By Doug Ward
A short history lesson:
April Fools’ Day originated in 1920, when Joseph C. McCanles (who was only vaguely related to the infamous 19th-century outlaw gang) ordered the KU marching band (then known as the Beak Brigade) to line up for practice on McCook Field (near the site of the current Great Dismantling).
It was April 1, and McCanles was not aware that the lead piccolo player, Herbert “Growling Dog” McGillicuddy, had conspired with the not-yet-legendary Phog Allen to play a practical joke.
McCanles, standing atop a peach basket, raised his baton and shouted, “March!”
Band members remained in place.
“March!” McCanles ordered again.
The band stood and stared.
Then McGillicuddy began playing “Yankee Doodle” on his piccolo and Allen, disguised in a Beak Brigade uniform, raised a drum stick (the kind associated with a drum, not a turkey) and joined the rest of the band in shouting: “It’s April, fool!”
McCandles fell off his peach basket in laughter, and a tradition was born.
Either that, or April Fools’ Day was created in France, or maybe in ancient Rome, or possibly in India. We still have some checking to do.
Regardless, we at CTE want you to know that we take our April Fools seriously – so seriously in fact that we have published the latest issue of Pupil magazine just in time for April Fools' Day.
As always, Pupil is rock-chalk full of news that you simply must know. It is best read with “The Washington Post March” playing in the background. We don’t like to be overly prescriptive, though, especially with all the strange happenings brought on by an impending solar eclipse.
Doug Ward is an associate director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and an associate professor of journalism and mass communications.
