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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1969)
Page 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, September 18, 1969 THE BATTAUC^N CADET SLOUCH by Jim Earle At The Movies with Bob Peek As many of you may have al ready noticed, there has been a drastic change in the nature of the movies playing in local thea ters around the country. To be sure, there are still cheap, sensa tional films being ground out for the twin-bill drive-in circuit, and “skin flics” still abound in grimy downtown “art” theaters, but the features showing in first and second run houses are different from their ancestors in content, style and purpose. From the beginning movies were intended primarily if not totally as pure entertainment. Film was a unique medium in this respect. Print was all things to all men, to steal a phrase. It was literature, it was journalism, it was personal communication and it was entertainment. Movies fulfilled only the latter purpose. And the industry was slow to change. Television, and to a lesser de gree radio, shook the film world out of its complacency. They brought entertainment and art and news to virtually everyone, and at no cost to the viewer. Why go to the movies if you can watch t.v. ? And the steady improve ment if television programming made response by the film indus try even more imperative. Hollywood’s answer was the extravaganza. $11 Million! 14 Years in the Making! Cast of Thousands! Hollywood made a mistake. The movie moguls called it quits after the “Cleopatra” fiasco. The box office had spok en. The giants were dead. Gradually the industry realized that to prosper it would be neces sary to change the very nature of the medium. Thus movies be came more than entertainment; they became literature. Today’s movies are novels, short stories, plays, cheap western adventure tales, dirty books and even poe try. And our society, as well as the film industry, is better for it. “Movies are better than ever!” Or so the movie industry told us back in the late fifties and early sixties, a time when the industry was afraid the growing populari ty of t.v. would decimate its prof its. If the phrase was boastful then it is an understatement to- Today movies are indeed far better than they have ever been before. The overall improvement can perhaps best be seen in the extinction of the “B” picture. And the first “B” pictures we remember were the old-fashioned westerns. We can all remember buckskin-clad Stewart Granger assuring his old friend Rain-in- the-Face that he would track down the dirty dogs that ruth lessly murdered the chief’s son. The chief always agreed, provid ed of course that the paleface accomplish this task before the sun set three times. These movies were always identifiable by their predictable plot, trite and corny dialogue, obscure cast and poor quality of film and camera work. A low budget usually meant a low qual ity picture. This is no longer true. The descendants of the “B” westerns are movies of the “Fist ful of Dollars,” “Good, Bad and Ugly” genre. The plots are still predictable, and the dialogue oc casionally breaks down into a series of cliches, but the quality of direction and cinematography is such that these pictures are highly enjoyable. Another factor in the success of these movies is that the studios are using well known, competent actors in the starring roles. ACE HIGH is one of these “Super-B” pictures, and it has all their qualities for success. Not a dramatic success by any means, because its plot is too predictable and tends to drag its hooves at all the wrong times. But it will succeed as entertainment because the action is indeed delightful, the camera work is superlative and mostly because Eli Wallach steals the show as a conniving Greek ruffian determined to revenge himself upon three former part ners. With the reluctant help of two bounty hunters, Wallach picks off the victims one by one in action scenes which are comic to the point of being sophisticated slap stick. Finally, it takes a scheme worthy of “Mission Impossible” to destroy his last victim. “Ace High” is a fun picture, but if anything makes it worth seeing it’s Eli Wallach’s hilari ous performance. Although not unique, “Ace High” is an unusual example df' the “Dollars” series of movies. It is unusual in that Clint Eastwood is absent. The Italian-made “gut” western and the ex-Rawhide Ramrod brought each other from obscurity to an unprecedented level of success, but now East- wood has gone on to higher pay- checks. Noticing the popularity of such Eastwood co-stars as Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach, the Italian movie-makers decided to create a series of pictures starring these men. “Ace High” is one example. “Death Rides A Horse,” with Lee Van Cleef, is another. Just because Eastwood is gone, don’t get the idea that the image he created departed with him. One of the bounty hunters in “Ace High,” Terence Hill, could very well be the grand prize win ner in anyone’s Clint Eastwood look-alike contest. Hill differs only in his Paul Newman Blue eyes. Even Eastwood’s steely gaze and disdain for the spoken word remain. “Death Rides A Horse,” sched uled to replace “Ace High” at the Campus Theater next week, also boasts a young Eastwood type. The Italians don’t let a good thing get away from them without a fight. ON OTHER CAMPUSES m By Monty Stanley Texas Tech has a Transit Bus Company on campus, rather than a tram. The buses follow four routes, named blue, green, yellow, and red, which are run anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes apart. Foremost among student gov ernment plans for this year