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Entertainment
University Daliv Kansan, November 2, 1982
'Atomic Cafe'explodes myths
By MICHAEL GEBERT
Guest Reviewer
Nuclear war puts on its best face in "The Atomic Cafe," a horribly funny new documentary made up entirely of old archive footage. It opened Friday in Lawrence.
The film, cleverly edited by Kevin Rafferty,
Jayne Loader and Pierce Rafferty, is dedicated
Review
to the idea that nobody really knows what atomic war is about, least of all the government, whose duplicity is revealed time and time again.
Much of the most famous footage in the film comes from government-sponsored films of the 1950s. We see a cartoon turtle telling us to "duck and cover;" we see cartoon representations of a man's hair falling out and are reassured that it will grow back; we see families enjoying the new
spirit of togetherness that nuclear war brings; we even see Hugh Beaumont, Ward Cleaver from "Leave it to Beaver," in uniform, telling a friend not to panic because it's all in good hands.
THESE SCENES are very funny, but they raise interesting questions. Outside the theater that was showing the film there were people with nuclear freeze petitions that seemed to suggest that the Soviets were just dying to beat their bombs into plowshares. Are we really any less naive, as we sit drinking theatre soft drinks, with God knows what chemicals in them, than the poor dups who were exposed to these films the first time around?
For example, the audience laughed when Richard Nixon was shown, regardless of the fact that Nixon was one of the few presidents who reduced the chance of nuclear war. They laughed, too, when a typical military creed named Tibbets had been used to Tibbets, the pilot who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, had suffered tremendous guilt over his part in the war.
It is scenes like the one with Tibbetts and those
that follow that are, to me, among the film's most powerful: Harry Truman unctuously invoking God, who in his Wisdom gave our side the bomb (Truman is reported not to have missed a bit of sleep over the decision to bomb Hirohima and Nagasaki); the rescue of a boy from a nuclear plant; the Pacific A-bomb test; and Bob Considine deciphering the execution of the Rosenberg.
TWO LONG SEQUENCES are shattering. The first shows a Nevada above-ground test where soldiers were placed in trenches a few miles away for experimental purposes; we watch in horror as the shock waves and the dust of the blast pass right over them.
And then, for the last quarter of the film, the film-makers take all that has gone before and edit it together. As the blast goes off, cartoon citizens "duck and cover," children leap off their bikes and hide their eyes, families reach for a boat to take them home, and overtakes them. That is the final joke of "The Atomic Cafe" — when there is no one left to laugh.
KU student sells comedienne jokes bases humor on insults, rudeness
By SUSAN O'CONNELL Staff Reporter
There is one in every grade school class - the class clown.
He is still a clown, but his audience has expanded beyond his classmates. Today, Schell writes some of the jokes that comedienne Jean Harper used to make or when hosting "The Tintow Show." he said.
Andy Schell, Wichita senior, was a jester in his classroom, he said yesterday.
"I contacted Rivers because my material is the same style as hers," he said.
Schell said he had begun his joke-selling campaign by trying to contact Rivers by telegram several times, but they finally answered him. Sell said Telegram Rivers 50 lakes, and she bought four of them.
"I'm the one who has gotten her started on the 'Wille Nelson being dirty' jokes," he said. "The last four times she has been on 'The Tonight Show', she has used my jokes."
He cannot release the jokes he sold to Rivers because of an agreement in his contract, Schell said.
SCHELL HAS recently sent Rivers 15 more jokes and he expects her to buy some of them.
He said most of his jokes were based on insults. One-liners about Marie Osmond's teeth and Liz Taylar's fat are among the jokes he has sold to Rivers.
Schell performed with nine other comedians in a comedy group, The Famous Potatoes, at a Talking Heads concert. The audience began laughing over beer bottles and hurling barbed wire, he said.
The Potatoes finally gestured rudely at the crowd, Schell said. For this, the audience gave them a standing ovation.
In Denver and Boulder, he and a woman from the group performed comedy skits at nightclubs, Schell said.
