people
By JL Watson Kansan staff write
he study is less than four years old, but it has the feel and air of comfort of one long inhabited. Rows of bookshelves line two walls, juxtaposed by a cross-country ski machine, an old couch, a wood desk, a computer and boxes of papers, many from his current project.
William M. Tuttle, KU professor and published author, holds a cup of cofputer and boxes of papers, many from his current project.
teens back in his chair and props his sneakered feet on a desk.
"My whole life is right here," he said, "g l a n c i n g around his domain." "Have everything in one room."
"Father's return was not always the happy return families thought it would be."
Tuttle did not have to look far to begin his research. He is a child of the war that changed so many lives.
The library is separated from the rest of Turtle's two-story house by a sidewalk wide
“When I finished the first draft of the book, I realized it was dry and needed something more, so I sent letters to newspapers and magazines, asking for other people to send in their stories,” Turtle said.
The letters began arriving in droves. One summer Tuttle and his fiance, Kathryn Kretschner, drove north to the family cabin in Michigan and took the letters, reading them aloud along the way.
William Tuttle
William Tuttle history, American studies professor
and an outdoor hot tub.
Tuttle spends most of the day in the library, working on research and compiling information for his writing projects. He is on sabbatical from his position as a professor of history and American studies. Far from taking a breather from his usual pursuits, he is busier than ever.
"During the war there was this image of home front unity, and patriotism. It was the 'good war'. We were fighting for a noble purpose, when in fact, kids suffered a great deal during the war," Tuttle said. "There were also the issues of anti-Semitism, racism and abuse. There were lots of lessons to be learned and someone had to set the record straight."
His book, "Daddy's Gone to War," was released in August. It recounts the effects that World War II had on children of the era.
Tuttle has kept and read all of the letters he received. He wrote back to some of the writers, asking for more information.
Tuttle said the purpose in writing the book was to tell intimate, compelling stories of how history works and aspects of society that had to be corrected.
"There were so many it was necessary for me to develop a coding system," he said.
"It was a difficult experience for some people," he said. "One man who had been repeatedly sexually abused by relatives and friends or relatives wrote poetry as part of his therapy, and sent it to me."
Tuttle said the stories he received were touching and revealed information about emotions during and after the war.
"Father's return was not always the happy event families thought it would be "he said
Tuttle's father, a surgeon, left when William was five years old, returning nearly three years later.
"I don't know how our relationship would have been different if he had stayed home, but there is no doubt that we lost valuable years," Tuttle said.
Tuttle felt like he never truly got to know the father who had left the family in Michigan to help troops halfway around the world.
He was determined not to approach parenting the same way with his three children.
"I think I had the same lack of information my father had, but I think I did a better job," Tuttle said, chuckling.
"The greatest reward of parenting is to develop and maintain a wonderfully close relationship with your children. If you can do that then you are a success." Tuttle said.
Tuttle also maintains close friendships with his students and colleagues.
One of those colleagues is KU history professor David Katzman. The two
co-authored a book, "Plain Folk", and work together updating their textbook every four years.
They have maintained a close friendship since first meeting at a convention in 1968.
"He has given me tremendous sup-
port and has really been a mentor for
me."
"One of my greatest memories is
See TUTTLE. Page 10
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Jennifer Howrey Diggs, Lawrence resident, applies makeup before going on stage at the Renegade Theater Comedy Shop. She was preparing for Saturday night's performance.
Live from Lawrence it's risque theater
By Sara Bennett
Kansan staff writer
Saturday Night Live has never done a skit called Gynecology Today. Nor have they extolled the virtues of a huge vibrating sex toy. Such topics are too risque for TV.
But at the Renegade Theater, 518 E. Eighth St., these truly hilarious and irreverent topics are typical.
The Renegade Theater's East Side Comedy Shop is the best-kept secret in Lawrence. Tucked away in a tiny cinderblock building among the abandoned gas stations and cornfields that line the outskirts of town, the makehup 60-seat theater is easy to miss. But stumbling upon this troupe of talented amateurs whose raw and raucous comedy rivals Saturday Night Live is like stumbling upon buried treasure.
Founded in 1991 by New York-based playwright Doug Delany, the Renegade Theater is a not-for-profit troupe of about 30 people, most of whom have no previous theater experience.
"Never apologize. Never explain is the troupe's motto, a philosophy put to good use in their material, written by troupe members.
But who could be offended by a group whose tongues are always stuck just the right distance in their cheeks? From Flamin' Dave Koresh's Fire Sale to a sketch on Trailer
"Nothing is sacred," said Shawn Trimble, Topeka graduate student in religious studies. "We're an equal opportunity offender."
Mate Mac n' Cheese — "So your white trash can grow up like white trash should" — some of the sketches are racy and irreverent, yet stop just short of gratutiousness.
Many of the skits display a wry and sophisticated humor that is amazingly dead-on and always bitingly clever. In "Typically French", a trio of English women compare the shortcomings of their neighbors across the channel with Warner Brothers' Pepe LePew. In a skied叫作 "Young White Male Angst," a 20-year-old would-be writer exclaims, "I spend most of my time at the Prima Taza. That's where the artists hang out."
some of the best sketches involve local humor. One skit called the Phelpson places Topea anti-gay pastor Fred Phelps in the stone age. And in a sketch about a fictitious shop called "Simple Oats," a granula space-cadeted named Nurture proclaims that "Every day is closet capitalist day."
