Section C · Page 2
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 11, 1999
Revue has history of giving
Show to celebrate 50 years of fun
By Amanda Kaschube Special to the Kansan
When Rock Chalk Revue creator Roy Wonder came up with the show in 1949, few would have expected it to be a hit 50 years later.
It was.
In a March 29, 1950 University Daily Kansan article, Wonder said, "We hope this show will be the first of many."
Archives in the Spencer Research Library reveal that the show has a history of fun, fantasy and sometimes scandal.
Fred Six, director of the Phi Delta Theta skit in the first show in 1950, said that the first participants didn't know what to expect.
"We just wanted to get on and off stage without a gaff." Sxs said this spring. "We hoped someone would come and clap."
An audience of 1,500 people attended the first Rock Chalk Revue and applauded while Phi Delta Theta won the men's division and Pi Beta Phi won the women's division. Each winner received an engraved silver cup. All eight groups produced their own 13-minute skits.
A Kansas State University fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, also performed at the first Rock Chalk Revue.
KU-Y, a combined group from the YMCA and YWCA, sponsored the event. All proceeds went to the groups.
In 1956, Student Union Association tried to take the leadership role from KU-Y, but they failed. KU-Y sponsored the event until 1983.
Six said Rock Chalk was always a hit because its skits changed with the times.
"The show reflects current vogues
in terms of the campus, state and country," he said. "The subject matter is always changing."
In 1966, Rock Chalk Revue had its own Red Scare. Alpha Tau Omega put on a production of "Snow Red and the Seven Bolsheviks."
In 1957, Rock Chalk Revue added the first in-between-acts performances, featuring several musicians.
The first coed skits were introduced in 1959. Previously, men and women competed in separate events, each group giving its own award.
The revue began basing all skits on a common theme in 1963, a practice that continues today.
In 1967, the first residence hall competed in Rock Chalk, and five years later a McCollum Hall skit engulfed the show in controversy. The skit, entitled "Sex and the Single Deity," dealt with conversations with God and Satan about oral sex. The audience booed the McCollum group off the stage.
United Way first benefited from the show in 1983, and the Board of Class Officers took control of administration of the show that year. KU-Y, however, would not give up the rights to the show, including the name "Rock Chalk Revue." The name was changed to "Encore" for the next two years until KU-Y's rights ran out.
A group of four singers called Harmonic Function, who sang Motown a cappella, was the biggest attraction of 1986. They returned to the show in 1987.
The Saturday show was moved to the afternoon in 1988 because of a men's basketball home game on March 5. Despite the change. That year, the proceeds exceeded $15,000, the largest donation ever given to United Way by the University.
"Rock Chalk Revue still has a charitable purpose," Six said. "It's a commendable and credible institution for the University to have."
Last year, the revue donated $42,500 and 33,000 community service hours to the United Way of Douglas County
The first showing of this year's revue, with the theme "Wonders Never Cease," is at 7 tonight in the Lied Center.
The 50th anniversary theme is a tribute to Roy Wonder, the show's founder.
Six said the revue was an acknowledgment of Wonder's work.
Six said he planned to attend the show.
"It shows the difference one person can make at the University." Six said. "Here it is 50 years later. He had an idea and sold it and now it is a successful organization."
This year's performers include Delta Gamma and Delta Chi, Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Sigma, Delta Delta Delta and Phi Delta Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma and Beta Theta Pi.
Adam Saylor, Topeka sophomore and director of Beta Theta Pl, said he felt lucky to be part of the ongoing tradition.
"Kids can relate to the Revue because it's good entertainment and the jokes deal with the present times," he said.
Six said that while the talent level has not increased since he was in the Rrevue, the staging and technical development has.
"Roy started the institution. It was new, unknown with no theatrical reputation," he said. "The staging has been improved but that's expected because it was a baby at first."
Wonder is scheduled to attend the 50th anniversary performance.
Edited by Kelli Raybern
Theme award added to revue
Artistic creations to be rewarded for the first time
Rock Chalk Revue began without a theme, but since 1963 the annual variety show has worked its way through 34 catchy phrases and quite a few bad puns.
By Katrina Hull Special to the Kansan
This year an award for best interpretation of the theme "Wonders Never Cease" will be added to the revue's list of awards.
