Phroth is a humor magazine published by students at the Pennsylvania State University.

Phroth is one of over 600 recognized student organizations at the University Park campus of Penn State and publishes two to four issues each academic year. The staff consists of approximately 40 students, who plan, write, produce and distribute each issue.

History

The magazine was founded in spring 1909 as Froth, filling the humor void left after Penn State’s first humor magazine, The Lemon, published its final issue June 10, 1908. [1] (The Lemon had been an influential part of student life on campus; the birth of Penn State’s Nittany Lion mascot lied in the pages of the publication.) [2] A. W. Fisher, editor of the State Collegian, a predecessor to The Daily Collegian, served as editor of the inaugural issue of Froth. [3]

Froth’s mascot, a jester named Frothy,[4] eventually began making appearances along with the Nittany Lion at Penn State football games. This initial run of Froth lasted until 1943; the magazine stopped production during World War II due to a lack of staff members.

A National Publication

During the 1920’s Froth was sold not only on the Penn State campus and in State College, but also in 17 other Pennsylvania towns and cities as well as Washington, D.C., Providence, Rhode Island and Syracuse, New York. This popularity led to Froth being named the Best Managed Humor Magazine by College Humor Magazine for 1930-31.

Froth Magazine v. President Walker

After World War II, in 1946, Froth resumed printing, but was again stopped in 1962 when deemed too vulgar and offensive by the University.[5] After accumulating five written warnings in 10 years for accusations of being libelous, vulgar and offensive, charges were filed to revoke the magazine’s charter by both the Dean of Men and of Women and the University Senate Committee on Student Affairs. The case was handed to a sub-committee on on Student Organizations who revoked Froth’s charter effective October 13, 1962. One of the controversial parodies that led to these filings was an article from 1959 that “quoted” Penn State President Eric A. Walker as saying, “I am always interested in student problems. Sometimes I tell someone to do something about them, like raising tuition so we will not have any poverty stricken students around.”

This shutdown was short-lived and in 1965 Froth again began printing. The new incarnation of the magazine struggled to gain popularity with students and production was scarce during the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The sordid history of Froth is best described in a masthead reading: “Founded 1909, unfounded 1962, re-founded 1965, confounded 1969.”

Rebirth

In 1977, a group of Collegian writers led by Robert “Sudsi” Carville began producing Froth from a dorm room in Hartranft Hall. The first issue, a parody newspaper called “The Daily Collusion” was printed in February 1978. Because Froth and the Collegian shared so many staffers, the parody looked very authentic and while it was well-received, a wide misconception that it was produced by the Collegian prevented Frothers from gaining acclaim for their work.

During the late 70s and early 80s, the staff embarked on many PR campaigns, including a softball game against campus police, an “arduous” mountain climb up Pattee Mall and a widely promoted homecoming float that turned out to be nothing more than a shopping cart filled with garbage.

Their most successful campaign grew from their best-remembered publication, the 1980 issue, “The 80s, a Look Behind.” In that issue, the magazine predicted events in the coming decade from the perspective of a 1990 writer such as a news item from 1987 explaining that a retirement at the university had left Penn State ìwithout a single English speaking mathematics professor.[9]

One article featured a Gerbil named “Wimpy” being elected as University Student Government president. The parody soon gained real-life backing from the Monty Python Society and other student groups and was the focus of writers for the Collegian and other newspapers. This press coverage, along with a heavy propaganda campaign from Frothers (posters and buttons reading “WHY NOT?”) resulted in a second place finish for the gerbil-candidate in 1981’s USG elections. The parody became such a campus-wide success that at one point, Froth writers were contacted by NBC with promises of an interview on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson had Wimpy prevailed.[2]

The success for Froth was short-lived, however. As the last members of the 1977 team graduated in 1981 and 1982, the magazine suffered staffing and leadership issues, and eventually collapsed.

For a more complete telling of the history of Froth from 1977-1981 click here.

