Canned Lit

HENRY WILLIAMS was director of the drama program in the English Department in 1965 when College vice president Orton Hicks '21, a former film executive, took it on himself to invite movie exhibitor Arthur Mayer to teach a course in film history. Henry, who approved of launching film courses at the College, got the approval of the English Department steering committee for the new offering, but the Humanities Divisional Council turned it down, stating that such a subject was unfitting because it was not backed up by a vast body of literature. To which Henry replied, "There is indeed a literature, not in books but in cans."

Thus did film studies enter the curriculum.

Williams: It's in the can.