The Renegade Theater East Side Comedy Shop actors can afford to be offensive and irreverent in ways other troupes can't because they have nothing to lose. None of the actors gets paid, and the $5 admission charge allows them to break even on production costs.
"Our original intent was to have fun and do something different," said Delany.
The Best of 1-The East Side Comedy Shops 1-7 will run Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. through September. Tickets are $5. Reservations can be made by calling 842-8808.
Hidden horrors found on video-store shelves
Tired of renting typical Hollywood flicks? Want to rent something different for a change? I have reviewed four! not well-known and low-budget horror films — all with dead bodies as a common feature.
The first movie is the Body Snatcher (NR), (1945). Directed by Robert Wise. 77 min.
utes. The body snatcher is a cabdriver, played by Boris Karloff, who steals cadavers for an anatomy professor named Dr. Macfarlane (Henry Daniell). The movie also stars Bela Lugosi (of "Dracula" fame) as the doctor's servant.
As the movie progresses, we discover an old stride between the cadaver-obsessed doctor and the greedy cab driver. This
The director of "The Body Snatcher," Robert Wise, edited the classics "Citizen Kane" just four years earlier. That alone should tell audiences "The
enjoyable horror movie was adapted from a Robert Louis Stevenson short story.
The next film on my list is the cult classic "Carnival of Souls" (NR), (1962). Directed by Lawrence resident Hark Herway. 80 minutes. The movie's evocative images were filmed by Maurice Rather, a cinematographer who was blind in one eye.
Body Snatcher is a first-rate film. I sure
think so. I give "The Body Snatcher" an A-
The film is about a pretty young woman
"Carnival of Souls" inspired later horror flicks such as George Romero's 1968 "Night of the Living Dead." Interestingly, "Carnival of Souls" was filmed almost entirely in Lawrence. Seeing what Lawrence and the Kansas River looked like in 1962 makes one realize that films — even low-budget ones — often create a record for the history books. I give "Carnival of Souls" a B.
who, after being the sole survivor of a fatal car accident, is haunted by ghastly images. She wants to get her life back together, so she takes a job as an organist in Salt Lake City. But, her lost soul just will not let her.
"Motel Hell" (R), (1980), directed by Kevin Conner and 112 minutes, marks the return of veteran film and television actor Rory Calhoun. Calhoun plays mottel owner Farmer Vincent whose famous smoked meats are made from humans he plants in his secret garden. Except for some cre
ative cannibalism, "Motel Hell" is not worth recommending. I give "Motel Hell" a C.
The last movie is a weird French film called "The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus" (NR), (1959). Directed by respected French director George Fringe. 84 minutes. The movie's original title is "Yeuens sans Vise," or "Eyes Without a Face."
The movie is about a mad plastic surgeon who kidnaps young beautiful women and experiments with their faces in his attempt to replace his beautiful daughter's scarred
The film's music was done by Maurice Jarred, who won a Best Music Oscar for "Doctor Zhivago."
The black and white "Dr. Faustus" uses white subtitles that are hard to read. But despite the subtitle problem, I give "The Horror Chamber of Dr. Faustus" a Bcalendar
All reviewed films are available on video.
People and places at the University of Kansas.
EXHIBITIONS
"Canyon Revisited: Rephotographing the 1923 Grand Canyon Expeditions"
Exhibit runs through Sept. 26 at Museum of Natural History.
"Contemporary Czech and Slovakian Photography"
"American Indian Baskets from the University of Kansas Museum of Anthropology"
Exhibit runs through Oct. 10 at the White Gallery in Spencer Museum of Art.
Exhibit runs through Oct. 3 at Kress and Balconies Galleries in Spencer Museum of Art.
Czech film series—"The Apple Game" (1970) 7 p.m. Thursday in the auditorium of Spencer Museum of Art.
"The Secret Garden"
Illustrations by Tom Allen on display in the Study Gallery Sept. 19 through Oct. 17.
"Internal Divisions: Photography Today in Czech Republic"
Lecture by Colin Westerbeck, assistant curator of photography at the Art Institute of Chicago at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the auditorium of Spencer Museum of Art
RECITALS
Doctoral Recital
Doctoral Recital
Lynn Trapp, organ, 8 p.m. Friday
day at Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Kansas City, Mo., free
Band Day
Parade at 9 a.m. Saturday, downtown Lawrence, performance at halftime at KU/Utah football game, Memorial Stadium
Faculty Recital
Susan Brasher, oboe, 7:30 p.m. in Swarthout
Recital Hall at Murphy Hall, free
PERFORMANCES
KU Theatre for Young People "Step on a Crack"
ple, "Step on a Crack"
By Susan Zeder, 1 p.m. daily Monday through Friday at Crafton-Preyer Theatre, performances for Lawrence school children only
"The Secret Garden"
Tony award-winning musical Sept. 28 through Oct.
3, with student night Sept. 29 at the Lied Center,
tickets $15, $17.50