Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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HOMECOMING P1zEsIDi3NT R. W. FAIRCHILD Homecoming-the week-end of week-endsg the most brilliant annual occasion of every collegeis social life, the Nlardi-Gras of the campi- was brought to life for a pulsating three-day existence on the campus of Qld Normal. Lunch- eons,dances, parties, banquets, plays, initiations, and just L'VVhere have you been? sessions figured in the celebration. The first actual evidence of the Homecoming festivities was the production of George Kelleyls 'cThe Show-Off on Thursday night. The audi- ence was composed largely of students, and there was registered that evening the first pulsations of a tingling feeling which is inseparable with the celebration of Homecoming. Friday the chatter in the halls rose from its Y F i .ff - Q' A -. Q M- 5 Q W V . E if ' ,P s,fmFi' 'w h 'x i , Q f , W K l C. M. HAMMERLUND R. W. FOGLER usual monotonous pitch to a higher note of excitement and enthusiasm. Final arrangements were made that day concerning dates, room- mates, laundrymen, tailors, Horists, barbers, musicians, confectioners, and many others who have an indispensable hand in the activities of Homecoming. Evening crept on. The lights in Capen Auditorium began to glow. Students and alumni and townls people gathered and rustled in their seats while they kept up a sup- pressed and nervous murmuring. A tall man appeared before the curtain. A breathlessness, and then our new President addressed the crowd. At the conclusion of Dr. Fairchildls address of welcome the curtain opened and The Show-Off was started upon its second performance.

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tv Fz'r.ft P 1' zizf 305 TXIORTII STREET. 'While Old Normal's actors and actresses were gesturing and articulating behind the footlights in Capen Auditorium, colored lights and the smooth music of .lan Garber were enticing many people into an evening of dancing at the lylenls Gymnasium. i Both gymnasiums were decorated in a modernistic manner with black and silver. The walls were covered with black tarleton on which at intervals were wavy stripes of silver paper. Lighting fixtures of circular modernistic design with red and white lights in them were used. Two huge silver N's containing red lights were suspended from the ceiling at either end of the men's gym- nasium. At the south end of this room the orchestra was located. About a thousand people attended the dance, many of them drifting into the womenfs gym- nasium where loud speakers reinforced the music. Qld friends met one another and talked feverishly amid the buzzing crowd. This went on and on. It ended but the excitement and enthusiasm were unquenchable. In spite of the lateness of Friday night's Second Prize 307 SOUTH UNIVERSI'FY 403 SOUTH IJNIVERSITY Third Prize IO3 NORTH-FELL AVENUE activities, many arose bright and early Saturday morning to attend various club breakfasts. The Kappa Mu Epsilon society convened at the Normal Presbyterian Church for their breakfast. The same activity was engaged in by the Hierony- mus Club at the Campus Inn. However, the most unique celebration of Homecoming did not appear until about ten o'clock. That bizarre spectacle, the Hobo Parade, proceeded through the campus and past the variously decorated houses of the students. The crowd was equally entertained and amazed by the parade and by the ingeniously decorated houses. At eleven a. m. the prizes were announced to the waiting throng on the campus south of Old Maiii. The C. H. Hall residence at 305 North Street captured the prize for the best decorated house. This winning set-up consisted of an enormous clock face, graphically reminded the Homecomers of the time schedule of the most important events of the celebration. Surmount- ing this was a red bird resembling the blue eagle and holding in one hand the 'fgamew and in the other the NRA sign. NRA was interpreted as