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University Daily Kansan
Thursday, Oct. 22. 1953
La Rosa, Fired By Godfrey Silent on Plans
New York—(U.P.)—Julius La Rosa, the singing ex-sailor fired by Arthur Godfrey when his career ambitions soured the harmony among the "little Godfreys" kept silent today about the discord while he prepared to launch a million dollar career.
His plans are everything Godfrey says he warned the boyish baritone against—"the big, splashy, spectacular things." As if to emphasize the warning, which he disclosed to reporters yesterday, Godfrey told the audience on his television show last night. "I'm sure you have noticed through the years that those who are the great ones stay with me."
He made no other reference to the absence of La Rosa and Archie Bleyer from last night's cast. Both were dismissed Monday. La Rosa has lost "the wonderful quality of humility" and become eager to make money with a career of his own, Godfrey said. Bleyer, who still will direct the orchestra on the Monday night Talent Scouts show, was fired from the two other Godfrey shows because he got too anxious to make money with his recording company and even recorded Godfrey's competitor, Don McNeill, the star said.
Godfrey denied reports that La Rosa's romance with singer Dorothy McGuire, who also appears on his shows, had anything to do with the firing. He explained that "nobody appreciates folks in love as much as I do."
La Rosa, meanwhile, signed up for two appearances on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town television show for $3,000 each. His new agent predicted even bigger things.
Eleyer said nothing, but his record company president refused a telegraphed offer from McNeill to cancel his contract "if it would alleviate the Godfrey-Blever situation."
"If Julius were free to go ahead we could book him into a quarter of a million dollars worth of appearances in two weeks," said Thomas Rockwell, president of the General Artists corporation. "He still has a contract with CBS which confines him for the time being." Godfrey said news that Julius had hired an agent, forbidden to members of his shows, was "the straw that broke the back."
"Those bookings would cover more than two weeks in appearances, you understand." Rockwell added. "But the kid is hot, there's no question about it. We're negotiating for two movies at $75,000 each. He won't be more than $100,000 in the next year, and he could make close to a million.
"Humility is the thing that's made him, and he's still got it so far as the public is concerned," Rockwell continued. "Julius agrees that he may have changed, but no more than any boy changes in the years between 22 and 24."
Professor Goes to Detroit
Dr. Cora M. Downs, professor of bacteriology, left Tuesday to attend a meeting of the International Symposium on Dynamics of Virus Infection in Detroit. The symposium will meet Oct. 21-24.
Red Tape Cut, Picture Hung, Writer Happy
Hamilton's DRESS SHOP
Washington,—(U,P):I am happy to report I now have my nail. It is firmly imbedded in the press room wall and holding up my picture just fine.
Rv a UP Staff Correspondent
This is a great relief, I can tell you. That nail was causing the government so much trouble I was on the point of hammering it in myself.
But I was saved. After more than a week of red tape, two very professional-looking carpenters reported to my desk in the Agriculture department yesterday.
One was carrying a stepladder and a government order. The other was loaded down with a hammer, nails and a box of 50-pound picture hooks.
With an expert glance at the wall, the man in charge came to a decision. The ladder would not be needed. So other carpenter posed a problem.
"It we hang that little picture on these big hooks it's sure stick out from the wall," he said. "Shall I go back to the shop and get small hooks?"
"No," said his partner. "I'll just knock a nail in the wall."
943 Mass. Ph. 1717
And he did so. He gave it a little crook near the end to keep the wire from slipping off and hung the picture.
All this time I could tell the man
n charge was a little edgy so I haukened him very much and assured
him I wasn't criticizing the carpenter
hop in the little story I wrote about
he mail project yesterday.
I pointed out I did the piece only because I was intrigued by the strange and wonderful way in which the government goes about installing a nail. How my request had to be written up in white, pink, blue, yellow and green order blanks; approved by 16 different people, and finally referred for action to the agriculture group of the public buildings service of the general services administration.
The man in charge felt better that the carpenter shop was not being singled out for criticism.
"Red tape is just part of government." he said philosophically.
Oh yes, the picture. Well, it isn't what you think. It's just a snap of me standing in a Massachusetts tobacco patch with five members of the House Agriculture committee.
New Neurology Club Selects Year's Theme
The newly organized neurology club has selected as its theme for the coming year the general topic, memory as approached by the neuroanatomist, the physiologist, the psychologist, the experimental embryologist, and the persons interested in experimental behavior.
The meetings are to be held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the library of the faculty club. Those interested are cordially invited to attend the lectures.
San Diego, Calif. —(UP)— Army Secretary Robert T. Stevens said today the Army plans to make "minute men" out of National Guard anti-aircraft units in order to bolster the nation's air defenses.
Army Proposes Air Defense Plan
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Under the plan, Mr. Stevens said, National Guard anti-aircraft battalions would be set up around "important industrial areas and other vital installations."
