by Sam Madsen

Created on: August 12, 2010   Last Updated: July 14, 2011

These particular awards have a deep and long history, of a time honored tradition that are still very much in full force today. The history of how the awards came to be and how and why it was named Hasty Pudding Awards, is an interesting and historical tour through Harvard's theatrical beginnings. 

The Harvard Hasty Pudding Award, first launched its first time honored beginning in 1844. But it was in 1795, that a small group of   Harvard students, in one small dorm room celebrating a new campus society, would collaborate and start a secret club of their own.

So this group of inspiring young men presented their very unique style of the student - written theater, which they continue on today with this tradition. While they were still in the beginning stages of the club, it was decided on by all members that there would be a mandated rule, that every member, would in alphabetical order  provide a "pot of Hasty pudding" to every member in the club.

Over the next few years, they became more organized and held regular club meetings. Continuing with the learning process and the desires to have a theatrical group of performers, they were set to perform a mock trial of a man named Cortez, who had been convicted of "massacres and cruelties." But this mock trial production, would never take place.

Sometime in 1844 Harvard senior Lemuel Hayward broke changed the path the club was taking, moving away from the traditional production style. So he secretly arranged the production of the club's first ever "opera." Yes, you heard right, an opera. Thus, the beginning of the Hasty Pudding show was born. The space granted to the club by Harvard for the members theatrical rehearsals, was quoted by Theodore Roosevelt as being "The Shed." This was due in part because the space was dark and dingy looking. Through its humble beginnings, the club still produces shows and has for 160 shows today, making it the oldest collegiate theatrical organization in the United States.

Significant persons such as, Theodor Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Oscar Winner Jack Lemmon, to mention a few from the club’s prestigious list of former members.

Because the club's productions are known internationally for its Burlesque Musicals, which translates into acting, singing and good laughs. So with that said the Harvard Hasty Pudding Awards are given annually to theatrical and motion picture stars, people we all know and love.

The awards have been for "Woman of the Year" since 1951 with Gertrude Lawrence winning, and in 1967 they started to honor "Man of the Year," with that winner being none other than the late great Bob Hope. Since that time, the list of winners has been long and the members and the club still holding strongly in the theatrical department at Harvard.

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