the side UThe Michigan Daily I michigandailycom I Thursday, Octoberl13, 2011 .+ . ...... i .. _ II~ 11 THE $iC1IIUMION M 5 1908 1909 or nearly a century, the Michigan Union has towered over campus. Within its ivy-covered walls lies a wealth of history that all too often goes unnoticed. Take some time to wander among the oak- paneled rooms with their comfy leather armchairs and stained- glass windows - it's easy to feel the spirit of the University in such historic surroundings. As you explore, you may stumble upon a small lounge on the first floor. Adorning the walls of the room is a series of frames displaying photographs, newspaper clippings and brightly colored posters. At first glance, you may be shocked to see black-and-white images of rather homely women. But a plaque near the entrance soon clears things up - these are no women. From 1908 to 1955, all-male groups of students produced and performed wildly popular original shows known as the Michigan Union Operas. As part of a long-standing tradition, men played all of the roles, male and female. But beyond their entertainment appeal, the operas served a greater purpose: With- out the participation of hundreds of corsetrwearing cross-dressers, the Michi- gan Union might never have been built. The need for a Union -1904-1918 Established in 1904, an organization called the Michigan Union was created to bring together all male students on campus. The University's tiny popula- tion of women already had such an organization, which met in the now non- existent Barbour Gym. In his book "The Michigan Union 1904-2004:100 Years of Student Life," 1992 Michigan alum Jeff Rowe, who also serves as the Media and Events Coordinator at the Union, chronicles the history of the men's Union from this early period. According to Rowe's book, the Michigan Union had raised enough money by 1907 to purchase a home - in the Union's current spot on State Street - that would serve as a temporary clubhouse for it. A sizable portion of the funds for the clubhouse was raisedby a small performing troupe known as the Michigan Union Minstrel Show, a group that would develop into the Michigan Union operas a year later when the Union started raising money to build a larger per- manent headquarters. The very first Michigan Opera, "Michigenda," premiered in February 1908 at the Whitney Theater located downtown at the corner of Main St. and Ann St. The term "opera" is a bit of a misnomer - the show was more akin to comic operetta with elements of vaudeville and minstrel shows. Earning a profit of $2,000 for the Union, "Michigenda" was a tremendous hit - The Detroit Jour- nal wrote that audiences insisted on five encores of the show's finale number one night. The success of "Michigenda" ensured that the Michigan Union Operas would be an annual event - and a reliable cash cow for the Union. December 1908 saw the second opera, "Culture," which featured a giant 10-footslide rule that could answer any question. A year later in December 1909, "Koanzaland" was produced at the Whitney. The show centered on Buck and Sliv, "two Michigan rah-rahs" who fly a zeppe- lin from Ann Arbor to "darkest Africa." The work was racially insensitive, like many of its time, but it did produce one of the University's most-loved college songs, "College Days." This bittersweet tune was composedby School of Music Prof. Earl V. Moore, who would go on to serve as dean of the Music School from 1921 to 1960. See OPERAS, Page 3B weekend essentials Oct. 13 tol16 ON STAGE Balkan musician Goran Bregovic's repertoire is a pastiche of modern styles and ethnic tradi- tion. His blend of old and new is produced with the help of his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra, a 20-piece ensemble featuring an all-male choir and two Bulgarian female sing- ers. They're all com- ing to Hill Auditorium this Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $10. CONCERT The Jayhawks draw inspiration for much of their work from the likes of Bob Dylan and Gram Parsons. You may know them from their first hit single, "Wait- ing for the Sun," but they've been gigging since 1985. Since then, they've released seven acclaimed albums, with another, Mocking- bird Time, on the way. They'll be performing at the Michigan Theater this Saturday at 8 p.m. lyfl FILM Ask any self-respecting film buff for one of the worst films of all time and one of their responses willibe "The Room." The campy 2003 cult "classic" by Tommy Wiseau, deals haphazardly with themes of trust and deception and famous- ly features spoons and a single vivid image of the Golden Gate Bridge. The State Theater is hosting $6 midnight showings tomorrow and Satur- day. Bring spoons. 1910 1949 M t * Q 1923 1929 ON DISPLAY Preeminent Ameri- can sculptor Mark di Suvero is known for his creative dynamic work with industrial steel and other salvaged materials. And now, 15 of his smaller rarely displayed tabletops have been assembled from a myriad of pri- vate collections and the artist's studio. They're on display at the Uni- versity of Michigan Museum of Art for your viewing pleasure. cif i7e UNIVrRSITYYMK'HIC, nN t' NION _amuc uco l1wir. .i. PI-o ""bola MERMEG@ROUND , 4