Frank Gorshin, Herb Gardner, Alex Segal, Barbara Feldon, Jerry Adler, Bob Finkel, Franklin Heller, Lawrence Carra. No, this is not the guest list for Truman Capote’s next party, it is only a few of the past members of Scotch ‘n’ Soda Club of Carnegie Mellon University. Specialty material from past S ‘n’ S productions has been used by such performers as Beatrice Lillie and Alice Ghostley and performed in various clubs and cabarets across the country. RCA records has scheduled the release of several songs from S ‘n’ S productions. In 1947 during the smoke control issue, S ‘n’ S caused considerable controversy (involving the mayor, city council and local press, with the featured number of that year’s production–“Does the Sun Ever Shine in Pittsburgh?” Variety has recognized a past S ‘n’ S production as “America’s top collegiate musical.”

Scotch ‘n’ Soda Club is an established campus activity which is dedicated to the creation and production of an all original musical. Students, according to their preference and ability, compose the music; write the libretto and lyrics; design and construct the set, costumes and lighting; orchestrate, conduct and perform the score; direct public relations and business affairs; besides acting, singing and dancing in the annual production. The club is open to all students enrolled at C-MU and has something to offer everyone who is interested.

In 1907 the White Friars Club of Carnegie Institute of Technology was organized and by the Spring of 1908 had produced its first production “All in a Dormitory”–an original musical comedy depicting student life on the Tech campus. This organization flourished until 1913 when it was interrupted by World War I. In 1932 students organized the Bacchanalians for the purpose of producing a musical comedy for C-MU’s annual Spring Carnival. Changing its name to Scotch ‘n’ Soda in 1938, the club functioned for four more years when World War II caused five years of inactivity. Ever since 1947 Scotch ‘n’ Soda has been producing an annual original musical in conjunction with Spring Carnival. The shows were originally presented in Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall, then in the C-MU gym and now on a specially constructed stage in Skibo Ballroom.

Scotch ‘n’ Soda ranks high among similar collegiate organizations such as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding (which kept Cole Porter up nights), Columbia’s Masque and Bauble (where Rodgers and Hart contributed material), University of Miami’s Dramatics Club (for which Jerry Herman wrote), and Texas University’s Annual Production (which first presented Jones and Schmidt’s “The Fantasticks”. Twelve years ago Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) began an annual Varsity Show competition. At least three S ‘n’ S productions have been honored with a BMI award.

Scotch ‘n’ Soda encourages participation by students from all departments and backgrounds, and those with a special interest in the entertainment and communications media should find this experience extremely rewarding. In the words of Bob Finkel (a former member of S ‘n’ S now producing and directing for NBC television), “It might be interesting some day to go over with you what has happened to the original group of Scotch ‘n’ Soda members. They comprise the greater part of the active and successful television people and I think they will realize that Scotch ‘n’ Soda was a great training ground.”

— David Spangler
Marilyn Shenker