Rock Chalk public relations officer John Laing said the Advisory Board selected this year's theme not only to commemorate founder Roy Wonder but also to allow for broad artistic interpretations.
"We always stress how important theme is and never give groups credit," Rock Chalk Revue executive director, Alex Locke, said. "The award is a way to do this."
Locke said that each skit must work in the theme in some way, whether it was saying the line, naming a character, including the
theme in the plot, or referring to the theme in some other way.
Phi Delta Theta Rock Chalk director Jeff Phelps said this year's theme had a personal meaning to him and four of his fraternity brothers.
"We started as little idiots and now we are big idiots who know how to have too much fun," Phelps said.
Phil Delta Theta and Delta Delta Delta used the theme into their skit "The Captain Was Here" through the main character Captain Joe, who can't get anything right. The "wonder" is that Captain Joe manages to save the day without even realizing it, Phelps said.
Alpha Delta Phi and Kappa Sigma also use a character to incorporate this year's theme. Skit character Carlton Wonderdon is a man with three ex-wives who is sick of paying alimony and decides to fake his death in "Three Ex-wives and a Funeral," Jennifer Shriver, Alpha Delta Phi Rock Chalk director, said.
Shriver, a Arkansas City senior, said that most of the skit took place at Mr. Wonderton's funeral. Of course, she said, "Wonderton never ceased."
"It's about finding good in things and the miracle of the unexpected. Nothing is as it seems."
"We arrived at our story through endless hours of brainstorming and endless nooks and crannies in the road." Shriver said.
Scott Newcomer
Delta Gamma and Delta Chi worked the theme into their skit entitled "Clouded Judgment" through an interpretation of the meaning of "Wonders Never Cease," said Delta Chi Rock Chalk director Scott Newcomer.
Delta Chi Rock Chalk director
"It's about finding good in things and the miracle of the unexpected," Newcomer said. "Nothing is as it seems."
Kappa Kappa Gamma and Beta Theta Pi's "In 'Two' deep" work in the theme through the location of their skat at the "Wonders Never Caesar's Palace" in Las Vegas, Danner Evans, Kappa Kappa Gamma Rock Chalk
The skit, "Clouded Judgment," is about an arrogant and sneaky defense lawyer who gets to look back on his life after his death and then has the option of changing his ways. Newcomer said.
Evans said coming up with the name of the casino was the hard part and that every year incorporating the theme is challenging.
director, said.
"It's an honor to be in on the 50th year knowing that the guy who started it will be there," Julie Gorman, Alpha Chi Omega Rock Chalk director, said.
Because it is the 50th Anniversary of the revue this year, Evans said the theme was more important.
Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Phi Epsilon's "Swing to a Victory" united swing dancing with the theme through its characters called the "Wonders," Gorman, said.
She said "Swing to a Victory" used the theme in an interesting way but that she couldn't give away too many details.
The skit was set on a World War II army base with nurses, pilots and mechanics.
— Edited by Duane Wagler
Rock Chalk Revue timeline
1949—Ray Wonder decides the University of Kansas needs a musical variety show similar to the one at Kansas State University.
1950—Rock Chalk Revue is performed for the first time in front of an audience of 1,500 at Hoch Auditorium.
1963 — Revue begins to create themes that skis are loosely based on.
1959—The first coed skits are performed.
1967 winners,
Alpha
Kappa
Lambda
and
Alpha
Chi
Omega
1983 — Board of Class Officers took control of administration of revue from KU-Y.
1992 and 1993
— Revue is held at Lawrence High School after a fire destroyed Hoch Auditorium.
1983 and 1984
—The revue is known as
"Encore" for two years while KU-Y still has the rights to that name.
1999 — the revue celebrates its 50th anniversary with a visit from Roy Wonder, the show's founder, and a theme "Wonders Never Cease."
Photos courtesy of University Archives
Rock Chalk's founder still is true to KU's crimson, blue
By Elizabeth Holder Special to the Kansan
It began with an idea and a prank
Now, 60 years later, the Rock Chalk Revue's founder, Roy Wonder, is coming back to KU.
October, 1959.
