1940

Unusual requests are becoming a regular part of your class secretary's life of late. One recently received relates to just about every one of you and you may enjoy participating in a project that will manifest itself ultimately in book form. Glenn Mittler, a fan and collector of music of the late bandleader, Glenn Miller, has a publishing agreement for his manuscript, an appreciation of the Miller saga. His research would not be complete without mention of Miller's great rapport and appeal with the college crowd. Because you were that crowd once upon a time and were moved by Glenn Miller and his great band at Green Key in May 1940, how about unlocking your memory and sharing recollections of that great affair? Mittler invites reminiscenses, anecdotes, the possible loan of photographs or programs (items lent will be returned and credit given). Can you share facets that may enable the author to portray the personal touch Glenn Miller, his band, and their music had on the college crowd? Relate if you will the excitement of Miller's appearance and the reaction experienced by you, your date, and the crowd as a whole. Write directly to: Mr. Glenn D. Mittler, 41734 Edison Ct., Elyria, Ohio 44035.

Then there was the letter from Eliot Reynolds '39 seeking Chi Phi brother Jack Moody's address, which I was able to provide. The reason was something else, however. Seems that Eliot, his dad, and brother were driving north to the A.M.C. lodge at Mt. Cardigan one weekend during the summer of 1938, needed a fourth for bridge, and so arrived unannounced at Jack's home. He agreed to join the Reynolds and brought along his pipe. With the weekend a memory. Jack's pipe was found in the Reynolds' car and had remained with Eliot all these years. By now. the object should be restored to its owner and a conscience cleared.

A tribute to the late Jackson Wheeler provides an interesting link in the career of Jack Rourke. Upon graduation Jack won a, one-year training program with C.8.5., the result of a national student competition. While with C.B.S. he met Wheeler, emcee for Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and others. In 1946, Jack moved to California, where he established Jack Rourke Productions to package and produce new show ideas. Television was emerging as a commercially feasible medium when Wheeler and Rourke met again in 1948, determined then to get into television as a team. They were the forerunners of today's variety programs, and Wheeler was straight man for Rourke's comedy antics. The format was whatever the two chose to make it, and on some days they could be found mouthing the words of records or playing gin rummy with viewers at home, who would call instructions to the station.

The program originally was allotted only 30 minutes of air time nightly. Within a week, demand by sponsors pushed it to an hour. Ultimately it became a three-hour stint aired from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., and if the evening variety shows didn't give viewers their fill of Wheeler and Rourke, they could tune in to "Bimbo and Bombo," where the two dressed as clowns for the benefit of the after-school set, or to the harbinger of game shows to come, "Mystery Eyes."

Thirty-five years later, Jack Rourke Productions is very much alive and well. With him in his venture is Jack's son Tim. Says "Cap" Palmer '23, "Out here, Jack is famous as the Television Telethon Kid and he's damn good." Last October it was the Goodwill Give- A-Thon, in December the fourth annual Save Autistic Children telethon, and the Stop Arthritis telethon last month, dedicated to Jane Wyman and with Wayne Rogers, Maureen Reagan, Delia Reese, and Ray Anthony as cohosts. Over the years, his productions have raised millions for charitable causes.

Jack was twice cited by the City of Los Angeles for "his tremendous contribution to [its] citizens in presenting local government to television audiences" through the creation and production of politically stimulating programs, including "Council Debate," "How Do You Vote" (straw votes on candidates and issues of home viewers generating over 5,000 calls and with an indicated accuracy of one per cent), and "The (Mayor) Sam Yorty Show," to mention a few. It is such special programming produced by Jack involving active participation as host or co-host that receives the main thrust of time and effort. Has life changed since '40? Not really. For his efforts Jack has received an Emmy Award for production and the southern California "Best M.C." award.

Jack and wife Joan, married nearly 35 years, speak with obvious pride of daughter Jonda, an executive with a Long Beach-based department store group, and son Tim, parent of the Rourke's two grandchildren. Jack claims to tip the scales these days at 180 and keeps in shape by swimming a quarter-mile daily. Although he golfs infrequently, he maintains a respectable 12 handicap. About retirement this is a remote thought.

It's that time of the year again. You know and I know that we will be approached and will give generously to the Alumni Fund drive, Campaign '81. As the campaign got under way, Art Ostrander reported having 51 volunteer assistants lined up and ready to achieve a $95,000 goal. Help make the job of Art and his crew simpler by pledging early. Make yours a meaningful gift and get the fresh administration of President-elect David McLaughlin '54 off to a strong start.

To the "young" Earle Reingolds, our congratulations upon entering grandparenthood. Kay and David Reingold '71 are the parents of the new arrival, Colin Walter.

Representing Dartmouth at the inauguration of Arnold Weber as 13th president of the University of Colorado at Boulder late last year was Sey Wheelock.

Does anyone remember Geraldine Jennings? She was a member of the queen's court at Winter Carnival in 1937. Notice of her demise noted by his wife, Alice, triggered Jack Fitzgerald's memory of an unusual happening associated with carnival that same year. Jack writes, "The Thursday before the 1937 carnival, Dean Neidlinger wrote a letter to the Editors of the New York Times, the HeraldTribune and the Boston Herald in response to a column about the National Youth Administration. Inadvertantly, some person in his office enclosed a list of the female carnival guests and the fraternity houses they were to stay at.

"All three papers published the list in their Saturday morning editions. I knew a few girls who had some explaining to do for their absence from Friday and Saturday classes to their deans ... let alone to some of their other boyfriends." Local student correspondents who were paid by the inch continued the practice for fall houseparties and Green Key.

Television's Jack Rourke '40 is knownon the West Coast as the Telethon Kid.

20100 Fairmount Blvd., #202 Shaker Heights, Ohio 44118