The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 17

People, etc THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SECTION Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1984 This comedy risk was good 'Move' ,3 Celestine John Carman Sibb Negotiations started to get Jacksons here By Maureen Downey SIM Writer Pull out your sequined white glove and turn up the volume on your "Thriller" album. The latest word is that he really may be coming. Rumors that Michael Jackson intends to bring his Victory Tour '84 extravaganza to Atlanta began this weekend when a local radio station announced the city was included in an expanded itinerary. While both the Omni and Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium said they had not been contacted to hold dates, a tour spokesman said negotiations are indeed under way.

"We are negotiating to bring the tour to Atlanta, although nothing is finalized," said spokesman Jim Murray Tuesday. "The tour ends in November, so we may be in Atlanta very quickly." Murray said the stadium was probably the only site the tour would consider in Atlanta. Because of the need for large seating capacities, the tour has been restricted to outdoor arenas with the exception of New York's Madison -Square Garden. "And we lost money on that so I don't think we'd consider an indoor concert in the Omni," he said. It's Your Move: 9.30 tonight, WXIA Channel 1 1 "It's Your Move" is a new situation comedy that actually lives by its wits.

It doesn't ask you to cozy up to it or to shake your belly at crude physical humor. It earns its laughs with a razor of a script and a fine cast. It's also the most sardonic TV show since the ill-fated "Empire" last season. The trick here is to take an obnoxious TV cliche the cute, precocious kid and throw it at the audience in the form of a wicked curveball. Jason Bateman stars as Matthew Burton, a 14-year-old whose I.Q.

is matched only by his determination to harass and swindle his sister, his schoolmates and his neighbors. He's a criminal genius trapped in an adolescent body. He's a younger, non-violent version of Alex, the anti-hero of "A Clockwork Orange." As the premiere episode begins, Matthew is preparing for his latest scam, his annual sale of term papers to other teenagers. And just for kicks, he's stolen the diary of his 16-year-old sister (Tricia Cast) and revealed its intimate contents to his school chums. "Gee," one of Matthew's friends charm.

In fact he ups the ante when he starts to date Matthew's divorced mother (Caren Kaye). She, incidentally, is the only character who is unfailingly conned by Matthew. But then, he has the habit of slipping some of his profits into her purse. The kid's dot a bad. "It's Your Move" challenges convention because it doesn't try to be lovable.

Matthew Burton isn't a kid you'd care to invite onto your lap. I hated the pilot episode for 10 minutes or so, until I realized that I was laughing along with a show that was taking some risks. Bateman, who has had previous roles on "Silver Spoons" and "Little House on the Prairie," is perfectly cast as a small-scale schemer forced to endure the lesser intellects of adults and other nuisances. He is one child star who seems to understand exactly what makes his character funny. Bateman and Garrison jibe well as the evenly matched comedy antagonists, and the rest of the cast is equally in tune with the unusually sharp script by the show's creators, Michael Moye and Ron Leavitt If the writing holds up, the other elements are here for a successful series.

says, "I wish I had a sister to torture." "Ah, use your imagination," Matthew replies. "You've got a grandmother." An empty apartment across the hall is crucial to Matthew's various schemes, serving as a repository for the term papers and other valuables. But the building manager, who regards Matthew and his pals as "demons from hell," spoils it by renting the place "while you were asleep in your crypt." The new neighbor is Norman Lamb (David Garrison), a bachelor and aspiring writer. A battle of wits ensues, with Matthew trying to drive Norman from the apartment, even as he unctuously greets the new neighbor with a handshake and these words: "Allow me to ex- tend to you a Golden State welcome to this paradise of the West Coast" Norman isn't fooled by the phony Cass of '34 pans fo meef My friend Lulu Croft, who once labored in this vineyard, working very hard to improve the public image of The Atlanta Constitution, and then went off to do the same for the Army at Fort McPherson, is looking for 82 women who lived in Atlanta and were graduated from Girls High School in 1934. She asked my help and yours.

It seems that the class of '34 is having its 50th reunion at the Ansley Golf Club from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 13, and this group of 82 changed their names or moved or are otherwise out of touch. Lulu and Jean Chalmers (Mrs.

Walter A. Smith), also a member of the class and an alumnus of The Atlanta Journal, are very eager to reach them. The list is too long to carry here, beginning with Norris Bagwell, Anne Baird and Lynette Barrow, running on downthrough Ef fie Crane, Christi-ann Dugger, Jaqueline Reeves, Eleanor Rexford and ending with Marjorie Woodbury and Lila Woodruff. But if you know of any 1934 Girls' High grad who hasn't received word of that reunion, call or write Jean Chalmers Smith at 1170 Mount Paran Road, N.W., Atlanta 30327, 237-4455, or Lulu Croft at 2061 Kenwood Place S.E., Smyrna 30080, 435-3086. Set life's course Oddly enough, Jean changed the course of my life.

