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Hawaii Dave Donnelly |
1974: Teen’s act helps
him get his gas tank
filled fasterTEENAGER Guy Feldman gets the Necessity Is the Mother of Invention Award for his Oscar-winning performance the other day. Finding himself low on gas, Guy drove to Lex Brodie's only to find the eternal line of cars lined up for blocks. Reluctant to face waiting as long as it would take, he drove down Queen Street and turned off his engine. Then, in a feigned fit of pique, he began pushing his car off to the side of the road. "Swing it in here," a Brodie attendant called, and a couple of the service station employees helped Feldman push the auto right up to the pumps where he filled up and drove off. Trouble is, no one will ever be able to pull that stunt again. Stay tuned for the next NITMOI Award. (Jan. 17, 1974) ...
YOU MAY NOT believe this, but a local fellow started to walk into the women's restroom at Beethoven's Fifth the other day, and when owner Peter Birnbaum stopped him, the guy had a logical explanation. You see, the names on the restroom doors at the German eatery are written in German, and over the women's room was "DAMEN." "Gee," said the localite, "I thought that was local kine talk -- you know, Da Men." ... Miss Universe Rina Messinger will be in Hawaii next month for the Miss Hawaii-Universe pageant. Messenger, you may recall, is at 22 a pilot in the Israeli army as well as a beauty. She'll be joined at the Hawaii pageant by Joni Pennock, who is Miss California-Universe, and both will appear at a Roaring '20s costume party Feb. 10 at Valentino's along with the 30 contestants in the local contest. (Jan. 16, 1977) ...
ALL eyes were on one table at the Outrigger Canoe Club last week as Sen. Ted Kennedy, stopping off en route to Washington from a Far East tour, lunched with three lucky ladies, Rose Marie Alvaro, Carla Beach and Rae Marlowe. That night, Teddy dined in the private dining room at Nick's Fishmarket with a party that included actor Fernando Lamas. (Jan. 16, 1978) ...
HOW are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? Here's a brief case history of two men who gave up smoking at midnight, Dec. 31. Writer Ted Kurrus has yet to take a puff, though he's thought about it a lot and has a carton of cigarettes in his closet. Restaurateur Gene Kaneshiro thought he had great resolve, but admits ruefully that he lit up at 12:05 a.m. Jan. 1, which may be a record. (Jan. 13, 1983) ...
SO there was real estate saleswoman Shelly Dezzani, stuck in traffic in Niu and about to miss an appointment that could have resulted in getting a new listing. Fairly desperate, and unable to do more than crawl in traffic, she noted the fellow in the car alongside her was talking on a cellular phone. Shelly lowered her window and asked, "Could you make a call for me -- I'll pay you for your time." She gave the other driver the phone number, and he relayed the message that she was stuck in traffic -- he could vouch for that -- and that she'd call when she could. Good news: She got the listing. Oh yes, she asked the bearded chap his name. He modestly replied, "Bob. Bob Sevey." (Jan. 15, 1988) ...
HAWAII Heart Ball volunteer Lynn Cook was excited to see a picture of herself with orchestra leader Del Courtney in the January issue of Town & Country magazine. Seems the 1988 Heart Ball was included in the section of the magazine called "The People, The Parties 1988." Exuded Cook, "Our photo was right next to Mrs. William R. Hearst Jr." ... Invitations for this year's Heart Ball (Feb. 25) were mailed out this week despite an accident that befell chairwoman Cherye Pierce. She had thousands of cards and envelopes stacked on her plate glass table when the table tipped over and Cherye had to be rushed to the hospital for five stitches in the finger of her "writing hand." She swears she didn't do it to get out of addressing them, but she's taking some good-natured kidding about it. (Jan. 13, 1989) ...
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Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968. The Week That Was runs Sundays and recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns. Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com