Suburbanite Economist from Chicago, Illinois • Page 15

Economist Newspapers, Sunday. March 9, 1975 Section II Page 5. Erla Davies feels their venture into the book world was like opening a door on a whole new career. 'Book Barrel' boon for readers BY JOYCE MACEY The customers of Erla Davies, Beverly, and Peg Nieman, Oak Lawn, are avid readers who like bargain prices. The two women started a unique business in Erla's home in January by purchasing 500 paperbacks from a resale shop on the North Side.

They got the idea for the "at home --business" from a man in Utah. What happens is that when customers come irjto Erla and Peg's Book Barrel and bring in they receive a 70 per cent toward their next purchase. The women have a more than 2,000 paperbacks in their collection. "I find the people love to browse, I'll even offer them a cup of coffee," Erla said. Some of their customers are collectors and some purchase books for shut-ins.

Mrs. Davies added, "Aside from the ecological benefits of recycling the books we feel we do a double service by providing people with the latest in books at half-price." The shop is open on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays the hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. "I love people coming and going, it's good therapy for me," Erla explained. "It's like a second career opened for me at 58." She used to work for an insurance company. Peg Nieman is employed for a trucking company and is younger.

Mrs. Davies finds that mysteries and best sellers are the most popular books. Also, she finds that people like the paper backs to be categorized. "I guess we must be doing well," Erla concluded, "A lot of our customers are repeat business." The Book Barrell could be a good way to fight high prices and still be well read. A Star is born overnight Erla Davies and Peg Neiman are happy in their at home business.

Their customers feel their book purchases are one way to beat inflation and still have the best reading. By CHERYL FRIES Hidden deep down in almost everyone's psyche is a roaring exhibitionist. Come on, admit it. Haven't you ever, just once, wanted to be the star of the show? Think of it. Spotlights.

The huge stage. APPLAUSE! Well, I've always been a closet exhibitionist. Ever since I can remember one of my fondest fantasies has been the following tableau: I'm standing center stage, all those around me are smiling and clapping. The audience is frantic, rising to their'feet as one, shouting for an encore. Rose petals are strewn at my feet.

I never have figured out what it is that I have done to receive these accolades, but it doesn't matter. I am a STAR! Anyway, this little gem of a dream had the proverbial snowball's chance in bell of coming true. Until two weeks ago. Every year the Kenwood High school Boosters have a fashion and variety show at the school. BRIDAL FORMALS MOTHER OF THE BRIDE For special occasions see our selection of Prom and Graduation Dresses in stock.

Custom made dresses sizes 3 to 50 (Reasonable BRIDAL BOUTIQUE Phortt for AWOirttmtfni 586-3751 A ME A It gives parents, teachers and community people a chance to turn the tables on the kids and put on a show It's all for a good cause-- to raise money for the school. Anyway, I was asked to be in the show this year, qualifying as a "community person." My dream come true. My fantasies took on a different turn. I would be asked to sing.The audience would be amazed. Why this woman is opera material, they would whisper.

Luckily, I was not asked to open my mouth, since 'I am one of the few people around who can hit a high All of the models in the show were asked to get their clothes from Plus in Harper Court. Pius is a store for the "Cosmo girl." (If you don't know what that means, ask Helen Gurley Brown.) I found the perfect It was orange crochet to the floor, with a macrame' insert at the navel. Gorgeous. Unfortunately Cosmo girls are usually tall. I am 5 feet without shoes.

With shoes does not change things much The dress, which would have looked beautiful on a tall, slender woman, took on the appearance of a-melting candle when I put it on. GREENE'S WEST Special Prices For FRIDAY SUNDAY Nights Afternoons VERY ATTRACTIVE ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE DEALS Phone 598-6680 Cheryl Fries So much for that. Time was running short, I had to find an outfit. I started thumbing through the rack. "That one is beautiful," pleaded the salesperson "I'll wear it," I shouted.

I did not try it on. That night we were scheduled to rehearse. In the meantime I received a call. Would I be willing to act in a skit? leluri PHONE 586-7600 I Conte to where all types of banquets and other private parties up to 300 are given careful attention. Five beautiful rooms.

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103rd St. 433-7050 422-9100 We 1 offer at a modest price a package party plan with a i Style menu individual serving bar services of all and any type beverages including cream cocktails, also champagne toast for weddings and anniversaries. 'There are no extra charges. frt feathw I jumped at it. Watch out Hepburn.

What was my part, I asked. COULD I handle Ibsen? "We want you to play an Alka Selzer." O.K. Even Sarah Bern a a a somewhere. The night of the rehearsal went smoothly. I knew my cues.

