Public Opinion from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania • 6

BEST BET COMING TUESDAY Coming Tuesday: TV networks roll out new shows in summer. Historic Waynesboro picture exhibit, through Aug. 15, Old Jail. atog; ittfe ami I Trip talk MWOimliTl Mr Auditorium was a revival house By JOE ROGERS The Nashville Tennessean The Ryman Auditorium came to life 100 years ago to bring God's salvation to Nashville, Tenn. Roy Acuff, Hank Williams, Cousin Minnie Pearl and the rest of the Grand Ole Opry just expanded that mission to include a little of God's country music and down-home fun for a few decades.

So if you think of the Ryman Mother Church, Old Opry House, whatever you call it only as the former home of twang, you're missing a good chunk of the story. And the man who caused its construction wouldn't be getting his due. Which wouldn't do. His legacy has lasted a century. It rates a full accounting.

Capt. Thomas Green Ryman was, depending on which of the legends surrounding him you choose to believe, a soft-hearted friend of the needy or a notorious rowdy. Or perhaps both. In any event, it's true he operated a steamship line on the lower Ohio and Cumberland rivers, and owned a saloon in Nashville. On May 10, 1885, he attended a Nashville revival hosted by the Rev.

Samuel Porter Jones, hellfire and brimstone dispenser extraordinaire. Some claim Ry-man's intention was to raise a little hell himself at the meeting; if so, the joke was on him. He became intoxicated with the non-liquid Holy Spirit. And consumed by a desire to construct a "tabernacle for all denominations that would be amply large to accommodate the largest crowd." As an interim measure he put up a gospel and temperance hall at 57 Broad Street, which seated 250 people and was open every night. Plans for a more grand building took a big step Feb.

25, 1889, with the Charter of Incorporation for the Union Gospel Tabernacle. By summer the foundation was set; the following spring saw walls six feet high. May 1890 brought the first revival, beneath a tent raised over the incomplete structure. Ryman still was paying interest on construction costs when he died years later. Raising money to pay off the principal was a continuing effort.

As was the saving of souls. The Rev. T. DeWitt Talmadge held a one-night service in 1893 with hundreds turned away; the Rev. B.

Fay Mills followed shortly with another service. In 1896, Dwight L. Moody held forth nightly for two weeks. The next year a convention of the Confederate Veterans Association brought almost 100,000 people to Nashville and occasioned the construction of what since became known as the Confederate Gallery in the building. By 1899 the result could seat 3,755 people and had cost about $100,000.

Capt. Ryman desired that frivolous activities not infect his hall, but not every activity there had a religious bent. In 1892, it housed a lecture on Gannett News Service Ryman Auditorium, now 100, hosted more than the Grand Ole Opry. -t Knoxville Tennessee Jr Memphis Mss. Ala.

If your non-profit group is planning a trip and seats are available, let us know and we'll run the information in the travel section. Tell us the name of the group, where you are going, when you are leaving and a phone number to call to make reservations. Send the information to: TRIP TALK Public Opinion Lifestyle Department P.O. Box 499 Chambersburg 17201 Here are a few: MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.; RICHMOND, Franklin County Chapter, Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees will sponsor a trip to Myrtle Beach with a stop in Richmond Oct. 12-17.

For more information, contact Eva Hoke, 369-3745. SNOW SHOE, POTOMAC MILLS, BERKELEY SPRING: Fortune 55 Seniors Club at Valley Bank and Trust Company will sponsor the following trips: Snow Shoe Ski Resort, Slatyfork, W.Va., Oct. 16-19; Potomac Mills. Woodbridge, Nov. 17; Old Fashioned Christmas at the Country Inn, Berkeley Springs, W.Va., Dec.

9. For information, call Emmett Kessinger, 261-2816, or Marjie Rosenberry, 263-2265, Ext. 231. CATSKILLS, WHEELING: The Golden Age Club will sponsor trips to the Paramount Hotel in the Catskill Mountains, Oct. 9-13, and the Christmas Festival of Lights at Wheeling, W.Va., Dec.

11 and 12. For more information call 263-4385. MORRISTOWN, N.J.; VERMONT: Norland Chapter 3261, American Association of Retired Persons will sponsor trips to the seeing eye dog clinic and an arbpretum in Morristown, N.J., Aug. and Vermont, Sept. 14-18.

For more information call Helen Hornbaker, 264-5855. Newsmakers 600 celebrate singers' wedding MENDHAM, N.J. "lam so happy!" declared Bobby Brown just after marrying Whitney Houston at her estate Saturday. Houston wore a fitted white gown and headpiece with beads framing her face. Later, she slipped into another form-fitting white gown and danced with Brown as guests encircled them.

