The Lawton Constitution from Lawton, Oklahoma • Page 22

22 THE LAWTON CONSTITUTION, Fridtay, July 8, 1977 Groupie Galdky Follows Its Star By ANDREA HERMAN' Copier Nm OS Teen-ager Julie Geveshausen thinks nothing of shelling out $1,500 and flying cross- country to New York. She books into the Waldorf. Orders S40 worth of gardenias (later to be given away). Hires a lirno (one way, $20) that delivers her lo the theater! And there in a seat that's been reserved for three months Julie sits mesmerized watching her idol perform. An Elton John freak? Or maybe a Mick Jagger buff? Not so.

JULIE IS a Beverly Sills groupie. And she's not alone. She's one of hundreds who come to Beverly bearing ginger leis and carnations, fat autograph books and scrapbooks crammed full of opera memorabilia. They're hooked. They're all ages.

All styles. They're a cult of devotees who follow the prima diva from city to city, performance to performance. It's a colorful fan They-spend lots of time together backstage. Throughout the years many-, have befriended one another. In fact.

Beverly's groupies are a kind of roving-nationwide opera guild. THEY DISCUSS production. Trade off souvenirs. Try to top one another when it cornea to stories about Bubbles. (Beverly's nickname is Bubbles.) They wait endless hours for her.

Page-boy cherubs in sparkle shirts and jeans. Big butter-and-egg men. Advertising copywriters and housewives, retired commanders and waiters and college students. One, with hair teased forward over his brow, wears a lavender embroidered T-shirt, "I LOVE YOU, Beverly," it says. His friend is in a velour striped pullover emblazoned with "Beverly Sills is a Good High." THEY, LIKE dozens of others, hang around her backstage dressing room.

They send postcards and telegrams and chocolates and even porcelain 'OKLAHOMA! 1 CO-STARS. The familiar a a of Laurey and Curly, portrayed by Debbie Rayson of New York, and Duane Jeffers of Jenks, are brought to life in the Discoveryland production of "Oklahoma!" The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical alternates with Kermit Hunter's historical drama, "Dust On Her Petticoats," through Aug. 20. The Discoveryland Amphitheater, located near Tulsa, opened last season. DANCE latin American Community Club Featuring the "Corona Brothers" Saturday, July 9:00 p.m.

1:00 a.m. Women's Exhibit Bldg. (Near Coliseum) Aetin. at Door Only B.Y.O.B. Large Swimming Pool NOW OPEN! 'Call about our 2 month special.

MAGIC TRIM HEALTH SPA Ovr 9Hi in Lowten. Formerly Elain Powers. 52nd Gore 357-4976 BILL BULLDOGGER, Col. Bailey C. Hanes, University of Oklahoma Press, 207 17.95.

Only one rodeo event can be traced to an originator. The event is steer wrestling, or bulldogging, and its inventor was Bill Pickett, a black cowboy from Texas who could bring down a steer by sinking his teeth into the animal's upper lip. In "Bill Pickett, Bulldogger," pub- by the University of Oklahoma Press, Col. Bailey C. Hanes has traced 'the cowboy's life from birth in 1871 as the oldest of 13 children of former slaves to his death in a corral accident '80 years later.

In the intervening decades, Pickett had become internationally famous as the star of the "Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show. The author sorts out facts and legends about the "Dusky Demon" to create a portrait of a life of incredible physical daring. Pickett, on foot and unarmed, once overwhelmed an en- rmged fighting bull in a Mexican Even his death was in the cowboy tradition with his boots on. In recog- 'nition of his achievements and cour- Pickett was elected in 1971 to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, becoming the 'first black cowboy to be so memoriallied: Hanes also is the author of "Bill Doolin, Outlaw O.T.," previously published by the OU Press.

Mario Thomas To Star In Her First Film ANGELES A a i 'thomas will star in ABC's "It Hap- jfcned One ChrtotoiM." her first rno- Jjon picture for letovigion. The film, set for a Christmas season flowing, also stars Cloris Leachman, jlrson Welles and Wayne Rogers. It is a remake of "It's a Wonderful life," jptta role pjayed by Jimmy Stewart being for i Thomas jfcy screenwriter Lionel Chet- ROAST BEEF ONLY FRES Try this budget gtretcher on for size for 970, bite into our delicious roast beef sandwich heaped high with, U.S.D.A: roast beef and served on a buttered, toasted sesame seed bun. Add a sack of fries and you've got a meal that'll satisfy the heartiest appetite! When it comes to value say Hello Hardees! Hardeer Charbroi! Burgers. 4313 N.W.

