Lampoon Winds Up Centennial, Names Galbraith the 'Funniest'

The Harvard Lampoon Saturday named John Kenneth Galbraith, Warburg Professor of Economics Emeritus, its "Funniest Professor of the Century" in conjunction with the Lampoon's 100th anniversary celebration.

Galbraith received a prize of $10,000, a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, and a trip to Las Vegas. He was cited as "being to the social sciences what Big Bird is to Sesame Street."

Galbraith said he would take the $10,000 and "turn it to the needs of a suitably amusing professor."

The celebrations began Friday when an antique private train carrying Lampoon members and alumni arrived from New York. The train did not return yesterday as planned, however. "Apparently one of our alumni got a little drunk and tried to set it on fire," said George Rohr '76, Lampoon President.

The week-end long festivities cost "under $100,000," Louis G. Schenk '77, incoming Lampoon President, said. They included $50,000 the Lampoon donated to the Harvard scholarship fund, to be used by deserving students "who have literary or artistic talents."

Another $10,000 gift was to be given to needy Harvard literary organizations, principally the Advocate and the Signet Society.

The centennial celebration ended with a fireworks display Saturday evening, but John Kenneth Galbraith remained unimpressed. Harvard's "Funniest Professor of the Century" said his selection is "not like being named by the Crimson, but still a very great honor.