48 Hours
Joyce Rudolph
GLENDALE -- Big band singer Beryl Davis is a staunch believer that
imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
So when the Burbank resident listens to today’s singers, she marvels
at the new artists re-creating swing music from the 1930s and ‘40s.
There is an interesting difference between the music performed by
swing legends Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa and Woody Herman, she said, and
today’s singers like Celine Dion and Sting.
“I love when they sing my songs,” she said. “They put a slightly
different twist to it than I do.”
Then she sings a few of the words to a song that Sting does, “My One
and Only Love.”
“The very thought of you makes my heart sing...”
Davis will join several legends of big band in the “Celebration of
Swing” concert at 8 tonight at The Alex Theatre in Glendale. She will
sing a World War II medley, including “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “In The
Mood.”
The resurgence of swing’s popularity keeps the singer and her husband
and producer Buck Stapleton on the road performing across the country and
abroad. The audiences she entertained in London this summer ranged from
18 to 30.
To those audiences, she said, she is more like a history teacher and
tries to keep to the original sound.
“I have a responsibility to perform the song properly, the way it was
during the swing era,” she said. “It’s lecturing in a way, more like
teaching. I must be true to that situation, stay in my pew where I
belong.”
Daughter of the British band leader, Harry Davis, Beryl spent many
years touring Europe with his and other bands until Glenn Miller
discovered her. She sang with Miller and toured for the U.S. troops,
which led to a long musical friendship with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra,
Benny Goodman and many others.
Hope brought her to America, and she met Sinatra and joined him on the
show “Your Hit Parade.”
“I’ve been going ever since, singing all over the world with big
bands, and there’s nothing I like better,” she said.
Radio personality Chuck Cecil will be master of ceremonies for the
Alex concert, which is produced by Stapleton and Bradylock Productions.
Tickets range from $20 to $30 and can be reserved by calling (800)
414-2539. The Alex is at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.
Also on the bill are jazz legend and trumpet player Peter Candoli and
Page Cavanaugh and his Trio. Candoli played with Tommy Dorsey, Miller,
Herman and others during the big band era. Cavanaugh started his trio
during World War II. He continues to release albums featuring his piano
skills and in 1997 performed for two sold-out crowds at Carnegie Hall.
ART EXHIBITS
‘Jewels of January’
at Descanso Gallery
Carole Buss is showing her impressionistic watercolors of flowers,
gardens and seasonal landscapes in the exhibit titled “Jewels of January”
at the Descanso Gardens Gallery.
Joining her in the show are Tenny Lim and Gerane Mooney.
Implementing an ancient Japanese technique, Lim produces whimsical and
elegant pottery of porcelain, earthenware and Raku.
Mooney creates impressionist oils of brightly colored florals,
landscapes and paintings featuring classic architecture.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The exhibit
continues through Feb. 7. Descanso Gardens’ admission is $5 adults, $3
seniors and students, $1 children and free for 5 and younger. Parking is
free. Descanso is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge.
THEATER ARTS
‘Happytime Xmas’ at Third Stage
Justin Tanner’s award-winning comedy “Happytime Xmas” continues at the
Third Stage theater in Burbank.
The play is about a typical family at the holidays premiered in 1989
at the CAST Theatre in Hollywood, where it became an annual holiday
tradition. After a four-year absence, it finds a new home at the Third
Stage.
Ellen Ratner reprises her role as Hazie, a career waitress and
matriarch of the bickering Kinn family, and Sandra Kinder returns as
Hazie’s mother Lillian.
Tickets are $15, $10 for students and seniors. For reservations, call
842-4755. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday through
Jan. 26. The Third Stage is at 2811 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
Little Victory’s ‘Oleanna’ ends run today
David Mamet’s “Oleanna” ends its run at 8 tonight at The Little
Victory Theatre in Burbank.
The play, directed by Maria Gobetti, is about a college professor
accused of sexual harassment by his student. It explores themes of
political correctness, power, censorship and abuse. The audience is
encouraged to help supply the answers to “who did what to whom?”
Tickets are $18 and can be reserved by calling 841-5421. The Little
Victory Theatre is at 3324 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank.
‘Never Too Late’
at Centre Theatre
The classic Broadway farce “Never Too Late” is being produced by
Glendale Centre Theatre through Feb. 9.
It revolves around the hilarious antics of a man who discovers he’s
about to be a father again. Seeing as it’s been 24 years since his last
child was born, this hysterical comedy proves it’s never too late to
start anew.
Tickets range from $13 to $19. For reservations, call 244-8481.
Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo’
put to Hall and Oates music
Troubadour Theatre Company, known for combining Shakespearean plays
with contemporary music, is producing “Romeo Hall & Juliet Oates” at the
Falcon Theatre in Burbank.
The classic Shakespearean play becomes a madcap romp set to the 1980s
rock and roll music of Hall and Oates. L.A. Drama Critics Circle
Award-winning director Matt Walker assembled the cast of actors,
musicians and clowns who sing and dance and trip their way through the
90-minute musical excursion of potions, sword fights and star-crossed
lovers.
The company’s sold-out hit last year was “A Midsummer Saturday Nights
Fever Dream.” featuring disco music from the movie “Saturday Night
Fever.”
“Romeo” runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday through
Jan. 27 at The Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Admission
is $20, and $10 for students and children. For reservations, call
955-8101.
