JULY HEAT IN THE SPRINGS - COOL IN THE BAY

JULY HEAT IN PALM SPRINGS

&

JULY COOL IN THE BAY AREA

2007

I could not believe that June had come and gone and half of 2007 was gone! It has got to slow down!? Will it? I guess not. As the song says, “it just keeps rollin’ along!”

It was great to get home from the Midwest: Wisconsin and Minnesota. One week with Merrill in Wisconsin visiting his four sisters and sightseeing; the other week on the Theatre Historical Society of America’s Annual Theatre Conclave “Milwaukee to Minneapolis—the M&M Adventure” where we saw 33 theatres. A great trip this year!!

Only had one week in June to catch up with things. Decided to stay home until the Fourth of July before traveling once more. Got to do a couple of things:

ACT’s production of Moliere’s THE IMAGINARY INVALID Very Good

It was rather risqué and full of jokes about farting and getting enemas!! Written in the late 1600s, it still holds up quite well. Hypocondriac wants his daughter to marry a doctor; maid in the household, superbly played by Broadway’s Nancy Daussault, carries the plot along quite hilariously to a happy ending for all!!

“Water” Fair

Movie from our Net Flicks was just so-so. Moved too slowly and all was very dark!!!

Ed Lamoureaux was visiting from San Diego for six days. One of these days we’ve got to stay with him down South??? He’s planning a trip to an Italian villa in Tuscany in October 2008 with Merrill as guest chef! We’ll have to change Merrill’s name to Mario Meltzinino! ….. Henk from Amsterdam was visiting the Bay Area. Had him over to dinner with David Snow & Renato. Good to see them all again…… Celebrated our neighbors’ Dennis & Joey’s third Anniversary with a special dinner with Laurie & Andrew. The champagne sure was flowing!! ….. Mark Ruyak’s Party (he is leaving Grace Cathedral after quite a few years of service) was given in two apartments: ours and D&J’s. A nice crowd attended and the food was sure good! ….. Had to get my high blood pressure pills sorted out; not doing much with my pressure. It was too high: 160 / 117. Saw the doctor and started to take new pills. It dropped down to 140/90 which is much better, but still needs work. ….. Had an outdoor Fourth of July Picnic with Mary and Denny Miller at their condo in Albany. Barbaqued chicken and lots of other goodies. A nice afternoon in the outdoors with plenty of sun and ocean breezes. ….. Saddened at the news of the passing of Beverly Sills. Saw her a couple of times at the NYCity Opera, but also got to see her do “La Traviata” in Naples, Italy at the San Carlo Opera House; the Italians loved her!! …..


P A L M S P R I N G S July 5 to 12, 2007

It was time to get down to check on James Lee who was recovering from his operation from an attack of diverticulitus, which resulted in a temporary colostomy. He was not adjusting to either one of them! He was eating very little; refused to learn anything about the colostomy; and not getting much exercise or stimulation from anything around him. I got the house in order and got him to pay a few bills. Most of his bills are deducted from his checking account. Wish his attitude would change; it did not when I was down there with Merrill.

Had a chance for a little socializing. Took Jim Robinson & Danny Brown out to lunch at Spencer’s; they had been looking after Jim regularly. Spencer’s has a terrace that is glassed in during the summer so it was air conditioned! The temperatures every afternoon were between 113 degrees to 117 degrees! That’s hot no matter how dry the air! One day it did get a bit humid and the combination of hot + humid = miserable!! Went over to Jim and Danny’s for cocktails (forced James to go too!) and heavy delicious finger food!

Got to a cool movie theatre for a couple of movies down in Palm Springs:

Evening Very Good

This has an all-star cast. Loved it! If it had been made in French, it would have won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film! The critics hate it. Calling it too much of a “soap”! I happen to love “soaps” so I was enthralled. Some of the performances are outstanding. Vanessa Redgrave and daughter Natasha Richardson are superb. So are Meryl Streep and her daughter Mamie Gummer! (Mamie has got to change both names!!!??). Loved the story and did not mind the flashbacks from the present to the past to the present! Merrill did. Actors, Harry Dancy (superb) and Patrick Wilson (very good) made the movie for me. I was especially impressed by Patrick Wilson: had seen him on Broadway in THE FULL MONTY and a revival of OKLAHOMA—he was terrible! He sure was wonderful in this film!!

Le Vie En Rose Very Good

How wonderful to hear Edith Piaf’s singing in this biography. The French actress Marion Collaird should certainly receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her powerful performance as Edith Piaf! The film is much too long at 2 hours, 15 min. Piaf was only 45 when she died but looked like she was 105. Her life parallels Judy Garland’s in many ways. Poor tortured souls: they had the world at their feet, and never could quite enjoy it all. I was fortunate enough to have seen Piaf once at Carnegie Hall. She was dynamite. Did get to see her protégé, Charles Aznaveur, many times; he was called the male Piaf!

Did see a couple of Net Flicks down in Palm Springs:

An Inconvenient Truth Good

It is preaching to the choir! I realize what is happening with the environment. One has to show this film to those in charge in the White House, the Congress, and all rednecks everywhere, especially South of the Mason Dixon Line! If only Al Gore had the spark during his presidential campaign that he has in this film, he would have been President!

The Prestige Fair/Good

The film goes too far in telling the tale of a magic trick performed in the 19th Century that obsessed two men and the lengths they go to in order to outdo each other with their rendering of the trick. The film is much too long, and I just got bored. The film started to ramble on and on and on with this trick. Cast was wonderful: Hugh Jackman and Michael Caine give wonderful performances. However, “spare me the details”!

The date 07 / 07/ 07 got everyone in an uproar. Las Vegas was going crazy with bets!! People wanted to marry on this day so they would have this date on their certificates! Certainly made the news and caused a stir!

Dan Mingledorf & Dick Mitchell invited us for dinner at their condo in Palm Springs. Met a few others there: John, also from Palm Springs; David who lives part time in PS and Houston; and Jonathan, a friend of David’s. Had Texas brisket!! So tender. Had a horribly under-ripe peach pie from the expensive grocery market, Jensen’s. What a shame. It should have been wonderful!!! I would have taken a piece of the pie back to Jensen’s the next day!

The Palm Springs Art Museum

This lovely museum is always a treat! They always have some interesting exhibit. For the past few summers, they have been having “Impressionist and Modern Masters: Degas to DeKooning” with quite a small collection of paintings, but good ones!! They present less than a dozen paintings from a private collection that are gorgeous! It is worth just seeing that exhibit. Had a chance to see some of the exhibits that were left over from our Memorial Day visit to Palm Springs: Treasures of the West: Art from Desert Collections; Russell Wright: Living with Good Design and The Eyes: Mirrors of the Soul, Portraits by Marion Pike. Saw the photography exhibit of John McLaughlin: The Tamarind Prints which was just a lot of modern foolishness—lines of black and white that made no sense. Gave up on that one very quickly.

Also got to see Ken Blumgarner; he treated me to a wonderful dinner at Davey’s Hideaway where dinner is always such a pleasure. This time around we sat next to the piano player, and he “joined us for dinner”!

Since I have returned from Palm Springs, Jim sounds much stronger on the phone. I do not know how he is doing from day to day. Hopefully, will find out a bit more when an overseas teacher visits Jim next week (July 31 to Aug 5). Then I shall have to decide if I should get down there for a few days before leaving on our Russian River Cruise.

Got through Friday the 13th of July without too much trouble. It was returning back to Oakland from Palm Springs on July 12 that luck was NOT on my side. Small delays on Alaska Airlines and BART which made the trip from Palm Springs to Oakland stretch out to five hours!!


JULY HAPPENINGS IN THE COOL BAY AREA

Out for my Birthday Dinner with Eric Hubert at one of our fancy neighborhood restaurants, Mezze: we shared a tasty carmelized onion pizza; then had what they called an albino salmon filet (more on the white side than pink) oven baked beans with bacon (very Boston New England style). Quite tasty especially with the bread and focaccio that was served. Decided to skip dessert since that was enough to eat. Watching my weight a bit these days. ….. Bastille Day/July 14 I was off for another blood test because another visit to the doctor was coming up! Then off to see two programs at the Silent Film Festival at the Castro Theatre. Ted Gooding & Harry Demus were there from Los Angeles for the entire three-day festival; they are members of the Theatre Historical Society and just saw them in WI and MN. I only saw two films, both accompanied by live piano.

Program #1: The Valley of the Giants (1927) was quite good and starred now-forgotten silent screen star, Milton Sills, who made 86 silent films. He had quite a career but died of a heart ailment at age 57 while playing tennis with his wife. The film was based on the novel by San Francisco’s own Peter B. Kyne, it is an adventure filmed among the giant sequoias of Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevadas. About a business magnate who fights a scurrilous railroad tycoon for control of the lumber industry. His leading lady Doris Kenyon was marvelous, but she too is now forgotten.

Program #2: The 1914 Italian silent film, Maciste, was not as good. First-time Italian screen actor, Bartolomeo Pagano, found himself thrust into stardom for his performance of this superhero, Maciste, who had the physical strength of our modern Superman. He played this character in 26 films made between 1914 and 1927. This film looks more like a Saturday matinee serial of the 1940s and 50s nowadays. One footnote about this film: Benito Musollini copied Pagano’s stance which was quite manly and forceful. Subtitles were in Italian, but two people from the Italian Cultural Society of SF were there to give instant translation for the entire film.

I always enjoy playwright, John Fisher’s plays. I have seen his very successful plays, MEDEA: THE MUSICAL and COMBAT! which is still my favorite of his. His newest work at the Theatre Rhino in SF, SPECIAL FORCES, is quite good but needs some work. Some of the characters are not defined fully. It takes place in northern Iraq and involves a drag queen named Dinah Blue and his/her influence on some of the soldiers involved. Interesting idea and hope he works on this one a bit more. ….. Chow’s, a rather successful restaurant chain, is still holding up quite well. They are still serving a very good, homemade tasting spaghetti and meatballs dish. One seldom sees just plain ol’ meatballs and spaghetti on a menu these days. ….. Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek’s Dean Lesher Performing Arts Center had quite an interesting exhibit: Paved Paradise. These were works done by high school students in the area. Surprisingly, quite a number of them had serious themes. Some were well done and others were at the other end of the spectrum. ….. Festival Opera’s CARMEN was quite a good production. It could have had a bit more pizzazz. Kendal Gladen sang the lead very well; she was sexy and playful some of the time, but needed more of it during the course of the very long opera! Also too many people were on the stage; it was awfully crowded. ….. Near our apartment is a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant, Hunyhn. It is no longer open for dinner so we do not get there very often. They just opened a branch next to the Performing Arts Center in Walnut Creek. We decided to try it. The place is decorated very upscale; the prices are also upscale; the portions are smaller and not quite as interesting. No specials such as dinners for three or four persons. They want to make the money at this branch. Would not go there again. Will just have to get to the one near our apartment for lunch! ….. Crazy weather occurred as usual; it rained a few drops on July 18: it has NEVER rained on that day since temps have been recorded!! The rain somehow blew a generator in Berkeley and quite a few residents lost power. Why it does not “blow a generator” when it rains hard during the rainy season, is beyond me!? ….. Off to see Dr. Stumpf once more. My blood pressure seems to be behaving but still needs some work. Also had an ear wash done; wax buildup was “melted” from the 117 degree temperatures in Palm Springs!? He gave me more pills for my blood pressure that are a bit stronger and he wants to see me before I travel to Russia. ….. SFMOMA’s Matisse: Painter as Sculptor was a very interesting exhibit. Matisse wanted to try sculpting; he felt there was a definite difference in the two media. Sometimes he would sculpt and then paint the same thing; then he would try it the other way around. Extremely enlightening exhibit about the two media. Got a peek at the exhibit, New Work: Felix Schramm, which was made of scraps of wood and metal; it was absolutely hideous!!! ….. Summer series on TV are almost as numerous as the Fall TV Season. Some very good programs that I have been tivoing and then watching later at my convenience. Love “Rescue Me,” “Big Love,” “Meadowland,” “Army Wives,” and “Damages“ with Glenn Close. …..

