The Daily Mail from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 30

QCTOfcEfc Ijg Barbara Minkus Knows Witch One She Is ELEVEN 1 I' NEW YORK (NEA) Three years ago, when Barbara Minkus was a guest on The Virginia Graham Show for the first time, she was scared. Miss Graham is a strong willed woman whoso personality challenges guests on her talk show to say who they are and what they stand for. Barbara Minkus was scared because she couldn't answer either of Miss a a a 8. She ducked subsequent appearances the show, out of fear. Today, Barbara is no longer scared.

She does the Graham Show happily and a glowingly of Miss Graham's strength. The change took years, a TV series and a lot of introspection. Now, finally, Barbara Minkus knows who she is. She is, among other things, a regular on Love, American Style and a featured player on the new ABC-TV children's series, Curiosity Shop. She plays Gittle the Bumbling Witch on the kiddle show, a character she describes as "mod." "She's actually the Mary Poppins of the yiddish world," Barbara quipped, "She is a delightful fantasy character," Barbara explained.

"Gittle really is a bumb' ler. If she does have any witches' powers, she is as surprised as anyone else when they work." The children's program has a ptured Barbara's enthusiasm. "I believe in Curiosity Shop and in Chuck Jones (the creator producer of the show). It stimulates children to 'want to find out the answers to questions. It is the best kind of entertainment: entertainment as encouragement to the audience." The character of Gittle as she appears en the show is a synthesis of the original concept of the witch and the witch as Barbara sees her.

"When they lirst showed me the costume I would be wearing, I hated it," said Barbara "It was early Polish com plete svith babooshka. I went in to Chuck Jones and complained. 'I'm I told him, 'and that costume just isn't for me. I want something young and frilly and Jones handad her a pad and pencil and told her to draw the costume she wanted. She did.

It is a culotte dress, with ruffles at the throat, wrists and hnm, with puffed She has buckled shoes and printed hose to match the outfit and even had a special pair ol glasses made to- fit her new witch image, "I would have done the role without blind glasses I'm as a bat. So I went to my optometrist and I said 'Norman 1 Norman is the name of my optometrist -'Norman, I need glasses ever." the tinicsl Norman came through with antique glass frames that cost her $25 a rather modest price for witch's glasses. "I've reached the i where I really love my said Barbara. I don't want anymore. stardom because I couldn't handle It.

What I want is to believe in what I'm doing and to have some time for other things. "Right now, I'm a i courses in psychology, philosophy and speedreading at UCLA. 'I'm planning to travel. I'm going to Australia soon and I'll be in London in March." The girl who was frightened of Virginia Graham three years ago smiled self confidently. "I have a wondcrfu! life In California.

I used to be a New Yorker, but I moved to the coast to do Love, American Style. Now it's home. I have my friends, my work, my classes, a house of my and a dog named Travia. "In Los Angeles, you can go one of two ways: you can go in for nutsiness or you can use all the sun, time and space to get to know yourself." Barbara Minkus chose the latter and she's not afraid my own BARBARA MINKUS Family Rivalry Pays Off Giant Step Performers A young group called The Guild comprUIng (I. to and Oraobor and Joanne Powel! will HM muilc.

on the Saturday, Oct. colorcast of NBC Television Network's now children's "Tako a Grant Step" a.m.). The topic to be discuss- od on the program Is money. Barry Sullivan would have you believe that he's engaged in spirited professional rivalry with his daughter, actress Jenny Sullivan. And he points out that his guest starring role in "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law" on the ABC Television Network Thursday, Oct.

28 (10-11 p.m.), came along at just the right time to keep him in the running. "Last year was a even," he concedes with great show of churlishness. "The brat I'll call her that because I'm watching my language did some TV guest spots and topped it off by working with Walter Mat- thau and Lee Grant In 'Plaza She was the bride'who locked herself in the bathroom. Her entrance had the greatest build-up in the his tory of show business. Well, I did a few shots on scries, and made "The Price" with George C.

Scott. "This year I had the edge. Until that black day when she called me up and announced she was going to work with Uta Hagen in the movie oi Tom Tryon's best seller, 'The "You see, Uta Hagen is something special to Jenny and me, I was there the opening night of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Arthur Hill and Uta tore the stage apart, I've worn out two albums ol the play. Jenny la ai crazy about their pcrfor mances as I am. "Well, when Jenny droppec her little bombshell I tried, as tactfully as I could, to give her a realistic perspective.

Yelling a little, so she'd be sure to catch every word of fatherly counsel, I said, 'Look, I've never worked with Uta Hagen. And I've paid my dues in this business. Where do you get off, forcing your way in ahead of your old "This this serpent's tooth had the gall to laugh. And hang up. "Well, call it fate, or being the seventh son of a seventh son, whatever it was only three days later that I was able to make a very satisfying phono call.

I told her, 'move over on that cloud. Monday I start working with Arthur Barry smiled, and shifted from raconteur gear. "I thought it would be fun working with Arthur," said, "And it was. Class all the way. Good script, bright director.

Producers who know what they're doing. "I play a hotshot lawyer who's teamed up with Owen Marshall' in defending a couple of college Kids charged with murder. And we really lock horns on how to conduct the defense. "The good ones I think of Bette Davis, George Scott, Arthur Hill five you so much in you couldn't goof it up it you tried, "I think maybe thcreTl be some sparks Hying. I'm look- Ing forward to toeing tt.

With he added singly "a certain uppity young actress.".