CachtfrRd. (Offer Expires July 15, 1977) 303 S. Sheridan eggs. (Beverly collects Any only her once before." remarked kind.) One fan neediepoimed an 8 foo't wall hanging depicting every major role in Beverly's career. -Another ordered ginger leis flown in from Hawaii that were delivered backstage before each California opening nieht.

AND STILL another commissioned an oil portrait of Beverly (taken from old photos). It hangs in an alcove surrounded by tiny theater lights, according to one out-of-town groupie. They adore her. They love the way she smiles when she sees them. Her incredible good spirits after a day of interviewing and rehearsing.

The way she singles them out. "She knew I had my hair cut. I had Another recalled how Beverly could performances he ed. "Where wete you when' San Francisco?" she" asked him. Groupies can rattle off every role Beverly's played.

Her Her Rosina. Her Pamira. Ask them. THEY'LL TEfcL you what she wore, wiih whom she played, the dates and the cities. Many can tell you what Beverly likes' to eat (strawberries), her a i flower (gardenias), color (yellow), what makes her giggle (just about everything), and what makes her sentimental (people).

So is all this some kind of fanatical worship? sharply responded one fan. OU Sets Music Theater Workshop NORMAN (Special) The first Music Theatre Workshop to be offered at the University of Oklahoma by the School of Music will be held on the Norman campus Monday, 1 1 through July 22. Jane Birkhead, director of OU's Music a 'is in charge. Also on the faculty are i a Buchwald and Gregory Kunesh, both members of the School of Drama faculty; Charles Suggs II, interim technical director of OU Music Theatre, and Sandy Williams, graduate assistant, in drama. The workshop wall include sessions on lighting and set design, taught by Suggs: instruction in costume design and makeup by Buchwald: production by Kunesh: tips on improvisation by Miss i i a and lessons in directing and scene production by "The i be especially helpful to music a i said Miss Birkhead, a interested in a i more about theatre is welcome to attend." "It's no more absurd a being a movie star's fan or idolizing a sports figure or buying baseball season tick- You just, keep buying sqmething you like, right? it and you love it." This fan followed Beverly to six cities last year and saw all performances twice "or more." When he saw her in "Siege of Corinth" in Dallas went wild over he couldn't contain himself.

DURING CURTAIN call he kept throwing flowers but couldn't fling them on stage, since the orchestra pit in the Dallas Music Hall is so wide. With a Little inspiration and a lot of moxie, he shoved through the barricade surrounding the pit, ran up the set of stairs flanking the stage and handed the bouquet to Beverly. "The audience blew its mind. So did Beverly. But she loved it." Why flowers? "It's a tradition in opera." the fan said.

"And the right flower to throw is the carnation. It flies well." And if you donlt happen to have flowers? Well, groupies tear up their programs and make Sirloin Stockade Start with vanilla ice much as the cup will hold. Then begin piling it on! Chocolate, -coconut, chopped nuts, and more! Make it any way you like it! A sundae creation of your very own for just 19t! A great way to top off a real steak at irloin Stockade! Great Steak Country Sirloin Stockade 3160 W. Cache Road 1508 W. Gore THE FAMILY STEAKHOUSE Lawton Rangers' I 39th Annual STARTS 8 P.M.

EACH EVENING RODEO 4 Miles east on Hwy 7 and mile south Good Stats, Acres of Parking BEST COWBOYS AND ROUGHEST RODEO STOCK IN THE WORLD TOP COWBOYS CONTISTINO FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RATING M4 Ion, (RCA) Contractor AND PIONEER CELEBRATION Southwest Oklahoma's Largest Rodeo! AUGUST 3-4-5-6th TOP RODEO COWBOYS COMPETING FOR 6,000 Prize Money Calf Roping Brahma Bull Riding Saddle Bronc Riding Rodeo Clowns for fun and thrills Famous Rodeo Acts Kids' Calf Scramble Girls Only Friday Barrel Racing Bull Dogging Bareback Bronc Riding TICKETS ON SALE GET lCKETS AT REDUCED PRICES from: Ki' wanii Club membe'l Of Boor and Store, No, 6 four Wttfefn 2602 Road, Low ten Poil, 1706 Rood, 3210 Lme, G'bjon'i OilCOvnl clifft book Store. Downtown and Rd. Sq Jy Lawton YMCA, and Adm. ricluti Hotel LowtofWan ktbbr- Fort SIM 4770' Hwttll. FREE SQUARE DANCE TUES.

AUG. 2ND 8:30 PJM. fr.nl cl City Hall, ip.niortd by Pion.tr Wom.n'i Club RODEO PARADE AUG. 3RD. Downtown, liwton EACH EVENING!.