Before Tom Shadyac and his sense of humor became well known to moviegoers, he gained a measure of fame at the University by satirizing a social phenomenon. Shadyac (Col ’81) has directed numerous comedies, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Patch Adams, The Nutty Professor and Evan Almighty. But it all began with his first comic production—the “Are You a Preppie?” poster he created in 1979.
“It was clear he could do whatever he wanted because he had the drive and the energy, but I don’t guess people knew the amount of creativity he had until he came up with the preppie poster,” Dawn Heneberry (Col ’80) said in a 1997 Alumni News article about Shadyac.
The particular poster pictured on this page hung for many years in professor Larry Sabato’s (Col ’74) office.
Shadyac’s latest contribution to Charlottesville is altogether different. Shortly after filming Evan Almighty in the area, Shadyac bought an old church and launched the First Street Church Project in 2006. Groundbreaking for the project—which will be a day shelter and resource center for the homeless—was in March 2009.
Click image for larger version.
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Key piece of trivia—who is the Sigma Chi fraternity brother that Tom featured on the poster? Hint: his first name is actually Spencer.
The far more popular poster at the time was the female version of “Are You a Preppy” which Tom also produced using model Christine Painley Gustafson, Phi Mu, COMM ‘83. That poster hung in all of the dorm rooms in the early 80’s. Although Tom produced the posters ironically, the look was still being emulated by UVa women well into the mid 80’s until they realized that they did not have to dress like men to be taken seriously at the U. I hope that the Magazine can give “equal time” and publish the female version next month.
Trivia? Obviously, Sigma Chi brother Spencer Tunnell. Great to see the poster as well as the nice tribute to Shady’s success (and giving back to the community).
What? The female version was more popular? No way! I saw a few crumpled versions of the female version in various hidden corners but the original poster featured above was by far the best seller. No need for revisionist history here!
I wish they would run the picture with CPG. As her nanny, I saw the picture first hand and loved it! Please post!
Please post the original poster with CPG I am dying to see it!
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