Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 27

r-' DaUg Press Broadcast News WPTG in need of donations from viewers fter almost two years of providing local news on cable, Gilinda Rogers is running out of money. For 'Family' co-star James Earl Jones, distinctive dialect not a big deal By Barry Koltnow Orange County Register "A Family Thing-is rated PG-1 3 for profanity and brief nudity. Regal's Kiln Creek Cinema 14, Williamsburg Crossing, Cinemark Movies 10, Newmarkets Movie reviews. D3-4. he telephone rings.

Darth Vader's on the line. Either that, or war has broken out again and someone has CNN blaring in the background. A conversation with James Earl Jones, who stars with Robert Duvall in the film "A Family Thing," which opens this weekend, is a trip down memory lane. It is a rush of images, from "Star Wars" to "Field of Dreams" to "The Lion King." It is the reliving of those frightening moments during the Persian Gulf War. It is a visit from The Voice.

That voice, possibly the best-known in the world except for maybe Frank Sinatra's, has been very, very good to the actor. Since the early 1980s, when he started doing voice-overs on )r Uf I i. commercials, his has become the most distinctive voice on the airwaves. There is no mistaking that voice. But it wasn't always that way.

In fact, Jones said he suffered as a stutterer during his childhood. I never thought about having a great voice because I was so busy just trying to talk," the actor said from his home 60 miles north of New York City. "The quality of my voice was not important to me at the time; if I came up with a speaking voice I would have been just as happy. The voice you hear now evolved gradually and, frankly, I never really noticed when it happened. It was no big deal.

It's not even something I think much about today. "That's not something an actor can become aware of," he added. "Once an actor starts listening to his own voice, the audience stops listening." The audience has been listening to Jones since his celebrated Broadway debut in "The Great White Hope," when critics compared his performance to that of Marlon Brando's in "A Streetcar Named Desire." He not only won a Tony for the performance but, in 1970, when he reprised the role on the big screen, was nominated for an Oscar. He won a second Tony for "Fences" in the mid-1980s and has picked up four Emmys along the way. In his latest film effort, he plays a Chicago cop whose life is turned upside down by a visit from a white man (Duvall) who has just learned that the men had the same mother.

Duvall's character, a man from rural Arkansas, discovers upon the death of the woman he thought was r'y Jj Rogers, whose family also owns WPTG-FM in Williamsburg, launched First News" in May 1994 with $200,000 of her own money. The program has been renamed "Williamsburg's Local News" and airs at 6 p.m. weekdays on Channel 21 in Williamsburg and Channel 26 in James City and York counties. It's also simulcast on WPTG. Recently, the show went on an abbreviated schedule because of insufficient funds.

The operation also needs money build a new set and replace some of the audio equipment, she says. I Rogers has been making an on-air plea for support from the business community and investigating the possibility 6f a low-cost federal loan. She's also asking each viewer to contribute $2.90 annually as their share to keep the station on the air. Her goal is $20,000. "We think that's a pretty good bargain," says Rogers about the viewers' contributions.

Contributions can be sent to Williamsburg's Local News, 4007 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg 23188. GET THE POINT. 94.9 "The Point" has entered the Hampton Roads radio market. WJQI-FM (94.9), formerly known as 94.9," has abandoned its soft adult contemporary format for one that encompasses up-and-coming artists and i rock hits of the '80s. ifv- "We're trying to capitalize on the popularity of afl the alternative artists that 1 have made it into the mainstream," says general manager Jerry Del Core.

The station's play list mixes songs by contemporary groups such as Hootie the Blowfish, Collective Soul, Dave JMatthews Band and Gin Blossoms with older bands such as R.E.M., The Police and Duran Duran. Del Core places the format in between WKOC-FM (93.7), "The Coast," which plays alternative rock, and WWDE-FM (101.3), which focuses on the pop sounds of adult contemporary music. It also offers WKOC listeners a place to go now that "The Coast" airs talk show Howard Stern in the mornings. WJQI didn't make it into the top 10 in the latest Arbitron ratings. The station ranked 14th in the Fall '95 quarter a 2.7 share.

Two announcers lost their jobs in the switch. Bruce Garroway anchored the 6-10 a.m. shift, while Mike Anthony 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Del Core is accepting applications for these slots.

Until then, the station will be playing music without announcers. RUCKER ABOARD. Jeff Rucker has joined the weather staff at WTKR-TV, Channel 3. The Navy meteorologist was added to the station last month as a part-time weekend anchor. He has been a weather intern at WTKR since last fall, says (news director Barbara Hamm.

Meanwhile, the station continues its search for someone to replace weather-caster Duane Harding. One more candidate remains to be interviewed. "We're close to a decision," says Hamm. CARLO SUBS. Until a replacement for Carol Hoffman can be found, Christy 'Carlo has been filling in on the weekday 'morning news desk at WAVY-TV, Channel 10.

