Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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When they wanted an English dinner for the series , we suggested a Madrigal dinner for Christmastime. John Thorns, art department chairman With much ceremony, the lord and lady of the manor are welcomed by a member of the Madrigal musicians. Brad Odette. JL Cnj|Vl A H iEm SSKdB ■ — 24 MADRIGAL DINNER Campus Life

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Tubes turned to M A S H, on national and local level, to watch a Series Come to a Close Bryon Cannon Through early morning fog I see. Vi- sions of the things to be; The pains that are withheld for me. I realize and I can see That suicide is painless, it brings on many changes and I can take or leave it if I please . ” — Suicide is Painless (theme from M ' A’S’H by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman. Not very many people know these words. They were sung during the open- ing titles of a movie that came out in the early 1970s. The movie was M A S H. M ' A ' S ' H was a different genre of motion picture. It was clearly an anti- vietnam statement, but the message was spoken through the mouth of another war — the Korean Conflict. M‘A S H took the exploits of a couple of draftee doctors in Mobile Army Surgical Hospital M077 and made them legendary. Then it hit the television screen. For 11 years, M A S ' H reached into the American living room and enter- tained and shocked the family sitting there. There were hijinks and paralyzing moments of drama. M’A ' S’H was America’s first “black humor’’ series, blending laughter and tears with such perfection that many people are con- cerned for the future of television now that it is gone. On Feb. 28, 1983, the 251st and final episode of M‘A‘S H was aired. After 11 years on television, four times longer than the real Koren Conflict lasted, peace was finally declared. Former President Jimmy Carter, President Ronald Reagan and former Secretary of State Henry Kissenger, all sent telegrams of con- gratulations to the cast and crew of the series. Closer to home, at Fort Hays State, there were M’A’S ' H parties, celebrating and lamenting the end of the war and series. Most of those students who wit- nessed the final episode had grown up with M ' A ' S ' H and were beginning to wonder about life without it. The major M A S H parties took place, at the local taverns. At the Home I, hospital I.V. bags filled with water were suspended from the ceiling with the tubes appearing to lead into the beer taps. A big screen television was set up for the final viewing. Big screens were also set up at Judge McGreevey’s and DJ’s. The crowds were generally quiet as the last episode unfolded before their eyes. With few exceptions, the patrons of the parties dressed like their army heroes on M A S H. Olive drab was the coloring. Uniforms varied ac- cording to what the wearer had on hand or was able to bor- row. One partygoer, Jim Younger, Hays fr., dressed like a golfer, wearing a beret and plaid pants. He said he dressed in golfing attire to represent a sequence from the M ' A ' S ' H movie. In the film, Elliot Gould (Trapper John McIntyre) and Donald Sutherland (Hawkeye Pierce) went to Tokyo to per- form an operation but spent most of their time playing golf. Wiest Hall sponsored a party in the building’s basement where free beer was offered. However, most residents prefer- red to join their fellow residents on their respective floor to view the episode in their lobbies. All seven floors were filled with viewers. There was a gathering in the other halls and in the Memorial Union’s Livestone Lounge, where the big screen is permanently established. Before the actual showing of the last episode. Life magazine estimated that the show would have over 65 million viewers. CBS charged advertisers $450,000 for each 30 second commercial run during the two and one half hours. Newsweek magazine predicted that M’A ' S ' H reruns will be seen by over 200 million people, well into the 1990’s. M ' A ' S ' H was a vehicle to protect mass slaughter in southeast Asia without blatantly condemning our presence there. The diversified characters made M ' A ' S’H the unqualified success it was and is. The main character, Benjamin Franklin Pierce, portrayed on television by Alan Alda, was a surgeon who was not successful in hiding from the Crabapple Cove, Maine, draft board. Hawkeye was the main focus of many of the M ' A ' S ' H episodes. His overbearing sense of humor kept himself and the rest of the camp from achieving the Section 8 psychological discharge that Corporal Max Klinger, the camp transvestite, so badly wanted. Pierce also has a deep sense of humanity in him, which never failed to manifest itself, even toward the enemy. “Hawkeye makes the best of the situa- tion, and in the modern-day army, that’s what you have to do or you won’t show any improvement,” Gordon McMillian, Beloit fr., said. Of the show’s end, Doup Winder, Nor- ton fr., said, “They ended the show well, and it showed how people feel after being together so long and then being separated.” The Korean Conflict has never official- ly ended. A cease-fire was signed and the fighting stopped, but the war is not truly over. For the cast of M ' A’S’H, Korea is ended for them. “Goodbye, farewell and Amen.” Television sets all over campus were turned to the last episode of M’A’S’H. Students watched as goodbyes were made on the screen. They ended the show well, and it showed how people feel after being together so long and being separated . — Doug Winder M A S H Feature 23

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After 19 years, the Madrigal Dinner is A Christmastime Favorite Sounds of merriment and the aroma of wassail filled the Sunset Lounge, Dec. 3-5 as guests awaited the arrival of the lord and lady of the manor at the beginning of the Madrigal Dinner. Guests of Lord Stephen Larsen and his wife, Lady Diana, dined on a five-course meal while the Madrigal musicians and singers entertained. The English tradition of the Madrigal began in the 16th century when it was brought from Italy. Madrigal singing was originally an informal form of entertainment at castles and country homes. The Madrigals, which were popular around Christmas, were usually performed by the lords and ladies as they sat at dinner. The Fort Hays State Madrigal tradition began in 1964, with John Thorns, art department chairman, and Dr. Donald Stout, professor of music. After an addition to the Union was built, a series of ethnic gourmet dinners was organized, Thorns said. “When they wanted an English din- ner for the series, we suggested a Madrigal dinner for Christmastime.” Thorns said the first dinner was so successful that it has been con- tinued. However, some things since the first dinner have changed. For instance, the original ticket price was $2.50, which has increased to $15 a person. Wood said that although $15 might seem like a lot to pay for a Madrigal ticket, the event makes no profits. “We are self-supporting, but non-profit,” Wood said. Other aspects of the event, such By passing around the fruit and cheese, the Madrigal guests begin the Madrigal Dinner. as the meal, have also changed. Wood said the traditional turkey and dressing was originally served, but it was changed because of the creative limitations of that type of meal. “Now each person has his own game hen,” Wood said. Some things, however, are con- sistent with the university’s own Madrigal tradition. Thorns said the tapestry that hangs behind the head table was done by an art stu- dent in 1964. Although each night was sold out, Wood said he doubted if the number of nights would be increas- ed. “It’s a terrible drain on a lot of people,” Wood said. Wood said he estimated there were approximately 100 people working on the event. Along with the Madrigal singers, servants, cooks, musicians, a juggler, a court jester and a planning committee, the dinner was made into a reality for the 19th year. As she serves the Madrigal Dinner, Gina Montgmery stops to pick up the third course.