November 2017

Archival Minute November 2017 A Morey Hall Tradition With Students at Wayne State College, like students at most all college’s across the country, have held dances and parties for various occasions throughout the years. Campus-wide there were the Homecoming and Queen of Hearts (Valentine’s Day) dances and each dormitory held formal dances and Christmas parties. Freshmen held a dance where they crowned the Queen of the Green. Focusing on the 1960s, in addition to the above, Anderson Hall had an annual all-school party (apparently with a Western theme). Berry Hall had an annual Zombie Jamboree party (yes, there were zombies back then, too). Terrace had a Mardi Gras party. In what appear to be one-time-only events, Neihardt had a Flintstone Fling (The Flintstones was a popular TV series then), Pile had a Roman toga party and the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity held a 007 dance (evidently inspired by James Bond). Then there was Morey Hall. As noted in the 1964 Spizz, “Morey Hall always has been known as a lively establishment, guaranteed to produce excellent floats and displays in Homecoming and to put on a peppy Playboy Party.” Yes, that’s right. I’m not making it up. For 14 years starting in 1959, the men of Morey Hall sponsored an annual Playboy Party. I came across this fact several years ago while looking through the yearbooks. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. A Playboy party is not something I would ever have expected to happen on the Wayne State campus. I’m sure many reading this are equally surprised or puzzled—even shocked, appalled or embarrassed--that there was such an event on campus (although, granted, there may be some, too, who think “no big deal”). But, whatever our reaction, the fact remains that for 14 years there was an annual Playboy Party on campus. I was curious about how this event ever came to be. Who came up with the idea? How did the administration and faculty view it? Was it universally popular among students or were there some who were offended by it? However, I never took the time to research the event. Over the years since Wayne State College - U.S. Conn Library Marcus Schlichter, Archivist 402-375-7266 P a g e 2 Archival Minute I discovered this I wondered about how to present this piece of Wayne State history (or if I should present it at all) because of its controversial nature. With the recent death of Hugh Hefner, founder and publisher of Playboy magazine, I thought perhaps this would be the time finally to delve into the history of the event and write about it if I were to ever write about it at all. Before continuing, let me issue a disclaimer: this Archival Minute is not meant as a tribute to Hugh Hefner; nor is it an endorsement or celebration of the Playboy philosophy and the lifestyle he promoted. Let me also add that I’m in no way judging the men of Morey or any of those who participated. This simply the recounting a story that is part of Wayne State student life in the 1960s. Although it made use of the Playboy name and imagery (controversial as that was and continues to be), it was nonetheless an event in the history of Wayne State College. There’s no record of how the men of Morey (it was an all-male dorm at the time) came up with the idea of a Playboy Party. A search on Newspapers.com turned up stories of students at colleges in Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin also holding Playboy parties at that time, so Wayne State was not alone. Playboy, in part, reflected (and some might argue helped to ignite) the sexual revolution and, more broadly, the cultural changes of the 1960s. Certainly this had an appeal to many college students—mostly men—at that time. Furthermore, the Wayne Stater of December 1, 1961, reported that “Playboy Magazine makes available to Morey each year a number of party items used in decoration and as favors, plus several of the ever popular fold out selections. (Few of which ever appear before the public.)” This makes sense since the students would undoubtedly need permission to use the Playboy name and imagery. It appears the Playboy parties, on this and other campuses, may have been some type of promotion for/by Playboy on college campuses. Why did Morey choose to participate in such a promotion? Perhaps it was just that they were “[f]ollowing a trend of [Morey’s] giving parties of a different and unusual nature,” as the Goldenrod noted on January 30, 1959, the day before their first Playboy Party. The Playboy Party was without a doubt “of a different and unusual nature.” Still another piece of evidence is from the 1967 Spizz which stated the purpose was “to bring the big time to Wayne State.” P a g e 3 February 2017 Year 1 (1958-59) The story about this first Playboy Party is headlined, “Morey Hall Holds ‘Playboy Frolic.’” This first party took place at 9:00 a.m. in the Morey Hall lounge. Saturday morning was certainly an unusual time for any party—especially with such a theme--but it evidently went over well. The student newspaper described the activities: The lounge will be the main feature, sporting a bar at the far end with fruit juice and rolls. On hand will be a floor show consisting of stunts, music, and several comedy sketches. Downstairs will be dancing for those who feel like dancing that early in the morning. The dress for the occasion will be strictly Ivy-league. The men of Morey will be wearing bermudas and Ivys with tee-shirts displaying the famous playboy rabbit on the front. It is requested that those attending wear Ivy League clothes in keeping with the fashion. For the girls, the dress will be bermudas or slacks with Ivy-league shirts. Special features include a slide on which to enter the party, the selection of a Playmate from the girls who are present, and the chance for one of the girls’ dorms to win the Playboy rabbit. Announcement of the first Morey Hall Playboy Party, The Goldenrod, January 30, 1959 P a g e 4 Archival Minute Year 2 (1959-60) The idea caught on and another Playboy Party was given the next year—this time with a Western theme. (Western themes were quite popular on television then. Approximately one out of every five prime time network TV shows on the air at that time were Westerns). The announcement in the Goldenrod published on February 19, 1960 had its own Western flavor: Howdy partners! And a warm how do you do. I just thought I’d drift over this way and invite you all to the big Morey Hall shindig. Yes sir, come Saturday morn’n’ us gents over there are gonna put on a big Western Playboy Party. This here get- together will get underway ‘round about 9 in the morn’n’. Everybody and his critter is invited, but bring a girl if you can. Now if you lady folks run plum out of luck and don’t snag a man then just come on over and latch onto a maverick at the party. Now just because this is a party don’t go getting’ all tidied up. Just crawl “The Short Branch Saloon.” into your everyday western clothes (A play on “Long Branch Saloon” form the and meander over our way. Now if’n TV Western series, Gunsmoke) your clothes are down at the creek being washed, throw on some slacks, jeans or Icy Leagues and come anyways. Don’t worry about not being fed; the cooks will be up preparing Morey moonshine, java, and rolls which will be served over the bar in Short Branch Saloon. There will be dancing in the Short Branch dance hall from 9 till 11:20. Entertainment will consist of a trial and some good ol’ Western music which will start at 10 a.m. in the Short Branch saloon. The names of those planning the party are given. The article also gives the names of the sponsors: Mr. Svenningson, Mr. and Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Rice and Miss Franklin. Allen Svenningson was Head Basketball Coach. Gwynn Christiansen was Head Football Coach. Mrs. Rice was most likely Mrs. Minnie Rice, widow of President John Rice. Both Mrs. Rice and Dr. Laura Franklin taught English. P a g e 5 February 2017 The article concludes: Now don’t you all forget—Morey Hall, 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. It’ll be more darn fun than a herd of longhorn cattle in a corn field. 1959 Morey Playboy Party Comedy Sketch Shot of partygoers showing table decorations Not sure what game they’re playing, but the man standing in the middle with A pretty good turnout for a glasses, moustache and bow tie is Saturday morning Dick Manley, Director of News Bureau and Assistant Professor of English P a g e 6 Archival Minute Year 3 (1960-61) A party that “darn fun” just had to be followed with another party the next year—one with even more fun. The theme of that party was the Roaring Twenties. The choice of this party theme, too, seems to have been influenced by television programming trends. There was a program with the title Roaring Twenties on the air 1960-62. Set in New York City during the Prohibition era, the story followed newspaper reporters going undercover to investigate and expose organized crime in the city.

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