The Tufts University graduate came to 'the station last August and has been anchoring the 6 and 1 1 p.m. newscasts on weekends. Before joining WAVY, she worked as an anchor and reporter at KHBS-TV in Fort Smith, Ark. his mother that he has a black half-brother and he's motivated to seek him out. "I loved the script and the characters, but the chance to work with Robert was enough to sell me on the project," Jones said.

"When you work with him, there is no time wasted on nonsense. He is direct and has a complete lack of self-conscious ness, which is the goal of any actor. It is a treat to perform with him." As for the message of the movie, Jones says there is none. All films are subjective and they should arouse a feeling in you, not a thought," he explained. "Once you leave the theater, then the feeling can turn to thought.

It's the journey, rather than the statement, that is important in a film. "Too many films that deal with ethnic themes try to pound out a message but they end up two-dimensional with a cardboard story like "Mississippi Burning." "If there is any message in this film, it is that Robert's character does not really change. He starts out a bigot, but a straight-shooter, and that's why people like him. The only thing that changes is that he's a little less of a bigot by the end. "He doesn't suddenly try to be a black guy; that would be false and two-dimensional.

In real life, color does not define who we are. And that is what this film is trying to say." Please see Jones02 James Earl Jones, left, and Robert Duvall star as long-lost half brothers in "A Family Thing." Courtesy of United Pictures An Olympic openiBg Kings Dominion soars with new SkyFlyer ride. Kings Dominion directions and hours cf operation. D2. IZZY, will offer a brand of silliness kids can't resist.

When the Williamsburg theme park opens its 21st season at 10 a.m. today, the colorful, highly abstract mascot of the 1996 Olympic Games will be strolling through Busch Gardens' nine European-style hamlets. And on April a new ride If you have a tip for Broadcast News, contact Nicholson at 247-4794. called "Wild IZZY" will make its debut. "Wild IZZY" attempts to recreate the manic, mischievous energy of its namesake, offering a maze of revolving dips and unexpected turns intended to appeal to both children and adults.

To promote the new attraction as well as the Atlanta eames themselves Busch Gar- "Wild IZZY" debuts April at Busch Gardens. Courtesy of Busch Gardens 1 -y u7 dens plans to bring in a variety of past and present Olympic athletes The Daily Press looks back at: MARCH 30, 1947. The horse and buggy days had their speeders too, and In August, the series will present performances by Kurt Thomas' Gymnastics America, a professional gymnastics troupe. Norquist said Busch Gardens set an. attendance record last season.

But the park's parent company, Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks, doesn't release specific numbers for competitive reasons. The attraction expects 1996 to be another banner year. "I think it's a trend for us," Norquist said. The 360-acre park offers more than 30 rides and attractions including "Escape From Pompeii," which opened last year, and four roller coasters. Other new features at Busch Gardens this season include: "King Arthur's Challenge," a 3-D simulator ride that depicts a journey through a legendary castle.

"Funiculi, Funicula!" an Italian music show at Theatre di San Marco. It will include eight vocalists and a live orchestra. "The World of Birds," a show for wildlife fanciers, will debut at the Feathered Follies Theatre. Busch Gardens employs more than 3,000 permanent and part-time workers, Norquist said. Water Country USA, which opens May 1 1, is affiliated with the park but operates at a different site.

SO Busch Gardens' focus on 1996 summer games the city of Newport News was hard put to enforce a speed limit 'varying from six miles in mid-town to J1896-1996 III) By Sam McDonald Daily Press Directions: Busch Gardens is located off Route 60 in Williamsburg. From 1-64 West, take exit 242A and follow signs to the park. Hours: Starting today, the park will be open weekends 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Easter week April 6-1 4 the park will be open daily. Regular daily operation begins May 13.

Admission: $29.95 for ages 7 and up, $22.95 for ages 3 to 6. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Parking is $4. Information: 253-3350 throughout the summer to perform for visitors. Why the strong Olympic tie-in? Busch Gardens is the official theme park sponsor for the games.

"We're really celebrating our Centennial Olympic Games participation," said Margaret Norquist, a Busch Gardens spokeswoman. "It's a good way to get people interested. Even if they can't go to Atlanta, they can get a feel for what it's like." To that end, the park will present an Olympic tribute series in the Royal Palace Theatre. It kicks off in June with an ice show called "The Power of Dream." YEARS OF NEWS eight miles usch Gardens might not be the same after meeting the goofy, blue, bug-eyed beast with a rainbow tail and lightning bolts for in the outlying sectors. Newport News had a city ordinance to regulate the speed of horses that were driven or ridden through the streets.

eyebrows. But the good folks there are betting that the sneaker-wearing creature, dubbed.