Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/246730
Background: Latin's 1908 Glee Club John Austin accompanying the Glee Club. six-week summer arts program. There were the Glee Club, Drama Club, and Wind and String Ensembles, but according to Performing Arts Chair Mike Teolis, "As far as a band, nothing ever stuck." Bob Balaban '63, who acted in many plays while at Latin, recalled that in the absence of a drama department, English teachers were the ones to run productions. "It was all extracurricular," he said. "It was only for students who were highly motivated and driven to do these things." Near the end of the '70s, Headmaster Harold Witman took an interest in expanding the arts and for the first time added an arts requirement to the program. 1980s-90s It wasn't until the '80s, however, that the arts at Latin were fully integrated into the curriculum and the program began to flourish and grow into what it is today. By all accounts, Headmaster Jonathan Slater, who led the school from 1981-89, was largely responsible for this change. Slater was committed to making the arts as important as math or science. He envisioned a comprehensive, challenging program that would give the arts at Latin credibility – and benefit all students. "The arts program as it exists today is his legacy," former Performing Arts Chair Ann Hartdegen of Slater said. "His The program for a school play in 1914. "I liked the Scott Street building immensely. I had the top floor on one part of the 'L' of the building. The east and west sides were nothing but windows. On the east side, we overlooked what was then the United States Appellate Court building and the lake. To the west, there were apartment buildings. The south side had a fire escape door that opened . . . we had the world inside. The windows were drafty, and the room took in snow. When the wind was blowing, I had to protect the chorus books. The building had a 'watchman in residence' from Yugoslavia who, in very broken English, asked me to him to help write a letter. I helped him with the letter and as my reward, he pulled out the chorus risers and took out a huge container full of peppers. He gave me the peppers and told me how to cook them, and I've been cooking peppers that way ever since." – John Austin, music teacher 1964-1975 LATI N SCHOOL OF CHI CA GO 87