Sing and other Villanova, PA Things to Do Tips

One of my passions while at Villanova was singing. I was a member of the Villanova Singers, a men's chorus that in those days had over 80 members, and The Spires, a smaller group that features guitars and bass. The Spires performed at all the Villanova Singers concerts, plus sang at a number of other events. One of my most memorable: singing for Hubert Humphrey, at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, when he was campaigning for president. One of the songs we performed (sung to the tune of the Coke commercial): "I'd like to tell the world to vote, for Hubert Humphrey, He'll get our country back on track, and work for you and me..."

The Spires are still going strong today; see the web site for information on the current incarnation.

The most noted Spires member was Jim Croce, who had a good career and tragic death. One of the members of Manhattan Transfer was also a Spire.

Leave a Comment

Directions: I'm the guy sitting on the porch, with the white rail pointing at my chin. Look at that hair...
Website: http://www3.villanova.edu/vuspires/

Good Grief. Oh well, it was 1973, after all.

Leave a Comment

Directions: This collection of hairy guys was documented in the 1973 yearbook, the "Belle Air."

Dorm Life: Two people live in a space about the size of a walk-in closet. I was fortunate to have a roommate who was much more than tolerable.

Here, a bunch of my friends and I hang out in my dorm room, in what was then called "The New Dorm." It eventially was baptized "Stanford Hall."

Leave a Comment

Directions: Making friends for the world to see
Let the people know you got what you need
With a friend at hand you will see the light
If your friends are there then everything's all right
Website: http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/reslife/residencehalls/glance.htm?page=stanford.htm

In this case, it was 1972, the Viet Nam War. I remember candlelight vigils, and marches down Lancaster Pike.

Leave a Comment

Directions: War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing

The summer of Junior year, I flew to Seattle with two friends, and then we drove across the country back to Villanova (in a VW bug!), What a great experience! It was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon... and days of corn (it seemed) in Kansas.

Whoa... was I ever really that thin?

Leave a Comment

Directions: 1. Go as far west as you can, then drive as far east as you can.
2. Discover interesting and unusual things.
Website: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Seated, left to right; Patti, Mary.

Two things are very wrong in this picture.

1. There is a female in our dorm room. This was a huge "thou shalt not" when I was at Villanova. Females were NEVER allowed in a guy's room, and vice versa. We obviously thought that was a very stupid rule.

2. The second very bad thing... two rocking chairs we "borrowed" from the porch of the convent at nearby Rosemont College. (We eventually returned them. Catholic guilt is a powerful force.)

Oh, we were bad!

Leave a Comment

Directions: 1. Break the Rules.
2. Do no harm!

Saint Thomas of Villanova Chapel. The chapel was built in 1883 in the Victorian Gothic style. A major restoration was completed in 1993, to my dismay. The modernization killed a bit of the Victorian Gothic spirit, I think.

I have fond memories from this chapel and the "guitar mass" days-- fine friends, great musicians, awesome voices...

"Love is but a song we sing
And fear's the way we die.
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry.
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why.

C'mon people now
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try to love one another right now"

Leave a Comment

Address: Hard to miss-- look for the twin spires
Directions: Villanova campus, Route 30, in Villanova

The Villanova Singers on tour... long bus trips. To avoid boredom, we would sing (typically, songs that were not fit for the general public). At a rest stop, this batch of singers bought wind-up mice, pushed some tables together, and had mouse races.

Leave a Comment

Directions: 1. Wind up mouse.
2. Let go.

I was always fascinated by this carved stone at the corner of Lancaster Pike and Route 320, just off the Villanova campus. And I've alway loved this photo I took of my friend Dave and his girlfriend. The stone is from a long-lost Villanova mansion.

I've Photo Shopped out the gas station and realtor signs, just to up the romance factor a bit. The quote on the stone is the first verse of a poem by Robert Herrick. The full poem:

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry:
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.

Leave a Comment

Directions: If you want to know if he loves you so
It’s in his kiss
That’s where it is...
Hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you want to know
If it’s love, if it really is
It’s there in his kiss

By Al Dubin and Joseph Burke

The two men responsible for Villanova's Alma Mater have a pretty impressive songbook, including works such as I Only Have Eyes for You, We're in the Money, Forty-Second Street, Shuffle Off to Buffalo, the Academy Award winning Lullaby of Broadway, and the infamous Tip Toe Through the Tulips With Me.

The Villanova Alma Mater

When the twilight shadows gather
Out upon the Campus green,
When the blue and purple night
Comes stealing on the scene
Loyal heirs of Villanova
Sing a hymn of praise
To our dear old ALMA MATER
And our College days.

Villanova, Villanova
When we leave your shelt'ring walls,
We shall leave an echo ringing
Through your treasured halls
We will leave an echo ringing
In the silent night
While our memories are singing
Of the Blue and White

When the last big game is over
And the last roll call is heard
When the oldest pedagogue
Has had his final word
We shall come to ALMA MATER
In our dreams again
With prayer for Villanova
And a sweet amen.

Leave a Comment

Directions: OK, everybody sing!
Website: http://alumni.villanova.edu/news/Music/Music_index.htm