Hallowed Hardwood: Vintage Basketball Gyms of Kansas by Brian Stucky
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Brian Stucky is an art and photography teacher and a volleyball, basketball and track coach from Goessel, KS. He has written a wonderful book, "Hallowed Hardwood: Vintage Basketball Gyms of Kansas." Stucky spent six years traveling the state of Kansas, searching for gyms built before 1950 in nearly original condition. He photographed them, usually with an old legendary coach or player or personality in or around the building. He interviewed National Hall of Fame inductees as well as small-town people that few have ever heard of. The result is an enchanting combination of stories and photos.
One story, entitled "Undefeated" is very "Hoosier"-esque. It tells of the 1957 Class 1A team from Tescott. They made it to state out of 110 Class 1A schools. Then they made it through nine rounds of playoffs and won it all out of 249 teams. They were undefeated. The photos show 3 of the players from that 29-0 team, along with coach John Ritter.
In "Oh, Those Girls in Shorts," 81-year-old Faye Matlack described girls' basketball as it was played in 1932-34 in the Burrton City Auditorium. "Oh, it was controversial. It was not considered ladylike to wear bloomers, or even shorts in those days to play basketball. But the boys sure came to watch us play."
Gyms from all over the state are included. Allen and Ahearn. Jackie Stiles' Junior High Gym in Claflin. Even our neighborhood Wichita East. In fact, Stucky has stories on 25 small schools, 15 large schools, 5 community buildings, and 6 colleges.Although basketball fans will love it, "Hallowed Hardwood" is more than a book about basketball. The photos and stories about these gyms with balconies, the homemade scoreboards, the wooden theatre seats will thrill anyone with an interest in history, architecture, or athletics.
Review by Beth Golay, November 13, 2003
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