I spend a lot of time reading old issues of the Thresher. Truly, that’s an understatement. I have stacks of bound volumes in my office at home and it’s a rare day that I don’t open at least one. They’re digitized and available online, of course, as is the custom these days, but there really isn’t any substitute for holding them in your hands.
One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is how in the last couple of issues each spring the ads change. It’s as though the local merchants felt they had to take advantage of that one last shot at bagging some student cash before they all headed off to wherever they went every summer. Hence the “fun in the sun” ads. This is a great example from Ed Nirken’s men’s store in the Village, dated 1967:
This one also ran in 1967 but it seems to have arrived from some alternate universe:
The late 1960s were strange, strange times.
Bonus:
Interesting. Solid shorts are more expensive than plaid shorts. I wonder if I am reading too much into that.
That made me laugh. It’s also possible that you aren’t reading *enough* into it.
… and those of us who were seniors in 1967 were “strange strange” people, fitting with the times. Still are … maybe even more so 🙂
I wondered if Neal von Hedemann had drawn that cartoon, but I see he graduated in ’72. He was (maybe still is) a professional cartoonist. I think he had some of his work published in the Thresher.
Looks like Bill Merriman’s handiwork to me. Would love to see his “Win a date with Steve Frakes” poster again.
I’ve got a copy somewhere . . .
Here’s a link to an image of the “Win a Date With Steve Frakes” poster: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/964/41987062612_55a5ec64fc_n.jpg
… which I found on page 6 of the Nov. 11, 1965, Thresher (along with a detailed article headlined: “Our Hero … ‘Win a Date With Frakes’ Campaign Snowballs” (https://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/66423/thr19651111.pdf?sequence=1).
Subsequent articles announced the end of the contest (page 8 of the Dec. 9 issue) and the winner (Linda Summers, on page 6 of the Jan. 6, 1966, edition: https://scholarship.rice.edu/bitstream/handle/1911/66428/thr19660106.pdf?sequence=1)
The context of the prank was described in a “Pranks that Rank” article in the Sallyport (issue date not discernible): http://staff.rice.edu/staff/Pranks.asp
Surfing?? Is there a surf break anywhere near Rice?
I think all the men look like my Ken doll from the same era.
I don’t think I have ever ironed a pair of sports shorts.
Melissa-
We instantly recognized the cartoon’s author. Wm. (Bill) Merriman ’67 is still drawing cartoons. He is also the originator of the original “Win a date with Steve Frakes” campaign during our undergrad days. There are probably many more of his cartoons in the Threshers of that era.
Nancy Flatt