LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — In the four decades since Oscar recipient William Inge's death, the statuette that symbolizes his success has resided in the building that houses the University of Kansas's theater program. Inge received this Oscar in 1961 for best original screenplay for "Splendor in the Grass," a story of sexual repression. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Inge was 60 years old in 1973 when he committed suicide after a decades-long struggle with depression. His Oscar went to live at his alma mater, where it is brought out several times a year. Besides serving as managing director and budget officer of theater at the university, Kathy Pryor also serves as caretaker of sorts for the Oscar. She calls it "priceless" and says it "serves as an inspiration" to aspiring thespians.
To see more photos of the Oscar, and to read more about KU's William Inge Memorial Theatre at Murphy Hall, visit the KU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences blog.
