Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 11

Ms Abby 58 Business 6B Comics 4B Leisure 38 TV 2B tht Pmt, Binghamton, N.Y., Nov. 4, 1977 Laughter is more than just medicine Gallery features aeimal art OnThe Town etchings of Michael Jacques, widely acclaimed Boston printmaker. His print, "Walrus," is an affectionate view of a creature of personality and individuality. Jungle beasts come alive through the vibrant silkscreen prints of Gerald Gars-ton, which include a zebra composition entitled "Enchanted Forest" Other artists participating in the show are Stan Washburn, Robin Bolton, Allan Jones, Jane Conneen, Juan Calderon, Shirley Penman and David Van Vliet The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The world of animals and birds viewed through the artistic eye is on exhibit through next week at the Caulfield Gallery, 74 Front Binghamton. More than 40 original prints and paintings of animals and birds, ranging from the familiar to the fanciful, are included in the show, which is called "The Enchanting World of Animals and Birds." Nine artists, many of whom are nationally recognized, have contributed paintings, finely executed etchings and colorful silkscreen prints and lithographs. A love of animals is apparent in all the exhibited works, none more so than in the 1 I He who laughs lasts.

Or so say several physicians who have done a study of the medical benefits of laughter. According to an article in the November issue of "Science Digest," there are eight positive health benefits that come from a good chuckle. Herewith: Laughter benefits the lungs. Gears the respiratory system. Provides a healthful emotional outlet Provides an opportunity to discharge superfluous energy.

Combats boredom. Alleviates "social constipation." (Whatever that is. Don't ask me, I'm not the doctor.) Helps combat shyness, tension and worry. Enables mankind to beguile the present in the same way that time dims tragedies or hope brightens the future. So, let's hear it out there har, har, har.

And remember he who laughs last, probably didn't get the joke. 1 p.m. at Kay's Book Studio, 86 Front St. Lietz is teaching in Syracuse and has had his works published in Epoch, the Seneca Review and Poetry Northwest. His newest book is entitled "Taking Stock." ($2, Dreambooks.) '0! mm ft is, 'i'; mm Ticket confusion Seems the Tri-Cities Opera company has been deluged with requests for tickets to the Dec.

17 concert by Richard Taylor and Jake Gardner. Problem is, the TCO isn't where you get the tickets. The Taylor-Gardner concert is going to be at the Forum. So tickets have to be purchased from the Arena box office, which handles tickets for the Forum shows. Tickets are by mail order only, so calling won't get you anywhere.

The address is Arena Box Office, Post Office Box 1146, Binghamton, N.Y. 13902. Tickets are Tand 16. 4 DAVI T1NN1Y by Michael Jacques Dances in Apple Three dancers from the American Dance Asylum in Binghamton will be performing Monday in New York City at a special charity event organized by Jacqueline Onassis. Arnie Zane, Bill Jones and Lois Welk will perform at the event, which is entitled "A Circus Evening." The performance will be held at Roundabout Theater at 333 W.

23rd St. The local dancers will do a short section of "More Dogs and People Dancing." The full version will be performed Nov. 17, 18, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. at the Dance Asylum located at 28 Frederick St. At the show in New York, the dancers will be with some heavy company.

Among the other acts will be Lily Tomlin, Andy Warhol and Edward Albee. Funds raised will be for the Louis Falco Dance Company. i i Tonight at the O.P. "The Central Park Shieks," a group that the Village Voice has called the best western swing band on the east coast" will perform tonight at 10 p.m. at The Other Place off Bunn Hill Road, Vestal.

Continuing its policy of bringing top-flight bands to the area, the O.P. next week will present two shows, 8:30 and 11 p.m. of one of the newest up-and-coming rock groups around, "Talking Heads." Visiting poet Poet Robert Lietz of Syracuse will give a reading Sunday from 3 to 5 "Cheetah" by Robin Bolton. They'll be gonged tonight a 15 i something to hear 10,000 people shouting at an act to get gonged." While the treatment might seem somewhat heart-Less, Clark said that everyone knows right from the start that they could get gonged. Still, that doesn't keep them from coming in droves.

"It is all volunteer. People understand. I don't think though, that even in their wildest dreams, do they think that they will be an act that gets gonged," said Gark. Why do they do it? Take a chance at what is basically a public humiliation? "Some think that they really do have talent and want a chance to perform. Others do it just for the fun and to get the exposure." "We had a neurosurgeon on one program who did a comedy routine.

