LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
"Where Was I?" Many readers wrote, emailed, and called about the former location of the old band shell. It was located north of the Red Cedar, west of the Farm Lane bridge, south of the old chemistry building (now Kedzie Hall), west across Farm Lane from Fairchild Auditorium, on the banks of the Red Cedar. The band shell was a class gift to the university from the graduating class of 1937. It was demolished in 1960 to make room for Bessey Hall. It was the site of graduations, concerts, pep rallies, and various other speaking engagements.
Mr. Robert Horwood, of Owosso, Michigan, class of 1952, was the first correct response to reach our editorial offices. He wrote: "This is easy--been there many times to hear band and music concerts. Once, when the Red Cedar flooded, the band shell was surrounded with water."
Memories of the Band Shell
Favorite memory at the Band Shell--fall 1959--Pep rally before the Notre Dame Game. John Gavin, the actor was on campus to promote the new movie "Spartacus." Supposedly, the sound track for the large crowd scenes was spoiled, and they needed to record a crowd cheering things like "I am Spartacus" and "Hail Krassus." I'm afraid that the crowd did not do their part, as chants of "Go State" crept in. The next day, at Spartan Stadium, they tried to do the sound track recording, with better results. I was never really sure if this recording was for real, or it was just a ploy to promote the movie, which was a big box office hit.
Thanks for your magazine.
Roger Beck
Class of 1961
I remember very well where the old band shell was. It was located on the river bank, facing North, just west of the Farm Lane Bridge. I fondly remember listening to concerts at the shell. It was torn down to make room for Bessey Hall. There was talk at that time of re-building it somewhere on campus, but it hasn't happened yet. My favorite experience with the shell includes the canoe shelter located on the back side of the shell on the river bank. Canoes were stored under the shell. I was a student at MSU from 1948-1952 and in those days the rallying cry was, "The grass is dry; let's go canoeing!"
Alan Anderson
Class of 1952
I was still attending high school in 1937 when my brother, Donald (Sandy) MacGrain, graduated from MSU, but recall his pride in the band shell donated by his class of 1937. My brother was a Sigma Nu and shared a room with Johnny Pingel (1939). After WWII Sandy and John took different routes, Sandy a career army officer and John became president of Ross Roy Advertising in Detroit. Sandy played varsity baseball under Coach Kobs and Johnny under Coach Bachman. Pingel, an all-American, still holds the punting record at MSU. As you may note, his record was not challenged this year!
I was in the college of business when headed by Colonel Dorsey Rodney in the School's early days. Colonel Rodney had been the professor of Military Science (Army) at Michigan State.
Best regards,
Thomas W. McGrain
Class of 1947
My favorite experience with this landmark took place the week before the 1952 home game between Notre Dame (ranked #6) and Michigan State (ranked #1) when I was a freshman living in West Shaw Hall. There was a pep rally scheduled for Friday night at the band shell and each residence hall on campus was to compete to see which one could collect the largest amount of firewood for a bonfire. I remember riding on a 2 1/2 ton truck collecting railroad ties in Lansing for the fire. The fire was huge and burned most of the next week. The Spartans won the game 21-3. But I can't tell you which residence hall won the firewood contest because this information is not available in the MSU Media Guide.
Dale Behler
Class of 1956
Fifty years ago, I was president of the MSU bands. In 1948 or 49, the MSU band was playing a spring concert at the band shell one evening. At some point during the concert, one of the musicians told a joke to a fellow musician seated next to him--because of the great acoustics of the shell, the audience also laughed!
Another fond memory was of a prank. In 1950 or 51, some students stole all of the toilet seats in men's rooms campuswide! The entire male student body awoke the next morning to cold china and no seats. Several days later, a friend of mine by the name of Linc Stegman found the seats--all neatly stacked in one of the dressing rooms of the band shell. As he walked north along Farm Land, I ran into him carrying one of the seats back to his room.
John A. Kloha
Class of 1951
WHERE WAS I?
This classic fountain has been on campus for a very long time, and currently resides between the Student Services Building and the Natural Science Building. However, it was moved to this location. Where was it originally placed? The first person to accurately identify this landmark's original location will receive a free gift. If you can tell your favorite experience in connection with this landmark, we'll publish it in the next issue of Vision.
I REMEMBER WHEN
Lucky Ticket
By Alan Andersen '52
Our "Where Was I" photograph of the band shell brought back some fond memories for Alan "Andy" Andersen, class of 1952. He shares the story of how he and his wife, Frieda, met while students--all because of a lucky ticket from an anonymous person.
In the fall of 1950, my friend Len offered to fix me up on a blind date to go to the University of Michigan vs. Michigan State football game in Ann Arbor. At that time, students received an activity book at registration with coupons that could be used for sporting events, concerts at the band shell, etc.
Len said that his roommate was in the hospital and couldn't go, so we could use his roommate's activity book to get a ticket for my date. I agreed.
On the Friday night before the game, Len called to say that his roommate was out of the hospital, and he wanted to use his ticket. I said, "Oh well, I guess it will be up to you to let my date know that she can't go because I have never met her." Len said, "Why don't you check around your dorm and see if someone has a extra ticket?"
Finding a ticket the night before the game-of-the-year seemed nearly impossible to me! I checked with everyone I knew and put a note on the bulletin board--but I had no luck. On Saturday morning, I decided to eat breakfast before calling Len to break the news that I couldn't find a ticket. After breakfast, I checked my mailbox and there was a ticket!
No note--just a ticket! I called Len and told him the good news. The five of us went to Ann Arbor in Len's panel truck and his roommate used the odd ticket.
We had a wonderful time, and the Spartans won for the first time in 13 years. The next day--a Sunday--Frieda, my blind date, and I went canoeing. In March 1952, we were married between winter and spring term. In March 2002 we celebrated our Golden Anniversary. And no, I never found out who gave up that lucky ticket. I sure would like to know who that generous person was. I was living in Shaw Hall at the time.
I worked at Michigan State from 1956 until I retired in 1987--first in the University Business Office, then in Internal Audit, and finally in the College of Agriculture Budget Office. Frieda and I have always been loyal Spartans with green blood.
I REMEMBER WHEN SIDEBAR Do you have an event or memory of your time at the college of business you'd like to share? Perhaps a student event, grueling class, or a professor that made a difference in your life or career. Contact the editor at (517) 432-9176 or flory@bus.msu.edu.
- Kristen Lare Flory, Editor