"Wonderful days and great people" at The Shack

People gather at the MU hangout, The Shack. Beetle Bailey cartoonist Mort Walker held meetings for his humor magazine, Showme, from The Shack’s backroom.   ¦  photos courtesy MU Archives

Norm Benedict, of Columbia, shed some light on a photograph from the 1957 MU Savitar that ran with “The Shack Comes Back.” Benedict’s letter says in part:

“As a native Columbian who attended University Lab and High School just across the street, graduating in the mid-’50s, I remember it well. But my decision to attend college elsewhere (Northwestern) kept me out of the place except during brief periods over the next four summers.

“I recognize three people in your circa ’57 Savitar photo. The guy second from left, standing in the back is Bob Clatanoff, also a U-High grad (like Hank Waters, Darry Hindman, Frank Conley and other local luminaries.) Bob’s mom was secretary to one of Missouri’s presidents, but can’t recall which one (possibly Middlebush).

“The guy fourth from the left standing (behind the short girl) is Matt Flynn, a great cartoonist and one of my best friends while growing up in Columbia. His dad later was GM of the Missourian. Matt went on to become a college professor and now lives in Kansas City.

“The ‘star’ of the Showme in those days was Dick Noel. He’s the ... guy seventh from left, right in the center of the photo, standing, with glasses, hands on rail. Also a cartoonist, he was a writer as well and went on to a great career at Hallmark. He died some time ago, but his widow, Sylvia Guffin Noel, lives here.

“Thanks again for the opportunity to remember fondly some wonderful days, a wonderful place and great people.”

If any of our readers have other fond memories of The Shack or classic MU moments, feel free to write about them in our 'comments section' below.