The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 37, Ed. 1, Friday, February 19, 1999 Page: 8 of 19
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Sing Song
From its birth to tht
s on in htarts of
en Crist
Student Reporter
Jng Song first performed In
piiary 1957. will forever remain
jMt of the Identity of ACU
i he major pcrlormnnce that
attracts people from around
country and floods Abilene
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Birth of an event
B)b Hunter vice president
rjtus was a senior pursuing his
CBdors degree in business
inlstration in 1952 when he
lined actively pursuing the idea
Pa "Sine Sono."
He had heard about it from
thcr universities who had adopt
d something Similar to Sing Song.
Iter Hunter pressed the matter
!ie school's leaders ruled against
ic idea.
"Shcy chose not to allow us to
huveStng Song. I did not get the
approval so Instead wc had a quar-
tet contest" Hunter said adding
that more than 20 quartet groups
signed up.
.The contest allowed only mens
quartets. They were sponsored by
the "A" club which Is now the
Ipha Chi mens honor club.
Hunter graduated that spring
nd was recruited to the Navy in
953 alter attending a semester in
aw school. A few vears later he
(Jariic back to ACU as the director
oflspedal events.
J -Hunter tried presenting the idea
ofiSing Song again. Dut this time
submitted the thought to Don
I. Morris president of the univer-
sal that time. This lime it was
nnroved. and Hunter becan to
develop the first'Sing Song
j In that first year only one divi-
sion existed and Dr. William J.
league now chancellor of ACU
vMMhc first master of ceremonies.
I jCf entertained the crowd In
ften penormances wntic tnc
An was down.
c was an entertaining speak-
wt was his job - to keep the
'd entertained between acts"
Dr. John Stevens former prcs-.
a-nd chancellor of ACU-.
icre were five judges and sU
winning groups for the first Sing
SBfig Galaxy mens social club
(.1W in at first place and the
J tnfcr class was second. Winners
IgnWBrTlOlirWTiilWiPi i IwfflWHKirPiTft-'1' ' -M Jialilit i!U tt HiU'l '
I "
creates lasting impression
prestnt show
studtnts alumni
received various awards such as
shirts and other prizes donated
from local stores!.
A growing show
then Sing Song began to get
people's attention.
The second year of Sing Song
groups were organized Into mens
voices women's voices and mixed
voices which included a variety of
different group joined by classes
clubs and others. Also during the
second year another master of cer-
emonies was added - hence the
idea of a host and a hostess.
"Some people say the host and
hostess arc more clever than the
main show" Stevens said.
For the first few years Sing
Song tickets were a dollar each
Soon Scwclt Auditorium was
filled. To accommodate for the
filled auditorium Sing Song took
place over several nights
Later the performance would be
transferred to Moody Coliseum
filling that as well.
Thousands of dollars came In
from Sing Song benefiting the col-
lege and the community
"You wouldn't have expected the
things we did in the first three
years to have grown into what we
have today" Tcague said.
Performers bought organized
and set up their own props on
stage. They also furnished their
own costumes. Because it was a
fund-raiser the "A" club did not
furnish any of the props
Teaguc said the special effects
now common in Sing Song didn't
develop at first.
"It didn't have good scenery but
it had good voices. There was no
special lyrics or choreography.
That came several years later" he
said.
Sing Song continued for many
years as a contest or quartets to
raise funds for the "A" club.
In one of the earlier Sing Songs-
a group of student musicians
decided to expand from Sing Song
by singing for area banquets and
campus activities.
A lot of inexperienced students
used Sing Song to begin their
careers in the music industry.
"Young people have 'learned
lighting and stage techniques
that they have used later on In
other professions" said Hunter
who directed Sing Song the first
v
iSfrAi vt?VMM'fcv'wtwWtttir'fcfc'' ''' "?L'i"jA't'-t-'tfA-t
Harmony: Delta Theta social
1969 Sing Song the first year it
six years.
Famous performers
Many people who later became
famous participated in Sing Song
over the years.
Pat and Shirley Boone now
nationally known entertainers
performed at the end of a Sing
'Song ceremony one year. It was
one of the first times they had ever
performed.
A former Miss America also vis-
ited Sing Song along with many
other celebrities.
Sing Song has rapidly grown
under the administration of four
presidents: Morris StcvcnS Teague
and Dr. Royce Money current pres-
ident. Hunter "came up with the idea
that changed February forever and
has been copied by other institu-
tions" Stevens wrote In his book
Noi Ordinary -University- which
tells the history of ACU; l
"Sing Song is one of ACU's
greatest bonding times" Hunter
said. "It has lived on in the hearts
of our students and our friends"
club women perform during the
was in Moody Coliseum.
$5
Free
Laundry
With tho
purchase of a
$20 card
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BAKER HEIGHTS CHURCH OF CHRIST '
Sunday Bible Class - 9 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship -1 0 a.m. N
Sunday Evening Worship - 6 p.m. Wednesday Evening Worship - 7 p.m.
We have special activities planned (or university students througftout the semester. r
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 37, Ed. 1, Friday, February 19, 1999, newspaper, February 19, 1999; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99834/m1/8/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.