‘Funky Punks’
at Falcon Theatre
The Falcon Theatre becomes an arena for pie throwing and prat-falling
as the face-painted, big-shoed, rubber-nosed Troubadour Theatre Company
takes over the space through Feb. 24.
This high energy troupe presents “Funky Punks with Junk in their
Trunks,” directed by Matthew Walker. Many of the members are former
performers with Ringling Brothers’ Greatest Show on Earth. The family
show combines circus skills, acrobatics, physical comedy, classic clown
gags and improvisation with audience participation. It is especially
recommended for youngsters 1 to 13.
Show time is 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10, and can be
reserved by calling 955-8101. The Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside
Drive, Burbank.
MUSEUMS
Howard Museum offers history of Burbank
The Gordon R. Howard Museum Complex features exhibits of early
Burbank.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The complex is at 1015
W. Olive Ave., Burbank. Parking is available at George Izay Park lot off
Clark Avenue. For information, call 841-6333.
The Doctors’ House features Glendale history
The Doctors’ House, tucked inside Brand Park in Glendale, is a
Victorian home in Queen Anne Eastlake-style open to the public from 2 to
4 p.m. Sundays. Built in the 1880s by real-estate entrepreneur E.T.
Byram, the house has been restored. Brand Park is at 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale.
Bolton Hall features early Sunland, Tujunga
Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga, run by the Little Landers Historical
Society, features historical displays relating to the Sunland and Tujunga
areas. It is open to the public at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Sundays. Admission
is free. The museum is at 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. For information,
call 352-3420.
Looking back at the foothills at the Lanterman House
The Lanterman House, owned by the city of La Canada Flintridge, is
operated by the Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation and is open to the
public from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and the first and third
Sundays of the month.
The house was built in 1914 by the founding family of La Canada
Flintridge. The city took ownership in 1987, and public tours have been
offered since 1995.
For information, call 790-1421.
ATTRACTIONS
Skating is cool fun at Pickwick arena
Pickwick Ice Skating Arena, 1001 Riverside Drive in Burbank, has
public skating, figure skating and ice hockey lessons. It is also
available for private parties.
Public sessions are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 8 to
10 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and
8:15 to 9:45 p.m. Wednesdays. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for 17 and
younger, and $3 extra for skate rentals. Call 846-0035.
Equestrian center great for horsing around
The Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank, has
horse events throughout the year but also rents out the animals seven
days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Horse rentals are $20 for one hour, $30
for 1 1/2 hours, and $35 for two hours, all with a $15 deposit, cash only. Private hourlong lessons are $35.
Private parties can take night rides or, for the summer only, sunset
barbecue rides. The sunset rides are also open to the public. To horse
around, call 840-8401, or for general information about the center, call
840-9063.
Talk to the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo
The L.A. Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8.25
for adults, $5.25 for seniors 65 and older, $3.25 for kids 2 to 12 and
free for kids younger than 2. Parking is free and strollers and
wheelchairs are available to rent. The zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los
Angeles. Call (323) 644-6400. It is closed on Christmas Day.
DANCING
Go to Giggles for salsa, Latin House
Giggles night club, 215 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, is offering a
mixture of dancing and salsa lessons on Fridays. Salsa and merengue
dancing are offered on the lower level on Friday and Saturday. On the
main floor, Spanish Rock and Pop are played on Friday, while Latin House,
Trance and Top 40 are offered on Saturday. There is a strict dress code.
The club is open 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12
both nights. Call 500-7800.
Dance to live music at Sardo’s
Sardo’s, 259 N. Pass Ave. in Burbank, features the house band,
Skyline, playing Top 40, Rock and Country and Western from 9:30 p.m. to 1
a.m. each Friday and Saturday. There is no cover charge. Call 846-8126.
Crazy Jack’s offers country entertainment
Crazy Jack’s, 4311 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, offers live country
entertainment and free dance lessons.
Entertainment includes live country bands from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Fridays and Saturdays, and 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays. Dance lessons are
from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The menu includes steaks, hamburgers and French dip sandwiches, along
with a full bar. Call 845-1121.
KARAOKE
Dimples showcases its customers
Dimples, 3413 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank, serves up some karaoke, Las
Vegas lounge-style. The club presents its Singers Showcase from 5 p.m. to
1:30 a.m. every night for those willing to croon for a crowd. Choose from
more than 10,000 songs and get a free cassette recording of your
performance.
The club opens its bar at 5 p.m. and starts serving dinner at 6:30
p.m. During show breaks, hit one of two dance floors playing disco, salsa
and popular music. Call 842-2336.
Rusty Pelican cooks with live music
Glendale’s Rusty Pelican, 300 Harvey Drive in Glendale, serves dinner
and Sunday brunch, but really cooks with its live singing and music.
There’s karaoke from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, live jazz from 7 to
11 p.m. Fridays and live blues from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays. For
information or to make reservations, call 242-9191.
Swing dancing, karaoke combine at The Mix
The Mix, at 2612 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose, offers Top 40 music played
by a disc jockey on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. On Wednesday, there is
swing dancing instruction from 8 to 9 p.m. followed by swing dancing from
9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Karaoke is offered beginning at 9:30 p.m. on
Thursday. There are also 12 pool tables and a pool league, dart boards
and a darts league, and the occasional live music band. Cover is $3 on
the weekend, $2 on Tuesdays and $5 on Wednesday. Call 248-3040.
If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please call JOYCE
RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or fax them to 241-1975.