THURSDAY AFTERNOONrOCTOBER 17, 1946
THE BATTALION
Page 3;
Strauss Festival First on Town Hall Program
*
Tibbett, America’s Favorite
Baritone, to Appear Nov. 18
Lawrence Tibbett will appear
on th estag-e of Guion Hall as a
presentation of Town Hall Mon
day, November 18th. This is to be
one of the season’s biggest at
tractions, as Mr. Tibbett is the
world famous baritone of the
Metropolitan Opera.
Lawrence Tibbett, as a child in
Bakersfield, California, lived the
kind of life other boys read about.
His uncle, Bert Tibbett, was the
sheriff; his father, the deputy.
When Tibbett was 7, a Western bad
man, cornered in a Bakersfield
joss house, shot and killed his
father, whereupon his uncle, Sheriff
Bert Tibbett, drilled “Wild Jim”
McKinney, the “bad man”. The
rifle with which this patriotic deed
was done, long treasured among
the sheriff’s mementoes, was pre
sented to Lawrence just before his
uncle died.
Mr. Tibbett was the youngest of
four children and his mother had
to struggle to support them. “Pov
erty struck hard at us,” he remem
bers. “My mother, two elder broth
ers and a sister worked hard to
keep the roof over us and the lard
er filled. While I was growing up,
I spent every summer on a cattle
ranch, working with the cowboys
in the roundups. I remember .shoot
ing my first deer at ten, with a
gun much bigger than myself.”
When it became apparent he
had a voice, his mother an under
standing soul, taught him what she
knew of singing; his sister, Betty
Lee, helped a bit, too. Meanwhile,
Tibbett sold papers and did odd
jobs to swell the family income.
He had had some small exper
ience in public singing by the time
he entered the Manual Arts Junior
College in Los Angeles. Soon his
vocal talent became known and he
found himself earning small fees
singing at churches and local gath
erings.
“A man who heard me sing was
so impressed that he volunteered
to back my training. So I went to
New York and continued my stud
ies.”
The. man who heard him sing
was Rupert Hughes, famous novel
ist, and the impromptu audition oc
curred in Sid Grauman’s Million-
Dollar Theatre in Los Angeles.
Hughes and his friends financed a
trip to New York and instruction in
the classes of Frank La Forge.
Tibbett’s native good sense and
musical ambition enabled him to
make the' right decision when the
Metropolitan, after his second audi
tion, offered him a contract at
$60 a week and a Broadway pro
ducer came forward at the same
time with an infinitely tempting
offer of $300 a week for musical
comedy. Mr. Tibbett wanted that
$300—but he wanted an opera
career even more. He accepted the.
Metropolitan’s $60-a-week.
During his second season at
the Metropolitan he was assigned
to the role of Ford in Verdi’s “Fal-
staff”. The opera had not been
sung there in fifteen years, and the
revival had Antonio Scotti in the
title role, with some of the com
pany’s leading lights making- up the
rest of the cast.
i At the Metropolitan he has not
Fish & Game Club
Plans Activities
Approximately 100 Fish and
Game majors and any other in
terested persons will be organized
as the Fish and Game Club this
year at Texas A. & M. Club of
ficers, B. G. Welch, president; D.
N. Eisenhauer, Jr., vice-president;
W. H. Kiel, Jr., secretary-treasur
er; and A. K. Sparks, reporter, will
be leading the organization.
Club programs for the year will
include the following movies:
“Haunts for the Hunted”, “Fly-
ways of Migratory Waterfowl”,
“Know the Hawks”, “Beavers at
Home”, “Quest of the Alaska Seal
skin”, “Mourning Dove in Ala
bama”, and “Shell-Fishing”.
In the spring, different special
ists in the wildlife field will be in
vited to lecture on some phase of
the work they are doing. The
members will sponsor some type
of social in the spring.
