Eaton "Bob" Magoon, former island businessman and showbiz figure of "13 Daughters" fame, will mark his 90th birthday in Honolulu on June 27. His milestone party will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand in Waikiki, engineered by Jack Law, his longtime colleague and friend, who operates the club.
While turning 90 might be a big deal, Magoon — who is retired and now lives in Middletown, Calif. — is far more excited about movie prospects for his vintage "13 Daughters" musical, a pastiche of local folklore and lifestyle. Glenn Zhang, a Chinese producer based in Los Angeles, has expressed interest in producing a new movie. Magoon’s musical had a popular launch in Honolulu decades ago but had a dismal 28-performance run on Broadway in 1961. There have been efforts to remount and reinvent the show with its Hawaiian-Chinese flavors, and Zhang feels now is the time. In an email, Zhang said of "13 Daughters," "It should be known to all the American, Hawaiian and Chinese people of this generation."
Zhang will be in Hawaii for the Magoon party and said he was intrigued by the tale about a Chinese merchant in the Hawaii of the late 1800s who has 13 daughters, none of whom can marry until the eldest walks down the aisle. That could appeal to a new generation of visitors from China and others from here and abroad, said Zhang, who will also enlist a director.
The show boasts such Magoon tunes as "Puka Puka Pants" and "House on the Hill," and he has penned a new tune, "Honoruru, Wear Flowers for Me." …
NAMES ‘N’ FACES: Singers Marlene Sai, Nina Kealiiwahamana and Gary Aiko — with guest musicians Ken Makuakane and Jeff Au Hoy — headline The Legends of Waikiki Tour later this month in Northern California. Patrick Landeza will host the panoramic show, recalling moments at Duke Kahanamoku’s and the "Hawaii Calls" radio show. Tour dates: June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall in Sonoma; June 30 at 8 p.m. at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley; and July 1 at 2 and 6 p.m. at Club Fox in Redwood City. …
Neva Rego was honored at a Hawaii Opera Theatre annual meeting recently for her lifetime of service to HOT and the arts community. Rego, exposed to opera at age 7 and introduced to the genre through Italian recordings shared by her mom, said living in Italy for 26 years "intensified that love." In the islands she is the foundation of local opera. …
TRADE WINDS: Drew Tandal, appearing as the Centaur late in "Xanadu" at Diamond Head Theatre, gets the biggest curtain call cheers. The roller-skating disco-musical, fusing 1980s love ballads and themes with a detour to mythological times, is staged as nostalgic parody with, alas, uneven results. The Centaur is spot-on, however. …
Oops. Lt. Col. Howard Lavy is the Vietnam vet who appeared in a Charley’s Taxi tribute to the military, in a spot filmed at Hy’s Steak House. His name was misstated in this space last Sunday. …
DATEBOOK: The Honolulu Boy Choir’s 38th annual spring concert, "We Are Young Men of This Country," will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Central Union Church. Guest performers: Danny Kaleikini, Dr. Kalani Brady, the Samoan Gospel Heralds and Kenny Endo‘s Center of the Pacific Youth Group. Free, but donations will be accepted. Call 596-7464. …
Father’s Day fare: Brother Noland and Daphne perform from noon to 3 p.m. June 17 at Ige’s Restaurant in Aiea. Tickets: $25 advance, $30 at the door; $15 for keiki 5-12. Call 561-6079. … Patrick Koh entertains at 7 p.m. June 17 at the Outrigger Waikiki’s Main Showroom. Admission: $10 at the door. …
Organist Don Conover continues his "Bawdy Ballads and Backroom Absurdity" show on second Sundays (today is the next one) at Bacchus Waikiki, 408 Lewers St. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
