?

Brian Farnham, Editor-in-Chief

The backstory

I believe this is my brother's high school graduation day, which puts me (on the left) at 15. The Flock of Seagulls influence on both of us is inescapable. Notice also how my practiced, too-cool-for-prep-school head cock enhances the hairstyle, as if the front swoosh has a magical, studly dynamism far too powerful for my adolescent neck muscles to control. The crippling insecurity is almost completely masked. Really, I should have taught a master class.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Alison Rosen, Web and Hot Seat Editor

The backstory

I was about 13 or 14 in that photo. You can't tell but I later affixed some righteous metal studs to that jean jacket. I wish I could say I tie-dyed the T-shirt myself but my mom would never let me do cool messy stuff like use RIT dye or acid-wash in her washing machine. When I went to college, though, I tie-dyed everything I could get my hands on, including my roommate. That's not true. But back to this photo. Isn't my left eyebrow awesome?

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Drew Toal, Assistant Editor

The backstory

Well, this photo was taken when I was thirteen, immediately prior to a baseball game. A few relevant details: Yes, I was on a county-wide all-star team. No, my eyes weren't usually like that and I did not need corrective surgery. Yes, this was well after my days of needing headgear to correct my under-bite (which I developed—around the age of 6—imitating Pee Wee Herman). No, I wasn't getting laid any less often than I am today.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Dan Avery, Around Town Editor

The backstory

This was back in those halcyon days when I would run home after school to watch cartoons and scarf down half a bag of Vienna Fingers. While that might sound like the routine of a typical second-grader, I was 14 or 15 when this picture was taken. I would best describe my style back then as "husky." Curse you, Keebler Elves!

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Beth Greenfield, Gay & Lesbian Editor

The backstory

I was 15 in this picture, in Tel Aviv, Israel, with my parents and trying to look sexy so that soldiers would flirt with me (they did). I had an unfortunate perm, which would be my hairstyle of choice for at least another year or so.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Courtenay Kendall, Photo Editor

The backstory

I was raised a Hoosier in the '80s. Ninth grade was not my best year in the looks department. I was just phasing out wearing the oversized men's clothes that I mostly got from my grandfather. I hated color.

Also, I hated how my hair would not stay behind my ears. So I had my tasteless beautician shave the sides but not before getting my perm! I thought if I had curly hair it would help to make it bigger. Yes bigger—it was in at the time! So I got a perm and a truckload of Aqua Net. My bathroom had a film of hairspray all over the walls that was impossible to get off. And you could pull on a piece of my hair and my entire head would move. So disgusting.

I remember walking into the mall and seeing signs for Express written in neon. I just had to buy those earrings to represent (at least for the school picture). I never wore color again. Except for my cheerleading outfit. And that was red and green. To this day, I cannot have a Christmas without shuddering.

Ew.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Dustin Goot, Web Editor

The backstory

I believe this was taken over winter break of my first year of college. It was right after I'd received my college letter jacket (for soccer), which I wore all the time thinking it would make women buckle at the knees and break into a heaving sweat of attraction. (Imagine the bragging rights with their friends: "OMG I hooked up with a nonstarting Division III athlete at a school you've never heard of!!!!")

Sadly this did not come to pass. A couple of years later, a Pakistani student who often crashed at my off-campus apartment but didn't pay rent, grabbed the jacket out of my room to wear to a party. He then got wasted and lost it during the night. I'm still a little bitter about that.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Nicole Purmal, Online Advertising Manager

The backstory

I believe in my picture I was cruisin' the Flats in downtown Cleveland. It was where all the "cool" and under age kids hung out, drank and partied. I remember I put on my rad/fly (take your pick) outfit hoping to hit the town and get DISCOVERED! Note I rocked boat shoes, socks and way dark pantyhose with a skirt. I was definitely a victim of wicked '90s fashion, not to mention some perm-Natzi hair dresser.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Joshua Rothkopf, Film Writer

The backstory

This is me as a surly ninth grader. I am not striking an "ironic" pose, à la Risky Business or anything. I really thought I was the embodiment of cool. My brother (extreme left edge) knows otherwise. Historical background: We were in Newport, learning how to sail with our dad. The trip totally sucked because it rained the whole time. By the end, Dave and I were seriously considering pitching ourselves overboard, just to see if dad could save us. (I think dad also threatened to jump; we were really bratty.)

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Beth Levendis, Associate Photo Editor

The backstory

I was visiting my godmother's family in Atlanta—that's me with her son, Keith. I still wear that shirt and I have the same haircut.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Ethan LaCroix, Managing Editor

The backstory

This is my senior yearbook photo. I graduated from high school at the height of grunge, and I spent most of my years at Arlington Memorial High School with a Thurston Moore shag and wearing a flannel shirt. But none of that is in evidence here. I was evidently going through a brief phase where I looked like a jock who buys his ties at Chess King. Also, Alison Rosen says I look like a date rapist and a steroid user. She seems to mean these things as compliments, which is troubling.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Adam Feldman, Theater Writer

The backstory

I am very nearly 13 years old and just on the cusp of Jewish manhood in this photo, which was part of the public relations blitz occasioned by my impending bar mitzvah. My Torah reading was about leprosy, which my synagogue's rabbi, in his sermon, interpreted as a spiritual metaphor for how "sometimes we must all break open our boils and suck out the pus."