Hairspray Very Good

Enjoyed the movie very much except for John Travolta’s portrayal of Edna Turnbladt. He played it like every fat woman I have seen and encountered lately: very charming! Just like a cutsie Cupie doll, only with a Baltimore accent that is sometimes not easy to understand. Everyone else in the cast is superb: Michelle Feiffer is marvelous; so good to see her on the screen again after a very long absence The editing of the musical numbers is excellent: this should be remembered at Oscar time! Most enjoyable and a great summer family movie.

Our neighbors, Shirley and Mel Lipman treated us to dinner at the fine restaurant, Wood Tavern. We were among the first to be seated at 5:30 p.m. and a conversation was possible among the four of us. By 7 p.m., you could not hear yourself think! Food is marvelous: some of the best Halibut I have ever had; heirloom tomatoes that are so tasty and colorful, but oh that noise! The yups don’t seem to mind. They are used to plugs in their ears and playing their ipods at 10+ volume!! ….. QE2 Final Voyage Waiting List. Decided that it would be a rather historic trip and fun to be on the QE2’s final voyage in November 2008 from Southhampton, England to Dubai. The ship is going to be delivered to the country and used as a hotel. I was told we were #354 on the waiting list. Called a month later after sending in a deposit and found that were had already moved up the list to #184 !! I have a feeling since we have more than a year to go, that we shall get on the trip! It is for 16 days, and I am looking forward to it already! ….. Andrea Marcovicci at the legendary Plush Room was marvelous. She always plays there in July to get her November Algonquin Oak Room Show in NYC ready and tested out. She usually puts everything she can in the show, hence the almost two-hour running time. Then she “weeds out” later. The first hour was definitely a “work in progress;” she even had her glasses on and was reading from a script. Then suddenly she leaped up on the piano and began the last 45 minutes of the show; this was ready—the script disappeared and you could feel she had thought this all out well. This show about Larry Hart was superb, especially the ending and portraying his tragic later life and death! The man had the world at his feet, but just could not enjoy it and get his life together to revel in it! Thank goodness we have his lyrics, although sad and about his inferiority complex, which will live on for generations to come. She saved Hart’s best song for last, the immortal “My Funny Valentine”!! Not a dry eye in the Plush Room. Her voice is in great form and long may she keep doing what she’s doing!! Unfortunately, the Plush Room, is going to close the end of December since the hotel where the club is located wants to put in a restaurant. Not many people seem to be concerned about this, so nothing is being done!?! I always feel like protesting and writing letters; guess that’s not the thing to do these days!! ….. Colombini, a new restaurant in a small hotel near the Plush Room is getting better and better. When I first ate there, the food was so-so under the new management. Now it seems to be improving; had gnocchi (from the supermarket) with a delicious Alfredo sauce and homemade sausage. Quite tasty. A nice place to go before seeing a show at the Plush Room. ….. 4.2 Earthquake at 4:45 a.m. on July 20. Our building has 11 stories and the steel beams moan and groan when an earthquake takes place. We moved in a circular motion and it seemed as if we were waking up on a cruise ship in rough waters!! It was over before you knew it, but it still was a bit scary! ….. Have not been to the newly refurbished Cliff House in ages. Richard & John wanted to take me there for my belated birthday lunch. What a gorgeous day we had for it!! Clear skies and lots of wind to make the waves look spectacular! There are two restaurants: one has a bar-diner atmosphere with tons of old Hollywood stars photos that are autographed to the Cliff House. We decided to go to the other restaurant which is the white table cloth one and a more spectacular view! Food was quite good although rather overpriced: I guess you are paying for the view! Had crab cakes for an appetizer and swordfish for the main course—might as well stick to fish since we were looking out at the mighty Pacific Ocean!!

The Devil Wore Prada Very Good

Enjoyed the movie very much and Meryl Streep superb as usual. She was Oscar nominated for this role. Fun movie but actually quite serious in parts.

Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette Good/Very Good

The two leads, Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI, were absolutely amateurish actors, especially the male. The supporting cast was quite good especially Judy Davis! The costumes and colors were spectacular. The film was historically accurate and cannot understand why the critics just tore this film apart! Except for the two leads, it was quite good!

Off to see John Guare’s BOSOMS AND NEGLECT at the Aurora Theatre. Truly keeping in his “black comedy” vein, it was most enjoyable. Two lonely people under analysis are lost and find each other when their analyst goes on vacation for the month of August. However, the man’s blind mother, brilliantly played by local actress, Joan Mankin, has all the answers to his mental problems if only he would just listen to her!!! ….. My copy of the seventh and last Harry Potter arrived from amazon.com at 2 p.m. on July 21, 2007. I am into reading it now and hope to have it completed before we leave for Russia on August 21! ….. The Nan Kempner: American Chic exhibit at the DeYoung Museum was fabulous. She was “in style” with some of the world’s best designers and was known on both coasts! Yves St. Laurent comes out the best in this fashion exhibit! ….. Walter Jelonik from Seattle was visiting David Snow and had a chance to see him twice while he was in town. May get up there to see the preBroadway tryout of YOUNG FRANKINSTEIN. ….. Walter treated us to one of our neighborhood’s longest running restaurants, DaVinci Café. The pastas are quite good there; Merrill ordered a pizza and the crust was more like a giant baked Ritz cracker. Stick to the pasta!!! ….. Took a day trip with Oakland Museum’s History Guild to the Lark Theatre in Larkspur. Cute little neighborhood theatre built in 1939, the end of the Art Deco era and the beginning of the plain 1940s look. Liked it a lot. They showed us the film by first-time director Zoe Cassevettes, Broken English Fair. Thought the film never quite got together in its romantic love story, some of which was set in Paris. Zoe has not quite achieved the status of her famous father, John. Her mother, Gena Rowlands, was great in a small role. The ending of the film was rather a cliché that’s almost embarrassing. Was not impressed and hope she does better with her second film. ….. Had a great lunch at the restaurant, The Left Bank, which was part of the trip to the Lark Theatre. …… Visited Italian bakery, Rulli’s; bought some cookies which turned out to be terrible—crisp, tiny macaroons and awfully sweet sugar cookies. Not worth the $16.75 I paid for not even a half pound of cookies! A good thing they have a reputation; they may lose it if they keep this up! …… The History Guild Trip itself was frustrating as the organization is late in leaving almost every trip that I have taken with them. Then they cut short the itinerary of the trip itself! Not such a good idea. If this continues, I shall not go on any more of their day trips. …… Neil Sedaka was quite good in the SF Symphony’s “Summer in the City” series. He certainly wrote tons of songs and they sold millions of records: from 1958 to 1963 he sold 40, yes, 40 million records!!!! Then the Beatles arrived and he retired for 10 years before making a comeback. He sang a lot of his old songs that brought back lots of memories of my teenage years: “I Love A Calendar Girl,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Solitaire,” “The Hungry Years,” “Stupid Cupid” for Connie Francis as well as “Where the Boys Are,” “A Stairway to Heaven,” “I Live Next Door to an Angel,” a new ballad “You,” I Let You Walk Away,” and he played a classical piece by Chopin. He originally attended Julliard School of Music to become a classical pianist. He sang many more of his songs in a 1.5 hr. show that was enjoyable. He was a bit “stiff” since he just had back surgery a couple of weeks ago; looked like he was wrapped in a corset! However, he still looks like his young self with just a bit of a paunch!!

How wonderful to be able to relax in the cool Bay Area summer at home. Reading Harry Potter and getting ready for trips, houseguests, and the holidays which will be upon us before we know it!!!!!

UPCOMING TRIPS

August 21 to Sep 5: Russian River Cruise from Moscow to St. Peterburg

Sep 11 to Oct 1: Rodney Crook and Ian Cox from Exeter, England in California

and staying with us at the beginning and end of their trip

Sep 21 to 27: Palm Springs, CA for a week

Oct 14 to 25: Presidential Library Trip with the OK Museum’s History Guild

Stay well and hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will catch you up on Russia when I return!!!

Gerry

NOT MUCH HAPPENING IN JUNE 2007

NOT MUCH HAPPENING IN JUNE 2007

With all the trips that are occurring, not much time at home to get to do things around here. Getting caught up with mail, bills, my dad, etc., takes up enough time.

Did get to the lovely Filoli Gardens on a day trip with the History Guild of the Oakland Museum. Those trips are very good; they do get behind on time because of traffic and bathroom stops, but for the most part, they are on schedule most of the time. Gardens lovely (should go at Easter when tulips are in bloom!) but house has been restored and is a showpiece. In the afternoon to Santa Clara University to visit the small museum there and the Mission which is all renovated. Lovely day!....... Our 96 year old neighbor, George Horton, passed away. Attended his Memorial Service. He had quite a life and was a wonderful man. ….. Over to Bonnie (a convert to Episcopal Church) & Amy’s for a very good dinner; they have two teenage boys that we met. A very nice evening! ….. Set up my newly installed Tivo for summer programs. Love this system; no tapes needed and it records beautifully and easily. ….. Minister, Mark Sanger, is leaving Grace Cathedral. Had a “joint party” with the Butlers across the hall for him. Lots of food! ….. Tony Awards had a great show. Wish someone with a sense of humor had hosted. Was so thrilled that Christine Ebersole won for Best Actress in a Musical in GREY GARDENS. She was born to play the role of Edie Beale, niece to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. …… Did not like the ending for The Sopranos. After 8.5 years of following the series, I though the writer, David Chase, deserved to give us something better as an ending! …… My blood pressure has been fluctuating because of some weight gain. Also nerves acting up!!?? Visited my doctor before we left for two weeks in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He changed my pills and wanted me to try those while traveling. When I returned, paid him another visit and seems pills were not strong enough. My blood pressure was sky high and he prescribed new pills and those seem to be stabilizing things. ….. Overseas school teacher, Frances Callahan, passed away in June with lung cancer. She was a heavy smoker. We used to have grand times in bella Napoli. Cal was always ready for a party!! May she rest in peace! …… Had a big dinner for Dennis & Joey Butler to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary. They are renting the apartment across the hall; now have a farm in Marysville, just above Sacramento and are beginning to decorate and get that ready for their retirement in a few years! …… Ed Lamouraux visited for a few days from San Diego. He is coordinating a trip to Tuscany in October 2008 at a Villa there he has used before. He wants Merrill to cook several meals there. We’ll have to change the name Merrill Meltz to Mario Meltzingiano!?!? ….. So sorry to hear the passing of Beverly “Bubbles” Sills, not only a wonderful singer, but a grand human being who cared about the state of opera in the USA. …..Fourth of July Picnic with Mary and Denny Miller. Weather turned gorgeous; in the low 80s with lovely breezes and plenty of blue sky and sunshine!! …… All set to get down to Palm Springs, July 5 to 12 to relax and see how friend, Jim Lee, is doing after a diverticultus operation. ….. Also time to look forward to our Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise, August 20 to September 5. We received our visa for the trip and need some rubles—then we are all set to go! ….. Dad is hanging in there at age 90. He is getting a bit more frail, but does very well for his age. Still dresses himself every morning and stays up all day. Keep in touch and HAPPY SUMMERTIME!!!!!

THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S

PART TWO
THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA’S
MILWAUKEE TO MINNEAPOLIS
JUNE 19 TO 24, 2007
THEATRE CONCLAVE
“AN M&M ADVENTURE”

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Up at 7:30 a.m.. Weather continues to be sunny and clear and free of humidity. We have been so lucky with this gorgeous weather! Had a banana-nut muffin we bought the night before in little snack store attached to hotel. Coffee maker weird: it only makes one cup at a time. Spilled water all over the place on the first try, but soon got the hang of it!

Down to the lobby to see who was here for the Theatre Conclave. A few arrivals. I can remember faces, but it is so difficult to remember names. Was trying to get better at it this year—not completely successful. In a rotunda off the hotel, was a coffee bar with delicious coffee at “Starbuck prices”!! Who cared; we were on vacation. Ted Gooding from Los Angeles put us on to a Milwaukee City Tour that was available. Grey Line was out of business in Milwaukee; no City Tours from other tour companies—they only ran from Wednesday to Sunday. We decided to go on this one.

We had the opportunity to Register for the M&M Adventure Conclave! Received our name tag and packet of what we would be seeing. Only 100 were due to take the Conclave this year. Not an impressive number, but it made the conclave more intimate and less crowded.

The guide picked us up at 11 a.m. We began the tour by stopping for lunch at an authentic 1950s diner, Miss Kate’s Diner. Had beef chili with cheddar cheese on top and we shared an order of their famous homemade fries. Delicious. This we had to pay for—not included in the tour. We got to see some of the famous sites of Milwaukee. Then it was time to choose where you wanted to spend some time: the Pabst Mansion (we had already been) or The Mitchell Park Domes. We chose the latter. This is a Horticultural Conservatory and it is all self-guided. We began with the Tropical Dome. Lovely flowers and quite humid inside—fortunately, the only humidity we were feeling this trip. Then on to the Arid Dome which was hot and dry; felt like I was in Palm Springs in the summer! On to the Show Dome which featured a 19th Century Picnic in the Park setting. Just lovely and so many flowers around. This took about an hour. Driver picked us up and we retrieved the passengers at the Pabst Mansion and we continued with our tour. We returned to the hotel at 3:45 p.m. What a bargain this tour was: $20 + tip for a 4 hr, 45 min tour!!! Where can you get that?? Very enjoyable and we felt that we had really seen Milwaukee.

Time for a short nap and ready for our first theatre visit. Decided to have something quick to eat before we had to show up at our first theatre at 6:30 p.m. A pub up the street, The Newsroom Pub looked interesting. It was part of a place called the Safe Lock: a speakeasy that had a secret way to enter. Eric figured it out. Once we got in there however, there were so many teenagers having a birthday party. It was so noisy, that we decided just to get back to the pub and have a hamburger and fries with some mozerella in carozza sticks with a marinara sauce.

Pabst Theatre* #1 Milwaukee, WI

*I will give some facts about each theatre that I want to save for my own information. This will be followed by some thoughts and impressions that I wrote down while I was in the theatre in a notebook that I took along with me. Hope this will work out and be informative.

Our Conclave Hosts, Don Bohatka & Tom DuBuque were at the theatre to greet us all. Cheese and fruit were there for us to munch on. A no-host bar was available. The cocktail hour lasted about 45 minutes. We were then ready to enter this theatre that opened in 1895; currently has 1,345 seats. A working organ is in there now. The style would be classified as European Baroque. The theatre was built by Captain Frederick Pabst, of the Pabst Mansion and beer empire. It now ranks as the fourth oldest continuously operating theatre in the USA. The theatre was renovated in 1928 for movies and then again in 1976 as a performing arts center.

We had our Annual Theatre Historical Society of America Meeting while seated in the theatre. Also, a slide show was given showing some of the theatres we would be seeing at next year’s San Jose to San Francisco & Around the Bay Conclave July 8 to 12, 2008. We were then told some of the highlights that would be in store for us on this trip.

Looked at theatre more closely. The proscenium arch is highlighted in gold leaf. The grand staircase is crafted from white Italian Carrara Marble. Theatre decorated in reds and maroons with gold and silver accents. We were off to a good start with this beautiful theatre!

It was early to be since we had a full day of visiting theatres tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 20
We decided to make our get up time 6 a.m. That gave us plenty of time to much on a muffin and have two cups of coffee in that crazy coffee maker. Measured water in my water bottle and poured carefully! Organized and ready for the day.

At 8:15 a.m. we were off for an hour+ ride to
Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts #2 Sheboygan, WI
What gorgeous scenery along the way! Lovely farms and we had covered this territory the week before—also lovely the second time around!

This theatre opened Feb 1928. It seats 1,150 and had a Wurlitzer which was removed in 1968. The style is Spanish and is an atmospheric theatre with clouds and twinkling stars. The outside has a huge vertical red and gold marquee with its old name, the Sheboygan. Theatre was built for only $600,000. Started out as a vaudeville and movie theatre. In 1930, Warner Brothers bought it and ran it until 1966. Marcus Theatres bought it in 1980 and closed off the balcony and twinned the main auditorium until 1996. In 1997 the dropped ceiling was removed and the atmospheric ceiling was once again visible. Now it is the home of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra.

There are two huge chandeliers (not original) in the lobby. Carpeting in the theatre was made from photos of original. The Wurlitzer that was in this theatre is now in the State Theatre in Madison, WI. We shall be going there.

Then boarded the buses once more (only two buses this Conclave). Besides watching the scenery pass by, the bus is a great chance to renew old acquaintances and meet new members. I like the time on the bus very much.

Capitol Theatre #3 Manitowoc, WI
This opened in 1921 and current seating is 1,150. The original organ was removed. Built as a vaudeville theatre; then movies were shown. In 1987 the theatre was closed for renovation and four months later opened as the Civic Center. Today, ten local performing arts groups use the theatre giving close to 100 performances a year.

Theatre is quite plain in decoration. Two doors in the mezzanine have OUT signs instead of the usual four-letter word EXIT. These two signs are original. Not known why this was used. The Francis & Lillian Kadow Photo Collection is on display in the theatre. He was a photographer and used to book movies for the theatre. He took frequent trips to New York and Hollywood. He photographed the stars in black and white; some of the photographs even have the star’s autograph. In those days, the stars met with the distributors of movies. Some of the photos are gorgeous!!!!!

At our next stop (Green Bay), it was time for lunch. We stopped a block away from our next theatre at a small restaurant complex with a few shops. I am afraid I made the wrong choice for lunch: Noah’s Pizza. The pizza was thin crust but the topping were just tasteless—awful. Salad selection was terrible. Only good thing was penne pasta with chicken and a strong cheese sauce (gorgonzola?). The help knew absolutely nothing about Italian food. At up and were walked over to our next theatre.

Meyer Theatre #4 Green Bay, WI
This theatre was originally named the Fox and later the Bay. It opened on Valentine’s Day 1930 as a vaudeville and movie theatre. Originally sat 2,087. The Fox chain went bankrupt in 1933. It was renamed the Bay and survived until 1998. A woman named Betty Rose Meyer provided $1.5 million for a costly renovation and named the theatre in her husband’s memory. It was also converted into a triplex which destroyed a lot of the original Spanish decoration. The theatre reopened again on Feb 27, 2002 with its atmospheric sky and twinkling stars overhead.

This theatre much bigger than the Sheboygan Theatre. Has more detail and gold leaf. The décor is called “King Ferdinand’s Court at Dusk.” Well lit and looks lovely. In 2005 the theatre’s original Wurlitzer was returned and installed completing the rebirth of the theatre.

Grand Opera House #5 Oshkosh, WI
This theatre opened in 1883 and seated 1,224; it now seats 668. The theatre is very Western in style. Has an Italianate décor and decorated in the Queen Ann Style. It also had near perfect acoustics. In 1920 the theatre was known as the Granada; in 1948 it was renamed the Civic; in 1950 it was simply called the Grand. It became a second-run film house. By 1965 the theatre had gotten terribly run down and had water damage. Finally in 1980 an effort was made to renovate the theatre. In September 1986 $3.5 million was invested in the theatre and since 1990, the Grand Opera House has been operated by the Oshkosh Opera House Foundation.

Summer Student Drama Group was rehearsing the musical RENT while we were there. They received applause from us when they were done with the number we saw them do when we entered; then they did another and loved us applauding!! Great treat for us too!

There is not a very grand lobby when one enters this theatre. The theatre is made up of two buildings now; the building next door was purchased to give more “lobby” room. In the 1960s when the theatre was in hard times, it was a porno x-rated theatre. Now a National Landmark! The two pillars which support the proscenium arch are original. Most of the theatre was restored from photos. Extremely old-fashioned Western type design with poles in the audience area used for support for the upper floor.

Cabot Theatre #6 Milwaukee, WI
This was a cute little theatre that only opened in 1995 and painted and decorated as if it were built in the 1800s. Very nice and very unusual for a modern theatre!

We were back at our hotel before 6 p.m. Had a short lie down and decided to get something quick and easy to eat; off to China Gourmet again. Had fried rice and pork lo mein this time.

Then I was off to the Milwaukee Repertory Company “The Rep” to see Larry Shue’s THE NERD. The actors were quite good and the set was excellent. However, the play was at fault: a one-joke play that goes on for 2.5 hours is much too long! A young upper class couple in Indiana invite the husband’s Vietnam Army buddy to visit them and then cannot get rid of obnoxious fellow. There is a tricky ending that makes sense if you paid close attention to the first 10 minutes of the play. An enjoyable evening!

Eric had gone out to eat with other members of the Conclave and then they were talking in one of their rooms until midnight! I was very much asleep when Eric returned!





Thursday, June 21 THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER & LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
Slept in a bit later: 7 a.m. since we did not have to be on the buses until 9 a.m. Found out that James had his operation yesterday and was doing well. Had our coffee and muffin. On the bus by 8:45 a.m. Wanted to get away from two guys talking in non-stop bombastic tones. I thought I was a chatterbox!! Oy, vey!

Oriental Theatre #7 Milwaukee, WI
Opened on July 2, 1927. Originally had 2,110 seats; now has 1,000 in main auditorium and 250 each in the two movie theatres that are attached in the rear of the theatre on either side of the orchestra. You can hardly notice that they are there; cleverly done.

So many theatres opened in 1927 in Milwaukee. There was a total of 16 theatres totaling 18,200 seats. This has an East Indian design. The organ from the now shuttered Warner Theatre was installed in 1990. One enters a huge lobby. The original 1920’s lamps hang down along the grand lobby entrance. Quite impressive.. It all looks very new and well restored. Famous organist who lives in Milwaukee, Jelani Eddington played the Kimball Organ for us. Sounds magnificent!! And he did a great job.

