These last few weeks, I’ve been on a tour of “I” states. My recent visit to Iowa, although it has nothing to do with the Monmouth Duo – Pi Beta Phi or Kappa Kappa Gamma – has conjured up a post about the Duo.
Watching a morning news program on Iowa television I watched a segment about one of the station’s longest on-air personalities, Betty Lou Varnum, who was turning 85 that day. She was the host of the “Magic Window.” From 1951-94, the show, a locally produced children’s show, aired on WOI in Des Moines. Of course, I wondered if she was an #amazingsororitywoman. I found the answer in the Fall 1979 issue of The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Betty Lou McVay Varnum, H – Wisconsin, hostesses and produces the nation’s longest-running locally produced children’s show, ‘Magic Window’ on WOI-TV, Des Moines. She also produces a weekly public affairs show, ‘Dimension Five,’ as well as occasional specials. The puppets who share the screen with her are very real to Betty Lou and, in turn, she is. often recognized by Iowa State students as she crosses campus to the television studio.
I hope she had a wonderful birthday celebration!
Yesterday, the picture below appeared on my facebook feed accompanied by this message:
Dr. Becque, we’ve arrived! My only disappointment is the omission of my answer to the question of greatest professional achievement…”being quoted in Fran Becque’s blog.” 😊
Of course it made me laugh out loud. Kylie Smith, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Archivist, is a friend and kindred spirit. In addition to her Kappa duties, she is on the Ohio State Chapter delegation of P.E.O. and will serve as the State Chapter’s President during P.E.O.’s Sesquicentennial celebration. A few months ago she asked me if I would participate in this monthly column in Kappa’s magazine. It sounded like fun and it was! Thanks, Kylie and Kappa Kappa Gamma for asking me.
Kylie Smith’s photo of our archivist’s face-off.
The page in the Spring 2016 issue of the Key is located at http://digital.watkinsprinting.com/publication/?i=299860#{“issue_id”:299860,”page”:50}. It is a wonderful issue. There is an article on Nora Stanton Blatch Barney, a member of the Kappa chapter at Cornell University.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory.
