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In September of 1929 Mr. Zip and Mr. Tang
(Harley Howell and Kenneth Clark) presented a faculty sub-committee
with an idea for a new campus publication. The two felt a need had
arisen for humor publication; this small magazine, to be called Zip 'N'
Tang for it's lightness of tone and satire, was granted tentative
permission for publication. The first two issues would be recognized as
campus publications and after reading these two, the faculty would come
together for another vote.
Zip 'N' Tang was off to a well organized
start, with Zip (Howell) in charge of editing and Tang (Clark) tending
to advertising and sales. The first issue, The New Brother, was geared
specifically to new freshmen on campus, filled with jokes about
freshmen and introductions to college life. The cover depicted a young
man over dressed in a nice suit and hat, walking down the sidewalk with
a suitcase in each hand. He was, however, missing his trousers. Three
upperclassmen were in the background, waving them in the wind.
This first Zip 'N' Tang was so successful,
according to the second issue, there had been difficulty in securing
enough copies for everyone. This second issue, the homecoming issue,
was also the program for the Coe/Cornell game. In order to increase
distribution, a contest was held among the sororities as to who could
sell the most copies, with 10 dollars for first prize, $7.50 for second
and 5 dollars for third. The back of the issue explained the rules:
"Contest
begins at chapel time Friday morning and continues until four Sunday
afternoon. The big events will be at the chapel Friday morning, the pep
meeting Friday evening, the big game Saturday afternoon and at your own
discretion between times. Don't bite any necks."
Although the Zip 'N' Tang established itself
as a popular student publication in just two issues, the faculty
decided due to funding it would not be possible to allow a third campus
publication (in edition to the Acorn and the Cosmos). The editorial
staff then moved their office from Williston hall to 1560 3rd
Ave, Zip's current address. As was explained in the next issue (doubly
titled The Outlaw/ Faculty Exposé) "contrary to popular opinion,
Zip 'N' Tang was never ordered to cease publication... The
action of the executive committee of the college was taken only after
extensive consideration and due deliberation had been given to the
matter." Cedar Rapids merchants were being "bled dry" being asked to
advertise in so many publications, and it was felt that with one more
publication, businesses would pull out and cease to advertise. Zip and
Tang disagreed, for if "merchants of Cedar Rapids DO consider college
advertising as an expenditure for which they receive nothing in return,
the editors of Zip'N' Tang wish to express their since appreciation of
the 'gifts' that have been given to us in our present capacity." Having
no trouble gaining advertising, the Zip 'N' Tang was thereby able to
finance publication, despite not being an official campus publication.
No longer needing faculty approval, Zip 'N'
Tang's content shifted a bit in the following issues, including short
jokes about persons of different religions and cultural backgrounds
(mostly the Jewish and Scottish), and a racy piece about a young woman
losing a game of strip poker to a group of gentlemen.
The first was the Freshman Eye Opener number,
followed by the Homecoming, Mid-Winter, Christmas and Razz issues. This
latter kept things rather hot for the Editor and contributors, but
after a few months, most of the hatred of the student body had died
down, and it was possible to bring out the last issue.
The following year, however, with a new Zip
and a new Tang, the magazine was published just six times throughout
the year. The 1932 Acorn listed the issues: "The first was the Freshman
Eye Opener number, followed by the Homecoming, Mid-Winter, Christmas
and Razz issues. This latter kept things rather hot for the Editor and
contributors, but after a few months, most of the hatred of the student
body had died down, and it was possible to bring out the last issue."
This hatred of the Razz issue was due to an
entire section dedicated to sorority gossip, where there was something
written for every girl in every sorority on campus. With six sororities
averaging thirty girls in each, this was a considerable amount of
gossip. The Razz issue contained this editorial: "We desire to have it
spread abroad before every one on campus starts snobbing us, that we
(editorial we) did NOT write the razz about all the sorority goils, but
instead, all of that was written by co-eds, most of which were in the
sorority about which they wrote. (So take that and that and that!) Some
of the cracks weren't exactly flattering, but as I said before, what do
you expect for fifteen cents - a bunch of roses?" Comments ranged from
"sweet and innocent" to "she's always near beer and pretzels" and "her
sudden crush on a certain person ought to be bad news to Frank W.; or
hasn't he heard of it yet. Everyone else has."
Although the
content became a bit more crude, physically the Zip 'N' Tang appeared
just a professional as before. About the length and width of a regular
football program, but all jokes and advertisements were printed on
glossy paper. Covers were always in bright color; a picture to go with
the theme of the issue, football players for homecoming, a silly
depiction of a professor at a blackboard for the faculty exposé,
etc. Each issue was locally published by the Laurance Press, with
engravings by commercial art engravers. Zip and Tang also worked in
association with College Humor, a national publisher of jokes and
cartoons aimed for college audiences. At this time, colleges across the
nation were locally printing humor magazines and would often take jokes
from College Humor and other school publications for filler. The Zip
'N' Tang was reprinted in part in humor magazines from Yale, Boston
University, University of Kansas and University of California among
others.
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