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Hawaii’s World
START with Jim Nabors. Showcase him in one of America's most elegant restored theaters -- the Hawaii Theatre. Jim Nabors’
Christmas gift
to HawaiiBack him up with what he calls one of the five best symphonies in America -- the Honolulu Symphony.
Add tried and true Hawaii entertainers -- Karen Keawehawai'i, Emma Veary and Jimmy Borges. And more.
Add four community dance groups that push the cast to about 180.
Tear Tom Hansen away from California to apply his theatrical professionalism to choreography, staging and production, just as he has for other top stars.
Get the symphony's pops conductor, Matt Catingub, to conduct and do special arrangements.
Now there's a Christmas entertainment recipe to beat all others.
It's made affordable in part because Nabors makes it his annual Christmas gift to Hawaii, his home for nearly 25 years. He takes no pay and shares in some of the expenses.
The "Gollee!" guy who captured national TV fame as Gomer Pyle has a lot more going for him than just being a bumbling, lovable Marine private.
To wit: a quick wit, a great stage presence, a rich, classical baritone. He has made 11 gold records with sales of over a million and is under consideration for a Best Religious Album Grammy for gospel tunes.
"Merry Christmas With Friends and Nabors" had its fourth annual production here at the beginning of December. That's old news.
The fresh news is the principal participants already are committed for a fifth run next year and are being considered for taping a national cable TV Christmas special.
An unexpected star was turned up in a Wilson Elementary School second grader who saw the show last year and asked to be in it this year, his first stage appearance.
Trent Nakamura, 7, appearing with a Nuuanu YMCA group, smiled and hula-hipped his way into the hearts of each of the 1,400 persons in the audience.
After the first rehearsal he was upset that people laughed at him but was happy to be told that marked him an entertainment success.
Among the joys for the dozens of young persons in the show is the insight into the professionalism of the production and the pride in appearing with Nabors and other real pros.
It offset the humbug of having to wait outside between numbers because backstage was just too crowded.
NABORS was singing or clowning in most of the show's numbers -- with some 10 costume changes in all, and sometimes into bright, beaded jackets that weigh 30 pounds. He occasionally appeared or disappeared with a chorus via the theater's elevator stage.
Alabama-born, he migrated to Los Angeles to break into show business and was spotted by Andy Griffith as just right to play Gomer Pyle.
General Foods, his TV sponsor, gifted him with a trip to Hawaii in 1964.
Soon afterward he rented a Kahala beach apartment but didn't become a full-time resident until he bought his present Diamond Head home in 1976. He's 70 but still jogs regularly in the area.
He makes around 14 out-of-state performances each year, mostly with symphonies or on cruise ships.
Naborly Productions handles his bookings. Stan Cadwallader, a former Honolulu fireman, is both a business associate, along with Judy Murata, and pilots his personal plane.
A.A. Smyser is the contributing editor
and former editor of the the Star-Bulletin
His column runs Tuesday and Thursday.