The two stretched their hands upward and sang: "I want to thank you, Heavenly Father it wouldn't have happened without you." Outside, neighbors lined up to get autographs of guests, who included Gloria Estefan, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jackee, Jasmine Guy, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, Johnny Gill, Blair Underwood and Charles S. Dntton. Only a few witnessed the 35-minute ceremony. At 4:30 p.m., the rest of the 600 guests passed through three security checkpoints and into a huge white tent. The theme was lavender.

Groomsmen wore purple suits; lilac and white orchids streamed from the tent ceiling; the dance floor was lilac and white. Houston, 28, a native of nearby Newark, and Brown, 23, a Boston native, dated for three years. Houston's hits include The Greatest Love of All, How Will I Know? and Saving All My Love. Brown's include My Prerogative and On Our Own. mmm Other wedding bells: Film critic Roger Ebert married lawyer Chaz Hammel-Smith Saturday at Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church, with a reception at the Drake Hotel.

Among guests: Gene and Marlene Siskel (daughters Kate and Callie were flower girls), Studs Terkel, Mike Royko, Eppie Lederer (Ann Landers) and Christie Hefner. USA TODAY Seinfeld, Brando buy homes LOS ANGELES Actors Jerry Seinfeld and Marlon Brando have bought homes in California. Brando bought an $800,000 home owned by actress Kristy McNichol, but it isn't for himself, according to Sunday's Los Angeles Times. "He bought it for a friend," an unidentified source told the newspaper. The source did not identify the friend.

The home, in the San Fernando Valley, has four bedrooms and a tennis court. McNichol, who appears in NBC's Empty Nest, lived in the house for about a year but decided it was too big and listed it in January for $975,000, the newspaper said. She moved back to her former home, also in the San Fernando Valley. Seinfeld's hit show on NBC is set in New York, but the star is heading west. Seinfeld bought a Hollywood Hills home for $3 million, the Times reported Sunday.

The home was built in the 1960s for actor George Montgomery. It has a 55-foot pool and views of downtown and the ocean. AP mmm Today's birthdays: Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, 56: actress Diana Rigg, 54; singer Kim Carnes, 46.

1901 had brought two changes: a new charter, entrusting operation of the building to a civic group; and, at the cost of $750, construction of a stage. Among the first beneficiaries of the latter was the Metropolitan Opera, which brought Carmen, The Barber of Seville and Faust to the city. It marked the Met's only visit to Nashville, but also opened the door to a string of other opera and theater performances there. In June 1943 (according to the record, though some memories like Minnie Pearl's insist it was earlier), the Grand Ole Opry moved into the Ryman. It was a marriage that continued for 31 years.

Other shows continued to play the Ryman road companies of Oklahoma and Back to Methuselah, along with stars such as Bob Hope and Victor Borge and a performance of the American Ballet Theater. But people remembered the Opry. And in 1963 National Life bought the Ryman and renamed it the Grand Ole Opry House. It continued to be known that way until March 15, 1974, when the Opry moved to its new location at Opry-land. Transplanted was a section of the stage from the Ryman, upon which hundreds of Opry stars had stood during their performances.

The Ryman's 1st century: Through the years at the Ryman Auditorium: 1896 Two-week revival with the Rev. Dwight L. Moody 1897 Reunion of Confederate veterans. 1902 Booker T. Washing-ton addresses convention of Colored Methodist Episcopal Church II 1904 Death and funeral of Capt.

Ryman 1913 Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy lecture a 1919 Enrico Caruso and Amelita Galli-Curci perform. 1923 Rudolph Valentino dances on stage 1925 Will Rogers performs 1934 Basil Rathhone and Orson Welles perform 1938 Helen Hayes appears in Victoria Regina fl 1941 The Philadelphia Story features Katharine Hepburn, Van Heflin and Joseph Cotten 1943 The Grand Ole Opry moves from the War Memo-, rial Building to the Ryman. 1949 Bob Hope brings Doris Day and breaks all attendance and receipt records; Hank Williams gets an unprecedented six encores at his Opry debut, singing Lovesick Blues 1952 Ted Mack Amateur Hour holds program in Ryman 1954 Elvis Presley makes his one and only appearance 1963 The Opry considers cancelling because of the deaths of members Patsy Cline, Hawk-shaw Hawkins and Cowboy Co-; pas in a plane crash; instead, The Jordanaires and Roy Acuff lead an evening of tribute; Minnie Pearl makes the crowd laugh, but walks into the Ryman wings with tears streaming down her face 1974 Last Opry song sung on the Ryman stage, a tearful Will the Circle Be Unbroken 1979 Sissy Spacek films part of her 1980 Oscar-winning Coal Miner's Daughter performance at the Ryman 1984 Jessica Lange con jures up Patsy Cline on the Ry man stage for her Oscar-nominated role in 1985V Sweet Dreams 1991 Emmylou Harris records her At the Ryman TNN special and Warner Bros. CD in the auditorium 1992 Bort Reynolds films. a pair of his Conversations With Burt specials on the Ryman stage; and the 100th anniversary celebrated stay safe he emerged on the other side.