The club is also going to spon
sor a contest to select a delegate
to the National Wildlife Conven
tion. This contest will concern the
scholastic record, field knowledge,
and all-around ability of the con
testant.
With this program the Fish and
Game Club hopes to help promote
and hold the new interest in wild
life conservation and manage
ment shown by the record enroll
ment of new Fish and Game ma
jors in U. S. colleges.
only been pre-eminent in the great
est baritone roles in operatic lit
erature, but he has also created
the leading roles in such Ameri
can operas as “The Emperor
Jones,” “Merry Mount,” “The
King’s Henchman” and “Peter Ib-
betson”. His name has been syn
onymous with many notable re
vivals — “Simon Boccanegra”,
“Gianni Schicchi” and “Otello”, to
name only a few. And he has been
the start of several motion pic
tures, including the very success
ful “The Rogue Song”.
Lawrence Tibbett has attained
just as wide and illustrious a rep
utation in the concert field, for his
knowledge of the song literature of
all nations and periods is tremen
dous.
Rifle Team
Plans are being made for the
formation of the A. & M. Rifle
Team, according to Major J. M.
Cook. All R. O. T. C. students
who are interested in the Rifle
Team are requested to meet Major
Cook at Ross Hall on October 17
at 7 p.m.
ANNOUNCING
3 NEW BUS SCHEDULES DAILY TO
Crockett — Madisonville — Lufkin
DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO
Palestine — Nacogdoches — Shreveport
San Augustine — Henderson — Tyler
Depart College Station 8:55 a.m., 1:15 p.m. 5:10 p.m.
MACK’S MOTOR COACHES
Phone 4-7114
Q. How long is a second?
A. Sometimes it’s 3% YEARS
One second is not always one-sixtieth of a minute — not in tele
phone mathematics. Suppose, for example, you find a new method
that clips just one second from the time it takes to process a toll
ticket. Then apply that saving throughout the Bell System where
some 115,000,000 toll tickets are handled a month. The time saved
every thirty days equals 3% years!
Important? From seemingly minor changes or savings frequently
come the major improvements which mean better working conditions
for telephone men and women and better telephone service for
everyone.
In this industry, even long established methods of operation are
never considered beyond improvement. For men with ideas and
ability, that viewpoint is a stimulating challenge.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY AND ADVENTURE IN
BELL
TELEPHONE
TELEPHONY
SYSTEM
Featured artists on the coming Town Hall program are conductor-
composers Oscar and Erwin Straus pictured left to right. They main
tain that their only relation to the waltz king, Johann Strauss, is
their love for the three-fourths time.
CLUBS
t
Agronomy Society
The AgTonomy Society met
Tuesday, October 8, at 7:30 p.m.
in the A. & I. lecture room with
60 men in attendance. The pro
gram consisted of a series of
slides taken by the four students
who were chosen to make the Cot
ton Tour this past summer. Ho
ward Anderson, chairman of the
program committee, and one of
the students on the tour took
charge of the program for the
evening.
A revised and amended Consti
tution was read by the secretary;
at the next meeting it will be
discussed and voted upon for ac
ceptance. Refreshments were serv
ed after the meeting.
Pre-Medical Society
At the first meeting of the Pre-
Medical Society, H. M. Brower,
’41, was elected president for the
coming; year. Doyne B. Hamilton,
’48, will serve as vice-president;
Don W. Carroll, ’45, secretary-
treasurer; and Norman E. Hal-
hrooks, ’46, was elected reporter.
According to thte lax’ge group
of pre-medical and pre-dental
students present, keen interest
has been aroused in the society.
The increased membership and
plans now in progress give promise
a season unequaled in the club’s
history.
All pre-medical and pre-dental
students who are not acquainted
with the society will find a ready
welcome at the bi-monthly meet
ings on the first and thii'd Tues
days of each month.
