by Michael D. Wynne
The great actor Vincent Price (1911 – 1993) was best known for his many performances in horror films, although his career spanned many other genres in more than 100 films. He was a greatly admired man, but not admired in Cenla.
According to an article in the Town Talk newspaper dated April 13, 1957, Price would appear at Louisiana College’s third Lyceum program on April 17th . There he read Van Gogh’s famous “Letters To Theo” in a 90 minute program. Although the program was for students only, Price would also attend a public reception in the music room of the Morgan W. Walker student center, hosted by the Faculty Women’s Club. The article went on at great length naming the members of the Lyceum Committee and the Reception Committee.
According to another article from April 15th appearing on the front page, there was a protest of Price speaking at LC (excerpt):
PICKETS PROTESTING SCHEDULING OF PRICE
ON COLLEGE LYCEUM
A group of picket-packing preachers paraded on La. College campus today in protest against a proposed visit by actor Vincent Price.
Reverend Robert Green, pastor of the Sardis Baptist Church, Pineville, said the move came as a result of Price’S being featured in a nationally-circulated magazine in conjunction with a liquor advertisement.
In a prepared statement, Green said, “I am opposed to an appearance of Vincent Price at our Baptist College. An advertisement which appeared in the December 10, 1956 issue of Life Magazine that featured him in a liquor ad is against our Baptist principles.”
Our church covenant states that, as Baptists, we are to abstain from the sale of, and use of, intoxicating drinks as a beverage,” Green continued.
The protest presented a petition protesting Price’s appearance which was signed by 37 ministers and many LC students. The liquor ad in question showed Price promoting Smirnoff vodka.
Also, in the April 15th Town Talk on the front page, is a large photograph of the 6 male protesters holding signs in front of the old La. College sign that was in front of the administration building. One sign said “If Christ’s way is the way of life, then no Christian can ever sign an armistice with alcohol.”
In a prepared statement, Dean of Students, Bruce W. Lowe, said, “The college regrets the adverse publicity that it has received in connection with the action of a small group of students who have expressed disapproval of Vincent Price’s appearance at Louisiana College.”
The Dean said, “The college administration and faculty are unequivocally opposed to liquor and liquor traffic. We do not hesitate to state that we deplore the fact that Mr. Price permitted his name to be associated with liquor advertising, but we do not condemn him, for we are not without sin ourselves.”
In the April 17th edition, Price is shown in a photograph standing with LC students, almost all smiling females, who are holding a banner saying, “Welcome Vincent Price.” The accompanying article says Price told the Town Talk reporter that the controversy was “utterly ridiculous” about the preachers picketing. He concluded with “no further comment.” The article also noted that some 150 LC students braved the inclement weather to meet Price at the airport. When Price stepped out of the airplane, he was greeted by cheers with a round of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” sung by the students.
Price attended the public reception engaging in “pleasant chit-chat” for an hour and a half with “a goodly portion of the
members of the faculty and student body.”
Another photo appears in the Town Talk on this same date showing Price leaning on a piano in the student center surrounded by 18 happy students, 17 of which were women. As far as where Price stayed that night, Price spent the night at the Hotel Bentley.