Froth becomes Phroth

In 1999, the magazine was ready for another go-around. The publication’s spelling was changed to Phroth to outwardly represent renewal. From spring 2003 until 2008, a nominal fee of $1 has been charged for each issue and until recently, the magazine operated in deficit and in order to continue publishing, supplemented revenue from issue sales with funding from the University Park Allocations Committee (UPAC). To offset recent cutbacks in this funding, the organization increased the density of advertising in its publications and conducted fund raisers to continue publishing.

This new incarnation features between 2-3 glossy magazines and 2-3 Phaily Phollegian newspaper parodies. Phroth has regularly included a pull-out centerfold poster, recurring features such as the Phroth “How To” and special features lampooning both topical and timeless subjects related to Penn State and popular culture. Phroth is available in several drop boxes around campus, as well as routinely distributed at the HUB tables. Phaily Phollegians are distributed in early morning air-drop campaigns and are available throughout the distribution day.

On January 25, 2007, a surprise issue of Phroth’s Phaily Phollegian parody newspaper was released to campus-wide acclaim; however, it seemed to catch the student-run newspaper at Penn State, the Daily Collegian, off-guard. The Collegian’s Editor-in-Chief reacted to the parody with a column explaining to readers, many of whom had thought the parody was a real Collegian publication, that there were consequences to parody newspapers. The issue had fallen the same week of a controversial issue of Princeton’s school newspaper, which contained a racially offensive column.

The following Monday, Phroth fans and writers reacted to the editorial with three rebuttals, [3] [4] [5] striking back against the Editor’s explanation.

Annually, the group also writes and produces Phroth Fest, a sketch comedy show executed each spring with the assistance of No Refund Theatre. In 2008, the Phroth team launched Phroth Films, a sketch comedy endeavor available on YouTube and this very Web site. Phroth has also leaked its juices into Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

In 2009, Phroth celebrated its centennial by dedicating a large portion of its spring magazine to alumni submissions and essays. The effort was mentioned in a Daily Collegian cover story and an article in The Centre Daily Times.

Mottos

Mottos of the magazine include the current “Let Mirth Prevail” and those of the first incarnation of Froth, “Smile Dam You, Smile” and “Soc Et Tu Em.”

Format

Since its rebirth in 1999, Phroth has regularly included a pull-out centerfold poster, recurring features such as the Phroth “How To” and special features lampooning both topical and timeless subjects related to Penn State and popular culture. Phroth also publishes the “Phaily Phollegian,” a parody similar to The Onion but modeled after Penn State’s Daily Collegian student newspaper.

Staff Structure

The Editor-in-Chief heads the organization and works closely with other editors to plan issues and events. In addition to the Editor-in-Chief, the editorial board consists of a Managing Editor, Production Editor and Head Writer. Additional positions, include Phollegian Editor, Lead Designer, Phroth Phest, Phroth Philms, THON Chair, Distribution, and Secretary.

The organization annually participates in the Penn State Dance Marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer patients.

Recognition and Notoriety

An Unregenerate Moment

In 1915, Froth writer G.L. Hemminger wrote the following poem for the magazine:

Tobacco is a dirty weed; I like it;

It satisfies no normal need; I like it.

It makes you thin; it makes you lean;

It takes the hair right off your bean;

Its the worst darn stuff Ive ever seen;

I like it.

The poem proved to be one of Froths most famous pieces. First published by Collier’s Weekly under the title An Unregenerate Moment, Hemmingers poem has since been reprinted countless times, including appearances in Time Magazine (They Like It, January 5, 1959)[1] and Bartletts Famous Quotations; the poem is the only thing ever written by a Penn State student to appear in the book.

The Noo Yawker

Recently, longtime New Yorker cartoonist Michael Maslin featured Froth’s March 1947 “The Noo Yawker” issue at a New Yorker cartoonists gallery showing and luncheon. Nearly half of the edition’s content was dedicated to parodying the longtime New York-based publication.[7]

Public Response

On January 25, 2007, a surprise issue of Phroth’s Phaily Phollegian parody newspaper was released to campus-wide acclaim; however, it seemed to catch the student-run newspaper at Penn State, the Daily Collegian, off-guard. The Collegian’s Editor-in-Chief reacted to the parody with a column explaining to readers, many of whom had thought the parody was a real Collegian publication, that there were consequences to parody newspapers [14]. The issue had fallen the same week of a controversial issue of Princeton’s school newspaper, which contained a racially offensive column.