Singing Cadets
John A. Smith of Bryan was
elected president of the Singing
Cadets in a recent election. He
has been a member of the group
for the past five semesters. Harry
Doran of San Saba was chosen
vice-president, and Jug Leather-
wood of Beaumont, business mana
ger. Marvin Brown of Dallas will
be accompanist, and Watson
Keeney of Weslqco, student di
rector.
The Singing Cadets have en
rolled eighty-six applicants, hav
ing auditioned seventy-two of
them for the traveling club. This
year the A. & M. singers plan to
perform in Fort Worth, Dallas,
Denton (TSCW), Stephenville
(John Tarleton), Huntsville (Sam
Houston College), and Waco. An
appearance on a Town Hall pro
gram has also been arranged for
the group.
Ag. Engineer Chapter
The student chapter of the
American Society of Agricultural
Engineers, Larry Barton presid
ing, met in the lecture room of the
Agricultural Engineering building
for the second meeting of the
semester. F. R. Jones, head of
the department, spoke and showed
a film entitled, “Progress Shown
in Farm Life Through Use of Ma
chinery on the Farm.”
Business portion of the meeting
included the adoption of a resolu
tion to revive the annual barn
dance in the spring session. Meet
ings are held the first and third
Tuesday of each month and all
Agricultural Engineering students
are invited to attend.
Petroleum Engineers
Gene B. Caperton of Shamrock,
Texas was elected president of the
student chapter of the Petroleum
Engineering Society at its initial
president for the year will be
William G. Gill of Houston; Julio
Casas Jr. from Maracaibo, Vene
zuela will serve as secretary; and
Gene M;. Goodwin from Archer
City was named treasurer.
Joe Mueller was chosen to rep
resent the Petroleum Engineering-
Department on the Student En
gineers’ Council, and Ed Monteith
represented the club at the AIME
meeting held in Galveston last
week.
VETERANS’ WIVES ELECT
With about 50 wives in attend
ance to elect officers, the monthly
business meeting of the A. and M.
Veterans’ Wives Club was held
Tuesday night, October 1, in
Sbisa Lounge.
Club officers chosen to serve for
the fall semester were:
President, Mrs. Nell Creel.
Vice-President, Mrs. Jan Ryman.
Secretary, Mrs. Betty Duke.
Treasurer, Mrs. Ann Croke.
Club Reporter, Mrs. Mike Hall.
Historian, Mi's. Betty Back.
Parliamentarian, Mrs. Naiomi
Simmons.
The fall entertainment program
for the club was announced and
Mrs. Mary Joan Strange was ap
pointed publicity chairman for all
club activities.
Industrial Education
The Industrial Education Club
held its second meeting of the se
mester with 36 members present.
New policies and aims for better
ing the club were discussed. Al
bert Moorhead, vice-president, dis
cussed plans for entertainment at
future meetings. Guest speakers
will be the highlig-ht of each
forthcoming meeting.
W. R. Horsley of the A. M.
Placement Bureau will be the
speaker for the meeting to be
held on October 22.
FOR YOUR HOME
i ■
FURNITURE OF UTILITY AND TASTE
DA VINO . . .
, In 1 or 2 pieces, Converts into a bed.
DINETTE SUITS . . .
23 Different Types including Chrome
with Porcelain Top.
RADIOS — Grosley . . .
Table Models and Combinations.
DESKS and DESK LAMPS . . .
m
L
J
r urniture jCompariLi
A Ferrer i •n</ J.E.Cfaqton
Viennese Waltzes from Pen of
Johann Strauss Will Be Heard
A capacity crowd will welcome
Oscar Straus and his Concert Or
chestra on the stage of Guion Hall
at 3 p.m., Sunday Afternoon, Octo
ber 20. At the “Strauss Festival”,
compositions to be played will
range from Johann Strauss, Sr.,
to Oscar Straus’ son, Erwin, who
doubles as assistant conductor.