at Texas Tech is the institution of a campus Better jg||MHSgr Business Bureau, jflf Says the Student Hf Association Pres- gp^ ident, “There are ■ many Lubbock businessmen who take advantage of — Tech students. They require de posits on apartment rent that they do not intend to give back. Insurance and book salesmen also take advantage of the student, as do some merchants and restau rants who charge unfair prices. This business bureau would give Tech students a chance to know before they buy.” A “free-speech area” has been set aside on the Texas Tech cam pus, set up by the administration to allow students to speak out when they felt it necessary. The liberals on campus, though, re portedly object to the placement of the area, saying the location is not in the mainstream of stu dent traffic. In a better location, they claim, passersby could be more easily attracted, thus in volving a greater number of stu dents in discussion. However, in return, it was pointed out that the University of Texas free- speech area, often used as an example of the ideal, is located just as much out of the way of the usual student paths, yet was Che Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the student writers only. The Battalion is a non-tax- supported, non-profit, self-supporting educational enter prise edited and operated by students as a university and community neivspaper. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be typed, double-spaced, and must be no more than 300 words in length. They must be signed, although the writer’s name will be with held by arrangement with the editor. Address corre spondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 211, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school full year. All subscriptions subject to 4% ons ill vertising rate fui n 217. Servi 'ear; $6.50 per The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building. College Stat Texas 77843. ed on request. Address: ess: Jon, Members of the Student Publications Board Clark, Colleg* College of Agriculture. dent Publications JtSoar chairman ; Dr. David Bowers, College S. White, College of Engineering; Dr ;: Jim Liberal The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for •publication of all new dispatches credited to it or not herwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneou Jication of all othe reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. otherwise credited in the papei origin published herein. Rights of republ matter herein are also ers Lindsey, chairm Arts ; F. S. White, College of Engineering; Ur. Clark, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Z. L. Carpenter, are: of Donald R. The Battalion, a student newspaper at blished in College Station, Texas dail publisl Sunday, and Mon May, and once a Texas A&M is except Saturda lege Station, Texas daily except Saturday, day, and holiday periods, September through week during summer school. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services, Inc., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. EDITOR v DAVE MAYES Managing Editor David Middlebrooke Staff Writers Tom Curl, Janie Wallace, Phil Brinker, Jay F. Goode, Pam Troboy Steve Forman Columnist Monty Stanley Sports Editor Richard Campbell Photographers Bob Stump, Bob Peek Sports Photographer Mike Wright S’ s' Mayor Proclaims Constitution Week This week has been designated Constitution Week in College Sta tion in a proclamation by Mayor D. A. Anderson Monday. In his proclamation, Anderson noted that this week marks the one hundred eighty-second anni versary of the signing of the Constitution. The statement urged schools and churches in the area to observe the week with appro priate ceremonies to inspire the citizens of the United States to study and learn about the great est document in American history. The week is also being pro moted by the William Scott Chap ter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Martha V. Callender, chairman of the DAR chapter, in a prepared statement urged all citizens to join in studying the Constitution. The DAR has set up a special program on Constitution Week slated for today at 3 p.m. at the home of Mrs. Sam Sharp, 301 Crescent in Bryan. Dr. Bernard Massey, historian at Allen Acad emy, will be guest speaker. The DAR urged all citizens to fly their flags each day during Constitution Week. unaffected by this apparent dis advantage. A search is on for a large dog which bit a student from the University of Oklahoma. If it is not found, the boy must begin a painful series of rabies shots. When asked, the victim was un able to describe the dog but did remember it was owned by a beautiful blonde. Last year, about 700 students were withdrawn from OU for failing to register their local addresses, telephone numbers and selective service classifications. Griping about new computer systems of registration is not limited to A&M by any means. At SMU, for example, professors are so bothered by their “prog ress” that one school, that of Humanities and Sciences, voted unanimously for a return to the old card system, or at least to a revision of the old way. Other campuses are having about the same housing shortage as we are here at A&M. One place in particular comes to mind. OU has converted a bunch of old discarded Navy barracks to dor mitories for women. Among oth er problems in the process of acculturating the girls to little changes in accommodations, it was said that “one innocent young thing unknowingly washed her hair in a plumbing fixture left over from the days when the dorms were designed for males.” It seems she thought it was sort of a sink or something specially designed for such use. “I know this