Alice met C.H. Mullen in freshman rhetoric class at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Alice was a piano major, studying with Jan Chiapusso, and C.H. was earning his degree in
political science and pre-law. They were married in 1942, and moved to Washington, D.C.
where C.H. served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
After WWII, C.H. completed his law degree at the University of Michigan. Wanting to
remain in the Midwest, Alice and C.H. looked at a number of cities and states before
choosing Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the ideal place to settle down and raise a family.
They were impressed with the cultural scene, higher education, and a "blue chip"
business climate. Kalamazoo became their town.
C.H. joined the law firm of Joe Crum and Glenn Allen, Jr., in 1947. The law offices were
located on the top floor of the Kalamazoo Building downtown.
Alice and C.H. got to know their fellow Kalamazooans by joining service clubs and becoming
members of the First Presbyterian Church.
By the mid-1950s, Alice started getting calls from the Kalamazoo Symphony to play piano,
celeste and harpsichord parts when needed. She became Principal Keyboard officially in
1955 under the baton of Dr. Herman Felber Jr. During her career with the orchestra, Alice
was featured as a concerto soloist on six different occasions, starting in 1957.
During her nearly forty years with the Kalamazoo Symphony, she played under Herman
Felber, Gregory Millar, Pierre Hétu and Yoshimi Takeda.
Alice also gave private piano lessons for many years, and accompanied music students
from Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College.
C.H. quickly gained a foothold in the community and made headlines. In 1952, he
singlehandedly diverted Eisenhower's presidential campaign train to make an un-
scheduled whistle stop in Kalamazoo.
C.H. was active in the Jaycees, the Kiwanis Club and the First Presbyterian Church.
He acted in plays at the Civic Theatre, and starred in American Legion variety shows
with fellow lawyers. He served as Vice-Mayor on the Kalamazoo City Commission
from 1961 to 1963, and for two years on the Kalamazoo County Board of Supervisors.
He was hired away from the law firm in 1957 by the First National Bank and Trust Co.
C.H. became a trust officer and a vice-president. C.H. returned to law later in life when
he received a gubernatorial appointment to the bench of the 9th Judicial Circuit Court to
fill a vacancy. He then ran for another term and won. He was circuit judge from 1977-1987.
Visit Judge Mullen's new blog!
Remembering Judge Mullen
From Kansas to Kalamazoo
A Tribute to C.H. Mullen
(1917-1999)
Being involved in community affairs was a labor of love for Alice and C.H., and they served
on the advisory boards of a variety of organizations over the years. They were both KSO
board members, and were later elected board chairmen, serving separate terms. Alice was
the first woman to become chairman of the symphony board after KSO founder Leta Snow.
Alice and C.H. at the American Symphony Orchestra
League Convention in 1960 in St. Louis. The were on
the KSO's Conductor Selection Committee when Gregory
Millar was hired.
In 1987, Alice and C.H. Mullen were co-recipients of the Red Rose Citation from
the Kalamazoo Rotary Club for 'their devotion to the community's cultural, legal and
educational excellence'. Alice won the Community Medal of Arts Award in 1991
to honor her musical achievements and advocacy of the arts. That same year, Alice
retired from her position as Principal Keyboard with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
Alice receives the 1991 Community Medal of Arts Award at a KSO Summer Parks Concert in
Bronson Park. Garrard Macleod, arts award committee member and voice of WMUK-FM
for many years, bestows the honors.
A tangible expression of their dedication to the Kalamazoo Symphony was instituted in 1994,
when Alice and C.H. Mullen created an endowment fund to bring piano soloists to perform with
the KSO each season. The Alice Mullen Distinguished Pianists Endowment Fund is managed
by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
At home (mid-1990s)
____________________________________________________________________________
Alice and C.H. should also be remembered for the fun they had while working with the best of
the best in Kalamazoo.
Alice was the life of the party, entertaining guests gathered 'round the piano, cocktails in hand.
She was often the "musical director" of original skits performed in honor of someone's birthday.
Alice's seat mate for this snapshot is Dr. Willis Dunbar, Professor of History
at Western Michigan University. "Bill" was a pianist as well as wordsmith.
They had to bring their own piano with them to this particular gathering!
Early 1960s.
C.H. and Alice teamed up with Kalamazoo City Attorney David Morris, his wife Priscilla,
and Dr. Dunbar to write and direct the "Lawyers' Libels", an annual variety show lampooning
the City Commission and the issues of the day. Lawyer members of the American Legion,
Westnedge Post on East South Street were the featured performers. This string of annual hit
shows ran from 1952 to 1956. The Gazette coverage was generous. Here is a sampling:
(click on article to enlarge)
-Gazette photo
'CITY OFFICIALS' FORM CHORUS LINE IN LAWYERS' SHOW, 'LIBELS OF 1953'
(From left): Ernest Jordan as Fire Chief Lloyd Curry; Judge Raymond Fox as Twp. Clerk Joseph
Parisi, Jr.; William Culver as Com. Henry Upjohn; David Davidoff as Com. A.J. Mullholland, Sr.;
Judge Donald Anderson as Vice-Mayor Willis Dunbar; John Pikkaart as City Manager C.H. Elliott;
David Morris as Mayor Glenn Allen, Jr.; Robert Borsos as Com. Paul Todd; C.H. Mullen as Com.
