On the Town: Elks celebrate Oktoberfest in style
Oktoberfest came to the Glendale Elks Lodge for the 34th year in a row on Saturday. Representing the fun were napkins picturing beer steins and pretzels.
Perennial hosts Kathearina Berger and husband of almost 56 years, Karl, welcomed the overflow crowd of 170 Elks and their guests.
Karl Berger doubled as Oktoberfest manager. German-born, he wore lederhosen and suspenders, looking as if he had just stepped out of a post card. Kathearina Berger dressed like the Bavarian beauty she is.
She took over the microphone and announced which table of guests were welcomed at the steaming buffet table with German foods served by lodge lovelies.
The entree of smoked pork chops was smothered in sauerkraut and German potatoes. A fat bratwurst accompanied the lot.
Patient guests at table two, called out of order, had enjoyed their share of olives, celery and radish appetizers, but were drooling for the good stuff. Hungry guests included Ron and Patricia Dyrness, Emblem Publicity Chairman Lynda Burns and Henry Schoessler, Ernie Seth and Roberta Schilling.
Also patiently waiting to be served were Glendale Elk and Grand Trustee Hugh Scanlon with wife, Dale, and chef Jerry Salthouse, enjoying a chef’s holiday for the evening. Also present were Glendale Elk Jose Robles with wife, Irma. Glendale Elk Mike Kelley, who now lives in Simi Valley, was accompanied by grandchildren Jax Troxler, 3, and his little sister, Kenzie Troxler, 2.
Once seated, guests enjoyed the accordion stylings of Fullerton Elk Frankie Theer. Adding a yodel or two, Theer had lodge guests swinging on the dance floor.
The evening ended with the traditional 11 p.m. Elks toast.
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Glendale Centre Theatre drama lovers were treated to a suspenseful “A Party to Murder.” The show presents six people who have been invited to play a murder mystery game on Halloween until ghosts from the past begin to haunt the proceedings.
The matinee this past Saturday was standing room only, with many in the audience subscription holders to the theater’s current season of plays.
A quartet of subscribers included Glendale residents Jane McVay and Cheryl Hanna, accompanied by Burbank residents Nancy Lark and McVay’s mother, Lillian Giese. They haven’t missed a play at the Glendale theater.
An intermission gimmick invited audience members to place their bets on who was the play’s killer. Winners would be eligible for a drawing for three plays and dinner at a local Glendale restaurant. The value of the package is $175.
“A Party to Murder” will run through Nov. 23.
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Birthday wishes go to Erik Van Sleeuwen, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday at his La Crescenta home. Erik is an 11th-grade student at the Insight Academy, an on-line public high school. When he’s not studying, Erik is a budding chef. He enjoys combining herbs to produce one-of-a-kind culinary creations.
His mother, Suzette Van Sleeuwen, cousin Kathy Rands and grandfather Richard Rands celebrated the birthday boy.
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RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.