‘Lights, Camera, Orchids’

The magnificent cymbidium orchid pictured on the front page is just one of thousands of beautiful orchids that will be on display next weekend, Oct. 21-23, at the Eighth Annual East West Orchid Show, to be held at the New Otani Hotel and Garden, 120 S. Los Angeles St.

This year’s show is themed “Lights, Camera, Orchids” and will feature 39 glamorous displays using thousands of exotic blooms grown by members of local orchid societies and growers as far away as Thailand and Japan. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday.

Some displays will salute legendary Hollywood movies such as “The African Queen,” and others will utilize movie cameras, posters and other Hollywood accouterment to carry out the show-biz theme. Besides the displays themselves, there will be continuous activities, lectures and seminars including tips on repotting, dividing, corsage design and flower arrangement. The show and all events are free and open to the public.

You will also be able to purchase orchid plants for very reasonable prices from 23 commercial growers and nurseries in the Hotel’s adjacent Weller Court Shopping Center.