When I came to Atlanta job-hunting I had my heart set on working for The Constitution, which was famous 1 even in south Alabama and much admired by my father. W.R. (Pop) Hines, the late city editor, said he didn't need" me. ASO requests lease Sllllllft fm of Chastain Park mmm By Gayle White SMfWrlMr The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra may lease the Chastain Park Amphitheater from the city of Atlanta, an arrangement that would give the symphony control of all other acts appearing in the park. Just a few weeks ago, Sym- phony Conductor Robert Shaw referred to the amphitheater as "an acoustical atrocity" and an "unmitigated source of frustra-; i despair 'in finusiclans IllliiPiilllil (He later changed his SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR Robert Shaw I i permanent summer home.

s. At a preconcert dinner husband, who worked for the Associated Press, said I might as well apply to The Journal and hope that I would do such an outstanding job The Constitution would hire me away. I went to see their city editor, earlier this month, Conductor Shaw told his audience the orchestra needs a new summer Fred Moon, and he noted that I was a female and promptly said a re home so it can stop playing sounding "No!" "trash in Chastain park. In a three-page statement What did he have against women reporters? I put the question LANNA SWINDLERStart Inside Mable Thomas Simpson St. office is a clutter of Jesse Jackson portraits and political posters meekly, as befits a job seeker.

He pointed to Jean Chalmers and Wal released later, Shaw wrote that not all the music played by the orchestra at Chastain and Piedmont parks in the summer is "trash." He added that the setting, and not the music, was the ter Smith, who were deep in conver sation across the room. Able Mable Thomas wants to "They fall in lover he shouted. "I won have people falling in love in my newsroom! Jean and Walter were married and moved to Washington, where he live up to her campaign label covered politics for The Journal. I went to work for The Constitution, which historically has had few biases. I'm not sure where Fred Moon went, but we later, became playing there.

But, Tuesday, symphony, executive president J. Thomas Bacchetti appeared before the Atlanta City Council's Human Resources committee to request the council allow lease negotiations that would turn the amphitheater over to the orchestra. The committee delayed action on the request "The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra earns over half of what it earns in the metropolitan area during the 10-week summer season in Chastain," Bac-chetti said. "We have no immediate possibilities of moving anywhere else. We're going to be at Chastain for the forsee-able future." Shirley Cooks, director of the city's Bureau of Cultural Af-.

fairs, expressed support for the lease arrangement "It's fundamentally in the city's interest to have the symphony have, opportunities to generate more, revenue," she said. "And, it's Important that the City of Atlanta show support for the Bacchetti said that although the symphony officials, would weed out entertainment "inappropriate" to the Chastain setting, private promoters would still have plenty of opportunities to book acts in the amphitheater. Because the orchestra will derive additional revenue from subleasing the amphitheater, "It's in their best interest to have Chastain used as much as possible," Ms. Cooks said. She added that the possible lease arrangment is "a short-term solution" both to the orchestra's need for revenue and its officials' desire for a great friends.

High academic standards So much for the personal digression. Now for Girls High. If you are a newcomer to Atlanta, you have missed the fame of this great institution, which was celebrated primary problem. He wrote that the orchestra needs a summer home "wherein the members of the orchestra can create the kinds of disciplined sounds for which they've trained since youth." He referred to the "shells of Chastain Park and Piedmont Park" as "acoustical atrocities, the recurrent use of which whittles away at symphonic" disciplines of ensemble, intona- tion and balance The symphony had planned to build a new summer home in Alpharetta, but those plans fell through. Fulton County officials have ordered a study of the.

southern part Of the county as. a site of a possible summer Ms. Cooks said she hoped the city's cooperation with the symphony in plans for Chastain would help keep the orchestra- inside the city limits. "I think the symphony understands they need visibility and viability in the she said. "They need to stay here." throughout the country for the qual often, they'll tell you.

Maybe that had an effect. Miss Thomas says, but the election came down to a more basic concern of the district's voters in her view. Though she still respects Mrs. Hamilton's contributions, Miss. Thomas says' the incumbent lost touch with the voters and just didn't provide as much old-fashioned constituent service as peo-.

pie wanted. "It can happen to says Miss Thomas, "but I hope to not let it happen To that end, the new legislator has vowed to give her west Atlanta district which includes the Atlanta University Center area, Vine City and West End full-time representation and has Set out on an ambitious course emphasizing constituent service with the unbounded energy of youth. See MABLE, Page 9-B By Keith Graham A steady stream of visitors pours into the rambling white frame house on Simpson Street Neighborhood children and adults, many just others needing help, they, walk into a cluttered office filled with 'worn furniture and decorated with portraits of the Rev. Jesse. Jackson, tacked-up newspaper clippings and political posters, and they ask to see Mable Thomas.

