Phroth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 The Spring 2006 issue of Phroth |
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| Type | Semi-annual Magazine |
| Format | College Humor Magazine |
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| Owner | Phroth Magazine |
| Editor | Meghan Kitchen |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Price | USD 1.00 |
| Headquarters | 221 Hetzel Union Building, University Park, PA 16802  United States |
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| Website: phroth.com | |
Phroth is a humor magazine published by students at the Pennsylvania State University.
Phroth is one of over 600 recognized student organizations at the University Park campus of Penn State and publishes two to four issues each academic year. The staff consists of approximately 30 students, who plan, write, produce and distribute each issue.
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[edit] History
The magazine was founded in spring 1909 as Froth, filling the humor void left after Penn State's first humor magazine, The Lemon, published its final issue June 10, 1908.[1] (The Lemon had been an influential part of student life on campus; the birth of Penn State's Nittany Lion mascot [at least partially] lied in the pages of the publication. In a piece he wrote for a 1904 issue of The Lemon shortly after visiting Princeton University, senior and editor H. D. "Joe" Mason called for the Pennsylvania Mountain Lion to become the Penn State's official symbol.[2] Froth's mascot, a jester named Frothy,[3] eventually began making appearances along with the Nittany Lion at Penn State football games.[citation needed]) A. W. Fisher, editor of the State Collegian, a predecessor to The Daily Collegian, served as editor of the inaugural issue of Froth.[4] This initial run of Froth lasted until 1943; the magazine stopped production during World War II due to a lack of staff members.
[edit] A National Publication
During the 1920's Froth was sold not only on the Penn State campus and in State College, but also in 17 other Pennsylvania towns and cities as well as Washington, D.C., Providence, Rhode Island and Syracuse, New York. This popularity led to Froth being named the Best Managed Humor Magazine by College Humor Magazine for 1930-31.[citation needed]
[edit] Froth Magazine v. President Walker
After World War II, in 1946, Froth resumed printing, but was again stopped in 1962 when deemed too vulgar and offensive by the University.[5] After accumulating five written warnings in 10 years for accusations of being libelous, vulgar and offensive, charges were filed to revoke the magazine's charter by both the Dean of Men and of Women and the University Senate Committee on Student Affairs. The case was handed to a sub-committee on on Student Organizations who revoked Froth's charter effective October 13, 1962. One of the controversial parodies that led to these filings was an article from 1959 that "quoted" Penn State President Eric A. Walker as saying, "I am always interested in student problems. Sometimes I tell someone to do something about them, like raising tuition so we will not have any poverty stricken students around."
This shutdown was short-lived and in 1965 Froth again began printing. The new incarnation of the magazine struggled to gain popularity with students and production was scarce during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.[citation needed] The sordid history of Froth is best described in a masthead reading: "Founded 1909, unfounded 1962, re-founded 1965, confounded 1969."[citation needed]
[edit] Rebirth
Failed attempts in the 1980s to restart the magazine were followed by the current, successful rebirth in 1999. The spelling was changed to Phroth to outwardly represent renewal. Beginning in spring 2003, a nominal fee of $1 has been charged for each issue. Until recently, the magazine operated in deficit and in order to continue publishing, supplemented revenue from issue sales with funding from the University Park Allocations Committee (UPAC). To offset recent cutbacks in this funding, the organization increased the density of advertising in its publications and conducted fund raisers to continue publishing.
[edit] Mottos
Mottos of the magazine include the current "Let Mirth Prevail" and that of the first incarnation of Froth, "Smile Dam You, Smile."
[edit] Format
Since its rebirth in 1999, Phroth has regularly included a pull-out centerfold poster, recurring features such as the Phroth "How To" and special features lampooning both topical and timeless subjects related to Penn State and popular culture. Phroth also publishes the "Phaily Phollegian," a parody similar to The Onion but modeled after Penn State's Daily Collegian student newspaper.
[edit] Staff Structure
The Editor-in-Chief heads the organization and works closely with other editors to plan issues and events. In addition to the Editor-in-Chief, the editorial board consists of a Managing Editor, Production Editor and Head Writer. Additional positions, elected and appointed, include features editor, Phollegian (news) editor, publicity chair, fundraising chair, secretary and copy editor.
The organization annually participates in the Penn State Dance Marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer patients.
[edit] Recognition and Notoriety
[edit] An Unregenerate Moment
In 1915, Froth writer G.L. Hemminger wrote the following poem for the magazine:
- Tobacco is a dirty weed; I like it;
- It satisfies no normal need; I like it.
- It makes you thin; it makes you lean;
- It takes the hair right off your bean;
- It’s the worst darn stuff I’ve ever seen;
- I like it.
The poem proved to be one of Froth’s most famous pieces. First published by Collier's Weekly under the title “An Unregenerate Moment,” Hemminger’s poem has since been reprinted countless times, including appearances in Time Magazine (“They Like It,” January 5, 1959)[1] and Bartlett’s Famous Quotations; the poem is the only thing ever written by a Penn State student to appear in the book.
[edit] Wimpy the Gerbil
In 1980, Froth published an issue entitled "The Eighties: A Look Back" in which the writers predicted events in the coming decade. One article featured a Gerbil named "Wimpy" being elected as University Student Governement president. The parody soon gained the real-life backing of two student organizations and was the focus of writers for the Collegian and other newspapers. This press coverage resulted in a second place finish for the gerbil-candidate in 1981's USG elections. The parody became such a campus-wide success that at one point, Froth writers were contacted by NBC with promises of an interview on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson had Wimpy prevailed.[2]
[edit] A Rivalry Re-Kindled
On January 25, 2007, a surprise issue of Phroth's Phaily Phollegian parody newspaper was released to campus-wide acclaim; however, it seemed to catch the student-run newspaper at Penn State, the Daily Collegian, off-guard. The Collegian's editor-in-chief reacted to the parody with an editorial criticizing Phroth. The following Monday, Phroth fans and writers reacted to the editorial with three rebuttals, [3] [4] [5] re-kindling a century old friendly-rivalry between the campus' most popular factual and parody publications.
[edit] Alumni
[edit] Prominent Former Writers
- Former Froth writer Julius J. Epstein ('31) wrote the screenplay for Casablanca (film) and won three Academy Awards during his Hollywood career. [6]
- Former Froth writer and editor Jimmy Dugan ('37) went on to write for the Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic and The New York Times before becoming President of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences. Dugan was heavily involved with Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival recognized documentaries and worked alongside famed underwater explorer Jacque Cousteau. Dugan was buried at sea in 1967. [7]
- Former Froth writer Ronald Bonn ('52) was a producer for the NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News during which time he won three Emmy Awards.[8]
[edit] Former Staff Accomplishments
- Phroth and Froth writers have gone on to work for the Chicago Tribune, Collier's Weekly, Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times, National Geographic and Cosmopolitan magazine.
- Alumni now work for VH1’s Best Week Ever, CollegeHumor and the Late Show with David Letterman; maintain the Crap Filter and Band Madness! blogs; and perform stand-up comedy. Former members have also interned at The Daily Show and The New Republic.
- A Week of Kindness, the New York-based sketch comedy group, is comprised almost entirely of former Phroth founders, editors and contributors.
[edit] References
- ^ Bezilla, Michael. Shaping a Modern College. Penn State: An Illustrated History. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Penn State Celebrates The Nittany Lion's 100th Birthday. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Palazzolo, Larry (2000-12-08), "Mug and Jester", Phroth: 5
- ^ Past Student Leaders. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Bezilla, Michael. Expansion and Its Consequences. Penn State: An Illustrated History. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
