PAGNETGIrlr THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, CAUSTIC CONDUCTOR: ta, x,:vk Personal Legend Built3\ Around Thomas Beecham ,jC- ,- . ,t,,,n , ,, ...... .:::. .:.v::::.: .:.:ri:.>;>.::: ; 'ri\ e. S \ .. -: .. - -I By LEONARD GREENBAUM Sir Thomas Beecham, knight, owner of one of England's largest medicinal industries and conduc- tor of the Royal Philharmonic Or- chestra of London, will make his Ann Arbor debut at 8:30 p.m. to- day. The caustic wit of the conductor, his unorthodox personality and his, disdain for social propriety have built up a wealth of personal le- gend around the 71 year old Beec- ham. BEECHAM thinks little of star- ing at a late arrival coming down the aisle and focusing the atten- tion of both the orchestra and the audience on the hapless individual. And numerous times he has asked people conversing during a per- formance to "Shut up." Noted for violent gestures 'U' Alaskans Disagree on Statehood Two Alaskan citizens at the Un- iversity expressed divergent views on the fate of the Alaskan State- hood bill yesterday. { Constance Davis, Spec., of Ju- neau, feels that statehood would be beneficial at this time. "THE SUDDEN change from federal to state governmental of-j fices might cause some trouble for a while," she said, "but in the long run it would do more good than damage." "Alaska could develop faster . as a state," she maintained. "Most people in the territory are willing to work hard to develop the country," she said. An opposite viewpoint was put forth by Mrs. Fred'Niemann, also of Juneau, who is a secretary in the Institute for Social Research. * s * "ALASKA has to grow up a good deal more before we can be sure what status is best for it," she argued. "For one thing, there is a large transient population. It would leave the comparatively few stable settlers with the bur- den of taxes." Poor communications also worry Mrs. Niemann. "Communications are very bad now," she said. "They have to be improved a great deal before Alaska will be able to com- pete equally with the states." I I while conducting, Sir Thomas has occassionally fallen off the podium. "Podiums," he remark- ed after one fall, "are expressly designed as part of a conspiracy against conductors." And at a Carnegie Hall conceri several years ago he reached such a pitch of artistic exuberance that he broke his suspenders and had to leave the stage holding ur his pants with his hands. Part of Beecham's air of inde- pendence stems from his being one of England's richest men. The $150,000,000 fortune amassed by his ancestors through the inven- tion and sale of England's mosi p o p u 1 a r laxative, "Beecham's Pills," has placed him in a unique position among musicians. HIS FATHER, Sir Joseph, whc had a genius for advertising and a flair for music issued the famous hymn book which contained the quartrain: "Hark the heraldaangels sing Beecham's Pills are Just the thing Peace on Earth and mercy mild Two for man and one for child." And when Sir Thomas organized his first symphony orchestra at the age of 20, it was dubbed by friends the "Pilharmonic." BEECHAM, however, has no ac- tive interest in the pill company, though he does receive part of hi income from it. The serious side 'of Beecham should not be deemphasized. He has organized, financed, con- s t r u c t e d and propagandized more orchestras, opera houses and other musical activities than almost any individual alive to- day. He also introduced to England the works of such contemporar3 composers as Delius, Richard Strauss and Sibelius. But his lighter side keeps crop- ping up into the news. When at a party someone remarked that Si- belius had once called him the greatest living conductor, Sir Tho- mas chimed in with "Hear!. Hear!" As to his retorts to audiences Beecham remarked. "There is something about a large gathering that brings out my basest in- stincts. Before a crowd of 1,000, I am malicious. Before 5,000, I am positively evil, and, facing a crowd of 10,000, I am compelled to say the most abominable things." What he will say to the capa- city audience at Hill Auditorium tonight remains to be seen. t I2 e T er DIRECTOR MERRILL MCCLATCHEY FLAGS "STAND B!" This is one of the many cues that the radio director uses as he signals in the actors, sound effects, and music. Acting as a "con- ductor" he waves to the actors telling them to talk louder or softer and to the sound effects man telling him to regulate his effect. The running of the entire show rests on his shoulders. Instruc- tor in the speech department, McClatchey teaches radio direct- ing and writing. He directs all the Angell Hall Playhouse shos. FULL