The booklet also includes helpful information for travelers. Much of the information embassies, addresses, phone numbers and names of ambassadors, currency exchange, travel guidelines, is available elsewhere but you might have to send for more than a dozen government publications to get it. The 52-page booklet sells for $5.95. To obtain a copy, a check or money order can be mailed to Travel Prep, P.O. Box 7140, Knoxville, Tenn.

37921, or call 1-800-753-1112. Sailing is one of many activities at Woodloch Pines. Next week: Hidden deep in the woods of northeastern Pennsylvania is a wonderful vacation spot Woodloch Pines. The relaxing getaway in the lake region of the Poconos is about a four-hour drive from Franklin County. GNS Ponce de Leon.

Speakers such as William Jennings Bryan and Booker T. Washington orated during the early years. John Philip Sousa and band provided a marching ring. In 1894 it hosted the state gubernatorial election conventions, and commencement exercises also filled the seats. And, in 1904, it held the funeral of Capt.

Tom Ryman and the hall unofficially was renamed in his honor, a hugely popular proposal despite the fact that Ryman had opposed it during his lifetime. From that point it became the Ryman Auditorium in people's minds though it did not become official until 40 years later, in an amendment to the Charter of Incorporation. cent trip this past October, he decided to write a booklet explaining basic safety abroad. He also teaches a non-credit class at the University of Tennessee on preparing for international travel. "After I got back in October, it sort of clicked how many people we had run into who had come back to the United States devastated," says Speaks of those who had valuable items stolen while traveling.

Speaks and wife Ellen encountered an American couple in Amsterdam, Holland, whose trip had been ruined five days earlier in Paris. The woman's Gucci Booklet helps naive oversees travelers Rock City hard to pass up By SIBYL JEFFERSON Scripps Howard News Service An estimated 24 million Americans will travel abroad this year and some will have an unhappy experience. "This really is the best time to travel and traveling internationally is one of the most fun things," says Dewaine Speaks, author of a survival booklet on traveling. "But many times, we Americans are so naive. We are not prepared for what we face." Speaks has traveled to western Europe six times.

Following his most re 60-year-old One of the lasting memories of childhood vacations on the interminable drives to our destinations was counting the painted barns along the road that beckoned us to change our mind and See Rock City. Our imaginations were sparked by what a city made of nothing but rocks would look like: Buildings carved into a mountain side, gravel roads, stores that sold nothing but rock salt and rock candy. The city and all those painted signs on the roofs of barns are 60 this year and make an even more intriguing vacation stop. No, not everything is made of rocks, and people don't live under boulders. But from Lookout Mountain, you can see seven states.

Nearby are Civil War battlefields, the new Tennessee Aquarium, and the Chattanooga choo-choo. For brochures on attractions and accommodations in the area, call (404) 820-2531. Scripps Howard News Service bag held 12 credit cards, both passports, their personal checkbook, train tickets and airline tickets home. The purse was stolen from under her seat in a nice restaurant. A retired school teacher and his wife, both experienced travelers, were robbed on a Paris subway.

Although the purse was strapped around her neck with her arm placed on top, someone from behind fished out her belongings. "She was doing everything right, except looking behind her," says Speaks. Another man slid his luggage underneath a turnstile to find it missing when as an opportunity for the men in the family to share quality time. The company offers many options, so for more information, contact a travel agent or call Special Expeditions at 800-762-0003. Scripps Howard WORRIED TRAVELERS: Business travelers in Japan are buying bulletproof vests, increasingly fearing attack while overseas, according to the Japan Airlines newsletter.

The most popular vest costs 1 100. One vendor has a new service: Vest rentals for $15 per day. CONSUMER GUIDES: Cautious consumers now have a volume for their travel needs. It's the 1992 Travel Buying Guide (Consumer Reports Books, Ed Perkins, editor of the monthly Consumer Reports Travel Letter, and his staff have pulled together the latest in travel-buying strategies, recommendations, warnings and prices, lists all updated to spring '92. GNS Travel tips PHILLY, FOR KIDS: Clever marketing types are catching on to the demand for interesting family vacations.

For instance, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau published "Philadelphia for Kids: A to to help families plan a vacation to the City of Brotherly Love. Included are 10 questions that test a child's or adult's knowledge of what there is to see in Philadelphia, and 20 attractions, listed alphabetically, of interest to families. For a copy, call 800-537-7676. -Scripps Howard mmm FATHERSON TRIPS: Special Expeditions is offering fathers and sons prime male-bonding time in the great outdoors. The company is promoting its cruises to Alaska and Baja California, Mexico,.