The guardmen themselves would not actually be stationed at the units but "would be on call in event of an enemy attack."
The Army secretary unveiled the plan in a speech before the National Guard association, which in the past generally objected to any plan that would split the Guard of its role as the combat reserve of the regular Army.
Mr. Stevens' speech, combined with a similar one yesterday by John A. Hannah, assisting defense secretary, indicates defense leaders are trying to prepare the Guard for a shift back to the traditional concept of the home militia.
Mr. Stevens said details of the "minute men" plan are "not yet firm," but "it appears to be an encouraging approach to the problem of providing sufficient manpower for adequate anti-aircraft defenses."
One step which will "greatly improve our defenses". Mr. Stevens said, will be installation "soon" of the first battalions armed with "mike." the Army's deadly new anti-aircraft guided missile.
The statement was his first official admission that the Army had failed to meet its original target date for installing nike. Last spring Mr. Stevens announced that the missile would start guarding the nation's major industrial centers during the summer.
Leaders Queried In Prison Revolt
Pendleton, Ind.—(U.P.)-Authorities at Indiana State reformatory today questioned ringleaders of 100 rioting prisoners who last night burned mattresses, broke windows and threw bedding.
Hugh O'Brien, chairman of the State Board of Correction, said the reformatory's 1,960 inmates were locked in their cells all day yesterday.
"They had a sit-down strike in the workshop Tuesday," he said. "We had information they were planning something for yesterday."
"The trouble began about 6:30 last night and was confined to one dormitory. The men acted like a bunch of school boys, screamed and threw out mattresses, then went to bed."
Mr. O'Brien said the reformatory's new warden, Ralph Tahasch, was expected to take up duties Saturday. Mr. Tahasch, who was deputy warden at New Mexico state prison, Santa Fe, is a retired federal prison officer.
Acting superintendent at the time of disturbance was Ralph Howard, a member of the State Board of Control and former superintendent.
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Annual Decoration Row Causes Varied Replies
will interview here
Bv LETTY LEMON
One of the best reasons for decorating was given by a Corbin miss who said, "Oh heck yes—we should have decorations. I came up to KU homecoming last year with my uncle, and I was so impressed with the spirit and the fun that even though I'd never seen the University before I decided to come here to school."
"Diversity of student opinion is what makes a university great," said a noted authority on promoting greatness in universities, and if he is right, KU should be just about the greatest.
NOVEMBER 9
Two of the above freshman's friends reported that "It's traditional—we wouldn't be having homecoming without them; things wouldn't be nearly so festive," and "we should definitely have them, for the spirit and all that."
After being asked point blank his opinion while he was casually strolling down Jayhawk drive, a young man said, after a bit of surprised stuttering, "I think decorations are hardly enough. At most colleges a great deal more is done. Some places, the festivities last for a week."
An education junior, a sorority woman, decided in favor of decorations because they promote the spirit of competition between organized houses. "I think I appreciate the group more and feel more united when we're working together on the decorations." she said.
Reason: Student opinion seems to range from the fervent to the flippant on the annual campus squabble over homecoming decorations.
Her roommate, a college senior, added, "Decorations put everyone in the spirit of things, help build interest in the game, and encourage people to support the team, which at this point is pretty necessary."
A red-haired college junior seemed to anticipate the freshman girl's remark when she gave as her reason for advocating homecoming decorations. "They're effective advertisements for visitors and alums." And one of her friends added "One game ought to be special and decorations serve to make it so."
But, you question, where is the disagreement? These are only the arguments presented for the decorations, each of which, significantly enough, was different.
Several agreed with the college junior who shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "It doesn't make any difference to me."
A journalism junior pointed out
that he'd be for the idea except "The larger houses have a tremendous advantage. They have more man-power, less work hours per person, with better results. It's often to the disadvantage of the smaller houses," he said.
"I'd be for decorations if the houses limited their expense to $50 as is stated in the rules, but mighty few of them do," another journalism major stated.
Definitely dissenting was the law student who shrugged his briefcase and said, "Homecoming decorations are the height of juvenility." Also voting negative was the college sophomore who wished the money would go instead to charity. "The decorations take time and money, and what do they accomplish?" she asked.
But the most negative of all was the college freshman who replied "decorations, heck. I'm not even in favor of homecoming."
Then there was the college senior who shouted, "No, absolutely not. All you do is work for three weeks to put something up for one day and then its rained out."
Field Trips to Mark Geologists KU Visit
Dr. Dorothy Carroll, of the Agricultural Research center of the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., is a guest this week of Miss Ada Swineford of the State Geological survey.
During the week, Miss Swinefore will take Dr. Carroll on a field trip to various parts of Kansas to examine Pleistocene soils (ice age deposits). Dr. Carroll is a former lecturer in soil mineralogy at the University of Sydney, Australia.
The Insurance Company of North America, chartered in 1794 was the first general insurance company to sell life insurance in America. It issued only six policies in five years.
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