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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1940)
4 f PAGE 10- THE BATTALION -TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1940 Eighth Wonder—Aggies’ Juke Box Prom Juke Box Is Summer Sensation Featuring Low Prices, No Ties Juke Box Proms—their popular ity spread like wildfire throughout the student body after their world premier the first weekend of sum mer school. With self-imposed rules outlawing coats and ties, the Col lege Station hep cats flocked to Sbisa in droves of 500 or more, and they danced to the music of the leading orchestras in the country. They are the eighth wond er of the Aggie world. With informality the theme of the affairs, the admission charge hit the new low of 15 cents per person or 25 cents for a couple. Ev erybody came, and everybody had a whale of a good time. Directors and co-founders W. L. Penberthy and Luke Harrison ori ginated the affairs as a function of the intramural program, charg ing admission only to cover the cost of operation. Twice, at the end of each semester, a Prom was giv en free out of the profits made ►from the other dances. Altogether- there were nine Juke Box Proms, four the first semester and five the second; their popularity grew as did the crowd with each week. Penberthy pointed out that the attitude which the summer stu dents took in respect to the dances was the finest part of the social function. “People who think that the students don’t appreciate things which are done for them are all wrong,” he said. “Their at titude and willingness to cooperate was wonderful and any credit for the tremendous success of these dances should go entirely to the students.” The history of the popular sum mer dances is an interesting story in itself. While visiting his alma mater, Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, Penberthy was favorably impressed by the recrea tional program being carried on by that institution. Returning to A. WELCOME AGGIES! LOOK FIT! Make your impression at the start with a FRESH HAIRCUT. For Your Convenience - Two Locations THE Y.M.C.A. BARBER SHOP In The “Y” THE VARSITY BARBER SHOP In The New “Y” ■& M., he decided to request that the Intramural Department here be placed in charge of summer act ivities and the summer program. Thus came the introduction of the Juke Box Proms with their low admission price. The name of the proms was derived from the slang-name of nickelodeons which furnished the music for the dances —“juke box.” “Mr.” King Called To Manilla, After 20 Years At A.&M. Getting accustomed to being called “Mr.” after having been addressed for twenty years as “Sergeant” is the not-too-unpleas- ant task of one John Lee King. This new title comes with his recent appointment as warrant officer. When asked what he will remem ber longest about A. & M., he re plied, “The champion football team of 1939”. Chief clerk in the office of the m WEEK SPECIALS I.E.S. Lamps - Clocks A. & M. Stationery - Brooms Window Shades - Tennis Shoes School Supplies - Waste Baskets Electrical Supplies - Regulation Socks Military Shirts - Ties - Belts CAMPUS VARIETY STORE NORTH GATE P.M.S.&T. has been his official status the whole time, and a more complete set of files were never kept than those of John King; but he also served as door sergeant in the mess hall and for 13 years was in charge of waiters. He learn ed to fly in Ft. Worth, and he pur chased the first airplane in Brazos County. His appointment to warrant of ficer was obtained as a result of an examination which he took in 1936 to be placed on the eligibility list. There are only 600 of these of ficers in the army. He obtained notice of his promotion April 1. On October 18 a beloved little man will sail from San Francisco taking his wife and son to Manilla. He once said that after retirement he would like to return to live at A. & M. Certainly “Mr.” John Lee King will be welcomed back. Sound waves of African tom toms travel more than 1,000 feet a second or 21 miles in about 1% minutes. Instances have been known where messages were trans mitted 1,000 miles in little more than one hour. Summer School Was Eventful Complete Dial Net Installed For Use In College Phones New Antenna For WTAW; Mess Hall Meals—30^; Awards To New Students Since the opening of the first semester summer school on June 10, many important events have occurred to make the past summer one recorded in the annals of his tory as outstanding. Among the more noteworthy hap penings was the decision of the Board of Directors in August to construct four more new dormi tories at a cost of $600,000. The decision on the location and the type of buildings to erect were not made at that meeting, but it is hoped, however, that construction can be started sometime this fall. Also contrived this summer, plans are well under way for securing $350,000 to build an airport for A. & M. which will be the equal of any college or university airport in the nation. On July 11 the distinguished ca reer of Charles Puryear, dean emer itus of the college, was brought to a close with his death. Dr. Puryear had been connected with the col lege for almost fifty years, The resignation of P. C. Man- gelsdorf as Vice-Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, in order that he might join the teaching staff at Harvard Univer sity, left^a vacancy that was filled by the appointment of C. H. Mc Dowell who has currently been the superintendent of the Blackland Ex periment Station at Temple. Effective during the summer was the separation of the department of Chemical Engineering from the department of Chemistry. This new est addition to the field of engi neering makes it possible for the accreditation of the department by the Engineer’s Council for Profes sional Development. All equipment and machinery of the Chemical En gineering Department has been moved and set up by students in the rear of the Petroleum Engi neering building under the super vision of the acting head of the de partment, Dr. J. D. Lindsay. Dial System Complete With the addition of 450 new dial telephones, the city'of College Station became 100 per cent dial, according to an announcement of District Manager Atkins of the Southwest Telephone Co. In Aug ust of last year a 250-unit dialV system was installed principally for A. & M. College and subscrib ers on the campus. Now an addi tional 450-unit line has been added. The manual board has been main tained at College Station so that subscribers wishing to call Bryan may dial “O” and give the operator the Bryan number. At the Bryan exchange, the new automatic equip ment has arrived and installation of this equipment started about August 15. The new building ad joining the present building is ■nearly completed. It is said installation of the system in Bryan will require about twelve weeks altogether, and that the change over will be made about November 15. Mess Hall Visitors Charged By employing an efficiency ex pert this summer to study past accounts and methods, J. C. Ho- tard, director of subsistence, has announced that new savings can be made in the food bill by the amount of 6 cents per day per stu dent. These savings will be accom- that-fplished by a new 30 cent charge on visitor’s meals which was ap proved by the Board of Directors at their last meeting in August. The efficiency expert reported that the guest privilege was being abus ed by the students in such magni tude that some remedy was neces sary. In reducing the cost of the day’s meals from 69 cents to 60 cents, the maintenance for this year will be reduced $15. Mr. Ho- tard pointed out that this saving will enable each boy to have 50 (Continued on Page 12) UNIFORM HEADQUARTERS FISH and SOPHOMORE SLACKS JUNIOR UNIFORMS 9 RIDING BREECHES Made by Mendl & Hornak is a symbol of the best in HAND MADE UNIFORMS • MENDL & HORNAK’S Uniform Tailor Shop North Gate SECOND AND BOOKS - UNIFORMS DRAWING EQUIPMENT ALSO — HEW BOOKS ADD DRAWING EQUIPMENT I.E.S. STUDY UMPS-FROM $2.98 UP all necessary school suppplies COMPLETE radio repair shop STUDENT CO-OP North Gate — Two Blocks East Licensed Pawnbroker -- — Phone College 4-4114