Los Angeles
Approximately one thousand enthusiastic concert-goers including prospective freshmen, local high school principals, undergraduates' parents, alumni and friends gathered at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre to enjoy an evening of song by the Dartmouth Glee Club on April 9. The repertoire of this amazing group ranged from Schubert to Ellington, doing complete justice to either end of the pole. It can truly be said that this Dartmouth team has never lost a game.
They arrived by chartered Pan American Clipper and were immediately taken in hand by Concert Chairman Ed Ramsey '35. Ed had recruited eighteen alumni chauffeurs to whisk the boys to the First Methodist Church of Westwood where they presented a short program of sacred music. Following this they were taken in tow by their individual hosts and the evening was their own. The next morning three octets sang at separate assemblies appearing at Glendale-Hoover High School, South Pasadena High School and Notre Dame High School. At each school their reception was riotous. In the afternoon, the entire club was Tanner-bussed to RKO Pathe in Culver City where Robert Ryan '32 graciously escorted them onto a huge set to witness scene shooting from the movie, ReturnFrom Eternity. The boys were more than a little amazed to see an actual DC-6 "crashed" on the set for the shooting, but the entire fifty of them really "flipped" when Ryan drew his leading lady out of the ersatz jungle and she turned out to be beautiful Anita Ekberg in close fitting sarong. Needless to say, the planned twenty-minute visit lasted over an hour with the boys rendering several numbers for the assembled cast and technicians and the stars proving they are just as human and warm-hearted as anyone else in this country.
From Culver City the group journeyed to RKO in Hollywood where Collier Young '30 had made arrangements for them to visit the Gower Street studio. Here they were able to see some close-up work being done by Collier's lovely wife, Miss Joan Fontaine. Preconcert dinner was held at Richlor's on La Cienega Boulevard, operated by Harry Van de Kamp, father of John Van de Kamp '56. The concert itself and the following reception in the dining room of the Ebell Club were huge successes and, contrary to customary form, the association wound up in the black. While final tabulation has not been completed, at this writing, it is obvious we are going to have several hundred dollars to turn over to the College to be credited to the Dartmouth Scholarship Fund of Southern California. Attention scholarship director, John Lyman '28!
The fact that this affair did succeed was due to the many alumni who actively assisted in solving the myriads of problems the sudden appearance of fifty young men can create. Housing Chairman Leon Rothschild was told, "Find quarters, transportation and food for these undergraduates for two days and two nights AMONG ALUMNI!" It was done. Publicity Chairmen Bob Guggenheim '33 and Joe Eisaman '47 were advised, "Better shoot news of this concert in every major newspaper, on every radio show and television program you can, even if you have to coerce Jack Rourke '40, Frank Danzig '37, and Wes Nutten '22." It was done. The entire association was continually bullied by Ticket Chairman Dick Milliken '50 to buy, sell, trade or give away (at your own expense) tickets, tickets, tickets. One alumni was so intimidated he sold over fifty tickets singlehanded! The old stand-by, Ed Seward '19. Bob Jackson '50 and Bill Montgomery '52, while nominally part of the housing committee, voluntarily spent several evenings working on telephone ticket sales and produced excellent results.
True loyalty, warm-heartedness and co-operation were displayed by a group who never seem to get any credit from the association. The Dartmouth Wives opened their homes and their pantries to the Glee Club and if this assistance had been absent, the concert would not have been. A solid vote of thanks to the girls. Special acclamation to the household of Phil Bassett '30. They housed eight boys! Following are the names of the hosts and for each name remember there was a gal in the background doing all the work: Harry Van de Kamp, Jim Norton 'OB, Frank McEntee '29, Murray Hawkins '19, Ed Seward '19, Wes Nutten '22, Tom Burch '23, Phil Bassett '30, Bill Eldridge '34, Dick Nelson '38, Leon Rothschild '24, Ed Ramsey '35, Stewart Gibbs '43, Wendell Williams '34, Peter Tewksbury '45, Joe Eisaman '47, Frank Danzig '37, David Thompson '27, S. Furber Haight '21 and Wes Hadden '41.
From Southern California we say, "Well done, Glee Club - Well done, Paul Zeller. We'll be happy to have you back."
Glee Club Tour
In Los Angeles: A warm welcome was awaiting the Dartmouth Glee Club when it arrived. Center front (l to r): John Wheatley '56, Ed Ramsey '35, concert chairman, and Ed Bixby '57.
In San Diego: Robert E. Zimmerman '31,Club president, and representatives of theJunior Chamber of Commerce greet PaulZeller and the Glee Club at the airport.
Secretary, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Beane 454 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills, Calif.
