ON THE TOWN:

The holiday season started in style on Nov. 20 with the Glendale Religious Leaders Assn.’s annual Glendale Community Thanksgiving Celebration.

More than 100 people gathered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on North Central Avenue to hear expressions of thanks, readings, prayers, a cello-flute duet and the sounding of the shofar, or ram’s horn, which, according to Jewish tradition, signifies a community coming together.

The multi-faith presentation included Mormons, Baptists, Armenian-Apostolics, Jews, Scientologists, Baha’i and members of other religious groups whose members appreciated their similarities and celebrated their diversity.

Glendale resident Lance Miller was the guest speaker. The 2005 Toastmaster World Champion of Public Speaking, Miller spoke about memories of Thanksgiving holidays from his youth.

Other Glendale residents present included president of the Church of Latter-day Saints La Crescenta Stake William Reynolds, president of the former L.D.S. Glendale Stake Kent Lee and wife Kathy Lee, bishop of the L.D.S. Glendale 4th ward Ron Briggs, chorister Sharon Chadsey, organist Martha Hagerty, Rosie and Jaime Prieto, Carla and Brent Riggs, Doris and Marion Gubler, Alan Taylor, David Jones, Rhett Bautista, Kristine Gunnell, Esmeralda Bonilla, Kayla Calica, Dixie Paulo, Lisa and Craig Busch, their children Craig, Annelisa, Michael and Samuel, and Mormon missionary Trevor Mackay.

Members of the Glendale Religious Leaders Assn. participating in the program included Al Garcilazo, the association’s president and Glendale Adventist Medical Center chaplain; Frank Brougher, associate pastor of the First Baptist Church; Rabbi Rick Schechter of Temple Sinai; Kurt Traugott, pastor of the First Congregational Church; and Tigran Garibjanyan, deacon of the Western Armenian Diocese.

A special offering was collected for Path Achieve Glendale, a 40-bed shelter that served 1,400 people over the last year.

The Glendale Religious Leaders Assn. brings together various faiths for dialogue and cooperation, community concern, leadership support and growth and to relate to civic leaders in the wider community.

Some don’t think the holiday season really starts until they see “A Christmas Carol” at Glendale Centre Theatre. That annual favorite opened Friday. The theater was packed.

Before the show, there were activities to get everyone in the holiday mood. Photos were snapped by the theater staff at $5 a pop. (Theater-goers could take their own if they also purchased one.) Dessert and beverage bars were at full capacity, and the show’s choir gathered for their surprise entrance down the theater aisles to the stage.

Theater supporters included Jill Brown and her granddaughter Emma Butler; Kelly and James Baca, and their children Madison, Kennedy and Jackson; theater photographer Jennifer Paterson; usher par excellence Jason Walker; and courteous house manager Kim Overton. Cast members Kelly Decker and Michelle Crehan were willing to pose for pictures.

“A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 23.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck! The Alex Film Society presented the 10th annual Three Stooges Big Screen Event on Saturday at the Alex Theatre. More than 1,000 Stooges fans filled the theater for matinee and evening performances.

Live holiday music in the courtyard was courtesy of the Poke In Yer Eye Ensemble, also taking a turn on stage later that night. The majority of the program’s shorts featured those lovable knuckleheads Moe, Larry and Curly in “Hoi Polloi!” (1935) and a few with Shemp, who replaced Curly in 1946 after the popular Stooge suffered a stroke.

Members of Shemp’s family were present for the evening’s show, including his granddaughter, Jill Howard, and his daughter-in-law and Howard’s mother, Geri Greenbaum.

Alex Film Society President Randy Carter and board member Frank Gladstone greeted guests.

“The Stooges are more popular than ever,” Carter said, adding that “40% of the audience are repeat offenders,” returning year after year.

Stooges fans from Glendale included Alex Regional Theatre Board member Brian Ellis and wife Pam Ellis, and former president of the Alex Regional Theatre Board Andrea Humberger, who had led a well-attended tour of the Alex Theatre in the morning.

The Alex Film Society’s next film is “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Feb. 2.

 RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthsowby@msn.com.