The following Monday, Phroth fans and writers reacted to the editorial with three rebuttals, [10] [11] [12] [13] striking back against the Editor’s explanation.

Alumni

Former Froth writer Julius J. Epstein (‘31) wrote the screenplay for Casablanca (film) and won three Academy Awards during his Hollywood career. [6]

Former Froth writer and editor Jimmy Dugan (‘37) went on to write for the Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic and The New York Times before becoming President of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences. Dugan was heavily involved with Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival recognized documentaries and worked alongside famed underwater explorer Jacque Cousteau. Dugan was buried at sea in 1967. [7]

Former Froth writer Ronald Bonn (‘52) was a producer for the NBC Nightly News and CBS Evening News during which time he won three Emmy Awards.[8][15]

Former Froth writer Herman Guy Fisher co-founded the Fisher-Price Toy Company. After the success of his company, Fisher donated a large sum of money back to the university to build what is now Fisher Plaza.

According to his biography, “Moving Pictures and Classic Images,” Hollywood insider and publisher Samuel K. Rubin once served as “co-editor” of Froth. He is widely remembered for starting the magazine “8mm Collector,” later known as “The Classic Film Collector” and then “Classic Images.”[8]

Former Froth editor John Stephenson (circa 1920) later became head of the national copy desk for the New York Times.

Former Staff Accomplishments

Phroth and Froth writers have gone on to work for the Chicago Tribune, Collier’s Weekly, Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times, National Geographic and Cosmopolitan magazine.

Alumni now work for VH1s Best Week Ever, CollegeHumor, The Associated Press, and the Late Show with David Letterman; maintain the Crap Filter and Band Madness! blogs; and perform stand-up comedy. Former members have also interned at The Daily Show and The New Republic.

A Week of Kindness, the New York-based sketch comedy group, is comprised almost entirely of former Phroth founders, editors and contributors.

References

1. Bezilla, Michael. Expansion and Its Consequences. Penn State: An Illustrated History. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
2. Bezilla, Michael. Shaping a Modern College. Penn State: An Illustrated History. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
3. ^ Penn State Celebrates The Nittany Lion’s 100th Birthday. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
4. ^ Past Student Leaders. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
5. ^ Palazzolo, Larry (2000-12-08), “Mug and Jester”, Phroth: 5
6. The Penn Stater, Jan/Feb 2008, Vol. 95, No. 3
7. http://michaelmaslin.com/index.php?mact=Album,cntnt01,default,0&cntnt01albumid=11&cntnt01returnid=52
8. http://books.google.com/books?id=uMmiB0EETvEC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=froth+humor+magazine&source=bl&ots=CQSz2cnrlb&sig=90guNj-O1FTEtTBkLxO47qbSGas&hl=en&ei=Ae7LSZztJKDglQfGk-TeCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA6,M1
9. http://www.fortfreedom.org/s08.htm
10. Ciferri, Pete (2007-01-29). Letter to the Editor: The Daily Collegian. “Phroth member addresses Collegian editor’s column.”
11. Brotzman, Erica (2007-01-29). Letter to the Editor: The Daily Collegian. “Phroth’s Phollegian was an obvious joke.”
12. Marchek, Kaitlyn (2007-01-29). Letter to the Editor: The Daily Collegian. “Parody paper shows Phroth’s dedication.”
13. Bisgaier, Matt (2007-01-30). Letter to the Editor: The Daily Collegian. ”Phroth’s Phollegian shows lack of news and progress.”
14. James, Erin (2007-01-26). My Opinion: The Daily Collegian. “Practical joke may be lost on students.”
15. Hanrahan, Jenifer (1990-04-19). “Collegian’ grads set standards of excellence for now, future.”