Indiana Jones is one of the greatest fictional characters of all time–but is he? Fictional, that is.
Indiana Jones first appeared on the big screen in 1981. In the film’s opening scene, Dr. Jones is shown teaching a college anthropology class. His female students swoon every time he turns to write on the blackboard or adjust his nerdy–but cute–glasses.
After hours, Jones throws aside the scholarly garb and finds adventures in exotic, ancient temples and jungles filled with booby-traps and indigenous warriors.
How does a college professor find the time to escapade around the world and rescue religious treasures from falling into the wrong hands?
“It’s really not that hard, with summers off–and let’s not forget Spring Break,” said Dr. Frederick Boehlke, who has served as a history professor at Eastern for more than 40 years.
Boehlke hates to brag, but the similarities between the hunky, fedora-wearing professor and our own 84-year-old professor emeritus are hard to miss.
“George Lucas and I go way back,” Boehlke said, explaining the origin of the adventure films. “He was always amazed at the stories I had–and what an effect I had on the ladies.
“One day, probably in the late ‘70s, George said to me, ‘This should be made into a movie. You should be made into a movie.'”
One movie turned into multiple movies, and then came a slew of fans, memorabilia and even Disney Land rides.
“It was a trip,” Boehlke said of the films’ popularity, and even meeting his doppelganger Harrison Ford.
Of course, when he wasn’t dodging falling boulders or interrupting human sacrifices, Boehlke continued to follow his primary passion for teaching history. Revealing his second occupation would be distracting, so he has kept it hush-hush, until now.
However, it wasn’t always easy to act like a typical, reserved scholar.
“One time in Russian History class, Dr. Boehlke pulled out a whip and used it to yank down the projector screen,” senior Willie Scott said. “He just went on with his lecture, but now it’s all starting to make sense. It’s the only explanation for those skills.”
These days, Boehlke continues to love world travels, but he has hung up his fedora for a more laid-back, tourist attitude.
“Mostly, I just enjoy the sights,” Boehlke said of his recent travel to Europe during the University’s annual Spring Break trip.
However, English professor Caroline Cherry, who was on the trip with Boehlke, is not convinced.
“He typically hops on a train at some point and disappears to another city, leaving the rest of us behind,” Cherry said. “I’ve just stopped asking questions.”