Week 4 of November

50 Years Ago (or thereabout)

From the Polar Star, Nov. 23, 1956

First Performance of Play Tonight: "As Far As They Could Go."

By Ron Rhodes

Tonight and tomorrow night the play, "As Far As They Could Go" will be staged in the gymnasium at the U of A at 8:15. They play is a first by Sally Carrighar, who has spent eight years in Alaska's northern Eskimo villages gathering material for her novel, "Icebound Summer," and for many articles she has published in the Saturday Evening Post, Reader's Digest, and Collier's magazines. Miss Carrighar has also had experience in production in Hollywood, and wrote radio dramas for five years. One of these was quite popular. But "As Far As They Could Go" is Miss Carrighar's first attempt at play- writing.

Mrs. Lee M. Salisbury, assistant professor of dramatics and speech is directing the play, which takes place in the Eskimo village of Wales. Dr. Minnie E. Wells has raised the question: has there ever been a play about Alaska that has its setting in Alaska? No one can seem to find any evidence of the existence of such a play.

The play which will be seen tonight has its plot set around the question: Can a New York ballet dancer be happy in the Eskimo village and mining town of Wales? This seems a rather light plot for a mount of intensity Miss Carrighar is trying to put in to the play. Sounds rather soap operaish. However, it is not fair to pass judgment until one has seen it. Next week we will have the sum total of "goods" and "bads" before us, and will be able to make thorough evaluation.

25 years ago:

From the Northern Sun, Nov. 20, 1981

Video Game Craze Catching On at UAF

By Ron Demers

Video games, an increasingly popular out-of-class activity, seem to be having a significant affect on some in-class activities, according to several students at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

"It gives you good hand and eye coordination," said Bob Anderson, top scorer of a game called Missile Command.

Anderson, who is a sophomore at the unviversity, [sic] said he goes from one game to another to test his skills on these eye-hand concentrating games.

Another student, Jim Dickerson, said he also enjoys a good game and argues that the activity can be helpful to students.

"It's a good game to play just before class, because you need that hand coordination when taking notes during lectures," Dickerson said.

Seven video games are now installed in Wood Center's recreation area, an increase of six over the last year. However, rising interest in the games have caused some inconveniences.

"The Video games are so popular that people have to stand in long lines just to play," Dickerson said.

A cashier for Wood Center, Sonia Vellaria, said the recreation area is packed during the day because of the games.

"Everytime I turn around, someone wants change so they can play the video games," Vellaria said.