The Roanoke Times from Roanoke, Virginia • 23

Christmas classic Writer disliked 'Rudolph' By JERRY SCHWARTZ about a year later I was walking down the NEW YORK (AP) "Rudolph the Red Nosed Rein street when a new melody came to me It's the only time was easily the worst song ever written when lyrics that ever happened and I have to admit it's a great met notes more than 30 years ago Or so the author says But fortunately for him and for more than a genera tion of Christmas memories he wrote it again the next year assuring it a place among the most recorded songs in history Johnny Marks created the tune about the animal with the glowing proboscis 30 years ago and has heard his little ditty echoed in more than 500 renditions since The song has been pressed into the grooves of at least 128 million records and has been sung by the likes of Gene Autrey and Willie Nelson in styles ranging from mambo to jazz Paul recently released version is an in strumental entitled the Red Nosed Marks has also written about 900 other songs including a Holly Jolly Heard the Bells of Christmas and Around the Christmas But uncontestably the Red Nosed Rein deer" was his biggest hit has been said that is the most recorded song since the 70 year old Marks said in a recent interview 1947 1 saw a little book about Rudolph and I thought about it for a while and sat down to write a Lee Theater closes The Lee Theater the last of the old style theaters in pie Roanoke area has closed The Lee is owned by Consol idated Theaters of Charlotte NC have any comment on it right said Sam Craver president of Consolidated that it's just In recent vears the Lee has shown adult movies Spock marked fan happy ENGLEWOOD Ohio (AP) Louise Stange has the ultimate souvenir for a Leonard Nimoy fan a pair of Mr Spock ears really treasure them" said Miss Stange of the flesh colored pointy objects that helped turn Nimoy into the character of Spock in Trek" If anyone should have a pair of Spock ears it should be Miss Stange or more than 12 of her 29 years she has been president of the Leonard Nimoy Association of ans an in ternational fan and service club song about it That song was easily one of the worst songs ever he said Happening TODAY TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETING Jolly Ox Res taurant 6:15 8:30 pm persons interested in public speak uig udumig are inviiea TOPS CLUB MEETING Northview United Method ist Church 7 pm: Off Pounds PARENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING 7 8:30 pm for meeting location and other information call 982 2345 CARDINAL CHORUS MEETING Hotel Roanoke 7:30 pm all persons interested in barbershop harmony are invited AL ANON MEETINGS Unity of the Roanoke Val ley 3300 Greenridge Road NW 8 pm Central Hall Church Avenue and ifth Street 17A ranklin Road 8 pm TUESDAY No events scheduled Send items to What's Happening PO Box 2491 Roa noke Vo 24010 V' UMltd Piccadilly Square 3117 ranklin Rd 981 1401 Lady Lera Ltd will be closed Dec 26 27 28 Wednesday Thursday and riday We will reopen Saturday Dec 29 at 9:30 am Auditions for opera scheduled Times World Mews Monday December Z4 1979 3 The Southwest Virginia Ooera Society will stace audi tions Saturday Jan 26 at Hollins College for roles in the two productions tentatively selected for its 1980 season The auditions will be in'Talmadge Hall from 10 a to noon and from 1 to 4 pm with singers sought for Rossi: Cenerentola" (Cinderella) and Bal lad of Baby Both will be sung in English Six sopranos six mezzo sopranos four tenors six bari tones and three basses are required and none of the roles has been precast according to Milton Granger the compa ny's artistic director Auditioners must be prepared to sing two arias in con trasting styles preferably one a bravura composition to demonstrate vocal agility The singers will be judged by a panel of qualified professional musicians from western Virginia Persons unable to perform Jan 26 may contact Anne Roddey at (703) 345 0878 for special auditioning sessions The Rossini opera has May 22 24 production dates in Roanoke Olin Hall according to present plans Ballad of Baby Doe" is billed for Sept 25 27 lib wl iSf jTClX? V'A Our wish for you this holiday season The blessing of good health The spirit and joy of the season The warmth of friendship and fellowship The gilts of peace and contentment: oday omorrow and Every day! Closed Christmas Day and the 26th M2 M2 Moose bridal Shop A Special Sirloin Strip Dinner for 2 plus all the salad you can eat! WsiWlK if Chefs special cut limited time only Only $599 at Bonanza! A SIRLOIN STRIP DINNER OR 2 for only $599! And that includes (at no extra charge) a baked potato a thick slice of "fexas toast and all the salad and fixings you can help yourself to at our famous Discovety Salad Bar And there's never any tipping At Bonanza you know what it costs before you come in And love what you get! Offer Good at Participating Bonanza Restaurants Tbnder Sirloin Strip 2 for $599 Dinner includes steak potato toast 8 all the salad you can eat Offer good with coupon only Coupon expires January 13 1980 Beware of competitors whose offers" and "complete dinners" don't include the salad bar free drink refills Linda Hile Phyllis Carroll Phyllis Sutphin Sally Davis Willa Crigger Margaret Vaughan XjpVirginia ederal SAVINGS LOAN ASSOCIATION The Joyous Christmas Season is here filling our hearts with its spirit of happiness and good cheer May you enjoy an abundance of" pleasures among family and friends And please add our sincere greeting for a very Merry Christmas Janice Crawford AwmBTwXVxij WHs ySSf 11 ill i I wk vBH BKL diSSsr jfisllf ik 9 I I IS I i zx: way nwMrwo WA' ItJkZ! i 1 WWNEWHW aS wil 1 I pi I 1 1 III II ii I I I 303 Thompson Memorial Drive in Salem Phone 387 0281.