With Kansas University leading Kansas State, 44-33, at halftime last night in the magnificent new fieldhouse, “The Story of Basketball,” a 35-minute halftime pageant honoring Dr. Forrest C. (Phog) Allen started off with a happy and anxious audience.
The huge crowd of Kansas followers wasn’t disappointed in any way.
Combining seriousness and humor, the well-executed pageant retold the story of the beginning of basketball, how it has spread throughout the world and the part is has played in the life of KU and Kansas.
So well did it hold the audience’s attention, concession booths outside the basketball arena were vacant with all halftime interest directed toward the pageant. Several thousand “hot dogs” last night were unsold “cold dogs” this morning.
As soon as the players left the court at halftime, lights were turned down, and the spectacle was underway.
The narrator said, “We are here tonight for the dedication of a building – a building the state and KU can be proud of.”
Immediately, different scenes were depicted showing the many uses for the fieldhouse: basketball, track, commencement exercises and ROTC activities.
After this, the story of basketball – how it originated, grew and spread throughout the world – was acted on the playing court. The actors were dressed in colorful and sometimes humorous outfits, with many KU foreign students attired in their native dress.
Each major change in the game from 1892, when the first rules were drawn up by Dr. James Naismith, up to the present time were acted out. These scenes included the first basketball game played by women when Stanford beat California, 2-1; the introduction of basketball to KU in 1898; Allen as a basketball player at KU; a scene in 1905 when Allen told Dr. Naismith he planned to become a basketball coach at Baker University; and the introduction of basketball into the Olympic program in 1936.
As this part of the pageant came to a close, “Mr. Basketball,” a march composed by professor Russell Wiley, was heard for the first time by more than 17,000 spectators.
During the playing of the march, former KU basketball lettermen began assembling on the court. Led by E.H. Owens of Kansas City, a letterman on the team of 1899, more than 100 players lined the north and south ends of the basketball floor.
Included were many All-Missouri Valley, All-Big Six, All-Big Seven and All-American greats who will live forever in the history of KU basketball.
Then more honored guests walked to the center of the court. They were Dr. and Mrs. Allen, their daughters, Mrs. Jane Mons, Mrs. Mary Hamilton and Mrs. Eleanor Glenn, their sons, Dr. Robert Allen, Milton P. Allen; Gov. Fred Hall; Oscar Stauffer, representing the Board of Regents; Scott Ashton, representing the university alumni; Bob Kennedy, president of the KU All Student Council; A.C. Lonbord, KU athletic director; Dr. James McCain, president of Kansas State; Larry (Moon) Mullins, Kansas State athletic director; Fred (Tex) Winter, Kansas State basketball coach; E.C. Quigley, former KU athletic director; Charles Marshall, architect of the fieldhouse; Charles Bennett, general contractor of the building; and John Brown, supervisor of the building.
Dr. Murphy was the first was the first to address the huge audience and said, “Tonight we have paid tribute to the game of basketball. Kansas University has been the pivot point of the game for the entire world.”
Murphy also took the opportunity to thank those persons in the audience who has made the building possible, then introduced Gov. Hall.
“As chief executive, and on behalf of the people of Kansas,” Hall said, “it is a thrill to present to the University this building.”
Next on the speaker’s rostrum was Stauffer, who said, “By unanimous vote, the Regents have named this fieldhouse in honor of a great Kansan, an outstanding coach, and a fine gentleman. This building also stands as a deep manifestation of the interest in the youth of the University.”
Murphy then formally “turned over” the fieldhouse to Kennedy on behalf of the present and future students of KU.
Kennedy, a senior from Kansas City, said, “At last all the students of the University can attend basketball games at one time.”
Murphy made a big hit with the audience when he said, “For just about every special occasion at the University, there has to be a queen, and tonight is no exception. Never has there been a more lovely and attractive queen to grace the campus than tonight’s queen – Mrs. Forrest C. Allen.”
Allen was introduced as a man who not only has built great teams, but sound men – evidenced by the former basketball players assembled on the court.
After receiving a standing ovation, Allen jokingly said while he was sick in bed at Boulder, Colo., during the recent KU-Colorado basketball game which KU lost, he doubted if he would make it to the dedication. Then after the loss to Oklahoma A&M, Allen said he thought, “This is it! Now the University can have the dedication of the fieldhouse without breaking the long-standing tradition of no living person having a university building named after him.”
Allen said he first wanted to pay tribute to Dr. Naismith for inventing the game of basketball which today has spread over the entire world and has made clean minds and healthier bodies.
“I’ve been a fortunate coach,” Allen said, “and I accept this fieldhouse as a tribute to all the men past, present and future of the University.”
One of the highlights of the evening came when Scott Ashton presented the keys of a new Cadillac automobile to Dr. Allen on behalf of Allen’s “many, many devoted friends.”
As the honored guests, former basketball lettermen and Dr. Allen lef the court, the University Band played Auld Lang Syne.
Everyone in the vast audience was thrilled. It was a grand show.