He performed with The Famous Potatoes going to the University of Colorado in Boulder.
"They loved us being rude back to them. It was the only thing that made them happy." Shell it.
AFTER THAT, he spent four months in Los Angeles. He was miserable there because the job market was tight. he said.
Schell is working on "A Little Night Music."
which is being produced by the KU Theatre Series. He said it would be his first major singing and dancing experience.
Schell said his singing was improving.
"Right now I sound a little like Anthony Newley caught in an animal trap, but by opening night I should be wonderful." he said.
In the play, he is one of five who comment in song and dance on what is happening on the stage. He also plays a small part.
"The role isn't too different for me because it's really funny. The audience sees 'A Little Night Music' through our eyes and we can poke fun at the songs and people in the show," he said.
SCHELL'S PLANS include finishing a novel that he started while living in California, he said. It is a humorous look at a Kansas family.
He said he would like to stay in comedy either as a vetter or a performer. He would also like to
The novel, "Kansas Plants," is about an atypical farm family that comes into a lot of money, he said. It shows how they spend their new wealth.
But he has more immediate plans. Schell plans to graduate in May.
"Knock on wood," he said.
"Person Throwing a Stone at a Bird," by Spanish-born artist Joan Miro, is one of fifty paintings included in the exhibition, "Twentieth Century Painting from the Museum of Modern Art," which continues through Dec. 10 at the Nelson-Adkins Art Gallery, 43rd and Oak Park. Other works by such artists as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian and Edward Hopper.
Students can use ID for KC ballet discount
KU students and faculty members can receive an 80 percent discount for performances of "Filling Station," presented this week by the Kansas City Batley, by presenting a University identification card at the Lyric Theater box office, 10th and Central streets, Kansas City, Mo.
The performances, which open the ballet's 1982-33 season, will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 4-6 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Lvric Theater.
Ticket prices without the discount range from $5 to $16.
"Filling Station" is a period piece whose elements — its subject, scenery, costumes, music, and dances — were all drawn from America's culture.
It was first choreographed by Lew Christensen for Lincoln Kirsten'in "Ballet Caravan." Virgil Thomson, a composer from Kansas City, wrote the music score.
In the same program, the Ballet will perform the world premiere of "Galatée de peux," a Summer's Day," *Classical Symphony* and "Rhythm," a Tale. "All were choreographed by Todd Bolender."
On campus
TODAY
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST will meet at 7 p.m. in the Big Eight Room in the Kansas Union.
CAMPUS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP'S
BIBLE study and fellowship will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28.
ARNOLD AIR SOCIETY will meet at p.6.m.
in the INTERNAL Room of the Union.
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING will be
BLOOD 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Parlor A of the
II馆
KU GUN CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in the Satellite Union Conference Room.
MARANATHA MINISTRIES will meet at 7 p.m. in the Kansas Room of the Union.
FITNESS AWARENESS TECHNQUES
seminar on athletic injuries will be at 12:10
MONDAY, JUNE 9TH FROM 12:30 TO 4:00 PM
TOMORROW
CATHOLIC CENTER WORSHIP will be at
12:30 p.m. in Danforth Chapel.
FRESHMEN
NAVAL ROTC
SCHOLARSHIPS
AVAILABLE
STOP BY 115 MILITARY SCIENCE
OR
CALL 864-3161
Academic Skill Enhancement Series via VIDEOTAPE
FREE
Textbook Reading and Preparing for Exams Friday, November 5
Call or come by the Student Assistance Center,
864-404-121, 121 Strong Hall for an appointment.
Doug Lamborn cares about KU's future
- Doug Lamborn believes our representation should be doing much more to help KU. As a majority party member, Doug would work better with the legislative leadership.
- Doug Lamborn worked his way through KU after getting married. He understands the financial difficulties of students.
Doug Lamborn State Representative 46th
He's Working Now He'll work for you
POL ADV —Paid for by Doug Lamborn
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