Zenith Theatre #8 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre was also opened in 1927. It has 1,363 seats. It was also an atmospheric theatre. It closed in 1954 and became a church in 1954. Now it is run by Pastor Lewis and is rather poor condition. Needs work. Water leaks and damage with peeling paint can be seen on some parts of the ceiling. One can detect a “trace” of a theatre here and there, but not very much. Wonder if it is worth preserving when they convert them into churches and bookstores?? Open to debate.

Fox Paradise #9 West Allis, WI
Opened in 1928 with 1,239 seats. This was originally called the Paradise Theatre on was on a much smaller scale since it was in the suburbs of Milwaukee. Not elaborate in decoration, but nice maroons and reds along the walls with drapes. High ceilings and a good-size balcony. A nice size stage. This is also a church but looks like a movie theatre. It was certainly in better shape than the Zenith Theatre. Has been restored by the current minister who has an interest in movie theatres. This theatre showed movies until 1996 and then was leased to this evangelical church. Again, should it be used as a church?

Organ Piper for Lunch Milwaukee, WI
This is a huge restaurant which accommodated all 100 of us for lunch. They had pizza for us (quite good; much better than that awful Noah’s Pizza). Also had spaghetti with meat sauce which was quite good with garlic bread and salad. Neopolitan ice cream for dessert. As we were eating, the grand organ was played. Some old movie tunes! Quite a nice lunch.




Fred Hermes Basement Bijou #10 Racine, WI
Fred Hermes opened his basement in 1958 to the public. He designed it and built it himself. It seats 125. Fred is a founding member of THSOA and has been a long-time theatre organ buff. He has been a collector of theatre memorabilia. He has his basement full of chandeliers and lights from theatres that were torn down; decorations from a famous Racine theatre that is no has been demolished, the Venetian. He has the organ from one of the old theatres that rises u from a pit. Organist, Jelani Eddington, played this organ for us—second time in one day that he played for our group. He lives down the street from Fred. His version of Ethel Smith’s “Tico, Tico. Toc” brought back many memories; she was in tons of movie musicals when I was a kid!! Rather like a sedate Carmen Miranda!!

Fred spoke to us and demonstrated the Brenograph device that was popular in the silent movie days; designs that are done with mirrors and lights. It did not bowl me over, but some of our group were very impressed by the demonstration.

This basement has 20 foot ceiling and he and his wife live in the house built over the basement. Quite a different display of theatre memorabilia.

Modjeska Theatre #11 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened in 1924 and seated 2,000; now it seats 1,810. Americans have expanded in the butt, so seats have been taken out to make room! Unfortunately, this has not happened to the Broadway theatres. This theatre was built to honor the renowned Polish-American actress, Helena Modjeska. It began as a vaudeville and movie theatre; it featured 20 trap doors on the stage and a large orchestra pit. Plain décor and rather run down nowadays. Youth Theatre Group now owns it; it is used as a church on Sundays. It needs plenty of work to restore it to its old glory!

Riverside Theatre #12 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened in 1929 and has 2,558 seats. This was an Orpheum theatre called a “junior Orpheum.” They only did two shows a day with vaudeville and movie as opposed to the larger Orpheum houses that did four to six shows a day. A fire in 1966 destroyed much of the decoration. It was fixed up and closed in the 1970s. In 1984 the theatre underwent a fairly major renovation and reopened as a performing arts center. In 2006 the Riverside entered into an agreement with the Pabst Theatre management team to operate the Riverside. Theatre still has original elevators that require someone to operate them. The theatre was built with a deluxe suite of rooms for the manager, which now serves as a retail space for the theatre.

Theatre has very high ceilings. Decorations done in reds and golds. Has the feeling of a big movie palace; a warm, welcoming feeling.

Warner Theatre #13 Milwaukee, WI
This theatre opened May 1, 1931. It originally had 2,431 seats. The entire theatre is done in silver Art Deco design with mirrors and tons of lights: just spectacular. It has been closed since 1995. Owner of the land was there to greet us; if the theatre is not sold within 20 years, the theatre will become his. Let’s hope he will renovate it and open it once more?

A theatre known as the Butterfly had two thousand lights, a 27 foot butterfly stretched across its famous façade, and 1,200 seats in 1911. This was torn down in 1930 to make way for the larger and more spectacular venue—the Warner theatre replaced it. The Warner was built for a jaw-dropping $2.5 million by Warner Brothers. It also contained a twelve-story office building; had a 58 foot high vertical sign (removed in 1968), and featured the third-largest Kimball theatre organ ever built. Its three-story Art Deco lobby had etched mirrors and two magnificent chandeliers with matching five food wall sconces: they are still there! Magnificent!! The auditorium mixed the Art Deco with the French Renaissance design.

In 1966 Marcus Theatres bought the theatre and renamed it the Centre. The auditorium was twinned in 1973, Cinemas 1 & 2. They kept most of the decoration intact. Renamed the Grand in 1982, it eventually closed in 1995. The flooring extending from the balcony was removed several years ago, making it a single theatre once again. For a while the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra wanted to buy the theatre, but it would prove too costly. So, the Warner remains closed.

What a long but enjoyable day seeing all these theatres in the Milwaukee area!!!
Back to hotel for a short nap and then ready to go out for dinner.

Tried the other German restaurant in town, Karl Ratzach’s Restaurant. First of all it is better lit and a bit more welcoming. Is not as “tired” looking as Mader’s. Also the food is a bit “fresher” in looks and presentation. Began with a cream of mushroom soup that was quite good; then tried their sour bratten: a bit better with the usual red cabbage and potato dumpling. Ordered a side of spetzel here and they were quite good. Washed it all down with German beer.

It began to rain as we walked back to the hotel. It continued all night and was glorious the next morning. We are still very luck with the weather.

Friday, June 22 Off to MINNEAPOLIS, MN via a few theatres
Up by 6 since we had to finish packing and check out of the hotel to see several theatres on the way before arriving in Minneapolis, MN tonight! Got on the bus; realized I had forgotten a shopping bag I packed with my journal in it!! Had time and ran upstairs to get it. Another person forgot his telephone charger—what happens to the mind when we get older?!? We had a lot of bus riding to face today; I don’t mind it since it is like a sightseeing tour. Gorgeous scenery once more and a lovely summer’s day!

Capitol Theatre #14 Madison, WI
This theatre opened in 1928 and seated 2,150; today it seats 1,089. Built for movies and vaudeville, it was described as Wisconsin’s finest theatre. It began as a Fox house and was later part of the RKO Stanley Warner chain. In 1974 the theatre was purchased by the city of Madison and became after extensive construction and renovation the Madison Civic Center. It finally opened in 1980 as the Oscar Mayer Theatre. It contained an art museum and a 340-seat playhouse. The original theatre organ was restored and rebuilt.

The theatre inside is painted a teal blue with lovely drapery effects on the sides of the big fake windows. The seats are what I would call a salmon-pink fabric. The colors go so nicely. The orchestra section has very intimate seating; there are several raised levels. Acoustics are supposed to be quite good. Two original chandeliers are still hanging. A lovely theatre!

In 1998 local businessman, W. Jerome Frautschl, donated $200+ million to renovate, enlarge and update the Madison Civic Center.

It reopened in 2005 as
Overture Center for the Arts #15 Madison, WI
We had a tour of this modern theatre which is next to the Capitol Theatre. There are 2,530 seats. It has very high ceilings. Light wood all over and the theatre is very wide rather than long. This is certainly a much bigger hall than SF’s Davies Symphony Hall. The heat and air conditioning vents are under the seats just as the old theatres used to install them. The lovely organ was on display; tomorrow an organ concert was scheduled. Both theatres are now side by side and both in use. The Capitol serves as the home of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and a Silent Film Festival.

Then we ventured across the street to
Orpheum Theatre #16 Madison, WI
This opened on March 31, 1927 with 2,300 seats; it now has 1,834. The original organ was removed to the Stefanie H. Weill Center in Sheboygan in 1969. Another French Renaissance design; an important theatre in the Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit. Later it made a smooth transition to a first-run movie palace. In 1969 a 350-seat second theatre was carved out of the stage area. This did not affect the inside at all. In 1986 a $6 million health club was planned in the theatre, but that plan died. In 1999, a restaurant was opened in the lobby while still showing first-run films and featuring live shows every now and then. A fire damaged the theatre in 2004, but it reopened in 2005. In Dec 2006 some fundraisers began to help revamp the vertical marquee and to begin some much needed work in the theatre.

The original chandeliers really stand out and are still hanging. Some of the front rows have been removed so a dance floor is available. Needs some painting and has a “tired” look about it.

Then a bus ride to
Al. Ringling Theatre #17 Baraboo, WI
This lovely little jewel box opened on November 17, 1915 with 874 seats; it now has 802. The theatre was offered as a gift to his adopted hometown of Baraboo by Al. Ringling, the eldest of the five Ringling Brothers of circus fame. It only cost $100,000 to build and took seven months. It is highly ornamental and in the French Renaissance style after the opera houses of Europe. Some say it was inspired b y the small palace theatre at Versaille. It was quickly dubbed “the prettiest playhouse in America.” In 1928 and organ was installed. In 1970 the organ was resurrected and restored.

Mr. Ringling had a special box in the back of the auditorium, but died two months after the theatre opened. The original box he wanted in the front of the theatre to the right was not very good for seeing what was happening on stage.

Some silent films were shown and the theatre was renovated in 1928 for talkies. The theatre was passed out of family ownership in 1952. In 1976 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989 the theatre was purchased by the Al. Ringling Theatre Friends. Minor renovations from the 70s were corrected in the 90s. In 2003 the façade was restored. In 2005 the theatre had a 90th birthday celebration in the theatre. Fundraising is going on at the moment to work on the inside of the theatre; some paint is pealing and other work needs to be done; it is starting to show “its age”!!!

Ceiling has panels with murals painted in each one. Some of the gold trim has been painted over. The original gold paint had brass in it and that has tarnished the gold. Needs to be redone. Each mural in the panels has two cherubs in the clouds. Mr. Ringling believed in the superstition that sitting under clouds was bad luck; he had the two panels in front of his box removed. Everything in the theatre is original except the seats. The fire curtain was never finished; it was pointed out that one boat has no back to it; people in the front boat are left out and perhaps some trees were never put in—the landscape looks empty.

We were given a great tuna hero sandwich with chips and soda for lunch. Tried to find Merrill’s sister, Agnes Rose, but got to the wrong building. They were helpful there and got her on the phone for me. Did get to talk with her. We were about ready to leave for another theatre so there was little time left to see her in person.

When we got on the bus this time, the terraine changed as we rode along. More fir trees appeared and no fields of corn. A more wooded terraine. Then as we rode along, the fields suddenly appeared again. Heavy dark clouds were with us, but it never did rain. Still lucky with the weather.

This is “right to life” country and one of the signs that kept appearing on billboards was:
“Before I was born, I could smile!” Isn’t that just precious!!??? What happens when the baby is born and then does not smile because it is mistreated by its “parent(s)?? Where are the “right to lifers” then? They are more concerned with the fetus than with the baby that is born!! I am sure the Supreme Court of the US will take care of all of this (the end of Roe vs. Wade) before the next Presidential Election.

State Theatre #18 Eau Claire, WI
This opened January 19, 1926 with 1,117 seats which it still has. It showed movies and had vaudeville. It closed in 1982. In 1984 it became the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council Performing Arts Venue. It has been renovated.

