1948

George Mijchalek spent his working life in advertising and management consulting in N.Y.C. He used to see Jim Schaefer quite often, also in advertising in the Big Apple, but since receiving his degree in 1949 has not otherwise run into many '48s. Our first talk since Hanover brought the following reminiscence from George.

Just out of high school, he entered Dartmouth as a '48 with about 200 others of us in July of 1944, when almost the entire civilian student body, most awaiting an index-finger signal from Uncle Sam, was housed in Wheeler, Richardson, and Crosby, the navy and marine V-12/V-5 occupying the other dorms. George recalls that the entry of whisky and women into a dorm later than about noon was strictly prohibited. One evening, however, he and stalwart Wheeler roommate PeteBetts "forgot" the exclusion act and held a little impromptu get-together in their room. A Couple of Smith girls, John Barleycorn, and many other members of the dorm floor also attended. It was not a quiet affair, and soon the rising volume and pitch from the enthusiastic talk, the 78 r.p.m. records, and the laughter hit a high decibel level. As George recalls, things were really swinging when someone dashed in to report that the College watchman and enforcer, the dreaded Laughing Boy, was in the building and probably about to pounce. The neighbors quickly vacated the room while George and Pete adopted a strategy misbegotten, as it may have created the wrong impression of stripping to their skivvies and pretending to be asleep in their beds (it was only about 7:30) while the girls kneeled behind easy chairs to hide. When the loud knock occurred, George turned on the light, went to the door and deliberately yawned as he pulled it open. But Laughing Boy was not to be denied! He charged into the room, went directly to the big chairs, and surprise of surprises found, yes found, the girls! Well, according to George, this ended the party, especially when L.B. had someone call Thorburn's Taxi or Lou's Cab from the pay phone in the hall to come and pick up the women. But some measure of pride still remained with George and Pete when L.B. was unable to find a single drop of alcohol in the room, it having been quickly but effectively hidden when the warning came. However, while waiting outside for the taxi, one of the young ladies dropped from under her coat onto the cement sidewalk a fifth of Old Turkey Gizzard, the wartime hooch then available at Whitetown's state liquor store. By this explosive event Laughing Boy knew he had nearly been had! It was almost term's end, so George explains that before any billet doux could arrive from the dean he enlisted in the navy, thereby also avoiding the draft. George nobly believes this enabled Pete to blame the affair on his departed roommate when Pete later probably stood before Ad Building Authority. Such was a slice of'48 Dartmouth life in those early days. Remember?

George never saw Laughing Boy again and never knew his real name, but today would like to discuss old times if L.B. or his equally admired superior, Nelson K. Wormwood, is still around. The sands of time have probably moved too far, George believes, but is it possible he'll find either of these longforgotten character builders as a special guest at the '48 50th?

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