Guide to the Photographs of the Waa-Mu Show
| Collection Title: | Photographs of the Waa-Mu Show |
| Dates: | 1929-2001 |
| Identification: | 75/52/1 |
| Creator: | Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Waa-Mu Show |
| Extent: | 31 Boxes |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Abstract: | Waa-Mu is a musical review created and performed by Northwestern students since 1929. The series consists of photographic
prints and other images documenting most Waa-Mu Shows from the period 1929-1991. Images appear in a variety of physical formats
and sizes; nearly all are black-and-white. The vast bulk of the prints is the work of skilled professional photographers;
some photographs are by talented Northwestern students while a small percentage appears to be the product of less proficient
amateurs. A few images found within the series are in the form of half-tone prints clipped from published sources. The acts, skits, numbers and individuals depicted in the images often are unidentified. |
| Acquisition Information: | Photographs separated from University Archives Series 52/1 (Accession #05-103) have been combined with pertinent holdings from the Archives' collection of photographs to form this series. |
| Processing Information: | Kevin B. Leonard; November 30, 2005. |
| Separated Materials: | Twenty-eight negatives (24 from 1930 [nitrate], three from 1981 and one undated) have been removed to the University Archives' collection of materials in these formats.The following have been separated and placed in the University Archives' audio-visual collections: one audiotape of the 1961 Waa-Mu show, two film reels of the 1967 News Parade, one audiotape of the 1980 Waa-Mu show, one audiotape of “Tricks”, numerous glass slides from the 1962 and 1954 Waa-Mu shows, one film reel of “Warhol”, one film reel of the 1957 News Parade, one film reel of the 1945 News Parade, one 16mm reel of “See How They Run”, two 16mm reels of an unidentified Waa-Mu show, one film of video feedback, one film reel of “Morning Song”, one audiotape of the 1968 Waa-Mu show, 1963 film clips, one 16mm film of 1974 campus scenes, one audiodisc of the December 1, 1948 Fred Waring broadcast from Northwestern, six audio recordings of the 1976 Waa-Mu show, one audiotape of a Gilbert and Sullivan performance at Northwestern, one audiotape of “That's the Spirit”, one audiotape of the 1978 Waa-Mu show, one audiotape of the February 25, 1977 “Mahogony” show, one audiotape of “Golden Apple”, one audiotape of “Merry-Go-Round”, one audiotape of the February 13, 1982 performance of “Little Me”, one audiotape of “110 in the Shade”, two film reels of “The Painter”, slides from “Funny Things Happened on Way to Forum”, and two magnetic tapes form the 1980 Waa-Mu show. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | None. |
| Related Materials: | See also the descriptive inventory to University Archives Series 52/1, Records of the Waa-Mu Show; see also Kirk W. Morledge’s To the Memories: A History of the Northwestern University Waa-Mu Show, 1929-1980 (Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University, 1980) and A Toast to the Past: 75 Years of the Waa-Mu Show (University Relations, Northwestern University, 2006). |
| Repository: | Northwestern University Archives Deering Library, Room 110 1970 Campus Dr. Evanston, IL, 60208-2300 URL: http://www.library.northwestern.edu/archives Email: archives@northwestern.edu Phone: 847-491-3354 |
Biographical/Historical Information
Northwestern's Waa-Mu Show, the musical revue that helped to launch the careers of dozens of Broadway and Hollywood performers, has been a campus tradition since 1929. The goal of the annual show is to celebrate all the aspects of musical theater and highlight the talents of undergraduate student performers.
In 1929, as a senior, Northwestern student Joseph W. Miller and his classmate Darrell Ware wrote the script and staged the college musical comedy that became “The Waa-Mu Show,” the first coeducational college musical show. Waa-Mu was a combined production of the Women's Athletic Association (WAA) and the Men's Union (MU.) The WAA” had been staging popular all-female musical comedies since 1912; the “MU” had presented less successful all-male comic operas for a number of years. Both men's and women's shows had been losing money and Miller and Ware raised $1,200 by borrowing $5 a piece from interested students to finance the first show.
The premiere show that Miller and Ware collaborated on, “Good Morning Glory,” was such a smash that the Daily Northwestern wrote, “Campus interest is the highest yet for any single dramatic activity in University history.” The glowing review prompted the producers to begin formulating and writing the following year's show.
When the annual Waa-Mu show became a “hit,” it attracted the most talented students on campus. Walter Kerr was the principal writer for the 1936 revue entitled “It Goes to Show.” Kerr eventually became a theatre critic for the New York Times. Famous personalities who have participated in past Waa-Mu shows have included Claude Atkins, Warren Beatty, Karen Black, Nancy Dussault, Sheldon Harnick, Heather Headley, Carol Lawrence, Cloris Leachman, Paul Lynde, Ann-Margaret, Charlotte Rae, Tony Randall, and former Miss America Kate Shindle.
After graduating in 1929, Joe Miller stayed at Northwestern to do graduate work in personnel administration, and Darrell Ware headed to Hollywood to write screenplays. In 1931 Northwestern president Walter Dill Scott offered Miller a position on the university's staff as Freshman Advisor and Waa-Mu Director. Waa-Mu went on hiatus during the World War II years, but was re-launched in 1946. Miller directed the Waa-Mu Show until 1975; his last show was “Quick Change.” He retired on August 31, 1975 and died in 1979. Tom Roland succeeded Miller as the second director of the Waa-Mu productions in 1976.
The Waa-Mu Show continues to serve as an important launching pad for many of the University's most talented performers, and is still billed as “the greatest college show in America,” drawing large and loyal audiences.
–Text adapted from “Waa-Mu: Northwestern's long-running version of Star Search,” by Judy Moore, Northwestern Observer (“Historic Moments” series) v. 16, no. 21, March 29, 2001
Scope and Content
The series consists of photographic prints and other images documenting most Waa-Mu Shows from the period 1929-1991.Images appear in a variety of physical formats and sizes; nearly all are black-and-white.The vast bulk of the prints is the work of skilled professional photographers; some photographs are by talented Northwestern students while a small percentage appears to be the product of less proficient amateurs.A few images found within the series are in the form of half-tone prints clipped from published sources.
The prints and images are organized first by size. Items measuring approximately 8x10 inches and smaller are arranged into standard size archival boxes.Larger items are arranged into three types of dropfront boxes:12x18 inch (containing 11x14 inch prints), 17x21 inch (containing 11x14 inch prints affixed to 16x20 inch mounts), and 19x25 inch (containing large prints of various dimensions).Within this scheme the items are arranged chronologically by year of show production.Many individual productions may be represented by prints and images housed in several folders.Within a given year there may be one or two folders of small format prints, additional folders of 8x10 inch prints and, occasionally, a folder of proof sheets, color prints, or captions and other identifying information.
The acts, skits, numbers and individuals depicted in the images often are unidentified.The documentation found in University Archives Series 52/1, Records of the Waa-Mu Show; the Moreledge book; Waa-Mu programs; and Waa-Mu souvenir books can be useful in making identifications.
Arrangement of Materials
Materials are arranged first by size and then chronologically.
Subjects
Corporate Name
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Waa-Mu Show--History
Subjects
College musicals--Illinois--Evanston
College students--Illinois--Evanston--Societies and clubs
