Hawaii
By Dave Donnelly
Thursday, September 12, 1996
Wave the flag
for '37 happenings
At my age, birthdays are observed, but not celebrated. Rather like Flag Day in that respect. I mention Flag Day because it made its first appearance, as I did, in 1937. I discovered this on a "Happy Birthday" flier sent out by the man who's been insuring my cars for the past 30 years, Bob Tom. Entitled "A Time to Remember," the flier reports that the front page news that year included Amelia Earhart vanishing over the Pacific, FDR's attempt to pack the Supreme Court failed, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of Great Britain and sought appeasement with Hitler. And, oh yes, Japan invaded China. Yes, indeed, that was a year to remember . . .
THERE were other happenings in 1937: The Hindenburg, largest dirigible ever, crashed in Lakehurst, N.J., and John D. Rockefeller died at 98, leaving an estate of $1 billion. I'd sign a contract for 98 in a heartbeat, with or without the billion . . . Paul Wilcox, who is retired from the radio business - as many of us are - and now gives speeches for free to interested groups, has a healthy attitude about age. He's 77, and says he considers old age about 10 years down the road from where he is at the time. He also has a healthy attitude about building a good talk. He says he tries to think of a good beginning and a good ending "and keep them pretty close together." If you'd like to book him for a talk, his number is 941-3178 . . .
ATTORNEY David Schutter has a birthday of his own coming up and will celebrate Sunday at Scruples. He's vice president of the nightclub run by Fred Piluso . . . I'm treating myself to a sole celebration, taking in tonight's opening of "Les Miserables" at the Blaisdell Concert Hall . . . Incidentally, local actor Jim Seibel, who toured with a "Les Miz" company for a time, is now on the Big Isle with pal Jerry Tracy who's directing him in "The Boys Next Door," which the Aloha Community Players is presenting next month. Then Seibel returns to Oahu in November to prepare for his annual turn in "Scrooge" at Diamond Head Theater, "First Night Follies" and who knows what else? . . .
Valley interesting
AFTER heavy rains during the weekend, Waimea Valley looked more lush than ever Monday, putting on its greenest, prettiest face for a TV crew of 40 who showed up at Waimea Falls Park to film spots for AT&T Canada. Also in the park were location scouts from a company doing a made-for-cable-TV movie tentatively entitled, "The Lost City of Atlantis." Filmed in the Pacific? Well, that's Hollywood for you . . .
NICHOLAS Nickolas regular Tony Clarke was grousing to maitre d' Skip Lambert that his son Justin had run down the battery on the family's '94 van three times this summer. Justin finally admitted the reason may be because he'd been driving during the day with his lights on. How come, asked dad? He sheepishly admitted he didn't want his pals to think he was driving an old car since all the new ones have daytime lights that turn on and off by the ignition switch, and he kept forgetting to manually turn them off. Result: Grounded . . .
"Rent" control
SEVERAL months ago I touted Broadway-bound folks on a yet-to-open musical called "Rent." It went on to win a Pulitzer Price and a Tony Award and now is the hottest ticket in town. I'd been tipped off about the show because one of its three young producers is Kevin McCollum, a former Punahou student and son of the late Sue McCollum, a longtime isle resident. Following Star-Bulletin stories about Kevin, he's now the subject of a cover story in Minnesota Monthly. Besides his new fame on Broadway, he's continuing as president of the Ordway Music Theater in St. Paul, and the Minnesotans are hoping he doesn't dump out to spend all his time in New York. The interviewer seems to think he'll stay. The magazine piece, like the Star-Bulletin article, concentrates on Kevin's mother's influence on his career choice and how her death 20 years ago spurred him on toward the goal that would have made her so proud . . .
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968. His columns run Monday through Friday. Contact Dave by e-mail at donnelly@kestrok.com.
Hawaii by Dave Donnelly is a daily feature of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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