I knew my turns. I was a model. I was an actress. I was a STAR! At the rehearsel. There were two performances of the Booster show, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Before we were scheduled to go, on the dressing room was chaos. We were told that some of us would go on in threes, some in pairs and some (heaven i alone. I only knew how to go on in threes. And my dress was not only four inches too long, if the spotlight shone through it at the right angle you could see the Museum of Science and Industry And I didn't have a slip The show was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. We all waited anxiously in line Here was my chance.

My Big Break. "When you go on as a threesome, put your cards in the order you will appear," said a voice. "We will read your name and describe your outfit while you model." I went on with a charming teacher from Kenwood who obviously had done this sort of thing before and Mr. Lyman Weber, the school's assistant principal. We took our places behind BANQUET CATERING SPECIALIST We offer an unlimited choice of package plans which include any style menu, complete bar services with cream cocktails and champagne toast for weddings and anniversaries.

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Accommodates 400 people or separates into two rooms for smaller parties. Inquire About Our Specie! Afternoon Party Rates Call 448-9400 or 448-9408 0640 the set and waited for our cue to go center stage. Did you ever feel that you really have no control over what happens in your life, that everything is part of a much larger scheme that we mere mortals know nothing about? It's true.you know. Because those cards, that I handed to the moderator myself in the correct order, were mixed up by some unseeing hand. And they were reading about Lyman Weber's sports jacket while I was modeling a full length formal.

"Lyman Weber," said the moderator, as I paraded back and forth. "LYMAN she said again, giving me the eye. My career as a model was over as I tried to gracefully disappear into the depths of the Kenwood stage. The skit went harmlessly enough. The only problem was finished about thirty seconds before the end of the song at the second show.

Not to worry. I was already in the depths of depression. I sulked home and walked around with a quivering lower lip for days. I was not a star. I could not follow simple directions.

I could not sing. I could not dance I could not even find center stage without two people helping me. And then last week I was approached by a six year old in the elevator of my building. She kept staring at me and staring at me until I finally asked her what was wrong. "Weren't you an actress at Kenwood?" she asked.

One of the prices of fame is that you can't go ANYWHERE without being recognized. You can say that By JOYCE My brother-in-law has been a boon to the beer industry Not to raise the wrath of beer lovers, but 1 maintain that beer is beer. I will make one exception and say that German beer is a notch better than American brands. Anyway, Ted will only drink a certain kind of beer. You know the one that calls itself the king of beers and keeps a stable of horses 7 One recent night I decided to test Ted and his father-in-law, who also has fallen into the habit of drinking one kind of beer.

I took two cans of different beer and taped a white paper over the cans to disguise the brands. One of the brands was the kind Ted drinks. I have to admit Ted was able to distinguish "his" beer from the other. His father-in-law, however, said the off brand was the correct kind and said the other beer tasted terrible. Whenever Ted comes over I try to keep a supply of "his" beer in the refrigerator.

The other night he arrived and I handed him a can of beer after he sat down Ted flipped back the flip top and proceeded to enjoy Suddenly he jumped up and yelled, "What have you done to my beer? You've been up to your tricks with the beer again." He ran to the washroom and threw it up. Alarmed, I also took a small sip of the beer and ran to the sink. The beer tasted like rancid vinegar I called the brewery distributor the next day. They were very apologetic I only wanted to find out exactly what was in the can we drank. It wasn't beer.

They will pick it up and have it analyzed. Meanwhile, my poor brother-in-law in thinking of changing brands. It would have to happen at my house. I'll get off the subject of beer and into the realm of psychic things. Dorothy sheilds, Oak Forest, who heads the Aquarian Astrological Academy that meets once a month in Evergreen, always tries to get interesting guest speakers for her monthly meetings.

I got in on the tail end of one of her meetings where more than 50 people seemed interested in what Rev. Henry Rucker, psychic and preacher, had to say. He is a believer in reincarnation and although he deals mainly in communicating with people and does few readings he turned out to be a dynamic man with a lot of charisma. He said out of 100 women he thinks 25 would be psychic. "We should listen to our psychic feelings," he said.

Everyone in the room was interested this kind of thing and the room had a funny kind of feeling about it. Someone later said the room was filled with all kins of good vibrations. Dorothy herself is a charistmatic kind of person and teaches astrology classes at Evergreen High school at night. The experiences I have had with psychic feelings is that they are usually ominous feelings and turn out to be right. The next meeting will take place on April 7 at 95 Capitol Savings at 95th and Crawford and will feature a graphologist.

Kiwi speaker The Maria Mothers' club meeting on March 12 will feature Travel Threads by American Air Line Kiwi speakers. Fashion models will be former stewardesses. Hostesses for the evening are Mrs. Frances Chernak and Mrs. Henrietta Lumpp.

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