University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

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OCIdl U nion Conrad Thibault On October 17th, Conrad Thibault, a well-known baritone of radio and the concert stage, presented M.S.C. ' s first Social Union Program of the year. Mr. Thibault spent his boyhood in this locality, and many of his personal friends attended the concert. The program featured a great variety of selections, both old and new, of American, Italian, French, and Spanish origins, and generous additions of numer- ous encores. The second Social Union Program featured Robert Frost. Mr. Frost, intro- duced by Prof. Rand as the greatest living American poet, began his discussion by condemning the delight of certain modern poets to pur sue obscurity for obscurity ' s sake, which often makes their work meaningless. Among the poems he read from his col- lection were Spring Pools, which he called his only pure nature poem; Mending Wall, in which he pointed out the evi- dence of nationalism as well as inter- nationalism; The Soldier; Departmental; The Runaway; Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening; and West-Running Brook. The annual Roister Doister Social Union Program was a three-act play, Dearest Abigail, written by two of the senior members of the dramatic club. The plot for the play was inspired by the twenty-fifth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Abbey. Miriam Marmein, a mimic and dancer, gave a recital on January 12th. Miss Marmein delighted the audience with both humorous and serious pantomimes, which accompanied her dancing. Out- standing on the program was And so to Bed, the interpretation of a beauty ritual of a glamour girl. And then the mood was quickly and cleverly changed to a biblical interpretation, Death of the First Born. Echoes and Encores was the title of the Glee Club Concert this year, given on February 17th in Bowker Auditorium. A performance by Mr. Mullholland, a well-known magician, completed the series of Social Union programs for the year. 28

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Ball which was given in the Drill Hall, transformed into an attractive atmos- phere by the use of elaborate decoration. The music this year was furnished by Morty Gould, his piano, and orchestra. Ann D ' Elia appeared with the band as vocalist. The biggest event of the evening was the selection of the Carnival Queen and her Court. The chaperons chose Dorothy Hurlock ' 46, Kappa Alpha Theta, as queen, and she was presented with a crown of flowers plus the large silver cup. She was attended by Catherine Dellea ' 45, Marion McCarthy ' 46, Lois Russell ' 46, Nancy Stacey ' 48, Edith Dover ' 48, and Barbara Cooley ' 48. Dr. and Mrs. Ritchie, Dr. and Mrs. Woodside, Mrs. Speer, and Lt. Jones were chaperons. The committee in charge included Jack Blalock ' 46, general chairman; Lois Russell ' 46, secretary; and Bill Stowe ' 46, treasurer. Others on the committee were Jim Falvey ' 47, Ruth Reynolds ' 46, Barbara Dower ' 47, Phyllis Houran ' 47, Ed Rachlefl ' 47, and Don Smith ' 46. Although these represent only a few of the formal dances that constituted a cus- tomary part of the annual social calendar in normal times, at least the spirit is here. We have not forgotten the others; they will return before long to the College Calendar. But in the meantime, the number being restricted, three formals were chosen to carry tradition through the period of war. As a climax to this college year, a gala Soph-Senior Hop filled the warm spring air with social harmony. 27

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Fine Arts The Fine Arts program included again, this year, a series of concerts, beginning with Doric Alviani ' s annual recital, on November 8. On December 6, Mr. Samuel Snow, a member of the Department of Landscape Architecture, showed koda- chrome slides of flowers of the south- west, under the title of The Desert Blooms. On December 13, George Nichols, pianist, Maurice Freedman, violinist, and Mrs. Esther Strong Clapp, soprano, per- formed in the annual faculty recital. In January, Mr. Rand ' s Dramatic Pro- duction class staged two one-act plays. The first, January 4, Be Sure Your Sex Will Find You Out, was a satire on women ' s idolization of masculine public figures. This can be compared to the bob- by-sock adoration of Frank Sinatra today. The cast included Virginia LaPlante, Ruth Ewing, Daphne Cullinan, and Ellen Kane. On January 18, the class presented Number 10, a tragedy behind the scenes in a hospital. This was under the direction of Ruth Ewing and the stage managing of Ruth Steele. The cast con- sisted of Jean Spettigue, Daphne Culli- nan, Mrs. C. Clark, Peggy Cowing, Ruth Steele, Virginia LaPlante, Dot Richards, Ellen Kane, and Ruth Ewing. Following each of the plays, two judges gave con- structive criticism to the cast. On February 14, Professor Clark Thayer gave an illustrated lecture on flowers, including demonstrations of the arrangement of bouquets, under the title of Cupid ' s Floral Messenger. Barbara Bird ' 45, contralto, Elinor Galuska ' 48, and Elva Forrester, concert pianist, presented the student recital on February 21. During the month of March, the Fine Arts Council presented two concerts. At the first one, Pauline Baines ' 48 and John Delevoryas ' 46 performed. Pauline Baines, possessor of a fine contralto voice, selected light classical songs to sing. John Dele- voryas, well-known on campus as a pian- ist, played popular classical pieces. Doric Alviani accompanied Pauline Baines. A week later, the Council presented two guest artists from Smith College. These girls played duet and solo numbers on the violin and the piano. Throughout the year, seven art exhi- bits were arranged in Memorial Hall. These included some of the work of Mr. Mclver and Prof. Robertson; American Water Colors; prints from the Redfern Gallery in London; water color paintings by W. Buckingham Swan, sho wing Amer- ican scenes from New Orleans to Glouces- ter; a collection of monotypes; an out- standing water color collection from the Whitney Museum; and the Faculty Show, consisting of work of faculty members, their wives, or alumni. The Fine Arts Council is composed of Dr. S. C. Goding, chairman; Miss Briggs, Prof. 0. Clark, Dr. J. Fuller, Miss Mc- Namara, Prof. Robertson, Prof. Rand, Miss Schoenleber, and Prof. J. Vondell.