The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 25

hr gurlingtott Conversation 2c One Woman's 6c Want-ads 9c 1 3c Thursday, December 2, 1976 Art Garfunkel Has Come It fop A Long Way Since Queens Gardening With Bill Dame fJ 4 I I I 1 1 i i V. fv Tst By JAN HERMAN Free Press Staff Writer NEW YORK Television will make you famous. Movies will make you glamorous. Rock'n roll will make you rich. Art Garfunkel still marvels at how easy it was to make 00 ,000 for a night's work during the heyday of the Simon Garfunkel rock music duo.

More millionaires are made overnight in the record and concert business than in films or television. And Art Garfunkel is one of them. "We had quite a system," the blond singer-film actor reminisced the other day in his cozy, 16th-floor penthouse on Manhattan's Upper Eastside. "Paul and I went out twice a year from 1966 to 1970 for eight to 10 weeks in the fall and spring. We played to packed houses.

It was such a tight little operation we were the envy, of the business," he said. "But we sang well and we gave them their money's worth." Garfunkel recalled that he and Paul Simon kept their operation purposely simple. It made for tidy profits. The two of them would take care of the equipment and the acoustics and their friend, Mort Lewis, would arrange the halls. One of their secrets was always to book halls slightly smaller than their potential draw.

"It's disconcerting for performers to play to empty seats," Garfunkel explained, adding: "The public doesn't realize how simple it we had to do was count heads and multiply by the price of the tickets. That's what we'd make. We always got 90 per cent of the gate." At their peak in the late 1960s, Simon Garfunkel playedo as many as 17,000 persons at a single concert But such figures pale when compared with the disbanded duo's approximately 40 million worldwide record album sales over the past dozen years. In fact, there were few singing groups more successful. American sales, amounting to half the worldwide distribution, went like this: "Wednesday Morning" (1964) one million record albums sold; "The Sounds of Silence" (1965) four million; "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" (1967) three million; "The Graduate" sound track (1968) 2.8 million; "Bookends" (1969) three million; "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970) 4.S million; "Simon Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" (1971) three million.

Add to that 16 hit singles and one begins to sense, if only dimly, the Turn to ART, page 5c ART GARFUNKEL he reminesced abdut Free Press Pnoie By JaM HERmAN IN NEW YORK working with Simon I A ,1 St Vi" A I I 'sJC' -J t) GOOD CtP DAYS wrung 003 GOG AIR NATIONAL GUARD WANTS TOYS Joyce Meunier is helping to repair them. Free Press Photo! by STU PERRY individuals and families, and arrange for volunteers to visit patients in nursing homes and hospitals. The Salvation Army is unique in its approach to things," Rob explained. "We just go ahead and do things, we have to start ahead of time. We trust In the faith of people in the community to supply the means to cover it." The Salvation Army depends on donations of money and clothing, agreements with merchants to accept vouchers for toys and food, and donations of toys to members of the Vermont Air National Guard, who are repairing them, then giving them to Robinson to distribute.

The Salvation Army also depends on volunteers to help process applica Turn to SALVATION, page 2c Salvation Army Gears Up To Help the Needy Landscape In Winter By BILL DAME Free Press Staff Writer Winter is a good time to make home landscaping plans. Dr. Norman Pellett, Vermont Extension ornamental horticulturist, says that with the leaves off the trees, it's easier to decide where you need additional shrubs. "By carefully selecting plants for your property," he says, "you can provide food and shelter for birds while adding to the value and beauty because most of the plants that attract birds have brightly colored fruit." Pellett suggests some varieties attractive to birds. Withe-rod (Viburnum cassinoides) is a native shrub that when fully grown is six to eight feet tall.

Its textured leaves turn red in fall and its berries change from white to ebony as winter nears. i viburnum thrives best in moist, open conditions," he says, "and provides good nesting, cover and food for many birds, including grosbeaks, finches, waxwmgs and robins." Redstemmed dogwoods (Cornus Stolonifers) are among medium-sized' shrubs that can be used in mass plantings to attract birds. More than 100 different species of song and game birds enjoy their Turn to LANDSCAPE, page 6c Erma Bombeck Parents Really Try My son slouched into the kitchen last night, threw his books on the countertop and said: "I've just had the worst day of my entire life and it's all youf fault!" "How do you figure that?" I asked. "Just because you make me go back up to my room and turn off all the lights before I went to school, I missed the bus. Then, with all your nagging about cleaning up my room, I couldn't find my gym clothes and 15 points knocked off my grade." The gym clothes were folded and in your bottom drawer." "Yeah, well, what yo-yo would expect them to be there?" "You've got a point." "I hope you're happy," he grumbled.

"1 have failed English." "I did that?" That's right. I told you I had a paper that was due before lunch and you make me turn lights off last night and wouldn't let me do it." "It was 1:30 in the morning." "Just forget it. It'a done. Did you have a good lunch today? I hope to because thank to you, I didn't get any." "What THAT got to do with me?" "You're the one who wouldn't advance me next week's allowance. And more good news.

You know the uede jacket you got me for my birthday last year? Well, K'i gone "And rm to blame for that?" 1 glad you admit IL All I hear around here is, Hang up your coat, hang up your pajamas, hang up youu the one time I take your advice and hang up my jacket on the hook in the lunchroom, someone rips off. If I had just dropped it on the floor by my feet like I always do. Td have that suede jacket today." "It sounds like quite day." "lt' not over yet," he said. "Dklnl you forget something?" "Like what?" I asked. "Like werenl you supposed to remind me I had ball practice after school?" "I put a note on your desk." "Under all that junk I supposed to find note? It would tervc you right if I got tut And might hut do that aweaf, I wts talking to mt of the f-r and we decided 'parent can atfe screw up their Kda." taSd.Wetry Sry- SOMERSET JKJSi CX-" cision to avoid duplication.