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Michael Freidson, Deputy Editor

The backstory

This is me at the senior prom—not my senior prom but Jenny's. She was my best friend Chen's cousin and invited me because she'd never had a boyfriend. My girlfriend had just dumped me for a football player named Claudio, so I said, sure, why not.

I rented the tux, my dad drove us there and when we entered the Marriott ballroom, my ex-girlfriend and Claudio were standing right at the front door. They pointed and burst out laughing. My date and I ignored them and danced to "It Takes Two" while they continued to watch, sniggering. I had felt like a nerd through all of high school, but never more so than then. I also never felt more proud.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Adam Fulrath, Art Director

The backstory

The Sun-In in my hair was such an aphrodisiac that both these bad-permed honeys were eager to get down to our Jersey prom song, "Never Say Goodbye."

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Mike Rucker, Marketing Director

The backstory

That's a picture of me taken on my 18th birthday, in 1987. Note the one-size-fits-all shirt; I thought it was very Wham! and loved it because it disguised what at the time I considered disfiguring skinniness (what I'd give to be that thin now...). I'd just had a few friends over for a parent-sponsored cake and ice cream fête and was getting ready to head to the arcade at Putt-Putt for the real fun.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Sam Diaz, Financial Analyst

The backstory

Shortly after graduating, I realized that my style throughout those painful high school years was super bad and not Superbad. Something had to be done pronto. Six months later, I went from a malnourished geek with big glasses and an atrocious hairdo to a beefed-up god with a badass mullet long enough for ponytails. My girlfriend at the time this picture was taken—11 years older than I and crazy hot—was a big fan. The look was short-lived but very successful.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Steve Smith, Associate Music Editor, Classical & Opera

The backstory

Down in Houston, TX, during my younger days, we called those flat caps "big apples." Even then, perhaps I intuitively knew where I would end up one day. (Thank God I ditched the Steve Miller Band belt buckle before I made the big move, though.)

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

John Rose, Office Assistant

The backstory

That was the '70s. I also wore platform shoes and polyester back then. Those were my friends I grew up with; we were going to the beach. Later we split up and some of us went into the service.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Nicole Tourtelot, Receptionist

The backstory

This is me in 9th grade (Halloween '96) dressed up as my mother when she was in 9th grade. I'm wearing her Song Team uniform from 1966. I have no idea why I am contorting my feet like that.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Alison Tocci, President & Group Publisher

The backstory

This was the senior prom for the dazed and confused class of 1975, when I was 17. This guy was a friend of my older brother’s. His name was Tommy and I thought he was a gorgeous Dustin Hoffman look-alike, so I asked him to be my date. I had no idea he’d show up in this get-up; he had a top hat, white tails, ruffled shirt and a cane, and he picked me up in a white Jeep, reeking of pot. People took photos of us all night because of his outfit. I remember thinking: this is definitely going to make it into the yearbook, not to mention everyone’s photo album—and of course it did.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Kevin McQueen, Technology Coordinator

The backstory

This photo was taken in 10th grade—pre-Kid-n-Play high top fade, pre-sports jock, but post-band geek. The photographer tried to get me to smile and show teeth but I refused because of the railroad tracks covering them. What you see before you is a battle that was lost before it started. OH, THE HUMANITY! Stupid s.o.b. wouldn't even let me redo it. Evil, evil little man. It is because of this photo that I no longer smile for the camera and why I treat photographers in much the same manner as Lauren Hutton.

(BTW, I later dismantled the braces at home with a pair of needle-nose pliers.)

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Kate Lowenstein, Associate Features Editor

The backstory

It was my 13th birthday, back in the day when the Knicks were a good team. So I put on my coolest Nike wristband and had a party at Madison Square Garden. We even got a tour of the locker rooms, where I stole a tissue from John Starks's cubby (omg, I loved him). I’m cutting a basketball birthday cake in this picture. Those are my two best friends, holding their ears because I insisted on observing a tradition that involved screaming when the knife got to the bottom of your first slice into the cake. I also smeared frosting on my nose for good luck, but I couldn’t find a picture of that.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Amanda Walters, Advertising Production Coordinator & Designer

The backstory

This was my Bat Mitzvah day in December of 1989, and I was beyond excited to wear my black velvet sparkle dress with my boyfriend's gold Playboy nameplate. I don't remember too much about my Torah portion or speech. But on the bimah, I kept going over the words to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" in my mind because that would be the big song I would soon force everyone to sing with me at the reception.

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.

Who is that?

Ruby Millien, Assistant Circulation Manager

Click the photos at left for a full gallery of editor-in-chief Brian Farnham as a younger lad.