Able Mable, they call her, the 26-year-old representative-elect for Georgia's 31st House district Some of them don't understand that Miss Thomas won't take office until January, but never mind. She smiles and greets them as though each was a best friend and listens willingly to whatever they have to say. "I just love it," Miss Thomas confides. "I love the people thing." One of the youngest members of the Georgia General Assembly come January, Miss Thomas pulled a major upset in the. Sept 4 primary runoff, defeating 77-year-old Grace Hamilton.

Mrs. Hamilton was not only an 18-year legislator bidding for her 10th consecutive term. She was also the first black woman ever elected to the Georgia House and the woman who has served in the General Assembly for the longest period of time. Earlier, Miss Thomas who faces no Republican opposition in November had knocked off two other strong primary challengers: Sandra Robert-, son, a respected anti-hunger and Larry Dobbs, who had the backing of his distant former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. In their wisdom, politicos list lots of reasons why Mable Thomas beat Grace Hamilton.

Mrs. Hamilton was vulnerable because she had violated the interests of the Black Caucus too ity of its academic standards. It later went coeducational and became Roosevelt High School, appro-oriatelv enoueh because Franklin D. Roosevelt took his campaign for president there in 1932. "We students were lined in front of the school to wave at him as he passed slowly by in an open touring car," Lulu recalled.

"His party stopped briefly, and the president-to-be was presented a bouquet of roses from the student body." Depression-years students, these young women walked or rode double-decker buses to school, wore $1.99 leather oxfords, feasted on 5- cent Hershey bars and were gradu ated in mousseline de soil frocks, which cost $9.95 They wore white No big gift is $65,000 steer kid pumps, costing $3.50 with a pair oi chiffon hose thrown in. They skipped the annual that year because tew people naa tne money to buy it Many famous people besides the campaigning Roosevelt visited the school and were interviewed by stu dents, including Lawrence Tibbett, the opera star, aviator Amelia Ear- it II 4 1 ,0 i 4k 1 a hart, comedian Eddie Cantor, dancer Ruth St. Denis and author Richard necklace, may catch your eye. Described as "sunlight from the earth," the graduated, pear-shaped yellow diamonds total more than 67 carats. Round diamonds add another 45 carats.

The range of hues, from champagne to cognac, is yours for 4 Perhaps you'll linger over the page describing the floor-length ermine coat with "clouds of white fox" at the neck and the cuffs. It's decorated with oodles of black-tipped ermine tails. It's a one-of-a-kind coat at a one-of-a-kind cost $50,000. You'll also find: For the home, coffee and tea services commissioned from 11 architects. The one shown in the catalog is sterling silver accented by blue-glazed aluminum, Bake-lite and mock ivory.

The service, at is one of a limited edition of 99. For the hearth, a spotted-dog armchair created by American folk artists. The solid-pine chair with dog faces decorating each arm is $450. For a party, a robotic butler, who also dons a Santa suit appropriate for the seasonThe 4-foot, inflatable robot (really a balloon on wheels) will pass out drinks or gifts through the magic of remote control. It sells for $95.

Since the store's, philosophy is "the value of a gift lies imits appropriateness rather than in its value," N-M offers four pages of gifts under $10 and eight pages of items under $25. The Christmas book is mailed to customers who have been busy with their N-M charge cards, but you may order one for $4 from the service desk at the Lenoi Square store. By Martha Woodham SiXt WrHtr With the usual fanfare, Nelman-Mar-cus mailed its Christmas catalog this week, filled with pretty, unusual and pretty expensive goodies. The His and Her gifts, that N-M tradition, are for animal lovers only this year. For him, a desk disguised as a full-size longhorn steer.

Artist Michael Speaker created "Big Red," which has eight exotic woods in 23,000 one-inch tiles applied over a wooden framework. Open Big Red's side to reveal a writing desk. For her. Speaker will re-create her favorite horse using the same technique. A desk or a vanity folds out from its side.

His is one-of-a-kind, at her price depends on the specifics of the order. The trinket on page 24, a diamond Halliburton. Lulu and her twin sister, the late Lillian Croft, worked on the school paper, the Girls High Times, and were often downtown soliciting ads from the local merchants. They loved the theater operators because even if they didn't buy an ad they invited the girls to see the movie free. A lide of Big Red's beef is a writing desk.