Famous actor Spencer Tracy (1900-1967), from the Golden Age of Hollywood, was born in Milwaukee in early April.

In February 1921, Tracy became a student at Ripon College, choosing to major in medicine.

During college he was voted “the second-most popular student” within his class and “most-cleverest man,” was president of West Hall, president of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and was involved in numerous campus activities.

He made his stage debut at Ripon College in April 1921 and quickly developed a passion for acting.

Nicknamed “Spence,” his college theater director noted that “he had real talent and the makings of an actor — could learn his lines so quickly they thought he was an acting prodigy.”

He was cast in two college plays in which he was deemed outstanding; a one-act production titled “The Valiant” and a three-act play “The Truth.”

Tracy and some friends formed an acting company called “The Campus Players,” which they took on tour.

While at Ripon College, Tracy became friends with fellow classmate and local Riponite J. Harold Bumby (1900-1974).

The two were on a traveling debate team together, and while out east on a debate trip, the group went to the Academy of Dramatic Arts.

It was there that Tracy took a chance audition which led to a scholarship, causing him to leave Ripon College in April 1922 and head for New York City.

Tracy spent seven years working in New York theater productions, including Broadway plays.

He found that college honors, blue-ribbon performances and drama recommendations didn’t mean that much to Broadway’s challenges.

He served an apprenticeship in three stock companies. He worked three years for George M. Cohan (1878-1942), who himself was an entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer.

Cohan was known as the most influential man at that time working on Broadway plays. Tracy’s lead performance in the play “The Last Mile” in 1930 caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts and he eventually was chosen to star in a Hollywood Movie titled “Up the River,” with other notable screen actors.

From there, Tracy was signed under contract to Fox Film Corp. and went on to work at some of the largest film companies in Hollywood, including Warner Bros. Studio and United Artists, before being signed to Metro Goldwyn Mayer Films.

Tracy then won consecutive Oscars at the Academy Awards, making him a top box office star by the 1940s.

Around the same time that Tracy was becoming a known actor, the first-ever Marcus Cinema opened in Ripon as the “Campus Theater” on Nov. 1, 1935.

On June 10, 1940, the Campus Theater first showed Spencer Tracy’s movie “Edison, the Man,” which Tracy attended in person. At the same time, Ripon College awarded him an honorary degree in dramatic arts from then-President Dr. Silas Evans (1876-1959).

Ripon prepared a gala welcoming and related events for Tracy, who arrived by a 25-car motorcade escorted by six motorcycle officers from Milwaukee, who stayed throughout the schedule of events.

The newspaper, then the Ripon Weekly Press, published a 14-page “Welcome Back, Spencer” City Souvenir Tracy Edition on June 6, 1940 to tell Tracy’s life story and achievements, including those from Ripon College.

The newspaper even sold advertisements to businesses that created their own “Tracy Day in Ripon” congratulatory remarks and best wishes to the actor. Tracy brought along with him movie officials and dignitaries for the events.

Top Hollywood executives included Metro-Goldwyn Mayor movie executives, producers, directors, representatives and directors of publicity, who stayed at the Ripon College president’s house. Tracy also brought his own family members and newspaper reporters, plus photographers from Milwaukee.

While visiting Ripon, Tracy stayed at the Green Lake cottage of his old school friend Bumby.

A lifelong friend of Tracy’s, Bumby was mayor of Ripon from 1932-1937, plus president of Ripon Savings and Loan from 1932-1942.

He was the chairman of Advertisers Manufacturing Company (later known as ADMANCO) and vice president of Ripon Foods (which manufactured and sold Rippin’ Good Cookies). He also served on the Ripon School Board and the hospital board.

A 1923 graduate of Ripon College, Bumby served on the college’s board of trustees.

Bumby’s daughter Mary Jane recalled in the two editions of the book “Green Lake Memories” that her parents had a formal evening party in honor of Tracy.

Guests included Frank Whitbeck (1882-1963), who was the long-term chief of publicity/exploitation at MGM and a voice actor, and Ben Marcus (1911-2000), the above-mentioned founder of the Campus Theater in Ripon and Marcus Theaters, nationally.

During Tracy’s visit Mary Jane, who was 10 at the time, collected everyone’s signatures in an autograph book which had just been given to her by her teacher.

Whitbeck offered to take it back to Hollywood so that he could obtain more autographs for Mary Jane.

The book was returned about a year later filled with the signatures of Hollywood greats such as the Marx Brothers, Mickey Rooney, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford.

Mary Jane still treasures the book, which Tracy signed “From ‘Uncle Spence’ Tracy.”

Throughout his career, Tracy starred in 75 films and held a reputation among his peers as being one of the greatest movie screen actors. The American Film Institute ranked Tracy the “9th Greatest Male Star of Classic Hollywood Cinema.”

Like his father, Tracy may have inherited a genetic inclination that led him to alcoholism. He worked until his death in 1967, passing away at age 67, just 17 days after completing the film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” which won two Academy Awards.

Tracy was nominated for Best Actor for this film posthumously.

Although he did not win for that specific role, the movie co-star Katherine Hepburn and the movie itself did garner awards for this film.

The Ripon Historical Society is the oldest continually operating historical society in Wisconsin. It is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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