Heads Will Roll

Various-1896

Theodore Ravenswing, Algernon Blackfall, Phineus Pox, Rollo Rumpkin and Ned Nub were members of the Yale Glee Club at the time Master Gracey was a student. The five friends formed their own singing group which was the most popular entertainment at the social functions. They asked their classmate William to come up with a catchy name for the quintet. He suggested that since their singing was soft and sweet as marshmallows that they should call themselves the Mallow Men.

The ensemble continued to perform for a short time after graduation, in time they became famous act on vaudeville routine. 

In 1896 Master Gracey invited his fellow alumni to the Mansion. The turnout was excellent despite the ominous thunderstorm, and by air time the courtyard was overflowing with cheerful alumni. Theodore and the rest put the guests and listeners at ease by poking fun at the spooky atmosphere of the Mansion in their comedy routine. The radio show continued with a drama about two teenagers exploring a haunted house-Thoe's deep bass voice narrating. Continuing the theme of the show, the Mallow Men performed the a song especially written for the occasion by Ravenswing and Blackfall entitled "Grim Grinning Ghosts". For the finale the entire cast sang the refrain "Hurry back, we would like your company". The show ran short, a bolt of lighting stuck on a branch of the tree where the Mellow Men stood. Causing the branch to fall on the quintet. 

The five singers were buried in the Mansion’s graveyard. Feeling responsible for his friends’ death, Master Gracey commissioned busts of the Mallow Men to go over their graves.The singer’s bust has remained that way ever since. It was rumored that the busts of quintet had come to life and would serenade the dead with their songs.