We Are College Guys
In 1958 Larry Elliot, fellow Chi Phi at Dartmouth and trombonist leader of the Dartmouth Indian Chiefs Dixieland Band, wrote the music and co-authored the book and lyrics with yours truly for “The Chuck Sturdley Story,” a one-act musical that brought down the house. Actually, several houses.
The show won a college prize for best presentation at the annual Inter-fraternity Theatre Contest and was subsequently offered a spot at a campus variety show sponsored by the college in majestic Webster Hall overlooking the Dartmouth Green adjacent to Baker Library. The leading role depicting romantically luckless plugger Chuck Sturdley was winsomely portrayed by fraternity brother John Hamilton Miller, post-college, News Editor of The Wall Street Journal.
Our frothy kerfuffle was a distant cousin of “Animal House,” co- incidentally scripted by Dartmouth ‘62 alum Chris Miller.
Here is the blockbuster opening and closing number:
Before COVID struck I spotted a newspaper squib reporting a contemplated Broadway musical production of “Animal House.” Should it ever come to pass and the producers care to co-opt our song, it’s available.
RICHARD PRESS
11 comments
To Mr. Press,
…… Or do a story about Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase of Dartmouth College, Class of 1826. “For his defense of people arrested in Ohio under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, Chase was dubbed the ‘Attorney General for Fugitive Slaves.’” He replaced Roger B. Taney of Dickinson College who held that position from 1836 to October, 1864 and wrote majority opinion for the Dred Scott decision. He tried to deny what Thomas Jefferson said in 1776, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
I am a brother Chi Phi, Kappa chapter
And nowadays, all that light-hearted, good-humored frivolity would bring down the wrath of the Woke.
Boy, was life better back then!
Who came up with J. Squeeze?
Richard, This is my only communication venue with you. We may have a mutual friend who like yourself was a Dartmouth man, David Replogle. You and I also have a lot in common concerning the clothing business. Feel free to contact me at the above email. Thanks for your posts. VB
as a Dartmouth man, and jpress fan, I am pleased the Indian chief band and animal house days are now only the stuff of history. Perhaps you could do a story on great Dartmouth grads like Thaddeus Stevens.
Remember Blackie’s Black,Black,Black?
From an ETA chapter alum of CHI PHI…what happened to the Dartmouth chapter? Why the decision to go “local”?
Next time sing it!!!!!
Dear Mr. Press,
As you well know, “co-op” is short for the noun cooperative, while “co-opt” means to take for one’s own use. That “t” is crucial.
Richie,
Loving “Threading The Needle.” You are a very accomplished author…who would have thought in those halcyon days of yore?
Keep it up!
Bob