Peter Noone, Herman's Hermits at Lakeside

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg-ChNN8yso

We enjoyed Herman's Hermits--Peter Noone--and it was a great evening, Saturday June 16.  All the baby boomers in the audience at Hoover Auditorium were jamming.  Our neighbors (about 73-74) brought their 10 year old granddaughter, but she was playing games on her phone. It's happy music, with a lot of audience participation. Since this video is just a few months old, I think it represents him well.

Lakeside is open, and we're not there!

From the Lakeside Blog, https://blog.lakesideohio.com/hoover-shows-are-back/

 "Shirley Stary has been instrumental in creating the Lakeside experience we’ve known and loved and led the charge in bringing chart-topping performances to the stage of Hoover Auditorium for the last 17 years. She says, “The time has flown by,” but the last two seasons have been by far the longest in her career.

Due to the pandemic, Hoover has been mostly silent for two years. But this summer, the floor and walls will be vibrating, and seats will be filled for the first time since 2019 as shows return to Lakeside’s social and cultural hub.

“One of the worst things about the pandemic was not being able to use Hoover,” Stary said. “People come here to see each other as much to see the show, and that’s been lacking the past two years.”

While Stary agreed that Hoover should have been closed, it was also a cause for concern for her. Like everybody else, she didn’t have a crystal ball and had no idea what the future looked like.

“At one point during the pandemic, I was afraid I had done my last show at Hoover without knowing it,” Stary said. “I just thought, ‘What happens if we can’t open again?’ If you knew you were leaving, you’d stand on the stage and say, ‘All right, this has been a good run.’ So, I was mourning the fact that I didn’t relish that last show.”

During Hoover’s two-year hiatus, Stary was also concerned for her staff because shows were part of their income.

With much anticipation, the community will gather again in this central community gem as Masters of Soul take the stage on May 28 and Collision of Rhythm performing the following night.

Lakeside President & CEO Kip Greenhill says Hoover is a unique place that brings a sense of community that can’t be found anywhere else.

“Hoover Auditorium is one of several gathering places in Lakeside that brings people together from different backgrounds, varied geographic areas and a range of experiences to help enhance a culture of belonging,” Greenhill said. “The artistic programming done in Hoover, like the arts everywhere, further connects us into a true community feeling. We are so fortunate to have Hoover Auditorium open again and to bring us together.”

Jeannie Fleming-Gifford is entering her first summer as Vice President of Programming but is a Lakesider who knows how important and special Hoover shows are since she has attended several events there.

“The power of live arts experiences in a setting like Hoover Auditorium is nothing short of magical,” Fleming-Gifford said. “We are so excited to immerse Lakesiders of all ages and interests in a variety of quality, live entertainment programs and connect as a community through the power of the arts.”

Stary said this is a “rebuilding year,” but still has a solid lineup of shows, including The Spinners (June 25), Herman’s Hermits staring Peter Noone (July 16), Tony Danza — one of Stary’s “crushes” (July 23), family-friendly comedian Preacher Lawson (Aug. 6), We Are Messengers (Aug. 13) and Mercury: The Music of Queen & Freddie Mercury (Sept. 3). "

We are not there because Bob tested positive on Thursday for Covid, had a monoclonal antibodies infusion yesterday, and is resting comfortably (like a cold but more tired than usual).

Lakeside 2019, Week 7

It's been a terrific week at Lakeside--even my bursitis pain has been under control most days. I've been carrying my new folding blue cane with me everywhere, but have only used it once. Week 5 I had given up walking the lakefront and went to the wellness center instead and always accept a ride in a golf cart when I could.

We returned on Saturday with everything in great shape--Mark had been trimming the bushes, watering, raking and washed the deck.  Phoebe had everything spotless and put fresh sheets on the beds. We all went out for lunch and then they headed for home--and probably a rest! It was very hot the week they were here, so they skipped the "Guess Who" performance, which I heard from my friends  was fabulous.

That evening the program was Wynonna Judd and The Big Noise. It was a super evening, packed the house, and that woman has a range I've hardly ever heard.  There's no better place to show off a big voice than Hoover Auditorium.  She really didn't do much "country," so those who stayed away because they don't like that genre, missed a lot.  We left after her last song, but I understand she continued for another 30 minutes.  I could have done without her remarks about her mother, as I don't think she'd be where she is today if it hadn't been for "The Judds." She had great rapport with the children and invited them to the stage for photos and selfies.