PRODUCTION LINE-UP OF CAST IN ACTION * * * AglalPlayhouse ired .Weekly Speech Department's Rad how ers Chance for Broadcasting Experience Angell Hall Playhouse Script Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1950 "Two Cowgirls from Boston" By Gene Fromherz Director: Merrill McClatchey Casting Director: Betty Fuller n h Ju~tWhat 9SZWonhted! Gifts from "KESSEL'S" are designed to please. Lots of pretty things, luxury things, heavenly things - at prices you want to pay. >3 A -I - 4 BLOUSES AFTER-5 BLOUSE of lame satin or crepe. TAILORED blouses in 'light, dark shades and white. VERSATILE wool jerseys in plain, striped or heather shades. LINGERIE SLIPS-tailored or dressy-" strapless of rayon, crepe, or nylon. GOWNS-of rayon, crepe, sheer white-black colors. ROBES-of corduroy, wool flannel, quilted, rayon, cot- ton. BED JACKETS-PAJAMAS. SWEATERS In luxurious pohtels and de- finite colors of cashmere, zeplyn botany, wool and ny. lon, slipover or cardigan. SCARFS Head and neck scarfs of wool or pure silk. (and many other items to choose from) SOUND: GUN SHOTS IN DISTANCE LYDIA: (Excitedly) What in the world is'that? Your own private rodeo? BEN: (Thick Western accent) Tha's Joe's voice. He must a'- caught thet guy outside. What'd ah do with mah gun? LYDIA: Over there leaning on the sofa. Got an extra one for me? BEN: No, you use thet poker near th' fireplace. LYDIA: Swell . . . . Now this is more like the West! MUSIC: SHORT WESTERN BRIDGE ANNCR: It's Angell Hall Play- house time. In tonight's drama- tic presentation we take you out west with Two Cowgirls From Boston ! MUSIC: WESTERN TYPE UP AND UNDER ANNCR: Years ago Horace Greeley said "Go west young man." To- night the Angell Hall Playhouse follows his advice and takes you out to the wild and woolly west with the Campbells of Boston in an original radio farce by Gene Fromherz. This is another in a series of radio dramas on the Angell Hall Playhouse presented every week at this time by the University of Michigan speech department. Listen now as the Angell Hall Playhouse brings you ... . TWO COWGIRLS FROM BOSTON MUSIC: UP AND OUT AT CURTAIN * * * THE ANGELL HALL Playhouse is a half-hour dramatic pro- gram written, acted and produced by the radio students in the speech department. It is heard at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday over WUOM and is rebroadcast at 8:30 p.m. Thursday over WHRV. Originated in 1948 by Prof. Gar- net R. Garrison, it is designed to give radio students an opportunity to hear their work performed. In addition it presents outstanding literary works contributed by oth- er campus writers. Rehearsal begins for the broadcast on Friday one week before the show is to be aired. Two hours on Friday and anoth- er full dress rehearsal on Tues- day of the broadcast day com- pletes the schedule. The entire company then re- mains to hear the show rebroad- cast in order to study the final results, make comments and cri- ticisms on the performances and take notes for future productions. "The music for the Playhouse is selected from mood music bridg- es and classics in our library," Prof. Garrison explained. "Some- times we do use original music, though." *a S THE SOUND EFFECTS used on DOREEN CAMPBELL AND BETTY FULLER CHECK NOTES are later played back, Prof. Garrison said. "The control room where the tape recorder is located, is the nerve center of our studios and is the master control on which our very broadcasting existence de- pends," he said. * * * "THE ANGELL HALL Play- house is considered our top radio dramatic show, but we have stu- dents from every school on the campus contributing their work. Hopwood winners Al Slote, Vance Simonds, Josh Greenfeld, and SOl Gottlieb have all added their writ- ings and we encourage all quali- fied juniors and seniors to sign up for radio writing classes," Prof. Garrison added. Because the Angell Hall Play- house presents an opportunity for students to learn actual writing and broadcasting, it is invaluable experience for those who are interested in the radio dramatics field, he said. "We make sure that students gain a well-rounded experience in all phases of producing a radio show. Every weke they are assign- ed different jobs. One week a stu- dent may handle sound effects and the next week, the musical bridges. In this way, they are made aware of the need for split- second cooperation." DIANE FAULK ADDS INCHES FRED REMLEY ADJUSTS TAPE RECORDER A DAILY' PHOTO FEATURE Story by Mary Letsis Photographs by Jack Bergstrom x A. I As - I1 s - T . ' :: ..,.4Ar = I .: ;: :.,.. :.r:;; ......... ti'A-? :fin. :.. ... ... ...n+cfs:. . u r "~ ...,,c A .,... . , , I