Now playing at The Varsity

Important meeting next Tuesday night at the Civic Center ... All the background you need to know is . . . here.

In a statement, Mayor Cole pledged to try to keep "The Spirit of Varsity" alive for years to come, which means showing films some of the time. Perhaps along the lines of the Normal Theater. If you have ideas to share or are curious, go to the meeting, and stay tuned.

Since his name begins with the same initial as The Varsity, I wonder if Van at Gusto's would lend his name and product to a fundraiser. Read on.

Will Van give Varsity old COLLEGE try?

Did you know that the COLLEGE tee-shirt design is sold exclusively at Gustos? John Belushi had it custom-made for himself, when he was in town in the seventies. I'm not sure how much time he spent here, but his brother Jim attended SIU for 4 years. Anyway, here's the idea: a limited edition tee-shirt, with a message on the back that reads:

The OLD 'COLLEGE' TRY for 'THE VARSITY':
If you're reading this shirt, it's because someone cared enough about keeping the Spirit of the Varsity Theater alive to buy and wear it, so the building can be renovated.

John Belushi went to the Varsity Theater in Carbondale, and bought the sweatshirt he wears in "Animal House" at Gusto's (pictured on the front of this shirt). What isn't generally known is that he might have had pizza and beer at Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza at its original location."

Sure, it's long, but people will be standing in line for movie shows, and it gives the people behind them something to read. Suitable graphics can be added. (Maybe a Varsity Theater backdrop.)

Other business that were open at the time could also get in on the act. He could have had beer and pizza at Pagliai's as well, I guess. The same night!

I don't know, maybe it's a bad idea. I'll ask Van about it later today. And the owner of Quatros. Have a design ready for the meeting next week. Give it the old college try.