January 7, 2005

POTPOURRI: Winters Takes New Job; Soupy Gets Star; Mystery Girl Found for Huntington Film
 
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Columnist
 
Huntington (HNN) — Former Marshall Artists Series director Celeste Winters has taken the job of executive director for the Scottsdale (Arizona) Artists’ School. The visual arts academy features classes in watercolor, oil, sculpture, etc. from well-known artists from around the United States. Students generally come for professional development of artistic skills. Classes generally last five days and the enrollment is 2,300 plus. The school has a youth academy that is expanding.
 
SOUPY
One day before his 79th birthday, Huntington native Soupy Sales has received – Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 -- his star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A Marshall graduate, Sales began his career as a disc jockey at WHTN Radio (now WKEE). His pie in the face children’s TV shows began in Cincinnati and Detroit and expanded onto national networks and syndication. “Lunch with Soupy Sales” had stock “puppet” characters like White Fang and Black Tooth.
 
CASTING CALL
A new Fox reality show, “Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy,” holds auditions Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005 from noon to 6 p.m. at Bennigan’s Restaurant in the Charleston Town Center. Produced by the same folks responsible for “Temptation Island,” “Joe Millionaire,” and “My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé,” audition candidates should bring family pictures and a picture ID. For further info, visit http://www.fox.com.
 
WIRELESS INTERNET
Empire Books and News in Pullman Square is in the beta testing phase of its wireless internet service. Bring your laptop and check it out.
 
MYSTERY GAL CAST
The producers of “Lake Forrest” have found their “mystery woman.” Kathy Leslie, an actress who has appeared in several films at the University of Pennsylvania and one that was shown at that state’s film festival, will play the ex-cheerleader/nurse. The production starts filming this month in Huntington at such sites as the former Cabell County Jail and Al’s (bar).
 
MUMMY LEAVING
If you haven’t visited the Huntington Museum of the Arts to see the Egyptian exhibit of the mummy on loan from Emory University and other antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, well, he’s fading to dust after Sunday. Admission $3 and the hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday. Their website is http://www.hmoa.org.
 
BLUEGRASS
Dave Evans and New River Band along with the Mystery Mountain Boys visit the Mountaineer Opry House in Milton Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005 at 7 p.m. Tickets $12, $10 seniors and $5 children 12 and under.
 
GETTING HITCHED?
WKEE sponsors the annual Bridal Expo Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Admission $5.
 
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
We’re lucky! You may remember lots of folks complaining about the floodwall in Huntington lacking artistic merit. Well, in 1937, without a floodwall, the entire town fell underwater!
[see the Marshall University On-line Museum of the 1937 Flood]
 
Tony Rutherford can be reached at trutherford@huntingtonnews.net.