The outer lobby is rectangular; very plain. The theatre itself is rectangular with frosted red and beige glass lamps from the ceiling to almost the tops of the seats. It has a huge stage and is quite deep. This theatre now does at least 60 shows a year.

Mabel Tainter Memorial Theatre #19 Menomonie, WI
This was opened in 1890 with only 331 seats. A Victorian jewel box.
Mabel Tainter was just nineteen when she died. Her parents commissioned a theatre as a memorial to their daughter whose short life had been full of music and the arts.

The interior features hand-stenciled wall and ceiling decorations, a marble staircase, stained glass windows, walnut and oak woodwork, and brass fixtures everywhere. The theatre still houses the original pipe organ with a total of 1,597 pipes and 28 stops. The theatre is still used as a performing arts theatre, public reading room, and cultural center. The reading room serves as the Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie) Historic Highway Information site.

A $4.5 million renovation of the theatre was going on during our visit. There were no seats in the theatre and everything was askew. One could see how gorgeous it would be when completed. One of the original hand painted scene backdrops was hanging on the stage. I would like to go back when it is all completed!!

We arrived at the Radisson Hotel Minneapolis, MN at 7 p.m. Eric took care of getting our luggage; I hobbled quickly to register at the desk—was the first one there! We had Room 1222. Merrill was waiting for us in the lobby. Good to see him once more. He had been in Minneapolis seeing friends and his fifth sister, Merry. Up to the room to unpack and to get a bit organized.

Decided to try the hotel restaurant, FireLake Restaurant. A great choice as it turned out. Eric and I were tired but in the mood for a nice dinner and a run around Minneapolis. Had a great gin martini with ice on the side; walleye pike with great mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Then for dessert had a fresh peach-rhubarb cobbler. Then Merrill had the rental car and was staying nearby at the Ramada. We drove out to the new Tyrone Guthrie Theatre which is simply spectacular on the outside as well as the inside. One can still go inside to the grand balcony of the theatre and look at the magnificent view of the Mississippi River and all of Minneapolis’s twinkling lights. Hope I can see a production there one of these years. Huge photos outside honoring Tennessee Williams, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Loraine Hansberry. Then off to meet friends of Bill Hiebert, Fred & Jason, for a look into the nightlife of Minneapolis; to the modern Chambers Hotel for a gin and tonic mingling with all the straight and mertrosexual yuppies of this sophisticated Midwest town.

By this time it was getting towards 11 p.m. and we were exhausted from a very busy day on the bus and visiting theatres. Said our goodbyes to Merrill (he would drive back to Plymouth, WI to his sister Dianne’s; he’d stay the night. Then he would return to Oakland on Sunday). We literally collapsed into bed and slept very, very well!!

Saturday, June 23 Minneapolis / St. Paul MN
Got up at 6 a.m. and we had an old-fashioned coffee maker that made a pot of coffee instead of an individual cup of coffee!! We were ready to leave today at 8:30 a.m.

Heights Theatre #20 Columbia Heights, MN
This theatre opened in 1926 with 450 seats; today it has 400. Columbia Heights is a suburb north of Minneapolis. The building is a two-story fancy brick exterior with a Beaux-Arts auditorium. This served as a neighborhood movie house for decades. At one point the brick façade was completely covered with metal siding. By 1997 it was painted a very unattractive light green. It had become by this time a discount movie house.

In 1998 the theatre was purchased by Dave Holmgren and Todd Letness who began a major restoration effort. They also took over the Dairy Queen next door. They restored the fine brick exterior, installed a new vertical marquee which is close to the original. A new screen and stage curtains were hung. Chandeliers made from Egyptian crystal were salvaged from a theatre in Texas, rewired and hung. A Wurlitzer organ was installed. Now the theatre looks so cute. All has a Japanese “hue” about it especially the stage curtain. The green and red walls are very nice. The organ plays with a “roll” and has a nice sound. There are watercolors in the lobby of Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo. Restroom signs are unique: no words/black and white silhouette drawings. Men’s room has man lounging on chase lounge; Women’s room has woman at vanity mirror.

Fitzgerald Theatre #21 St. Paul, MN
This theatre was built by the New York Shubert Brothers in 1910 with 944 seats; today it h as 751. It was built in memory of their brother Sam who was fatally injured in a train wreck in 1905. It was a vaudeville house as well as a theatre for touring shows. In 1933 it became a movie house. The second balcony was closed and the auditorium was decorated in an Art Deco motif.

In 1981 the Minnesota Public radio converted this theatre to a radio studio/auditorium for Garrison Keillor’s popular radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” We especially wanted to see this theatre for that reason! However, the person who was supposed to open for us NEVER ARRIVED!!!!! Why they did not call him on the phone is beyond me??!! We just left.

St. Paul Palace #22 St. Paul, MN
This theatre was not open at all. It was originally called the Orpheum. The marquee and vertical marquee are in fairly good shape. Looked in through the glass doors: the lobby was gutted. It looked all stripped. Maybe they will demolish it.

Uptown Theatre #23 Minneapolis, MN
Opened in 1916. They have redone the marquee. The frosted glass chandeliers in the lobby are small but nice to look at. The auditorium is gloomy inside. There is a huge screen. Not much on the ceiling. Now used as an art house and not very interesting as a theatre.
We did drive by the new Walker Museum Wing which looked lovely.

Suburban World #24 Minneapolis, MN
We drove past this. Not much to look at.

Lunch at what is now Macy’s but was once the Dayton’s Department Store’s The Oak Grill. It opened on October 2, 1947. Bob Hansen, the store architect, used characteristics from the Jacobean period in the design of the rooms with red leather chairs. The room is done all in dark oak and is very elegant. The ornate fireplace, originally from Salisbury England, was over 300 years when it was transported here in sections and then reassembled. Set in the back wall of the main dining room, it has become the focal point with its solid oak columns and vast frame.

We began with a delicious popover with butter on the side. I had pre-ordered the Chicken Pot Pie; a generous portion served with a salad and tasty. All white meat and quite a few vegetables. Had a wonderful homemade lemonade—not too tart, and not too sweet! A lovely lunch. We had a guest speaker from WalMart and Target—he is keeping their “history” for them. He did emphasize how wonderful both stores were; I lost interest rather quickly.

The buses left us for the day, so we were walking to the theatres this afternoon. I needed the exercise after spending so much time on the buses the last few days!!

Shubert Theatre #25 Minneapolis, MN
Opened August 28, 1910 with 1,418 seats. It now has 800 seats. It has a Classical façade and a Colonial Revival interior. The theatre was used for touring plays and musicals. In the 1920s it was home to a stock company, the Bainbridge Players. It was then renamed the Alvin Theatre. In the 1930s it began showing movies, live shows, and even some burlesque was performed. Fire damaged the building badly in 1941. It was repaired and continued with movies. In 1953 it became the Minneapolis Evangelistic Auditorium. In 1957 the Mann Theatres took over and renamed it the Academy. Boxes were removed and the second balcony closed. It opened with the film, “Around the World in 80 Days.” It then closed in 1983. In 199 the building was moved 3 blocks; it took 12 days. They used 70 VW chasseses. They dug a hole, put in a new foundation, filled the hole with dirt, put the theatre on top of all of this, shoveled out the dirt: the theatre was in its new location with a new basement!! It was the heaviest building ever moved and made the Guinness Book of World Records.

Now it is part of a $37 million project called the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center made up of three buildings. The theatre will be renovated and receive a new stage house. It is expected to reopen in 2009 as a home base for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. One could only look inside to an empty space. They were only letting in 20 people at a time. It was so dark; no electricity, etc.



State Theatre #26 Minneapolis, MN
This opened in 1921 and had 2,800 seats; it now has 2,176 seats. It is a huge theatre and is very elegant. Lots of gold with murals above the proscenium and the side walls are all spotlighted. It is a turquoise color. The curtain on the stage is teal.

Originally built as part of a two-story block. The theatre had an early form of air conditioning which utilized cold water from a well underneath the site. Portions of the building also had a unique glass floor with lighting below. Showed movies. In 1958 they began to have occasional stage attractions. In 1975 the theatre was sold to the Jesus People Church and became a religious center. In 1989 they wanted to demolish the theatre. It was then decided that the rest of the block would be demolished and the theatre saved. A new LaSalle Plaza was constructed and its two-story façade incorporated the old State Theatre. The City of Minneapolis spent $8.8 million on renovation work including a new stage. The lobby chandeliers came from a hotel in Ohio, but the auditorium chandeliers and murals are original. It then reopened in 1991 with a production of CAROUSEL. Today it houses touring shows, concerts, and special film events. There is no organ in the theatre now.

Orpheum Theatre #27 Minneapolis, MN
This opened October 16, 1921 and had 2,298 seats; now has 2,600 seats. This was originally a vaudeville theatre. It converted to movies in 1927 and the name changed to RKO Orpheum. In 1959 the Mann Theatres purchased the building and booked the occasional stage production. Film presentations ended in the 1970s. Bob Dylan operated the theatre from 1984 to 1988. He then sold it to the Minneapolis Community Development Agency. They spent $10 million renovating it. Almost 20 feet of depth was added to the stage and the marquee and vertical were refurbished. Decorative elements inside which had been covered over were restored. The huge auditorium chandelier was rehabilitated and rewired; a mixture of brass and crystal, it is fifteen feet high and weighs one ton. In 1993 the theatre reopened with a concert. Used today as a performing arts center.

Three huge rotundas are located at the back of the orchestra and lit. The main auditorium ceiling has a huge rotunda with the brass and crystal chandelier hanging in the middle.

Pantages Theatre #28 Minneapolis, MN
Opened October 27, 1916 with 1,600 seats; it now has 990. It has a rather formal French look. Looks like it has little mirrors; instead of glass, it has satin material. This is the smallest of the three theatres that are on Hennepin Avenue.

Alexander Pantages built this new theatre for his vaudeville circuit. It was remodeled in 1922. At that time they put in a striking glass ceiling dome over the auditorium. It is well preserved and still in place. The entrance to the theatre was rebuilt in 1926. The theatre then was sold in 1946 and underwent extensive modernization work which reduced the seating capacity to l,400. It reopened as the RKO Pan with the 1946 film “Gilda” with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. In 1960 the theatre was sold to the Mann Theatres with another renovation which included reducing the number of seats to 1,100 before reopening as the Mann Theatre with the 1961 film, “Spartacus.” It then specialized in wide screen movies. It closed in 1984. In 2002 after a $8.9 million renovation, the theatre reopened as a playhouse with its original name.

After such a busy day, back to the hotel, took an hour’s nap, took a hot shower, and then dressed for our Theatre Historical Society of America Banquet. Cocktail hour with a no-host bar began at 6:30 p.m. The hotel was quite cheap: not even a bowl of peanuts or a bowl of potato chips to munch on! Nothin’!!! Then into the nice banquet room. No wine on the tables. At least one bottle of each would have been nice. Food was quite good. A huge salad; salmon with asparagus risotto; some type of apple pie/cake that was tasty. We had a nice table with Federico, Don & Bill. Said goodbyes to several people who were not going on the “Sunday AfterGlow” back to Milwaukee. Back to the room to pack and get ready for another full day “on the road again” as Willie Nelson would sing!

Sunday, June 24 AfterGlow back to Milwaukee, WI
Up before 6 to get all ready, have coffee and muffin, finish packing, and set for the bus ride. Down to bus at 7:30 a.m. We were ready to leave at 8 a.m. Good seats and ready to enjoy the scenery.

