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Campus Lights: Over 70 Years of Tradition
The campus lights come gleaming one by one
From out the dim recesses of our minds,
And each one lights a scene of yesterday,
A scene that really was, or might have been.
And in each scene we see ourselves go by.
We catch a glimpse of laughs, of sighs, or tears.
And e’re this fleeting dream is gone, we fill
Our minds with memories that never die...
When someone mentions Murray State University, many Sinfonians think of Price "Pop" Doyle, Gamma Delta (Murray State) '38, who managed the Fraternity's operations from his office in the music building. Brothers of the Gamma Delta Chapter share a more personal memory of their time on campus, and each year they return to Murray State on the last Saturday of January to enjoy the long standing chapter tradition known as Campus Lights.
Campus Lights is a student-run production co-produced every year by the members of the Gamma Delta Chapter and Iota Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. The tradition's roots lie with the
chartering of the chapter itself.
In 1938, the first Campus Lights was produced by a men's music club on campus, which was responsible for all aspects of the show, including direction, scripts and music. The members put together a vaudevillian production for the students and the community, and the proceeds were used to cover the cost of the charter for the Gamma Delta Chapter.
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| The second Campus Lights production in 1939. |
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Dr. Roger E. Reichmuth, Gamma Delta '58, who is retired from his 32-year career at Murray State, once directed a Campus Lights production as a collegiate member and later became the chapter president. As a graduate he returned to Murray State to become the marching band director, and later dean of the college.
In fulfillment of his thesis, Dr. Reichmuth researched the role of Price Doyle within the university. He found that Doyle was known for encouraging students to use the skills they learned in school, and his philosophy of student involvement through Campus Lights was supported by the music department.
"[The school] had a great curriculum, but you needed places to put theory into practice," Reichmuth states. "Campus Lights was one great vehicle for that because it provided an opportunity to put the classroom experience into practice."
For many years after its inception, Campus Lights kept a very simple formula as a musical revue working around a simple boy-meets-girl plotline. Within the story were musical interludes that included soloists, quartets and even a big band. Most of the performances revolved around the storyline, but other styles were sometimes added. The productions benefitted from students who performed regularly in dance and jazz bands before they ever arrived at Murray State.
SAI's involvement became very important as young men began entering the military during World War II. The event became known as "Campus Dim Outs" for a number of years until the war ended and the men returned to school. The chapter benefited from the experiences gained by brothers who played in the military bands and developed their skills at arranging, because the productions were based so heavily on musical arrangements.
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| A picture from the 1952 production with a raised stage in the back creating an orchestra "pit." |
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Dr. Wayne Pope, Gamma Delta '78, adds, "That was a big plus. The students got the chance to arrange and use their theory and listening skills."
For many years, Campus Lights was a major draw for both college students and the community. As a smaller school, there was a strong tie to the community, and many residents attended the annual event. Additionally, alumni of the chapter who became music teachers would routinely take their students to the productions.
"In those days, it was unusual for a high school to have a production at a high level. Additionally, there was not a symphony hall or performing arts center so university productions were the big thing," Reichmuth comments. "The Thursday and Friday night shows would bring a large number of school busses to the event."
Campus Lights was not just an event for the chapter or music department. Every year, students from throughout the university auditioned to take part in the production. To ensure that students would not neglect their academic obligations, |
the majority of rehearsals and building of sets was accomplished over winter break. Still, it was a balancing act because the planning and preparation of the event took place all year.
"I was assistant director one year, and I showed up for a voice lesson one day and had to explain that I wasn't prepared because it was Campus Lights week," reveals Pope. "My teacher was very gracious and said 'Don't worry about it. We'll catch you next time.'"
Reichmith wasn't so lucky.
"One semester I failed Typing 2 because I was the director of Campus Lights. I told the professor I couldn't turn all of the assignments in because I had a show to do. The professor said, 'That's okay, but you'll flunk.'"
As time passed, the chapter eventually transitioned to well-known Broadway-style musicals. The chapter was always careful to make sure that they were granted permission to arrange the music for the production, but as copyright laws became more strict, the ability to create their own shows became more difficult. Even though the tradition was at stake, the chapter decided to move away from self-produced shows. In recent years, the chapter has performed productions of Guys and Dolls, Crazy for You, The Music Man, and, The Wizard of Oz.
To the chapter it was less of a burden to no longer produce their own shows from scratch. With the new format, Pope saw a benefit to the performers.
"It is nice to be able to reference a known show and character when auditioning as opposed to a show that no one has heard of," says Pope.
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| Dancers pose during a production in 1963. |
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Even with the change in format there are still traditions that take place as part of the production. Every Saturday night, hundreds of alumni come up on stage after the show and gather to reunite with their brothers and sing Sinfonia songs.
The most important tradition to maintain its presence is a poem that was written for Campus Lights by Edward K. West, Gamma Delta '38. It is divided into two sections and is read at the beginning and end of each show.
"It is a nice bookend to remember that this is Campus Lights and it's not a Broadway-type production. It has a different meaning for the alumni of Murray State," Pope adds.
Ever since the chapter received its charter, it was decided that Campus Lights would be continued as a means to raise scholarship money for deserving prospective music majors who would attend Murray State University. All proceeds are placed into an endowed fund that provides a scholarship to the Department of Music for an incoming freshman music major.
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| The barbershop quartet from the 2010 production of The Music Man. |
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For this year's production, the chapter put on a production of The Music Man, which ran the final weekend of January. Including the involvement of the SAI chapter and other students, over 150 people are involved with the production. Rehearsals, set building and other preparations began on January 4, giving everyone less than a month to fully prepare for the show.
Spencer Sullivan, Gamma Delta '08, assistant chairman, comments, "It's one of the first things of the spring semester. It gets students to come on campus and see our show."
Regardless of the chapter, traditions such as Campus Lights bring the alumni back to see the health of the chapter, the success of the university and the growth of the event itself. It's these types of events that the chapter members will remember throughout their lives.
"It's a good way for alumni to come back and connect to their college days," Sullivan says.
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Our vision fades. The campus lights grow dim.
Our hands reach out to grasp and hold each scene,
That passes, never to return except
In fleeting dreams of cherished yesterdays.
Our days of laughs and sighs and years are gone.
Guarded with jealous care through passing years
We keep a golden shrine of memory
Safe locked within a treasure-house of dreams.
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The Campus Lights |
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Edward K. West |
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