Three books out this month offer entertainment and enlightenment on different planes. They’re suitable for Christmas gifts, too. …
Jack Cione‘s "Repotting Can Be Such a Bitch" (Hagadone Publishing, $19.95) is a candid confessional from the entrepreneur most remembered for those naked waiter shows at the old Dunes club. Now a seasoned producer of the "Mardi Gras Follies" at Arcadia Retirement Residence (for 10 years) and at the Hawaii Theatre, Cione revisits his past as a show biz-hungry dance school instructor-operator in Phoenix who detoured from a Mexico wedding to a honeymoon in Hawaii, where he discovered his destiny. He recounts his myriad experiences with jocks such as boxer Joe Louis, actors like John Wayne and a few unnamed locals during his early years and high-profile seasons when he operated such adult clubs as the Forbidden City and The Clouds. The gardening metaphor in the book title refers to his constant plan to reinvent and relaunch his life and projects. Thus, "repotting." …
"Perry on the Left, Price on the Right" (Watermark Publishing, $19.95), authored by ex-islander Larry Fleece, brings coffee-table-book reflection on Michael W. Perry‘s and Larry Price‘s dominance for more than 30 years as the odd couple of morning radio. With a hefty dose of photographs, anecdotes and recollections from Perry & Price’s peers, family, friends and colleagues, the book is alternately an analysis of how the pair have remained No. 1 in ratings and a document on Hawaii’s cultural history. Clearly, Perry on the left and Price on the right have been more than mere deejays; they’ve become trusted media icons. You also learn the origins of such buzzwords as "katoojhzz" and "Never fear, the posse’s here." …
Frances H. Kakugawa, a Honoluluan who now resides in Sacramento, Calif., continues to court and nurture her growing community of unsung heroes, the caregivers. "I Am Somebody: Bringing Dignity and Compassion to Alzheimer’s Caregiving" (Watermark Publishing, $16.95) taps her roots as a lifelong poet and retired schoolteacher by assembling bios and writings of about a dozen caregivers. She believes sharing is therapeutic, and she expands the circle of support of and conversation on Alzheimer’s treatment with her latest book. Fueled by personal experience (her late mom, Matsue, was afflicted with Alzheimer’s at a time when little was said or written about it), Kakugawa advocates writing poetry and "journaling." It’s a journey that is yielding compassion for the patient while empowering the caregiver. …
THEATER JOY: Honoluluan Joy V. Abbott was honored by her alma mater, Temple University, with the Philadelphia school’s inaugural Theater, Film and Media Arts Tribute Award on Oct. 25. Abbott, a veteran patron of the arts, is the widow of Broadway’s legendary playwright, producer and director George Abbott; she has established her own legacy and success as a performer, businesswoman, recording artist and producer of musical fashion productions. The Temple U honor recognizes her advocacy for the preservation of American musical theater in general and acknowledges the bequest of her share of the rights and future royalties from her late husband’s earnings to the George and Joy Abbott Center for Musical Theater on campus. …
CALENDAR CUES: "The Midtown Men," four Broadway dudes who appeared in the hit musical "The Jersey Boys," spin out yesteryear’s hits at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Hawaii Theatre. While Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons’ titles will be on the bill, the format spans other ’60s sensations — the Beatles, the (Young) Rascals and Motown men such as the Temptations, the Four Tops and the Miracles. Call 528-0506. …
The first Oahu Jazz & Blues Festival, Thursday through Nov. 23 at the Turtle Bay Resort, is a mixed plate of stellar jazz, blues, soul and zydeco with a mix of local and mainland talent. The lineup includes Les McCann, jazz/soul master pianist; Donald Harrison, New Orleans saxophonist; Javon Jackson, New York saxophonist; Skip Martin, vocalist from Kool & the Gang and The Dazz Band; and local faves Benny Uyetake (jazz guitarist), Paula Fuga (blues singer) and Brother Noland (legendary Hawaiian-style singer-composer-guitarist). Venues at Turtle Bay include Surfer, The Bar, Kula Grille and The Point; visit www.oahujazzandbluesfestival.com. …
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.
