1946

The picture I have chosen for this special photography issue caused quite a stir in the fall of 1947. Very few know the full story behind it. At that time vandalism was on the increase on college campuses. A huge "P" had ruined the turf in Yale Bowl, sacred landmarks at Princeton had been painted red, and so on. Dartmouth decided to do something positive. Assistant Dean "Chick" Camp asked me if I could recruit a few men to engage in a harmless prank on the Princeton campus. Being an opportunity to escape Hanover, a weekend in NYC all for free, I had little difficulty getting a crew. Gene Bokor, Jack Marlette, and Spence Smith and Tom Kent '48 and Al Quirk '49 (later to become the college's dean of admissions) were quickly drafted. Thanks to the efforts of Doug Leigh, the plan was to land on the Princeton campus via dirigible, dressed as Indians, all this on the eve of the Dartmouth-Princeton football game. Doug's father, an ad man in NYC, represented Tydol Oil and secured for us the use of the Tydol blimp. Off we went, arriving at Lakehurst N.A.S. (N.J.), where Bokor, Kent, Quirk, and I boarded the airship. A theatrical costume agency had provided our outfits and the ad men prepared a large plaque with all sorts of symbols on it that I was to read to the Princetons. We landed on the outskirts of Princeton and were met by Smith and Marlette, who carried a large teepee. We were also met by a sizeable crowd of Princeton undergrads and a goodly number of the local rabble. We had a long march to the center of the campus. Along the way we were subject to much jeering and a couple of urchins even pelted us with stones. I vividly recall a child crying out, "Look mother, that Indian's wearing white buck shoes." We arrived on campus, put up our teepee, and by pre-arrangement met with Princeton dean Godolphin. By now there was a big crowd and a lot of news media. I read the plaque to the dean, saying that the land where Princeton stood belonged to the Indians. However we would forego our claim in exchange for a fullback, halfback, and two tackles. There were other exchanges, a lot of noise, and not a small amount of confusion. The New York Herald Tribune ran a big story the next day, including this: ".. .and then the braves adjourned to the Nassau Tavern, where they fell out of character around large pitchers of amber fluid." A bit unkind, but the press must report the truth. Life magazine covered the whole deal. They were going to write a feature story but Smith told them it was really an advertising gimmick and not some sophomoric high jinks. So Life bowed out, but we were able to get the pictures they took. We took a train back to N.Y.C. Smith and Bokor remained in costume. The conductor asked Smith for his ticket, to which Smith replied, somewhat nastily, I thought, "I'm Indian; I don't have to pay." The conductor wasn't buying this but Bokor was right there, a menacing tomahawk in hand, so the conductor passed. Arriving at Penn Station the theatrical guys were waiting, demanding their costumes. This caused some furor, Smith and Bokor still being in them. Eventually we returned, conquering heroes, to Hanover. A memorable experience.

A final note: A few weeks later the picture appeared on handbills being distributed in northern New England. Said something about Indians using Tydol gas. Marlette and Smith immediately wanted to sue, claiming invasion of privacy or some such nonsense. I then recollected that at Lakehurst some official-looking bird gave us some papers to sign. Not yet having attended law school and learning, "Read before signing," I concluded we had signed releases. As Smith sadly lamented, "We've been had."

1115 5th Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712

Marlette. Smith, Bokor, Coleman, Kent '48, and Quirk '49 descended on Princeton.