WHEN Rap Reiplinger’s body was found in Maunawili in 1984, a victim of substance abuse at only 33, my sadness was mixed with anger. Not only did the great comedian die, but all of the marvelous characters he created and those he would have developed died with him. Producer Phil Arnone gave us another look at Rap’s characters last Sunday on KHNL in “Rap — Hawaii’s Comic Genius.” He was a genius. My favorite Rap routines were “Aunty Marialani’s Cooking Show” and the love ballad he sings to Fate Yanagi. Rap’s childhood, when he performed at home, in school shows or with his Hawaiian musical family, was covered. The success of Booga Booga, the comedy trio of Rap, James Benton and Ed Ka‘ahea, was well handled by surviving member Ed. Rap’s widow, Leesa Clark Stone, was important in the program. A DVD of the show has been released by Jon de Mello’s Mountain Apple Co. KGMB will repeat the program on Thanksgiving at 7 p.m. Don’t miss it …
I WROTE ABOUT Leiney Rigg 20 years ago when she was delivered by her dad Mark, a paramedic, in the back seat of his car in Queen’s Hospital parking lot when mom, Sherri, couldn’t wait any longer. Today, Leiney, a Kaiser High grad, has a starring role in Manoa Valley Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” I attended last Saturday’s matinee with Leiney’s proud mom. She has seen the show five times and still whooped and cheered as much as anyone in the theater. The back-seat baby now stands 5-feet-11 and is a hit as Audrey in the musical comedy. Her comedy reminded me of Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like it Hot.” The entire cast, costumes and set are right on target in the fun-filled show. “Horrors” has been extended through Nov. 27. Call 988-6131 or log on to www. manoavalleytheatre.com for show dates and tickets. Small world note: Leiney’s late grandma Lei Knapp and late grandaunt Lani Knapp, who are twins, and I attended Lincoln Elementary in the 1930s and early ’40s. I teased them and pulled their hair. I guess that means this little rascal liked them …
A MEMORIAL service for Philip Brook Howell, 60, will be held Saturday at Star of the Sea. Visitation for Philip, a St. Louis School graduate, will take place from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. when services will begin. Philip’s wife, Cheri, said he died of kidney cancer Sept. 6 in Ogden, Utah, where he had served as a lieutenant on the police force and a lieutenant in the Ogden Sheriff’s Department. Cheri said he was given a huge funeral in Ogden with many law enforcement officers taking part. Philip is the son of retired HPD Lt. Dixie Howell and fashion designer Mamo Howell. Condolences to the family … Condolences also to the family of Marilyn “Mary Kaye” Ritz, 51, a former Advertiser writer, who died Saturday. She was the wife of Stephen J. Downes, Star-Advertiser deputy editorial page editor …
I WAS SORRY to learn of the Nov. 4 death of “60 Minutes” star Andy Rooney, 92. The straight-talking curmudgeon would probably get gruff about being called a star. Andy covered World War II in Europe in the 1940s when he was a soldier for the Stars and Stripes Newspaper that was put out for troops. I never met Andy but I worked at Stars and Stripes in Europe in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Fast forward: I wish Andy had given some of his straight talk to many of today’s Congress members who are locked in divisiveness in pushing their political issues instead of getting together and working for the overall good of the American people and the country …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