Paramount Theatre #29 Austin, MN
This small theatre opened in 1929 with 914 seats; it now has 622 seats. Designed as a little Spanish town, it is an atmospheric theatre. It replaced a theatre that was destroyed by a tornado in 1928. It depicts a Spanish courtyard with a blue starry sky. Built to show movies. It closed in 1975 after screening “The Godfather, Part II.” It then became a bar and nightclub. In 1985, the theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This spurred the beginning of renovations in 1992. Restoration uncovered original colors and animal designs. Today the theatre is used for local productions, business events, and the home of the Matchbox Children’s Theatre. The small balcony has stars from the orchestra level directly to the balcony just as if you were climbing stairs up a street in a Spanish town. Very cute!

On the way to Rochester, we drove by the Spam Museum. It was closed on Sunday, but I think that would have made a great hour’s stop. I remember the days of Spam that my mother would cook, mostly with eggs to get the fat out of it! It tasted great though; god knows what was in it!?!?

Chateau Theatre #30 Rochester, MN
The town is home to the famous Mayo Clinic. Plenty of hotels on Main Street in a rather big town. The theatre was closed 20 years ago and turned into a Barnes and Noble Bookstore. They have kept the lobby pretty much intact; the balcony walls are preserved. The box office still sits out front. Kept lots of the theatre intact; including some of the ceiling and stained glass windows, the proscenium arch, and the original chandelier. However, it is still a bookstore and is rather “jumbled”! Not sure if it should be preserved in this manner!??

The original theatre opened in 1927 with 1,497 seats. It was an atmospheric theatre built like a French village. The marquee was lit by 636 lights in a sunburst pattern. The first theatre to have air conditioning in Rochester. The theatre closed in 1983 even though it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1994 it reopened as a bookstore.

The Mayo Brothers were doctors in the town of Rochester and opened their clinic. They liked living in the town and stayed.

As we journeyed along to our next theatre, we had Lunch on the Bus. My tuna sandwich (what else??) was so delicious. Great mayo and also some egg salad & capers chopped in; it also had lettuce and tomato on it. Had a bag of chips, a dill pickle and an oatmeal raisin cookie. Had another half of sandwich from a few that were leftover.

Rivoli Theatre #31 LaCrosse, WI
This theatre opened in 1921 with 1,300 seats; now has 600 seats. It was built in conjunction with an office building. They built theatres in those days with businesses attached so that some income would be coming in to pay for it all. It has a Spanish garden motif and was an atmospheric theatre. It had vaudeville for a while and then switched to movies exclusively. Most of the ornate decorations were removed due to deterioration. The theatre closed in 1982. It was bought in 1994; seats were removed and replaced with tables and chairs and an on-site pizzeria supplies patrons with food during the movies. Plans to restore the theatre are afoot. Money is needed.

The theatre had a stale smell to it. Did not stay in the place very long. It needs a good cleaning and redoing.

Temple Theatre #32 Viroqua, WI
Built in 1922, it has 550 seats. It was used for silent movies, vaudeville, touring musical productions and community events. The Masonic Lodge occupied the second floor. It had a Classical Revival interior but in 1931 it was jazzed up with some Art Deco columns, a new color scheme and a modern marquee. From the 1950s onward, the theatre was in an extreme state of disrepair. In 1993 it was saved from demolition. A fundraising drive provided the money to fully restore the theatre to its original design. It reopened in 2002. The pipe organ which had been sold to a church in 1938 was reacquired. It is being restored. There is no balcony in the theatre. The 1922 fire curtain is original and so are two small chandeliers in the theatre.

As you enter the theatre there is a long rectangular lobby with murals featuring Vernon County Scenes. Nicely done and colorful.



Mineral Point Opera House #33 Mineral Point, WI
This was opened in 1914. The last theatre to see on our Theatre Conclave!!! At the moment is being slowly restored. It is rented from the city for $2 a year. Films and all sorts of live productions are done here. Lovely stage. This was a vaudeville house in the early days with jack Benny & George Burns and Gracie Allen playing here. It originally had 750 seats, but now has 400 seats. Would like to see the theatre again when it is all renovated.

Arrived back to our Intercontinental Hotel in Milwaukee, WI close to 7 p.m. Unpacked a little since we had to leave for home in the morning. Was tired and checked in rather quickly; our plan of Eric looking after the luggage and me running to the desk, worked again!

Met Fred Beale in the lobby. We then went over to the China Gourmet for some beef with snow peas, fried pork rice, and vegetable lo mein. Have been eating too much and this was all just right.

Called Merrill at home in Oakland. He had just gotten home. A message from Northwest Airlines was there. The Northwest flight was cancelled (they are in Chapter 11) and they booked me on Delta Airlines going to Atlanta and then on to San Francisco which would get me in to SFO at midnight! No way! Called Delta and they rebooked me via Cincinnati OH and then on to SFO getting in at 7 pm. Much better! Almost a dreadful airport nightmare! Some people’s flights were cancelled and they had to stay overnight again in Milwaukee; Northwest cancelled most of their flights on the Monday!?

Off to bed and we were tired after a hectic time visiting 33 theatres.

Monday, June 25 Milwaukee, WI to Cincinnati OH to San Francisco
Had a fairly leisurely morning and did not have to leave the hotel until 11:15 a.m. to get to Milwaukee Airport. All was on time for the flights and arrived at SFO a bit early since the weather was so good heading westward.

Was in the apartment at 8 p.m. and was so glad to be home!!
A wonderful journey, but “there’s no place like home!”


Will be in touch as the summer goes on. Keep in touch and enjoy the rest of the summer

Gerry

WISCONSIN & MINNESOTA

WISCONSIN & MINNESOTA

ONE WEEK OF SIGHTSEEING & FAMILY


Was looking forward to this year’s Theatre Historical Society of America’s (THSOA) Conclave in Wisconsin. Decided to go to Wisconsin a week before the Conclave with Merrill & Eric Svenson from New York City.

A WEEK IN WISCONSIN

Monday, June 11, 2007

We took off on NorthWest Airlines at 6:30 a.m. from San Francisco to Minneapolis and then on to Milwaukee. We were a half hour late arriving in Milwaukee. Eric Svenson was there waiting for us from New York City. Arrived about 3:30 p.m. Rented a car and drove up to Dianne & George Streeck’s home in Plymouth, WI.

Got organized and unpacked. Things ready for our trip around Wisconsin beginning tomorrow. Weather lovely: no humidity. Even felt chilled and the evening progressed. Cocktails on the deck; lasagna and Caesar salad for supper. Chatted and got caught up with things. Off to sleep rather early since we had gotten up so early in California.

Tuesday, June 12

Had a big breakfast and got ready for our ride to the Wisconsin Dells. Finally left at 10:30 p.m. Midwesterners are difficult to get moving at a set time; life is a bit slower there and they are not as worried about “time” as we city folk! It was such a lovely ride: field after field of corn, farms with dairy cows, lovely green trees and fields. Reminded Eric and I of Connecticut; however the terrain is much flatter. Not much traffic so it was difficult to be a “backseat driver.”

Arrived in the Dells at 12:30 p.m. Went directly to Monk’s for their delicious hamburgers with Wisconsin cheese and grilled onions! Had one and a half burgers with their crispy fries. Beer is the drink in these parts and the Leinenkugel beer was delicious; they had a special “honey weiss bier” for the summer and they squeeze a slice of fresh lemon into it! Refreshing!! Merrill and his sister Dianne met a few people they knew in the restaurant/bar. That happened everywhere we went.

Off to the motel, Fields. Members of this family were friends of the Meltz family since childhood. Everyone know everyone else!! Unpacked and organized in room. Then on to the Calvary Cemetery to visit Merrill and Dianne’s parents’ grave. Bought baskets of flowers to leave; saw other relatives’ tombstones. Saw the Volunteer Fire Department Memorial with Merrill’s father’s name on it. He was very active in that group. Drove down to see some of the theme exhibits: “White House—Top Secret”—a wild outside with the White House turned upside down! Took some photos. The Loony Bin looked like a fun exhibit to go in; no one wanted to go inside! Walked along the new River Walk along the Wisconsin River. A gorgeous day to do this!!

Back to the motel for a nap and a swim in their little pool. Quite refreshing and relaxing. A cocktail and then off to see their cousin, Pat Ryan & Tom. We then all journeyed to Fields Restaurant for what one hoped would be an early dinner. We walked into the place and Eric and I headed for the reserved table; the Meltz’s and the Ryan’s walked directly to the bar. A few people at the bar announced: “There are the Meltz kids!” and we had two cocktails. Then the bartender hands out the menus. One orders the food at the bar; when the first course is ready, then one goes to the table!! Different strokes for different folks! More drinks and more wine helped wash down an iceberg salad; that followed by shrimp gratin over fettucini in a cream sauce (quite good!). Too late for dessert. It was back to the hotel way after 10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 13

This was Day #2 in the Wisconsin Dells. Another gorgeous sunny day with very little humidity. We are staying lucky! Pat & Tom drove over to the motel to present us with an Irish Flag apron with a shamrock sewed on it!!! Then we were off across from the motel parking lot to Fields Coffee Shop (don’t you get the idea they own a lot of things in town?). Had a big breakfast: might as well eat while the eatin’ is good!!!!

We were off for a ride on the Wisconsin Ducks. Noisy but fun!! We traveled on land and on water just as they did in WWII; quite a unique contraption. Then we all had a snack: I had a milkshake at the Dairy Queen across the street from where Merrill and Dianne lived when they were small, before the family grew! Then it was a 2.5 hour ride on the Upper Dells Boat Ride. A perfect day for it; we sat on the upper deck of the boat in the glorious sunshine. We made two stops along the way. One was where the Meltz grandfather trained a German shepherd to jump between two high rocks. They performed this for the boat group! The river is gentle and the jagged cliffs / rocks on the sides of the river make interesting formations and are given names.

Back to the motel for a short rest and time to change. Then we were off to New Monk’s at the Fields new resort, The Wilderness. Met up with Merrill’s second oldest sister, Agnes Rose & husband Tom. Also there was Merrill’s youngest sister, Angie & husband Ron. Had lots of conversation and lots of drinks!! Nice to see them all again. I had been to the Meltz Family Reunion in 2006. The Monk burgers were not truly as tasty as the ones from the original Monk’s downtown We then sat outside for another drink as the sun set in the West!! It gets light earlier in the Dells and dark later since they are a bit more north. A great day!!

Thursday, June 14 Flag Day

Up early once more and organized for the day. Day #3 in the Wisconsin Dells & environs. We were off to Fields Coffee Shop for another big breakfast. Then Merrill’s sister, Lauri, arrived to see us from way up in northern Wisconsin, Cumberland. We then drove over to their niece, Shanna’s farm in nearby Baraboo, where all the Meltz’s were born!! Shanna’s husband, Tim, was away on a fishing trip in Canada. We got to see her new calves; only one month old and they could hardly stand up. One licked Eric’s hand and scared the daylights out of him!! We city slickers are not used to the farm!! The smell of cow dung was beginning to get to me so we were on our way to the Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac. A cute winery that we visited last year; their niece Sheri works there but it was her day off! Bought some wine and stayed to look around. Again, we were lucky with a gloriously sunny day, very little humidity, and gentle breezes. Then we were off to lunch at The Blue Spoon Creamery: a very good chicken, wild rice and vegetable soup with half a tuna sandwich on very tasty bread. We ate outdoors—the weather called for it! After lunch, Dianne and Lauri returned to the Dells. Eric, Merrill and myself were off for the afternoon.

