In the Golden Age of College Theatre, the drama Department at SJSU was widely regarded as one of the top four University Theatre programs in the country. During a memberable span of 12 years (1946-1958), the Department was a remarkable academic and artistic panacea where talented faculty regularly acted in plays along side of belovcd students, where more and bigger was better, were students and faculty were truely devoted the theatre and each other with a passion rarely seen in more modern times. It was an era when indelible memories and lifelong friends were made. At the artistic and spiritual heart of the Department was the presence, energy, talent of Jim Clancy, the Golden Boy of this Golden Age. As a writer, actor, director, and teacher Clancy inspired hundreds of students and thousands of enthusiastic patrons with his theatre productions. His plays and performances are still remembered as some of the most important, most beautiful works of drama ever done at SJSU.

Born May 1, 1912 in Oakland, California, Clancy began his theatrical career by traveling with the stock companes at age 16. He started college in 1930, enrolling in the newly formed Speech and Drama Department. Jim Clancy was soon touted in the Campus Newspaper as “the best student ever turned out by the Drama Department.” Clancy recieved his Bachelor’s degree in 1935 and was made a member of the faculty one year later. While teaching at SJSU he simultaneously attended graduate school and recieved his Masters Degree from Stanford University. His successful academic career was interrupted by WWII during which he became a Captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps Intelligence.

Returning from the European campaign in 1946, he resumed one of the most intense and productive academic careers seen at SJSU, or any university. For several years he was the editor of the EDUCATIONAL THEATRE JOURNAL and recieved a prestigious Ford Foundation in 1959 for outstanding work in theatre. In 1949 he married Stella Pinoris a drama student who recieved her degree the previous year.