Hoping for Some Enchanted Evening

Marlene Sigismonti, the mother of three teen-age girls, would like to find a store in the San Diego area that sells new formal evening gowns at discount prices. Can you help shoulder this mom’s expenses, or will these three daughters never have a ball because they can’t get to one?

Louis Hogan of Whittier is looking around his neighborhood for somebody who is able to repair a Pachinko game. Does this request ring a bell with some of our readers, or will Hogan not be able to light up because the game is up?

Lillian Weamer of Santa Maria would like to get her hands on another Plezoelectric Handy Lighter, which is gun-shaped and works with quartz crystals; the one she’s been using was damaged. Can you help lighten Weamer’s load a little, or will she feel like doing a slow burn because her request has been shot down?

G. Paunzen of West Los Angeles wants a washable knit cap covered with polyester flower petals ; at one time, she said, hat shops and drugstores carried these. Can you find somebody who peddles this item, or will Paunzen have to use her head and stop nit-picking?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: For an Armenian friend, Donna at (619) 329-1937 would like a copy of two out-of-print books: “The Bride’s Escape” and “Brothers of the Nile” ; both are by Donita Dyer and both deal with the Armenian massacre earlier this century. Please don’t go by the book and tell her to turn over a new leaf; instead, provide Donna with one of the sadder pages of history.

Note: The Reader-to-Reader Help Line is only for one-time items or for products no longer available in stores. And you must give us written permission to publish your telephone number, so that others may contact you directly.

Dorothy Saunders of Westminster, who was hungry for black Smith Bros. cough drops, should have her problem licked soon. Carol Bishop recently found some at the Sav-on (Osco) drugstore in nearby Placentia. Other readers who bought the cough drops at various Sav-on (Osco) locations include M. Morrison and Homer G. Crowden. Morrison said Peterson’s Prescription Pharmacy in Claremont also carries the cough drops and adds that the packaging has changed but the drops are the same. Mary Beaton found her supply at the Whittier Drug Store, corner of Hadley Street and Comstock Avenue. R. L. Chaput and Laki Demmon found them at Pic ‘N’ Save. And W. V. Clanahan says any Two-Dollar Bill store carries these cough drops.

The heat may be off Frances Allen, who wanted a hot-lather machine that can be filled from the bottom. A reader said he saw the item at a Target store. We also heard from a Whittier woman whose husband no longer uses that type of machine, and we gave that information to Allen.

If Robert M. Gordon (or anyone else) is still looking for the game Scribbage, all we need is a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Four readers said they have the game and are willing to throw in the dice.

Barbara Szerlip of Altadena, who was after negative-heel shoes, will soon be able to take a positive stand on things. An Altadena reader and David Geffen of Van Nuys both state that the Shoe Works, 3723 S. 73rd Ave., Tulsa, Okla. 74145, telephone (918) 663-9818 or toll-free (800) 247-9943, carries a complete line of Anne Kalso’s Earth shoes.

Hain cannot answer mail personally but will, space permitting, respond in this column to readers who need--or have--helpful information. Write (do not telephone) to You Can Help!, You section, the Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.