I’ve mentioned the Rice television show a couple of times before (here and here) and recently I ran across part of the script for the Christmas program in 1961. The only pieces in the folder were the introduction and the conclusion–note that they were to have been used with a teleprompter. I can’t be certain who read these words but it was most likely English professor Thad Marsh, who seems to have been the show’s host during most of the early years. For good or for ill it’s impossible to imagine this happening today:
The ending is equally interesting. I think there’s a file somewhere on that Iranian archaeological excavation somewhere in the Woodson but I’ll have to think on that a bit:
Bonus: The Rice Chorale had a very busy week. After the taping the television show on Tuesday they performed at the annual Christmas in the Chapel program on Thursday. (I know nothing about the Chorale director, Harmon Ferguson, by the way. If you do, let me know.)