Maestro Straus composed Amer
ica’s most popular operetta, “The
Chocolate Soldier”, his major job
has been to gxplain that he is not
related to Johann Strauss. In fact
his only tie-in with the great
Johann came along ago in Vienna
when the older composer advised
the younger to give up more ser
ious music and compose light
operas and waltzes. Oscar followed
the advice and his success has been
distinguished on both continents.
Father and son will conduct a
program consisting entirely of
Strauss numbers—their own and
those of the other Strauss family
—Johann Strauss Sr., Johann Jr.,
and Joseph. “We all specialized
in Viennese waltzes, and perhaps
that is an even closer relationship
than one of blood—who knows?”
Oscar Straus revealed.
Ezra Rachlin, one of America’s
most gifted conductors, has been
chosen by Oscar Straus as asso
ciate conductor for the Strauss
Festival. He went to Berlin in
1925 to study music, then begin
ning a concert tour of Europe.
Rachlin finally was brought back
to America and a spectacular debut
at Carnegie Hall. After touring the
key cities of the United States and
Europe, M]r. Rachlin decided to
devote his musical talents to con
ducting. Later he joined the Phil
adelphia Opera Company as asso
ciate conductor. In 1945, he was
engaged as musical director of
the Memphis Open Air Theatre
where he received critical acclaim.
Four brilliapt soloists will ap
pear on the Strauss Festival on
Sunday afternoon. Evelyn Case,
singing soloist with the troupe,
was in London during the Blitz
and sang day after day at Army
camps. After graduating from the
Junior College of the Ogontz
School in Philadelphia, the so
prano was sent to the Cincinnati
Conservatory where she studied
cello and voice. Her singing ca
reer began when she was 17 with
a series of concert engagements
for the Music Clubs of Texas. Miss
Case is a descendant of a Royal
Governor of the Spanish colonial
period and the first American
mayor of her hometown, San An
tonio.
Barbara Moser, another soprano
solist on the program, began her
musical career as a piano soloist,
after which she studied voice at
the Chicago Conservatory. She
was engaged by MGM to sing in
“The Portrait of Dorian Gray”,
later appearing in the Hollywood
Bowl. She came east to continue
her studies and was engaged to
appear in the Broadway produc
tion of “Oklahoma”. This 21-year
old star adds the lovely lilt of hex-
voice and the spax-kle of her smile
to the gay melodies of the
“Strauss Festival”.
A charter member of the Phil
adelphia Opera Company was Mr.
Van Den Burg, baritone soloist.
He has played many major roles
in such operas as “Faust” and
“Seville”. When he was discharged
from the Ax'my Air Forces, Mr.
Van Den Bux-g- went to New Or
leans to sing with Lucille Mannex-s
in “Manon”. Fi-om there he went
on a nation-wide tour. Van Den
Burg began taking voice lessons
at the suggestion of Lawi'ence Tib
bett.
Although Erwin Strauss is as
sistant conductor to his father,
he will also appear on Guion Hall
as a featured piano soloist. Born
(See STRAUSS, Page 4)
Service by BERNATH means
BETTER CAR PERFORMANCE
BERNATH MOTOR COMPANY
Chrysler — Plymouth
College Ave. and 33rd Dial 2-2345
AGGIES...
THE BIG WEEK-END IS HERE
THE
/^.GGIE
CCLEC
NIGHTS OF
OCT. 18 and 19
8 p.m. FRIDAY — 7 p.m. SATURDAY
CASH
FOR THE
WINNERS
PRIZES
BOOTS,
HATS, and
SHIRTS
Sadde Bronce - Bare Back Bronc Riding
Bull Riding - Wild Mule Race ,
Calf Roping
j THIS WEEK IS GO WESTERN WEEK
| TCU GAME OVER AT 5:00
AGGIE RODEO AT 7:00
WESTERN DANCE AT 9:00
SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB, SPONSORS
Morty Mertz, Pres.
j
Prince Woods, Rodeo Mgr. |