1935

Maury Rapf held a book-signing for his autobiography, BackLot, at Dartmouth Bookstore on Carnival Weekend (February 12). Maury told me in late December that the book, published by Scarecrow Press in Maryland (Scarecrow Filmaker Series No. 64, 240 pp, $35) was supposed to be in print before Christmas. (He said, "Write about it in the past tense if you wish.") Maury's story is about growing up in Hollywood in that city's Golden Age, from "silents to sound," a "fun-loving frontier community to an apolitical never-never land." (His father was pioneer movie producer Harry Rapf, who, with Louis Mayer, founded MGM.) Maury writes of being investigated as an alleged communist by the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee, blacklisted as a screen-writer, and in 1966 joining the College as an adjunct professor of film studies, since elevated to director-emeritus. A tremendous story, and most important, Maury continues to teach with a winter-term assignment in Film Studies 33.

My November column carried a brief report on Lou Bookheim and his new book, Understanding the Bible, now it's good to report that Lou's work is being well received. Lou wrote me in December that he has received "numerous favorable comments, " and I can understand why. Page and type size enhance an easy-to-read and interesting text on chapters of the Old Testament. Lou gave up a legal career in 1977 to become a scholar of the Hebrew Bible. A note from Lou Hawkins (Hank's widow) said, "Surely something about the magnificent gift to the college by Jean and Adolph Weil should appear in your column. " She was referring to the collection of prints and etchings, from Rembrandts to Goyas, donated by the late Bucks and his wife to the Hood Museum and on special exhibit there through last December 20. Lou and Yank Price represented '35 at die opening, "a gala event."

Other recent mail included an "Aloha" from Mim Donnell (widow of Fitz) in Honolulu and a report from Ed Gerson about hosting the Aires at a meeting of D alumni in West Hartford, Conn. The College has notified me of the passing of four more classmates: Lewis Peck of Dana Point, Calif., died November 1, 1997; Harold Stanton, Westfield, Mass., September 11, 1998; Charles Varney Jr., Rochester, N.H., October 26, 1998; and G.William Gahagan, Carmel, Calif., December 8, 1998. Will was scheduled to receive a Wearer of the Green Award in May.

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