sounds silly and I hope I’m wrong, but ever since we went to computerized registration I’ve felt, for some strange reason, that our equipment was in danger!” Bulletin Board TONIGHT The A&M Parachute Club will organize at 7:30 p.m. in room 113 of the Plant Sciences Build ing. Men and women interested in skydiving should attend; train ing classes will be planned for the weekend. The Association of Students from Mexico will present its pro gram for the fall semester at 7 p.m. in room 3B of the Memorial Student Center. The El Paso Home Town Club will meet after yell practice, room 2-A in the MSC. FRIDAY The A&M Rugby Club will meet in room 2-C in the MSC at 8 p.m. to elect officers and collect money for letters. TUESDAY All new Army ROTC cadet wives are invited to a welcoming party, 7:30 p.m. Tues day at the home of Colonel Jim McCoy, 2702 Burton, in Bryan. The Memorial Student Center Camera Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. in rooms 3B and 3C in the MSC. Semester membership cards will be passed out and lock- THE C :OFFEE LOFT 501 University Drive — One Block East of Post Office Presents Friday, Sept. 19 8-12 P.M. r ■' ' MANCE LIPSCOMB Nationally Famous Guitarist, Blues and Folk Singer Saturday, Sept. 20 7:30 P.M. Listen to A&M-LSU Game Film During Halftime “Humble Football Highlights of SWC” The Coffee Loft is a Coffee House sponsored by the United Campus Christian Fellowship, which features entertainment, dialogue and relaxation for students, faculty and staff of the university. perma-crease Westbury Slacks |imt fitnrnco unibtrtiitp men’s; toear 329 University Drive 713/846-2706 College Station, Texas 77840 er assignments will be made; a second meeting will be Sept. 29 for those who miss this one. Bower Named Director Of Data Processing Robert Bower Jr. has been named director of the Data Proc essing Center, announced Gen. A. R. Luedecke, associate director of A&M’s Texas Engineering Ex periment Station. Bower, 29, has served as act ing director of the university’s computer facility since Sept. 1, 1967. He joined the staff two years earlier. A 1961 chemical engineering graduate of Texas A&M, Bower received a master’s degree in computer science here in 1966 and is now completing require ments for his Ph.D. While serving as director, L. AGGIES Come in five or more in one car. The driver of the car eats free. Any of our Mexican plates. The driver must bring this ad with him. We have the best in Mexican Food. EL TORO RESTAURANT . 500 N. Sims & 22nd Bryan, Texas Hours 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. — 5 p. m. to 10 p. m. 7 days a week .J LET US ARRANGE YOUR TRAVEL .. ANYWHERE IN THE U. S. A. ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD Reservations and Tickets For All Airlines and Steamships — Hotels and Rent Car Reservations -Call 822-3737- Robert Halsell Travel Service 1016 Texas Avenue Bryan 5°° cvc?*^- ?o You’re in charge of building the float, decorating the house and dressing up the party. So you need Pomps, the flame- resistant decorative tissue. You can decorate anything beau tifully with Pomps, inside and out, and do it faster, easier, better. Pomps don’t cost much. They’re cut S" x S" square, ready to use, come in 20 vivid colors that are virtually run- proof when wet. Buy Pomps at your bookstore, school supply dealer or paper merchant. And ask your librarian for our booklet “How to Decorate With Pomps.” If she doesn’t have it, just tell her to write for a copy. Or, order your own copy. Send $1.25 and your address today to The Crystal Tissue Company, Middletown, Ohio 45042. . . _ _ >,v pomps Bower had responsibility for in stallation of Texas A&M’s IBM 360/66 computer. He and his staff have since modified the third-generation computer to pro vide storage for almost 400,000 words, giving the university the largest memory unity of any edu cational institution in the South west. Prior to joining the Texas A&M staff. Bower was a chemi cal engineer at Sinclair’s Hous ton refinery. HUMPTY DUMPTY CHILDREN’S CENTER 3406 So. College Ave. Bryan, Texas Announces the Staff for 1969-1970 Kindergarten Mrs. Nancy Whitlock, B.S. 6 Year Old Pre-Kindergarten Mrs. Beryl Barr, B.S. 4 Year Old Playschool Mrs. Lynda Hathcock, B.A. 5 Year Old Playschool Mrs. Marilyn Pringle, B.A. 2 Year Old Child Care Mrs. Ruth White Over 8 Years Child Care Mrs. Dorothy Bond One Year Old Child Care Mrs. Ingeborg Bengs Infants Cook Rachel Benson Secretary-Bookkeeper Mrs. Francis Griffin Enrollments Are Being Taken Now 823-8626 Mrs. Larry Jones, R.N., Owner WELCOME AGGIES to Central Baptist Church 30th & Coulter, Bryan, Texas Take advantage of our free bus service. Bus Schedule Stop 1 - 9:10 — Dorm 2 Stop 2 - 9:15 — Henderson Hall Stop 3 - 9:20 — Dorm 22 Services Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Training Union 6:00 p.m. Morn. Worship 11:00 a.m. Evening W or &hip! r 7:00 p.m. Join us for coffee, donuts & orange juice Sunday at 9:40 a.m. ... PEACE OF MIND Peace of mind—if you have it, great. If you don’t you're uptight. It’s easy now to start plan ning for peace of mind by investing in a life insurance program that can provide the foundation for a solid financial structure. It’s easy now be cause the earlier you start, the less it costs, and the more security you’ll have a chance to build. Give us a call. Or stop by our office and talk with one of our qualified representatives. You’ll find the talk informative and refreshingly low-key. So do it today. Avoid the war of nerves tomorrow. ? j Gordon B. Richardson Aggie Campus Career Life Underwriter Phone 713 — 567-3165 PROVIDENT MUTUAL^te LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA PEANUTS By Charles M. Schulz