Clipped from the Exonian

Maligned or lauded, pranks are part of Exeter’s history and lore. Over the years, the pranks have ranged from simple to elaborate, and many have involved cars. That was the case in 1957, when a Volkswagen Beetle was parked on the Academy Building stage.

We asked Bob McManus ’57 about the car choice. He guessed, “It was likely the only car in sight that could be carried up stairs and through doorways.” To be clear, McManus was not involved in the prank. But he was a staffer at The Exonian at the time and shared the following article “Students and Faculty Counter-Prank,” the original 8-by-10 photo and the name of the credited Phantom Photog, intrepid photo editor Dick Rudick ’57.

“NOCTURNAL GUEST AND UNUSUAL POSE ON CHAPEL STAGE  — The Volkswagen was hoisted on the shoulders of a semi-spon-taneous crew of some 75 upper-class-men, and carried from beside Soule Hall around in back of Abbot, up the path by the Academy Building, through the front door, and up the left-hand stairs leading to Chapel about 9 o’clock Wednesday evening. The advent on the scene of a chance faculty wife, the presence in the building of an evening German class, and the necessity of removing one of the front chapel doors did little to delay the gleeful progress. Over-zealous students hungry for publicity alerted the Boston Herald, which, to confirm the telephone calls, sent its local reporter to investigate the scene. He spoke to the night watchmen, who in turn reported the event to Business Manager Barry, who conferred with Dean Kesler. In less than three hours, a task force of faculty members and wives happily hauled the car back down the right-hand stairs, without removing a door. Evidence of the exodus can still be seen. Mr. Bosetto, owner of the car currently on display in the Maintenance Building, where it is undergoing minor repairs, reported ‘mixed feelings’ Thursday afternoon.”

—From the April 20, 1957, issue of The Exonian student newspaper

This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of The Exeter Bulletin.