Wow, the way Webster 1913 describes it, it doesn’t sound too appetizing. I guess the guys at Harvard have their own way of thinking…
What image comes to your mind when you think of Harvard University? For me, it’s the image of future Senators, statesmen, leaders, Nobel Prize winners and many, many other folks who can either afford the tuition or that aspire to some kind of greatness. I certainly don’t picture a bunch of guys in drag putting on full-blown burlesque shows…
The year is 1795 a group of Harvard students gather together under the cover of night to form a new secret campus society. The society is formed in order to “cultivate the social affections and cherish the feelings of friendship and patriotism.” The society’s charter mandates that each of the members will be listed in alphabetical order and that they will be required to bring a pot of hasty pudding for every meeting for the others to share. A tradition, of sorts, was born…
In the early years, the Hasty Pudding club started out by conducting mock trials of certain members of the secret society. Most of them centered on such simple matters as a club members “rowdiness” or other actions deemed unworthy of a members conduct. They proved popular and were soon incorporated into each meeting. The mock trial format was soon expanded to include events of the day and events that occurred throughout history. Soon after, the trials took on a new form and the university officials were now subject to the judgment of the court. In fact, the entire administration was called on the carpet for “compelling the whole body of students to pursue the dry, repulsive…study of mathematics.”
As the years passed, the trials began to become more elaborate. The use of stages, costumes and scripts lent an air of authenticity to the proceedings. All of that changed in 1844 when instead of doing the annual mock trial, an opera by the name of Bombastes Furioso was performed. According to The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable the term means “One who talks big and uses long sesquipedalian words; the ideal of bombast. He is the hero of a burlesque opera so called, by William Barnes Rhodes.” A new tradition was born…
During the next couple of years, the productions usually took on the form of adaptations of professional shows that were being performed throughout the country. The audience was limited to either present day or past members of the club. As the years progressed, Hasty Pudding began staging shows that were exclusively written by the students. They soon became extremely popular and the audience was expanded to include the general public. Harvard then granted the group theater space and the productions began to get even more elaborate. Perhaps the crowning moment came in 1882 when Hasty Pudding staged a burlesque version of Dido and Aeneas. It became an instant hit and the club was asked to perform it on stages in New York City and Philadelphia. With the proceeds from the tour, the club was able to build their own clubhouse and set their goals even higher.
Early members of Hasty Pudding would probably have trouble recognizing today’s version of the productions. Theater experts from around the country are often called in for their advice and guidance in every aspect of the annual production. One tradition hasn’t changed though. All of the female roles are still portrayed by men in over the top drag costumes. Women however, are allowed to participate in other aspects of the show. The shows also seem to have taken on a more sarcastic tone as evidenced by the titles over the last 20 years or so…
2001-
Fangs for the Memories
2000-
The Jewel of Denial
1999-
I Get No Kick From Campaign
1998-
Paradise Lost-and-Found
1997-
Me and My Galaxy
1996-
Morocco 'Round the Clock
1995-
A Tsar is Born
1994-
A Forum Affair
1993-
Romancing the Throne
1992- Up Your Ante
1991-
Safari So goodi
1990-
Suede Expectations
1989-
Whiskey Business
1988-
Saint Misbehavin'
1987-
Bye Bye Verdi
1986-
Between the Sheiks
1985-
Witch and Famous
1984-
Jungle Belles
1983-
Of Mines and Men
1982-
Sealed with a Quiche
Starting in 1967, Hasty Pudding also started dishing out a Man and Woman of the Year award. So far, here are the winners…
2003
Anjelica Huston and
Martin Scorsese
2002
Sarah Jessica Parker and
Bruce Willis
2001
Drew Barrymore and
Anthony Hopkins
2000
Jamie Lee Curtis and
Billy Crystal
1999
Goldie Hawn and
Samuel L. Jackson
1998
Sigourney Weaver and
Kevin Kline
1997
Julia Roberts and
Mel Gibson
1996
Susan Sarandon and
Harrison Ford
1995
Michelle Pfeiffer and
Tom Hanks
1994
Meg Ryan and
Tom Cruise
1993
Whoopi Goldberg and
Chevy Chase
1992
Jodie Foster and
Michael Douglas
1991
Diane Keaton and
Clint Eastwood
1990
Glenn Close and
Kevin Costner
1989
Kathleen Turner and
Robin Williams
1988
Lucille Ball and
Steve Martin
1987
Bernadette Peters and
Mikhail Baryshnikov
1986
Sally Field and
Sylvester Stallone
1985
Cher and
Bill Murray
1984
Joan Rivers and
Sean Connery
1983
Julie Andrews and
Steven Spielberg
1982
Ella Fitzgerald and
James Cagney
1981
Mary Tyler Moore and
John Travolta
1980
Meryl Streep and
Alan Alda
1979
Candice Bergen and
Robert De Niro
1978
Beverly Sills and
Richard Dreyfuss
1977
Elizabeth Taylor and
Johnny Carson
1976
Bette Midler and
Robert Blake
1975
Valerie Harper and
Warren Beatty
1974
Faye Dunawayand
Peter Falk
1973
Liza Minnelli and
Jack Lemmon
1972
Ruby Keeler and
Dustin Hoffman
1971
Carol Channing and
James Stewart
1970
Dionne Warwick and
Robert Redford
1969
Carol Burnett and
Bill Cosby
1968
Angela Lansbury and
Paul Newman
1967
Lauren Bacall and
Bob Hope
Source:
http://www.hastypudding.org/history.html