We arrived at the State Capital, Madison, home of the University of Wisconsin. Stopped on the campus which is on the shores of Lake Mandota. Had a soda and watched the sailboats on the blue lake. A perfect weather day. Then off to the State Capitol for an extensive tour. It was probably the most impressive and prettiest State Capitol I have ever visited. Visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s Terrace Convention Center. Very art deco with sweeping circular lines and stunning views of the Lake Minona, the smaller of the two lakes. We then returned to the Dells and a short rest at the motel. Said our goodbyes to Lauri.

We were then ready for dinner at the 1940s restaurant, Del-Bar, right on the main road. We had to have a couple of drinks at the bar and then to the table. Tried not to eat too much at such a late hour, but the food at other tables looked so good. Began with a marvelous onion soup gratin; then finally had pan fried walleye with delicious fingerling potatoes and asparagus!

When we returned to the motel, received phone call from Oakland that James Lee was in the hospital with an attack of diverticulitus. The colon burst and was infected; they could not operate right away and were giving him antibiotics to clear up the infection. He probably would need a temporary colostomy. I would find out more in a few days.

Friday, June 15

Slept in a bit later today until 7:30 a.m. Made more phone calls concerning James. Not much had changed and they were waiting for the infection to clear up. The earliest he would be operated on would be Monday. Nothing much gets done in the hospital on weekends. James had houseguests when he went into the hospital; they all took off asap once he was in the hospital!!! Called James’ neighbors, Jim and Danny, and they are in control of the situation and looking after the house. Decided not to have a big breakfast today: just eating too much and too late!

On the way to Genesee Depot, WI we spoke to Ed Lamoureaux in San Diego on Eric’s cell phone. He suggested a pottery shop nearby so we stopped there: Ephraim Falence Art Pottery Shop; Merrill bought me a small greenish-blue vase for my birthday present. I shall definitely use it when I get home. Someone recommended the CrossStone Restaurant for lunch: we shared Dianne’s Friday Fish Fry and I had a very unusual grilled cheese & black olive sandwich with tomatoes. Very good! Had fresh deep-fried chips. Had a piece of the homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie; the crust was not quite as tasty as it looked!!

We then proceeded to TEN CHIMNEYS the summer home and farm of the famous acting couple of the 30s thru early 60s, Alfred Lunt & Lynn Fontanne. While we were waiting for our tour to begin, the visitors center had a great exhibit called Noel Coward in Ten, which consisted of ten overblown photographs with information about his life and career and his time at Ten Chimneys. There was also a small exhibit about the Lunts and a gift shop to keep us occupied.

The 2.5 hour tour began promptly at 2 p.m. One takes a bus to the Main House which is quite grand and is done in a “movie star” type décor. Walls were specially painted by muralists from the Broadway theatre; furnishings are authentic as are drapes, bedspreads, etc. Walking through the house is just as if you are a guest and are visiting the Lunts. One thing I noticed: they had a lot of small rooms where they could get away from each other. Lynn especially loved chaise lounges—she played the diva in real life too until she died at age 95. I was fortunate enough to see them in their last play on Broadway, The Visit, in 1959. When the play closed in 1960, they retired to Ten Chimneys (actually there are Eleven Chimneys, but they did not like the way the word “eleven” sounded, so they changed it to “ten”!

Alfred’s mother and sister lived at Ten Chimneys all year round. The Lunt’s were there mostly when the theatre season ended the beginning of June until after Labor Day in September. In 1915 Alfred purchased the first parcel of land for the Farm. From the Main House we proceeded along the grounds to the Chicken Coop & Garage, the small Pig Barn (Lynn did not like the smell of the pigs so they had very few—I don’t blame her!!). Then on to the Corn Crib and Creamery & Greenhouse. They also had a Stable & Barn for the horses and cows. Then on to the Studio which was a getaway in the evenings to read plays and put some on for guests. Then came the Pool House with the first in the ground pool in Wisconsin—quite huge for its time. Noel Coward caused quite a stir as a guest on the farm when he decided to go to the pool with only a towel on his shoulder and his cigarette holder! The Lunts’ cook quit when Coward strolled through her kitchen nude on his way to the pool. The last building of some size on the Farm is the Cottage, done up like a Swedish Cottage with all types of sayings in Swedish. This is where Alfred’s mother and sister lived until their deaths. Helen Hayes was a guest almost every summer. Besides Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh were frequent guests as were other performers on Broadway at the time. Alfred loved to cook and even wrote a cookbook which is going to be republished this Fall.

What a wonderful tour this was. If you are ever in the area, you MUST stop and take time for this unique Farm. I am so glad I read about Ten Chimneys and we took the tour!

We then were on our way to Milwaukee, WI to go to Dianne & George’s son, Perry & his lovely wife, Laurie. Sons Sam & Jake were there too! Summer vacation had begun for them! They have a lovely home in the suburbs of Milwaukee. We sat outdoors for drinks and then we celebrated the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbos) (Laurie is raising the boys Jewish; Perry converted). A wonderful evening with a wonderful family! We had wonderfully grilled steak and chicken; tortellini salad; etc. Then came a chocolate fudge cake that was rich and delicious topped off with ice cream! There goes the waistline! Perry presented his father, George, a new barbeque grill for Father’s Day! Kids were great and Sam loaned me a book, CAR TROUBLE, which I have just started.

We then were on our way back to Plymouth, WI from whence we came several days ago. Unpacked and more than ready for bed after a long, but enjoyable day!!

Saturday, June 16

Slept in until nearly 8:30 a.m. Dianne made eggs, bacon with fruit and raspberry coffee cake for breakfast. Finally got on the computer and caught up with 158 e-mails: mostly jokes which I immediately deleted. Wish people would not send all those jokes—they are NEVER read!! Spoke to James in the hospital; he is bored to death waiting for his operation to occur.

With Dianne and George, we ventured to see Lake Michigan. It is so huge that it looks like the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean! Partly cloudy day but pleasant and not too hot! On to the Kohler Andre State Park to visit the small Nature Preserve & Observatory there in the city of Kohler. Then we drove around the Sheboygan outskirts and stopped at a restaurant on the Lake for some Wisconsin brats and beer to go with it! On to the Kohler Art Center: too much modern art for me, but the “Rhinestone Cowboy” house was still on exhibit from last year. A house decorated inside and out with all colored rhinestones inspired by the Glen Campbell song, “I’m A Rhinestone Cowboy.”

Back to the house; napped a bit and then ready for dinner at about 7:15 p.m. Off to Bruce’s Supper Club. Why is it called a Supper Club?? It’s a restaurant with a big bar area; we would call it a restaurant in CT or CA. A supper club would be a place with an orchestra and dancing as well as facilities for eating. Anyway, once we had a couple of drinks at the bar (Wisconsin style!), we sat at our table and had a most delicious meal: began with a tomato-basil pureed soup followed by walleye which was pan fried in butter with twice-baked potato and vegs. No dessert as the time was almost 10 when we finished out entrees. We were the last to leave the supper club: not all Wisconsinites are into late dining!!

Back to the house and we watched my completed video of my life: Gennaro A. DeVito: A Life in Five Acts. There are still a few things that need tending to on the video before I can say it is completed and ready for viewing by anyone who wants to see it. This is the video that will be in my cemetery in case anyone wants to view it then if and when they visit my gravesite. It was well after midnight and time for bed.


Sunday, June 17 Father’s Day My 67th Birthday

After a restless night—too much food too late in the evening—slept in until 8:30 a.m. Could not believe that it was my 67th birthday and I was heading toward the big 7 0 !?!?! Got laundry going so I would have enough clothes for the coming week. They all left for church and Eric and I just relaxed around the house. When they returned, Perry arrived to play golf with George for Father’s Day. We had brats and beer for lunch.

Headed to the city of Kohler to the Kohler Design Center where all the famous bathroom faucets, sinks, tubs, and toilets are displayed and for sale. Interesting displays for some of the items: a wall of toilet bowls piled one upon the other from floor to ceiling was very dramatic! Took a photo of that—possible Christmas card?

Then over to The American Club. The Kohler Family sent for immigrants and housed them and educated them and had them work in their factories. Within five years, they had to become American citizens. The facility where they lived is now turned into a luxury hotel in the style of the Ritz Carlton Hotels. A very successful program in its day—the early 20th Century. Why not try it again?? No new taxes, I suppose!! We had tea and cookies in one of the lovely rooms in the hotel that was free.

Back home for a short nap. Merrill was preparing my Birthday Dinner. Friends of Dianne and George were invited also: Linda & Tom Phillips. They have worked all over the world as teachers and counselors in a similar program to the one I was in with the Department of Defense Overseas Schools. They had interesting stories to tell. Had a few battered cheese curds I bought at the American Club coffee shop with cocktails; then the first course for dinner was a Caprese dish: “shwi shwi”—pasta with a fresh, quickly cooked tomato sauce with olive oil and then chopped fresh basil on top—very tasty! This was followed by pork loin with fennel sauce, roasted potatoes, carrots, and fresh asparagus. My birthday cake was a chocolate peanut butter cake with cream cheese frosting with Butterfinger candy bar pieces on top! Rich and delicious!!

After they left, everyone sat around and played cribbage. I got on the computer to correspond about James Lee’s illness and condition. He would be ready for his operation tomorrow.

Monday, June 18 Off to Milwaukee

Up early so we could be in Milwaukee by 10. Packed everything. Dianne not back to work until tomorrow and coming with us today. George was off to a doctor’s appointment at the VA Hospital and then on to school to clean out his office—he’s now an officially retired principal. On computer again to clear up e-mails: would not be bothered with them once our Theatre Conclave began!! Once we got Dianne going, we were off at 9:30+ a.m. for Milwaukee!

A nice drive down from Plymouth. Not much traffic on their highways. What a pleasant change from the Bay Area traffic! Got to see some of the big mansions along Lake Michigan once we reached Milwaukee. Parked the car and we were on time for the “opening of the sails” of Santiago Calatrava’s Wing for the Milwaukee Fine Arts Museum. The only word that comes to mind for the outside of the wing, the opening of the sails, and the inside lobby is B R E A T H T A K I N G !!! We did get to see the exhibit, “Creating the Impressionist Landscape: Pissarro” which was lovely! Pissarro was at the beginning of the impressionist movement. Wonderful and colorful paintings! At noon, watched the opening of the sails from the inside lobby: not as dramatic as watching it happen from outside.

Off to Mader’s German Restaurant for lunch. This restaurant was established in 1902 and is owned by the same family today. Began with a stein of Pilsner ale. Then ordered sour bratten with some spetzel (also ordered an extra portion) and red cabbage. Eric and I then shared a delicious homemade apple strudel with cream.

Then we were off to the nearby Intercontinental Hotel to check into our room for the next four days (Room 912). Lovely hotel lobby and room was quite nice and spacious. Unpacked and ready to go sightseeing with Merrill and Dianne.

Off to the Pabst Mansion. I had been last year during the Meltz Family Reunion, but was glad I did this 2.5 hour tour again. Very informative and house is so 19th Century—very lovely. After the tour, Merrill and Dianne were off to Plymouth. She had to return to work tomorrow. Merrill would stay in Plymouth and then drive to Cumberland to see Laurie again and then meet us in Minneapolis on Friday evening (he would get there a day or two earlier). He did not want to join us for our Theatre Conclave—what a shame!

