Hawaii
‘Pat’ Weaver originated
both ‘Today’ and ‘Tonight’YOU may have seen the obituary of Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, the truly original TV programmer who envisioned and put on the air both the "Today" and "Tonight" shows for NBC. He was the father of actress Sigourney Weaver, who spends a lot of time in Hawaii. She's married to director Jim Simpson, who grew up in the islands with his parents, former Spencecliff topper Jack Simpson and his wife, Anne, a member of SOS, Save Our Star-Bulletin. Until now, I had no idea that Pat Weaver's brother, Sigourney's uncle, was celebrated Spike Jones Orchestra musician/ comic "Doodles" Weaver. His version of the horse race announcer calling the winner of a race to be "Beidlebaum," was a classic. And who would have guessed that Doodles' real given name was Winstead Sheffield Weaver? Even Sigourney didn't take on that name until she was 14. She was christened Susan Alexander Weaver ...
STAR gazing is a popular sport at the W Hotel lounge, formerly David Paul's Diamond Head Grill. Mike Tyson dropped by one Friday night for the hotel's "Wonderlounge" party, and didn't bite anything but the pupus. Latest familiar face to show itself belonged to Bruce Willis, in town to make a major motion picture for which studio execs haven't come up with a title. Not one to travel on his own, Bruce brought along a party of eight ... Didn't Willis once have his own band like Kevin Bacon and Russell Crowe? Better they should all concentrate on the big screen ...
Scotland forever
NO sooner have Irish musicians taken to the post-Paddy's Day sidelines than the Scots are stepping up. Scotland's Battlefield Band arrives here next month for a three-island tour, playing their own version of Celtic music. Sometimes called Scotland's answer to the Chieftains of Ireland, the Battlefield boys have 19 CDs out, the most recent being "Happy Daze," and are coming out with No. 20 this summer. They'll perform at the UH-Hilo Theatre on April 10, at Waimea's Kahilu Theatre the next night and at Andrews Amphitheater on April 12. They end up on Kauai April 13 at the Kauai Community College ...COMBINING his love for Chinese food and classical music, piano teacher Ernie Chang has put together a program for some of his piano-playing kids that reads like a Chinese menu. The Saturday "Piano Playing Party" at Orvis Auditorium runs the menu gamut from Chinese Chicken Salad with Jelly Fish to Peking Duck with Buns (which featured pianist Stephanie Lum will one day take some kidding about) to fortune cookies. You have to like the Chilled Platter, which features a Kid Koncerto made up of four movements: "I'm Mad," "I'm Sad," "I'm Bad" and "I'm Glad." As usual, the generous Chang will donate all proceeds to worthy isle musical organizations ...
Y, you ask?
IT may well be denied, but don't be surprised if an announcement isn't made that a move is afoot to demolish the Central YMCA on Atkinson Drive and rebuild it eventually as a combination YMCA/ YWCA. There are already drawings floating around that would fit that scenario. One problem is that the YMCA Metropolitan Board is afraid that Central Y members would flock to the Nuuanu Y once word gets out ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com