I asked him why a man in his "Albrecht describes my personality as frivolous" by Juan Calderon. Sneak Ffeek profession would do something like that. He told me that all his life it had been nothing but study and work and he wanted a chance to have some fun for a change." Some acts do it for the sheer excitement of doing something on stage that they could never get away from in public, although Clark makes sure that the show stays within the bounds of good taste and he has never allowed a sexually explicit act to get on the show. Aside from the bad, bawdy and bizarre, Clark is impressed with the amount of talent just waiting to get their chance. "There is some excellent talent.

From the television Gong Show, more than 50 acts have gone on to professional careers. "I've seen singers as good as any you are likely to hear. But in show business, it is often just a matter of luck whether you make it or not." There is the outside possibility that luck may happen to the winner of tonight's show. The winner will be guaranteed an audition with Chuck Barris for the TV show, if he can make his way to Hollywood. (The local $112.62 first prize would get him about as far as Dubuque.) 1 "People aren't in it really for the money.

When we were talking about what we should have for a prize in Hollywood, Bob Eubanks just pulled what money he had in his pocket, counted it and said why not 1112.62 for the prize." 1 Eubanks, a television game show emcee, is head of Concert Express and a partner of Barris in the Gong Show Roadshow. For Gark, the challenge is to make each show work. It is a matter of timing and proper scheduling of the acts. "Ihave a guy backstage who makes sure the acts are ready," be said. "I've heard that sometime he has to literally push the act out on the stage." Nerves can be a problem for the potential Gong-ee.

At the auditions at the Mall last Saturday, one girl was so wrought up, that she lost her lunch on the Mall floor. Despite the stagefright though, there is something that lurks in all of us, Gark believes, that makes us want to be a star if only for a moment. By GENE GREY There are two types of people in the world: those who want to get gonged and who want to gong. It is this philosophy of survival of the fittest that is at the heart of a sado-masochistic little enterprise entitled "The Gong Show." For those unfamiliar with this minor 20th century phenomenon, "The Gong Show" is a television program seen nationwide each day at 1 p.m. on NBC television.

There is also an evening version syndicated to more than 185 television stations. Tonight at the Arena, a stage version of "The Gong will "present 30 acts, all of them local, to be judged by a panel of area radio personalities. To get those 30 acts, Richard Gark, who serves as master of ceremonies, auditioned 169 acts last Saturday at the Oakdale Mall. During breakfast at the Treadway Hotel Tuesday, Clark said that the large number of potential acts that showed up didn't surprise him in the least. He's done 20 of the shows since the roadshow started a few months ago and he contends that there is a little showbiz in everyone.

"All kinds of people come out, it never surprises me. We've had doctors, lawyers everybody. I will say that the average age of contestants at the Mall was a bit younger than in the other places." Gark, a native of Australia who worked in Canadian radio before going to Hollywood in 1974, said that The Gong Show has turned into a amazingly popular show. It leads the daytime TV ratings, and has made a star out of its creator-host, Chuck Barns (who also gave the world The Newlywed Game and The Dating Game). Clark really believes that no matter how awful an act is, the performer thinks he is terrific.

"I called one guy who auditioned to tell him he was going to be in the show," Gark said, "and the guy said 'yeah, I knew you'd be But he was really, really terrible sang off key." When Clark programs a show, he tries to build a roller coaster effect. "I have a good act, then a real bad act, then another good act. That way the audience starts to anticipate what's going on and has a good time." At a Gong Show, the audience is encouraged to let the panel of four judges know what they think of the act. "I played last week in New Haven and it was really ent Henrik Ibsen's comic-fantasy, "Peer Gynt," this weekend at the theater on the BCC campus. Performances are 8:15 p.m.

tonight, Saturday and Sunday. fmmmm a pyJ ft I ll The Gong Show Roadshow will be at the Arena tonight at 8. Featuring wild, zany, and perhaps even good acts, the show has local judges. All the acts, 30 of them, were selected in an audition last week. Tickts are available at the box office, (see story about the Gong Show on mis page.) The Young Artists series of string quartet performances will continue tonight at 8 p.m.

at the Unitarian Universalis! Church, 183 Riverside Drive. Performing tonight will be the prize-winning Audubon String Quartet from Scranton, where they are in residence at Marywood College. On the bill tonight will be Boccherini's Opus 33, No. Beethovan's Opus 74, and Debussy's String Quartet Tickets may be purchased at the door. Classical guitarist Jim Skinger will perform tonight at 8:15 at the Sears-Harkness Theater of Roberson Center.

Tickets are on sale at the door. Broome Community College will pres DON SLACK The great blues singer-guitarist Muddy Waters appears in concert at SUNY-Binghamton tomorrow night at 8 in the social room of the University Union. Tickets are available at the door. I Richard Clark everyone wants to be a star.