Cornelia Robinson; Richard Tedrow as Com. Alvin Little; John Bauckham as City Clerk Marie
Filarski; Roland Huff as City Attorney Richard Paulson; William Sykes as Police Chief Howard
Hoyt.
-Gazette photo
'COMMUNITY SING GETS OFFICIALS, AUDIENCE TOGETHER ON
SEWAGE PLANT SONG'
C.H. Mullen, as Lady Commissioner, Leads Loud-Singing, -Handclapping Chorus.
The Sewer Song is the most famous song that remains. It immortalizes a contentious bond
issue being proposed at that time. Sung to the tune of "Grandma's Lye Soap", it became
one of Alice and C.H.'s "party pieces".
The Mullen family home on Waite Avenue was often the place to be for post-concert parties with
Kalamazoo Symphony musicians, soloists, board members and friends in attendance. The large
side yard was the scene of many receptions after the Starlight Symphony summer pops concerts
in the 1960s. Alice liked to boast that Duke Ellington was a party guest after his performance
with the KSO on the top deck of the Gilmore Brothers department store parking lot.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1921. The 2010-11 Season marks the
orchestra's 90th Anniversary. Refer to the following links for more information on the KSO:
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Public Library
__________________________________________________________________________________
This blog was created by a private individual, who is neither an employee nor a sponsor of the KSO.
__________________________________________________________________________________
A tangible expression of their dedication to the Kalamazoo Symphony was instituted in 1994,
when Alice and C.H. Mullen created an endowment fund to bring piano soloists to perform with
the KSO each season. The Alice Mullen Distinguished Pianists Endowment Fund is managed
by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.
____________________________________________________________________________
Alice and C.H. should also be remembered for the fun they had while working with the best of
the best in Kalamazoo.
Alice was the life of the party, entertaining guests gathered 'round the piano, cocktails in hand.
She was often the "musical director" of original skits performed in honor of someone's birthday.
Alice's seat mate for this snapshot is Dr. Willis Dunbar, Professor of History
at Western Michigan University. "Bill" was a pianist as well as wordsmith.
They had to bring their own piano with them to this particular gathering!
Early 1960s.
C.H. and Alice teamed up with Kalamazoo City Attorney David Morris, his wife Priscilla,
and Dr. Dunbar to write and direct the "Lawyers' Libels", an annual variety show lampooning
the City Commission and the issues of the day. Lawyer members of the American Legion,
Westnedge Post on East South Street were the featured performers. This string of annual hit
shows ran from 1952 to 1956. The Gazette coverage was generous. Here is a sampling:
'CITY OFFICIALS' FORM CHORUS LINE IN LAWYERS' SHOW, 'LIBELS OF 1953'
(From left): Ernest Jordan as Fire Chief Lloyd Curry; Judge Raymond Fox as Twp. Clerk Joseph
Parisi, Jr.; William Culver as Com. Henry Upjohn; David Davidoff as Com. A.J. Mullholland, Sr.;
Judge Donald Anderson as Vice-Mayor Willis Dunbar; John Pikkaart as City Manager C.H. Elliott;
David Morris as Mayor Glenn Allen, Jr.; Robert Borsos as Com. Paul Todd; C.H. Mullen as Com.
Cornelia Robinson; Richard Tedrow as Com. Alvin Little; John Bauckham as City Clerk Marie
Filarski; Roland Huff as City Attorney Richard Paulson; William Sykes as Police Chief Howard
Hoyt.
'COMMUNITY SING GETS OFFICIALS, AUDIENCE TOGETHER ON
SEWAGE PLANT SONG'
C.H. Mullen, as Lady Commissioner, Leads Loud-Singing, -Handclapping Chorus.
The Sewer Song is the most famous song that remains. It immortalizes a contentious bond
issue being proposed at that time. Sung to the tune of "Grandma's Lye Soap", it became
one of Alice and C.H.'s "party pieces".
The Mullen family home on Waite Avenue was often the place to be for post-concert parties with
Kalamazoo Symphony musicians, soloists, board members and friends in attendance. The large
side yard was the scene of many receptions after the Starlight Symphony summer pops concerts
in the 1960s. Alice liked to boast that Duke Ellington was a party guest after his performance
with the KSO on the top deck of the Gilmore Brothers department store parking lot.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1921. The 2010-11 Season marks the
orchestra's 90th Anniversary. Refer to the following links for more information on the KSO:
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Public Library
__________________________________________________________________________________
This blog was created by a private individual, who is neither an employee nor a sponsor of the KSO.
__________________________________________________________________________________
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