Eric and I rested at the hotel and got ourselves organized. We were not very hungry so just found a restaurant across from our hotel, China Gourmet for some shrimp with cashews and vegetable lo mein. Washed it down with Chinese beer. Just enough to eat and drink. Time for bed early since we had quite a hectic week traveling around the lovely state of Wisconsin!!

Theatre Conclave Newsletter

This is a separate newsletter. I type it mostly for my own record. Some of you may not be interested in it at all. You can just delete the document if it does not appeal to you. This theatre trip also turns into a wonderful sightseeing trip.

Stay well, enjoy the rest of the summer, and keep in touch…..

Gerry

A Week in Palm Springs

A WEEK IN PALM SPRINGS

WITH A LOT OF ETC., ETC., ETC.

May & June 2007

May 23 to 30 A MEMORIAL DAY GETAWAY

We decided to spend a week with James Lee in lovely Palm Springs. The weather was perfect for us; between 95 & 100 degrees every day and nice and dry! We helped get James moving and doing some things around the house; throwing away junk mail, paying bills, organizing folders, etc., etc., etc. James looks good; he still needs to get his energy back—maybe a bit more exercise would help. Hope we were as helpful to him as we thought we were. We got him out of the house more for movies, luncheons, dinners, and socializing.

Swimming every day was a great way to exercise for us. Water was slightly cool and felt so refreshing with the high temperatures! Got to the pool at least once a day during the warmest time of the day.

Dining is always great in Palm Springs; one has to be careful with restaurant selections since many of them are rather so-so. Plum in their new location was a great disappointment; their hamburger has gone way down in taste and preparation. La Casitas is one of the better Mexican restaurants in town. Always fill up on the delicious combination plate and those wonderful margeritas!! Davey’s Hideaway, one of our favorite restaurants in Palm Springs, did not disappoint. Began with their Caesar Salad. Love their fettucini Alfredo; I never make that at home. Had an enjoyable time with friends: Todd, Gary, & John Rock. Davey’s also makes a superb martini!! Then had a marvelous Sunday Brunch at my favorite place in Palm Springs, Le Vallauris. Ken joined us. They served a rather tasty chilled tomato-fennel soup with bits of avocado on top. Then their whitefish with a mustard sauce over a delicious warm spinach with plenty of garlic and olive oil and boiled saffron potatoes were superb!! All the champagne you can drink is included—they lose money with me sipping away! Dessert was a homemade peach tart with a superb vanilla custard. Jim & Danny’s for a carbonara dinner: delicious with many guests. A pineapple coconut cake completed the evening. It was good to see James mixing in with everyone and enjoying himself. Spencer’s for their $19.95 lunch at the old tennis club. Began with a very tasty lobster bisque; then had linguini with grilled shrimp in a tasty tomato sauce. A crème brulee with fresh fruit finished it all off. Most delicious! A good red wine to go with it all. Europa Restaurant, Sonja Henie’s living room in a lovely old Hollywood resort, gets better and better every time we go there. Had a leisurely dinner with James there our last night in Palm Springs. They also make a superb martini; shared a fabulous Caesar Salad with James. Then tried their whitefish with a garlic and caper sauce with lovely, buttery mashed potatoes and some zucchini and carrots on the plate. We all shared Merrill’s rich and dense chocolate mousse; more like a melted candy bar than a light, fluffy mousse.

Got to see friends: Rick, who is battling a sight loss and Dick, who is suffering from over radiation from cancer treatment. The cancer has gone; it is now the effects of the radiation that he is battling. Also got to see Antonio who recently lost his partner of 35 years, Bob Wheaton.

The Palm Springs Art Museum had three enjoyable exhibits:

Treasures of the West: Art from Desert Collections

This collection of over 100 artworks collected by residents of the Coachella Valley. Not really my type of art; a lot of cowboys and Indians, but colorful and a few interesting pieces.

The Eyes: Mirrors of the Soul Portraits by Marion Pike

This was more to my liking. Marion Pike (1913-1998) captured her subjects usually in 8’ by 5’ facial portraits. The eyes are the first thing you seem to notice on the canvas. She painted many celebrities, including Bob and Dolores Hope, Rosalind Russell, Arthur Rubenstein, Zubin Mheta, among others.

Russel Wright: Living with Good Design

Considered America’s first celebrity designer, Russel Wright and his wife Mary, created designs that were found in nearly every American kitchen and dining room during the 1940s and 1950s. If you could see a photos or two of his designs, you would recognize it immediately. He transformed a generation of Americans following World War II.

THE BAY AREA: ETC., ETC, ETC., IN BRIEF

Berkeley Rep’s BLUE DOOR was a drama about African-American ancestors and how they affect the present generation; quite an interesting idea from first time playwright, Tanya Berfield. A man does not go to the Million Man March and his white wife divorces him. Lots of dinners with our neighbors across the hall, Dennis & Joey Butler. They like to cook and so do we, so it is nice sharing meals. There is a God in Heaven after all: one of the most evil men on earth, Jerry Falwell, died much before his time! May he burn in hell. Our local paper printed some his famous quotes: “Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions.” “AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals; it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.” and “The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews.” Hoping his organization is taxed with such “political” statements and hatred!! Day Trip to Petaluma with the Oakland Museum’s Historical Society was quite interesting. The Victorian architecture in the town is gorgeous. We had a great lunch at the Italian restaurant, Volpi’s, that opened in 1925 and is still in the same Volpi family. Then we made a stop in the Marin Cheese Factory and took home a few bargains! Watched the Bob Barker 50th Anniversary Special on TV. I can remember “The Price Is Right” when it first began. Merrill and I celebrated 28 Years of Life together on May 19. Wonder what Rev. Falwell would say about that?? Celebrated with friends, Dennis & Joey and hostess Jan Lewis at a new California style restaurant, The Wood Tavern with lots of wonderful food and good company! Berkeley Rep’s OLIVER TWIST was wonderfully staged in shades of grays and blacks to capture Dickens’ gloomy setting of this orphan’s travails. This production was brought in from its off-Broadway run in NYC. Rather liked it except it was not moving in the least and a couple of the actors, especially Nancy, were rather amateurish. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre did a good job with the musical, SPUNK; three short stories by black writer Zora Neale Hurston: “Sweat,” “Story in Harlem Slang,” and “The Gilded Six-Bits.” They were not upbeat tales and quite moving. Actress C. Kelly Wright was the most talented in the cast and is a performer to watch—she can sing, dance and act up a storm! I want to see her in something else. Local jazz singer-actress, Kim Nalley, was quite good although she was a bit “stiff” with her acting; she wrote a couple of new songs for this production and her singing is superb. I should get to see her more often in her nightclub, Pearl’s, which is not easy to get to via public transportation. Merrill quits Starbuck’s. The new boss does not like all the time he has been taking off for traveling. His old boss did not mind his absences. She is moving to Michigan, so that ends that. Something else will come up soon after a few trips that we have planned during the summer. It was 22 years since Mother’s death. Where does the time go?? I shall always miss her!! Our next door neighbor, George Horton, passed away on May 29 at the age of 96. He had a great life. He missed his wife, Ruth, who passed away two years ago. I always think of the song, Blue Moon, when we really have one: that occurred on May 31. Terese Grenecco “Alone Together, an Intimate Celebration of the Music of Arthur Schwartz” at the Plush Room was ok. It was just her and Mike Greensill (Wesla’s husband). Her narrative about Schwartz was not very good and jumped all over the place. Sometimes her voice was not up to the complexity of the songs. Her 10-minute medley at the very beginning of her set from “The Band Wagon” was sensational! Not one mention of the show or the movie with Fred Astaire. Did she forget? I got a bit bored by the end of her one hour, ten-minute set. Mike really made her look better than she actually was with his wonderful playing and some arrangements. Two nights later I was back at the Plush Room to see her award-winning cabaret show, Terese Grenecco Drunk Love—A Tribute to Frances Faye. What a difference a day or two does make!!! She was sensational in this tribute to San Francisco singer, Frances Faye’s rather unusual career in the 50s and 60s and even into the 70s. She played the lounges in Vegas, in London and Paris, and the gay and lesbian bars in San Francisco. She was ahead of her time by being openly gay herself. She seldom completed a song all the way through; when she thought of something funny as she was singing the lyrics, she would just say it or sing it! She always played with a six or seven piece band and loved the bongos; always had a bongo player. John Costanza who played bongos with Ms. Faye performed with Ms. Grenecco that evening; he was also sensational as was the seven piece band. This hour and a half show was great!!! A shame she was not as “up” with just herself and the piano a couple of nights before. June 1 would have been my mother’s 91st Birthday; it was also Marilyn Monroe’s 80th Birthday—what would she have looked like at that age? We shall always remember her as she looked at age 36! Forever young!

SF Playhouse’s FIRST PERSON SHOOTER is a very provocative first-time play by Aaron Loeb. About violent video game creators; are they responsible when students kill another student and say it was because of the video game they watched! Brings up quite a few questions. One of the most intellectually stimulating plays I’ve seen in a long time.



MOVIES

“Half Nelson” Fair

Rented it to watch lead actor’s Oscar nominated performance. Bored very quickly with it all. Drug addicted teacher’s relationship with female student who cares about his addiction. Never did get to the end of it. That’s what’s great about NetFlicks!

“Waitress” Good

We got to see this in Palm Springs. Loved Keri Russell. Have been a fan of hers for years; watched her faithfully on TV’s “Felicity” for quite a few years. She has developed into quite an actress and may well receive an Oscar nomination for this performance. Also loved actress, writer and director of the movie, Adrienne Shelly and all the cast, including Andy Griffith. Did not like the subject matter of rednecks wallowing in their ignorance about life!

“Paris, Je T’Aime” Very Good

Also saw this one in Palm Springs. It took a while to get used to the whole concept of the movie. We see 18 short vignettes about love—all kinds of love. A French film which shows off how lovely Paris is. Wanted to get a ticket and fly to Paris the moment the films was over. No cast list is given at the beginning of the movie, so one is pleasantly surprised when the likes of Gina Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Nick Nolte, Juliette Binoch, etc., etc., appear on the screen. Most of the short stories were quite good; others too predictable and very short.

“The Perils of Pauline” Fair

Decided to rent this from Net Flicks. It was mentioned in Betty Hutton’s obituary as being one of her best films. She was great in the bio of the silent film stunt star. Sometimes she overacted and should have been reigned in by the director of the film. Frank Loesser’s songs were fine for her. One of her big hits, “Pappa, Don’t Preach to Me” was featured in the movie. Billie DeWolfe was great in a supporting role. John Lund was the romantic lead. Got through it all, but it was rough.

“Goya in Bordeaux” Poor

Also from NetFlicks, this film I could NOT get through. It just got so damned artsy-fartsy that I lost interest rather quickly in an interesting true story of the artist’s exile because of his liberal beliefs during the Franco era. Dull, dull, dull!!!

Stay well and enjoy the summer!!! Have a few days left to get ready for my Wisconsin and Minnesota Trip (June 11 to 25). Taking a trip to the Filoli Gardens this week and ready for “The Sopranos” series finale and the Tony Awards!! Christine Ebersole better win or you will hear me screaming from Oakland!!

Gerry