While sifting through the various boxes that I’ve dragged around with me as I’ve moved from one location to another, I came across a pair of drum sticks. It must have been my third year as a student at Penn State, when Stan, who, like me, lived on the fifth floor of Mifflin Hall, decided … Continue reading How to Play the Drums
Penn State
Gary and Tony
During my first year at Penn State, I lived in the dorms in East Halls on the 10th floor of Pinchot Hall. Just down the hall and to the right lived two fellows from South Philadelphia, both of Italian extraction, Gary and Tony. I’ve mentioned Tony a couple of times previously, but not Gary. … Continue reading Gary and Tony
An Eventful Week
Two days before the Stones concert, Chicago came to Penn State and played a concert in Rec Hall. I believe all four of us (Dave, Jon, Carl, and me) attended that concert as well. To tell the truth, in those days I think I preferred Chicago to the Stones. Chicago had brass instruments as an … Continue reading An Eventful Week
The Stones
In 1969 The Rolling Stones did a major tour of the United States. It was my third year at Penn State, my second in Mifflin Hall, and we had an influx of fresh blood that year. There was Dave Royer from Lancaster, PA. Dave was a musician, he played the guitar and probably other instruments … Continue reading The Stones
Herbie
John Herbert, or Herbie as most of us called him, was a white ROTC student who lived on the fifth floor of Mifflin Hall during my second year at Penn State. He was a devout Christian and became good friends with Steve Sattazahn and Allan Maurer, high school classmates of mine who were also residing … Continue reading Herbie
The Pre-Med Major
During my first year at Penn State when I was living in Pinchot Hall, I encountered a lot of different kinds of people. For example, there was Tom, a third year Pre-Med major. Tom was, how shall I say this, a terrifically good-looking fellow, smart as a whip, and just a genuinely all-round nice guy. … Continue reading The Pre-Med Major
The Gift of the Kiln
I was trying to remember the name of the instructor of that play writing course, and I’m pretty sure it was Mark Berman, at least that’s the first name that popped into my head. Somewhere, I’m sure, I have a copy of an assignment with his name on it, but I can’t find any right … Continue reading The Gift of the Kiln
7 Up
I wrote before about the playwriting course that I took during my first year at Penn State. And here’s the thing: I’m pretty sure that I can remember each of the other students who were in that course, eight of us altogether, all of the others Theatre Arts majors naturally, although I can’t recall any … Continue reading 7 Up
Some Acquaintance Should Be Forgot
Mike Bibbo was another freshman who lived on the tenth floor of Pinchot Hall during my first year at Penn State. Imagine all the worst negative clichés of a frat boy and you’ll probably come pretty close to picturing Mike Bibbo. Because he was very tall and thin, someone gave him the nickname “Dildo”, but … Continue reading Some Acquaintance Should Be Forgot
Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? — Part 4
The Southgate townhouses are still there For my fourth and abortive final year at Penn State I moved off campus to the Southgate townhouse apartments with Carl, Terry, and Perry. Our next door neighbors were three fellows from Philadelphia: Gary, Dickie, and Howie. Good fellows all of them, but it was Howard Fatell that I … Continue reading Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot? — Part 4