Burns, Loy, Ailey Among Kennedy Honorees

Actor George Burns, actress Myrna Loy, choreographer Alvin Ailey, violinist Alexander Schneider and Kennedy Center founder Roger Stevens have been selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Center Honors of 1988, center officials announced Thursday.

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors have been awarded annually to five people for artistic achievement in the performing arts (dance, music, theater, motion pictures and television).

The five will receive the honors Dec. 3, the night before the 11th annual national celebration of the arts in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Stevens founded the Natural Cultural Center at the request of President John F. Kennedy in 1961, and the center later was named in honor of the 35th president. In addition, Stevens has produced and co-produced about 250 plays including “West Side Story,” “Bus Stop” and “A Man for All Seasons.”

Burns, who received an Oscar for his performance in “The Sunshine Boys” (1975), played the title role in “Oh, God!” and continued on with “Oh, God! Book II” and “Oh, God! You Devil.”

Loy, 88, is best known for her work in “The Thin Man” series of films (1934-44).

Ailey created his earliest works in 1954 with: “La Creation du Monde” and “According to St. Francis.” He later established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Schneider founded the 20-year-old New York String Orchestra Seminar, an annual Christmas event to aid in the professional training of young artists.