A high school friend of mine (we were both known for our detailed drawings in art class back in Flushing, Michigan...now the only thing we draw is curious stares) was kind enough to send me a copy of the November 19th Ann Arbor News, which is rockin' a very interesting story on Madonna's time at the University of Michigan in the ’70s. The piece is illustrated with a great "I've still got it!" Confessions Tour shot (REHEARSAL RECORDINGS HERE), but also with two charming, rarely-seen Lolita-esque portraits of Madonna taken at the college by Peter Kentes.

"Friend Recalls Madonna As A Person"...but he could be mistaken???

I met Kentes at a Madonna convention once (first stop on my confessions tour: yes, I've willingly attended at least four Madonna conventions...), but hadn't realized he had once been a FOM—I guess I assumed he was more a photographer who'd persuaded her to pose for a few pix and that had been that. He was very nice and sold color Xeroxes of his work rather than prints. Color Xereoxes...yes, this was 100 years ago. I think the reasoning might have been they were cheap to make and wouldn't in turn reproduce very well in case fans made their own copies to sell.

The newspaper story has some interesting tidbits...including a bomb-out map! (Sorry, the ’70s are seeping back in.)

Handy star map for your next Ann Arbor excursion.

Madonna's Top 3 Fave Places for Chow Around the U of M: Bicycle Jim's at South University and Forest (unfortch, it's now an exhibit space for the university's Museum of Art—pictured as it looks today here); the Cottage Inn basement on William Street; Eden's Restaurant and Deli on Maynard.

Madonna (center, believe it or not) at a U of M drama club meeting. Image from MadonnaShots.

Madonna's Preferred Places to Dance: I was shocked that the Nectarine Ballroom wasn't mentioned, but maybe it didn't exist in the late ’70s? Diehard fans know about The Blue Frogge, but she also liked Rubaiyat on First Street.

Madonna Liked Boys: "She was very outspoken, so you noticed her. She enjoyed attention, especially from the guys in the department...The first semester she was in Stockwell (residence hall), she'd hang her head out the window and yell at the boys as they'd walk by to the CCRB (Central Campus Recreation Building)," says Kentes.

Stockwell, where young Madonna would practice her siren's song. From here.

Madonna Was Always A Body Nazi: "I remember her doing 100 crunches before ballet—she was always working her body."

Madonna Was One Step Ahead Of Astrology: Kentes, an astrology buff, did a reading for her. "I'm looking at this girl in red plastic shoes, living on popcorn, working part-time at the art center figure modeling and doing other things just to get by, and everything (in the reading) said riches and fame. She didn't really seem surprised—like that was her plan."

You can dance for inspiration...Madonna with Chris Flynn.

Also fascinating to me as a fan is Kentes's recollection of Madonna's departure. She had arrived in Ann Arbor in the fall of 1976 and left in the spring of 1978, apparently at the urging of Madonna's long-acknowledged mentor, her late dance instructor Christopher Flynn. Kentes describes himself and Flynn actually dropping Madonna at Detroit's Metro Airport. The rest is history.

THE END! A Kentes pic that was not published in the paper, but instead is found at MadonnaShots.