Alumnae Interviews with First Lady Margi Tucker DeTemple Untold Stories

“I was active in the theatre and a member of the drama department. I performed in Oklahoma! and The Heiress. One of the most memorable plays was Cry Havoc where we were invited to perform at Alfred University (NY). It was an all-female show, and I played the crazy sergeant, a great part.

“Besides doing plays at Harcum, I did voiceover work at the Villanova radio station. They were an all-male college then. When they needed female voices, I and other ladies from the drama department would walk over to their radio station.

The Harcum News announced in its November 1955 issue that Villanova University station WVIL, scheduled Harcum drama majors for five half-hour shows on Monday evenings. Strawbridge and Clothier’s radio program

“Young Philadelphian” also featured Harcum’s drama music majors on Station WFLN.

“Through my Harcum College experience I formed strong bonds with my classmates. Barbara Gordon became one of my best friends, whose son became my godson. We remained friends until she passed away. This is one of the most marvelous and meaningful relationships I have had.

“President Philip Klein wrote a letter of recommendation to station WPEN for me. I was accepted as an intern for three months at a rate of $1.80 an hour. This internship and all the writing I did at Harcum helped me with my future career in marketing research.

“Harcum years were the two best years of my life. It is always with me.”

“We [Harcum] had a box at the Academy of Music up for grabs on a number of occasions, and I took advantage of them quite a few times. We also got tickets for ‘regular seats’ for operas or concerts and were encouraged to use them.

“Meals were served in Melville Hall and were more like a ladies’ luncheon, with tablecloths and table service. I remember being served a baked and stuffed Bermuda onion.”

“The Hamburg Hearth was the favorite place to eat in Bryn Mawr.” (Once located at 814 Lancaster Avenue, today the building is a few doors from the Bryn Mawr Film Institute.)

“Dr. Klein hosted weekly meetings in the Little Theater. He knew so many interesting people from all walks of life who were invited to come and talk with us. More often than not they were in the political world—Philadelphia, Washington and internationally. The few who stand out in my memory were Pauline Trigere and Cornelia Otis Skinner.”

Watch the Harcum Mile on YouTube: https://youtu.be/x-DMyt3bj2o