AGE DISCRIMINATION DOMINATED THE DISCUSSION

Church Manning " Madison Avenue advertisers that make age a factor in marketing entertainment.

Don Cherry: I do my own thing when it comes to marketing myself. I just turned 80. I am singing and doing better than even!"

Kathleen Dunbar: ”I got on a plane, American West 1943”.

Bruce Mickelson “I came by stagecoach!

Ryan Baker: I heard Bruce mention IBM and that is what I use to do, work in the whole corporate cubical deal on the east coast. So now not only have I worked for buyers and cheap scumbags that will screw you out any chance they get; I now work in Show Business.”

Kathleen Dunbar: “That’s Funny, Ryan!

Kathleen Dunbar: I love this city! I auditioned for Cirque du Soleil. Evidently my leg behind my head, nobody wanted to see.“

I said to myself how true that is for all of us who love entertainment and entertainers. Whether it is fans of “American Idol” that watch the show week after week that they become involved emotionally with the winners and losers. They become a second family to those loyal viewers.

Then there are people that become a family of fans of a particular performer or entertainment. Fans often connect with the same people at a concert on the internet or in line at a weekly show. Often they share common concerns about the performers, entertainment or each other, just like a family. The performers or casts of an entertainment are part of the family as its common thread.

Fans have to remember that entertainers are part of the human family of people. Like all people they have both good and bad days. Now and then they have problems, don’t feel up to par and might have to save their energy for the performance. Give them their space.

Entertainers need to remember how important fans are to them. Most fans just want to be recognized and be treated like friends of the family. There are the extreme, obsessive fans. But there have been entertainers that have also take advantage of fans. Entertainers connect, acknowledge and give your fans the attention they deserve for supporting your work.

Recently I had the great pleasure of meeting screen legend Rhonda Fleming, during Cinevegas I had the opportunity of two short interviews. Instead of the usual interview questions I sensed she wanted to express what she was feeling. So for the first interview, I asked what do you think of Las Vegas since your last visit? She said” I haven’t been here since 1959. I almost fainted; it was just a sleepy country town when I played the brand new Tropicana. Here we are to receive this wonderful Centennial Award. It is such an honor since I played here 50 years ago. To see it now, I am awestruck.”

The next morning, Johnny Brendan, Fleming’s grandson, presented her with a Star on The Walk of Fame”, at Brendan’s Theater which he owns inside the Palms Casino Resort. I once again approached her and asked what she was felling about all of this. She took my hand, treated me like an extended friend of the family and said, “I am awestruck. Last night with the Centennial Award it was such a wonderful thing I was thrilled. Then Johnny my Grandson, surprised me with is wonderful first star on his walk of fame. I am so grateful. What a wonderful time. I haven’t been to Vegas since 1959. Here we are and with a beautiful memory and you all have been so wonderful. Thank you.” Rhonda Fleming and I treated each other with respect as people and friends that are part of the family that loves entertainment

Bob Moore is the key component, the "soul glue" whose distinct and commanding contra Bass lines provide the cohesive element that held together over 1000 top ten songs and thousands of charted international hit records”. There are many tribute sites of entertainers that have passed away. Some sites for Moore’s friends include Ray Brown Jr., Matt Hilton, Oscar Pettiford and Red Mitchell. His friends also include many of today’s bass players such as Dave Holland, Mark Gain and Randy Barnes.

Vintage Broadway is “preserving and promoting earliest years of Broadway Musicals. Their first major project a two-set CD from the 1903 The “Wizard of Oz Broadway” Musical won a Grammy nomination for best historical recording. I didn’t realize that there was a Broadway Musical of the Wizard of Oz that ran from 1903 to approximately 1911.

The Vintage Broadway site has many interesting friends. I found Radio Lulu “that promotes their internet radio station. It plays Louie Brooks inspired music from the 20’s through today’s music. Louie Brooks was a silent film star. Another of their friends is The American Phonograph Company is the oldest commercial sound recording Company. Today it is a hands on museum. They provide phonographs and sound recording equipment to the motion picture industry and musicians. They also offer wax cylinder recordings’. Site for Al Jolson, L Frank Baum and 78 RPM are among Vintage Broadways 640 + friends.