Families and individuals may also apply for aid at the Salvation Army office, 64 Main Dec. 6-8 from 9:30 to 1 1:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Last year, more than 600 residents of Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester and Wi-nooski received some form of aid, Robinson said. Residents of other Chittenden County towns should apply to their local Salvation Army units for aid, he added.

The Burlington branch of the 111 year-old evangelical and charitable organization has been helping the needy year-round for the past 50 years. This year, it will distribute new and used toys to children, provide clothing and Christmas dinners for PUZZLES ARE Salvation Army CapL Joaeph Robinson hat an armful OLD DAT -res wvjrv TBEStASOXS" 500 PILING UP By MAGGIE MAURICE BeA sWi I die i rnpv tow i ffo ivt eotvf The maestro's shoulder muscles flexed but there wasn't a hint of tension as he tried to hold the orchestra down, down. On stage, the lovers "La Boheme" continued with their duet. It would work out. the maestro knew.

The conductor was William Fred Scott It was Tuesday night in Butlmgton't Memorial Auditor Him and Opera New England was pre Altering "La Boheme," beginning a two week tour of seven elites. "It takes a couple of acta for the orchestra to settle down to see how lively the place is," Scott had said earlier. Scott, In white tie and tails, conducted the orchestra oa the floor of the auditorium. Both he and the stngen knew there would he problems singing over hut that was nothing new, "In Boston, the orchestra is on the floor with the audience, just like here," he said. la an Interview Tuesday at Remade Inn, Scott wore a red tur-tlenetk, looked like one of Puccini's fcmethwM, counted his blessings tni he has the he has hate to wind up as a rehearsal pianist soNM and, thong he hat a lot on his snaad, was dtermmg.

5ou Opera Conductor Young af 23 By DEBORAH STEARNS Free Press Stuff Writer Some children don't have any toys, others need warm winter clothes. And some families won't have any money for Christmas dinner this year. The Salvation Army and other community agencies have launched their annual all-out effort to give these children and adults clothing, toys and food for Christmas. The Salvation Army and its director, Capt. Joseph Robinson, will select individuals and families to receive aid, based on need.

This year, applications for the aid will be accepted by agencies, churches and other Institutions, as in the past, but all applications will be submitted to the Salvation Army for final de Storting "I've wanted to do this opera for five or six years," he said. He's 23. "It's a big show. There's a lot going on in any Purclnl opera, you're talking about big theater. "La -Boheme' is the most perfert opera I know.

In a way, it's hire taking it on tour in December. It is ao Christmasy." Scott may have wanted to do "La Bdheme" when he was 17, as he says, but he took a few detours on the way. A native of Georgia, he studied piano and organ, but when he attended Georgetown University in Washington, he studied foreign service. "I didn't want to be a concert pianist full time. It's such a onesided view, looking at those keys he said.

As an undergraduate, he studied music history with Paul Hume, music writer tor the Washington Post, then did some writing for htm. Even though Scott received his degree in foreign service, he realised his future was In music. "A calling writinf about fnusitxondwning there's so mwck to do." Inevitably the conversation tamed to Sarah Caldwell. Ut was Parts the following sutftmef when a friend called from Waif Trapp, aeymg that Sarah Caldwell was doing "War and advantage of the unexpected." Does he get' critiques from Sarah? "She's keen on how opera should work. I respect that.

She's been in this game 20 years, she knows better than anyone. Sarah would never yell at me during rehearsal, 'you're doing it all That's not her way. She ha a list of notes for me at every rehearsal break. "But," Scott said, "the orchestra cokirs are my own." He talked about the crew fin amazing hunch of people who work backstage efficiently; you dont worry about a 10 pound crate falling the middle of a about the concentration of the orchestra and singersTthey worry, 'does my toft singing and what he'd really like, ideally. An opera house.

If that's not possible, then a longer stay an each town, "to get the whole community involved. That's what Sarah's trying to do, share what we do fc Boston with New England." II he has way, the opera starts promptly at t. 'There's a tendency ppace," would he like to give it a try. He did. They hit it off musically and socially.

She invited him to Boston. "I had worked with singers In Washington, played auditions galore," he said, "but the Inner workings I learned from Sarah, everything to do with producing opera. I've g'ine from pushing pianos, to costumes, staging, work schedule, conducting experience.repertoire. She loves teaching, she's a great help." Then in June 1979, he stepped In for Sarah when she had a broken rib, conducting "Capulett! Montec-thi" with Beverly Sills. Since then, Scott, a good natured guy and a true Caidwelliaa stickler for detail, has developed a following of his own, conducting for Opera New England.

His real debut in Boston will be In the spring. "Sarah Is in Los Angeles now, warm probably. And eating grapefruit," he said, watching people walking across the ley parking lovrutside. "But she worked closely with me and Lisi rLisi Oliver, stage man-sgef). We're not so much on our own as seems.

f' "We have a saying our circle, Is the abil ity to take thtw-ouMry to come strolling I0J9 rr minutes late, why not on. think awfully rude. In Atlanta, we were doing the Tstra to t2.