“I’m Tom, and this is my brother, little Dickie Smothers!”
Tarleton's Entertainment in October 50 Years Ago!
On October 22, 1962, the Tarleton State College Civic Series brought in a delightful duo to entertain Tarleton and the area – the Smothers Brothers! Fairly new to the entertainment industry, the Smothers Brothers were introduced to the nation in 1961 on Jack Paar’s late night show – a performance that blew the roof off NBC studios in New York – and resulted in Paar booking them for a return engagement, as well as offers from all over the country.
The Smothers Brothers, Tom & Dick, were actually brothers, and those were their real names. They were born on Governor’s Island in New York, later moving to Southern California where they went to high school. Both were active in theater and music in high school, and at San Jose College. After that they got a 15 month booking at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. They worked there and in Denver before returning to New York and were “discovered” by Jack Paar. They were in their twenties and brought a fresh, clean, and hilarious approach to musical comedy. One Tarleton student stated “I just loved the Smothers Brothers! Hats off to the Civic Series Committee!”
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Tarleton Civic Series Committee brought in nationally/internationally known entertainment to Tarleton once or twice a year. Later on the group was changed to the SPA (Student Programming Association), and now it is known as SWAT (School Wide Activities Team). It has grown from a small number of participants and events to over 100 active members and features many events throughout the fall and spring semesters. All events are selected, planned, and facilitated by students.
Hats off to the Tarleton SWAT team!
Grassburr, 1963.
JTAC, October 16, 1962, October 30, 1962.
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