University Daily Kansan
Page. 3
Hootenanny Audience Beats Seats While Performers Play the Music
Hoch Auditorium seats became bongo drums as the Hootenanny began Friday night.
And while the audience of about 3300 listened in Hoch Auditorium, demonstrating students held their own Hootenanny on the steps of Snow Hall and at the Campanile.
Monday, Oct. 14, 1963
Enthusiasm for the show increased as the performances proceeded. One member of the audience said "the show never got off the ground." However, others were very enthusiastic.
KNOB LICK Upper 10,000, the first group to perform, played Train 45, an instrumental imitating the increasing momentum of a train. To gain this effect, Peter Childs, one of the members, used a "dobro," a guitar that gives the sound of an electric guitar. Dwain Story, the spokesman of the group, said the dobro was popular in the 1920's, "but Pete still has one."
The Modern Folk Quartet, who does its own four-part arranging, collects songs from everywhere, Tad Diltz said in an interview after the show.
Lynn Gold was the second performer. Although she had trouble tuning her guitar, she received somewhat enthusiastic response for her songs. Among others, she sang "Bonnie Lad" and a Yiddish song about a rabbi. The audience clapped to the rhythm of the latter song.
Some of The Knob Lick's other numbers consisted of a medley of songs about women, and "Pretty Polly."
IMMEDIATELY before the intermission, the audience joined in on "Michael. Row Your Boat Ashore."
CHIP DOUGLAS, another member of the Modern Folk Quartet, said this performance was not tiring because they only performed twenty minutes.
Cyrus Faryar, spokesman for the group, said the KU audience was very responsive, and therefore stimulating to the group.
Bessie Griffin and the Gospel Pearls began their performance with "Got the Whole World in His Hands." Their other numbers included "I Believe" and "As the Saints Go Marching In." Bessie Griffin, the leader, presented a striking appearance in a bright orange gown.
Dr. Louis Gottlieb, member of the Limelighters, was master of ceremonies for the Hootenanny. He directed the group singing at the close of the program. 'The audience sang "Keep Your Hand on the Plow," several improvised verses of "Hey, li, li, li," and "We Shall Overcome," the song usually connected with the civil rights movement in the United States.
The demonstrating students numbered about 40. After the Campus Police discovered the impromptu performers, they retired to the Campanile and continued singing.
Quartet Guests Of SUA Forum
The Modern Folk Quartet sings what it likes to sing, but thinks that it is representative of what the vast majority of their audiences also like.
The Modern Folk Quartet, who performed at the Hootenanny Friday night, were guests at the Folk Singing Forum Friday afternoon. The Forum was sponsored by SUA.
Members of the audience were encouraged to ask questions. Many of the questions were concerned with the "blacklisting" of Peter Seegers from the ABC Hootenanny show because of his allegedly leftist leanings.
MANY OF THE questions were concerned with whether "Republican" folk songs had ever been written. Many members of the audience felt that folk singing was social protest in nature.
The MFQ emphasized that they were entertainers and musicians, not politicians.
The MFQ made passing comment on the editorial riding Hootenannies and folk music. This editorial appeared in the University Daily Kansas prior to the performance.
Cyrus Faryer, spokesman for the group, said the writer was inadecquately informed. He added, however, that if the writer only intended to be funny, he "succeeded beyond his wildest dreams."
THE MODERN FOLK QUARTET—(left to right) Cyrus Faryar, Jerry Yester, Chip Douglas and Tad Ditlz, sang in Friday night's Hootenanny in Hoch Auditorium. Also appearing were Bessie Griffin and the Gospel Pearls, Lynn Gold, The Knob Lick Upper 10,000 and Louis Gottlieb.
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