Occidental College banner prank
Title
Occidental College banner prank
Subject
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont Men's College (Claremont, Calif.)
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Athletics
College sports
Football
Athletic fields
Sports spectators
College students
Practical jokes
Occidental College
Claremont Men's College (Claremont, Calif.)
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Athletics
College sports
Football
Athletic fields
Sports spectators
College students
Practical jokes
Occidental College
Description
Students release a replica Occidental banner into the air during a football game against the rival college.
Paul Kral '54 describes the prank: "Sometime in the 1952-1954 era a small group of Tortugateers invaded the Occidental College campus and liberated a banner which was hanging on a wire on the second floor between two buildings. With the help of some of our Scripps friends it was duplicated. What you see in the picture is the duplicated banner. During the first half of the the Pomona-Claremont vs. Oxy football game only the Tortuga helium balloons were visible. At half-time the banner was elevated and released into the sky slowly floating away much to to the chagrin of Dr. Benson and other faculty members who were in attendance. Across the field the entire Oxy cheering section were livid when they witnessed the release. About fifteen minutes after the release of the duplicated banner the actual banner was presented to them."
Paul Kral '54 describes the prank: "Sometime in the 1952-1954 era a small group of Tortugateers invaded the Occidental College campus and liberated a banner which was hanging on a wire on the second floor between two buildings. With the help of some of our Scripps friends it was duplicated. What you see in the picture is the duplicated banner. During the first half of the the Pomona-Claremont vs. Oxy football game only the Tortuga helium balloons were visible. At half-time the banner was elevated and released into the sky slowly floating away much to to the chagrin of Dr. Benson and other faculty members who were in attendance. Across the field the entire Oxy cheering section were livid when they witnessed the release. About fifteen minutes after the release of the duplicated banner the actual banner was presented to them."
Source
Claremont McKenna College Archives, Claremont McKenna College
Publisher
Claremont, Calif.: Claremont McKenna College
Date
circa 1952-1954
Contributor
Sean Stanley
Rights
For more information on copyright or permissions for this image, please contact the Claremont McKenna College Archives.
Relation
Claremont McKenna College Photograph Collection
Format
Photograph
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
Kral_001
Original Format
Black and white photograph
Physical Dimensions
4 x 6 inches
Collection
Citation
“Occidental College banner prank,” Claremont McKenna College Archives Digital Repository, accessed April 29, 2024, https://cmcarchives.omeka.net/items/show/500.