River City Jules: Rock Chalk Revue history in review

Rock Chalk Revue, Kansas University’s campuswide musical philanthropy benefiting the United Way of Douglas County, will open the curtain for its 63rd year this Thursday.

Thousands of students have taken part in the production over the years, each with his or her own story of onstage, backstage and offstage glory, shenanigans and hook-ups, including me. But rather than violating the pact my friends and I took decades ago to never speak publicly of our time together, I would like to share what is often the untold story behind the Revue.

It all began in 1949 when a young business student named Roy Wonder saw an opening for KU to produce a campuswide musical revue to benefit the YMCA/YWCA of Douglas County. He envisioned a variety show comprised of musicals written, directed and performed by students, similar to Kansas State University’s Y-Orpheum at the time.

Unfortunately, Roy’s vision did not receive the kind of publicity he had hoped for. Many students were lukewarm to such an outlet for non-performance majors to enjoy the spotlight, if only for one bright moment.

But Roy would not give up. Utilizing both manipulation and reverse psychology, Roy asked his buddy, Ross Miller, a K-State student active in Y-Orpheum, to write a letter to the University Daily Kansan taunting the KU students and openly blasting Roy Wonder for trying to copy what had become a K-State tradition.

After watching Roy and Ross battle in the editorial section with several heated exchanges, the Jayhawks rallied behind Roy, if for no other reason than to prove KU could do it better. And on April 1, 1950, the first production of Rock Chalk Revue (named by Kathleen Larson in a contest that won her $10) opened at Hoch Auditorium.

Much has changed since that first show. Originally, men and women were not allowed to perform on stage together. That rule was amended in 1960, paving the way for many a Rock Chalk romance to blossom. The United Way of Douglas County became the Revue’s beneficiary in 1982, receiving nearly $1 million from the Revue since then.

Hoch Auditorium burned to the ground June 15, 1991, after lightning struck, forcing the Revue to change venue. Lawrence High School housed the show for two years before it moved to its current home at the Lied Center in 1994.

As for Y-Orpheum? The one-time, highly defended “tradition” has long been defunct.

But Rock Chalk Revue remains strong, counting doctors, lawyers, accountants and even actual actors among its alumni, including Paul Rudd, who last appeared on the RCR stage in as a chromosome in 1988, and Rob Riggle, who rollerbladed across the stage as a comet in 1992.

And now, after weeks of work, another 200-some students will finally put their products of love on stage.

Grab a friend and come see this beloved, generations-old tradition. And remember to give a nod to Roy Wonder as you enjoy the show.