It was Feb.28,1950,when the following letter from Kansas State University appeared in the University of Kansas's student newspaper.
We of Kansas State don't mind in the least that you too enter into the competitive spirit and match wits and talents for the presentation of a great show - naturally ours are great - but, don't you agree that borrowing the idea is enough without taking the name too?
Surely, you have someone there at KU who can dream up a name for a show that is sponsored by the YMCA. If not, perhaps you would like us to send some Wildcat emblems down the Kaw, just in case you wanted to borrow those too.
Here's wishing you success with your production, but, please, try to find another name.
Unbeknownst to the KU student body and the University Daily Kansan, the letter was planted.
Roy Wonder grew up in Manhattan, Kan., and his idea for a variety show was indeed based on Kansas State's show, Y-Orpheum.
But Ross E. Miller, producer of Y-Orpheum and personal friend to Wonder, wrote the letter to create rivalry between the two schools.
Wonder: Creator of the Rock Chalk
Revue. Photo by Ben Bigler. Courtesy of University Archives.
"I have nothing but warm feelings toward K-State," said Wonder. "After all, I borrowed 'the concept from K-State. And K-Staters helped me do it! Their winning skit in 1950 came to KU to perform at our first RCR."
Wonder said he planned to return to Lawrence for the March 12 revue to help celebrate the production's longevity.
"I am elated and proud of the 50th production of RCR," Wonder said. "I am extremely pleased that it has continued these many decades and that it has evolved into a vital project."
Benton Kelly, director of Kappa Kappa Gamma's skit,
said she was looking forward to the founder's return.
This year's theme, "Wonders Never Cease," uses Wonder's name and refers to the longevity of the revue.
"It's amazing that the guy that started all of this will see how much the show has progressed," she said. "I hope he be proud of what we have done and how much hard work we have put into this production."
Wonder realized that KU needed a variety show when he was a senior in Fall 1949. The show was based on similar shows around the nation, especially those in the Big 7 and Big 10 conferences.
He convinced his Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers to help sell the variety show to the student body. Once the letter appeared in the Kansan, instigating the rivalry with K-State, Wonder and his brothers sold sponsorship of the show to the YMCA.
After Wonder graduated in 1950, he joined the Navy during the Korean war. After the war, he attended Georgetown University, where he earned law degree.
Wonder was appointed by the governor of California to work for the California Workers Compensation Appeals Board and later as a judge in San Francisco.
He married Barbara Comstock, a KU graduate, in 1953. She died in 1995. This year, he to marry Jean Stoneman Benton, a 1953 KU graduate and Theta sorority sister to Barbara Comstock.
Wonder has kept up with KU through the sports section and alumni events.
"Just two weeks ago I attended an alumni reception in San Francisco with the Chancellor and the president of the alumni association," Wonder said. "I enjoyed a safari to Africa with the 'Flying Jayhawks' last summer."
He said that many of his lifelong friends are Jayhawks.
The last time Wonder attended the revue was in 1989 for the 40th production.
"I was honored. I judged and then presented the awards," he said. "It was a great weekend."
- Edited by Kelli Raybern
The women of Kappa Delta wish everyone participating in Rock Chalk Revue GOOD LUCK!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for a Saturday of success! This free event is your chance to learn about paying off student loans, credit cards, and college expenses. You will be able to visit with area Hawk Talk mentors in round table discussions according to careers. Also, get tips on resumes, interviewing skills, and job hunting strategies.
SATURDAY, MARCH 13 ★ 9 A.M. - NOON
SUCCESS $ SEMINAR
TO ATTEND, register before March 12 by e-mail to saagurus@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Success Seminar will be held at the Adams Alumni Center.
Sponsored by the Student Alumni Association and Intrust Bank
TO THE MEN OF SIGMA PHI EPSILON-
THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN UNFORGETTABLE. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE COUNTLESS POWER GAMES, RULES OF THE "DICE," AND NIGHTS AT THE SOUTH GOOD LUCK TONIGHT AND WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE AS LONG AS THE CODE HASN'T CHANGED, WE'LL MEET BACK UP - SAME PLACE, SAME TIME...
LOVE.
THE WOMEN OF ALPHA CHI OMEGA
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