Sunday was a VERY full day, with some surprises.  It was the day for the Raccoon Run (5 mile marathon), so the lakefront church service was moved to the gazebo which got a huge overhaul in the spring, and now has pavers and new benches.  Then we went to the Patio Restaurant with my friend Nancy for lunch.  After a nap I headed for the Heritage Hall lecture about Confederate monuments in the north (we have one here on the peninsula on Johnson's Island).  Nancy went with me, and was anxious to leave before Q & A, but I didn't think much about it.  When we got to the cottage I got a big surprise--Bob had planned, and pulled off, an 80th birthday party for me (which was 50 days early).  Lots of laughter, and great food from Bassett's. One of the best cakes I've tasted.

 

 

That evening we went back to the gazebo to hear a polka band from Chardon.  They were very good and the hot weather had disappeared--only beautiful wind and sunset over the lake.

It was the end of the art show.  Bob got a second place ribbon and it sold, so we had some cash on hand.  The other painting, which was actually the best (of our neighbors watching the regatta), was sold to the subjects.

On Monday I did go to the program on -- well, something about the planets, but didn't stay long. That afternoon I attended the book discussion at the Lakeside Women's Club of "Lillian Boxfish takes a Walk" by Kathleen Rooney.   Bob and I then attended the Backstage at Hoover tour, which was great fun and so interesting.  Lakeside is trying to raise money to replace this 91 year old structure in the back of Hoover where the performers dress and bring in their props.  There are some programs we can't provide because there is no room for the equipment or instruments.

That night we had a pot luck for the communion servers and ushers for the 8:30 service on the lakefront.  We don't necessarily know the people Bob serves with, so spent some time introducing ourselves and chatting.  A sudden storm blew up and God blessed us with a fabulous rainbow--which you can see behind us between the 2nd and 3rd pillar.


After the potluck we drove to the train station near the mobile home park in south Lakeside for a "book in hand" performance of a play by George Bernard Shaw by the LKSD Playreaders. Then home to bed. . . tired but happy.

The Tuesday program at the Lakeside Women's Club was "Hers and Hymns: Women composers and Lyricists with soprano Jeanine Donaldson of Lorain and Errol Browne, her accompanist who also sang.  On Wednesday and Thursday mornings I attended lectures on Zero Energy Buildings by Ann Edminster. Our neighbors were out of town, so we had their son Jack, 14, for dinner Tuesday evening.  He's a really sweet guy--going into high school, and now sails lasers and wins races, so he doesn't need our model sailboat on our porch which fascinated him 4 years ago. The girls are starting to hang around their cottage which we can see from our front porch.

On Wednesday afternoon I sat in on a group discussion of Artists' Way led by Dee (Baker) a UMC retired pastor at the lovely Idlewyld Bed and Breakfast.  In the evening we had dinner with the Barrises at their B & B with Dee and her husband. Wednesday evening was the opening of the 2019 symphony season with our new director, Daniel Meyer. Dvorak (violin concerto in A minor) and Tchaikovsky (Symphony no. 4 in F minor) made it a very exciting evening with guest violinist Jinjoo Cho who has been here a number of times.  We've been sitting in the aisle with all the residents of the nursing home so that I can stay on a flat surface.

On Thursday evening it was wonderfully cool and low humidity.  After dinner on the deck and a stroll to the lakefront to sit on a bench to watch the boaters, we enjoyed the group RUNA at Hoover with tunes of Ireland and Scotland in jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues.  Later this morning I'll go to another Chef Stacy class.  This evening is Sandy Patti who always puts on a great show.

Tomorrow evening (that's week 8) there is a volunteer recognition picnic under a tent near the lake, and then at 8:15 the second performance of the symphony with Verb Ballets, a contemporary company. The program includes Felix Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, Adagio for Two Dancers and Carmen Suite.

Recalling the old fans for hot Hoover nights

On Facebook, Dee Grindley recalled how we got those old fans which have been brought out this week because of the heat. We and our guests took some from our shelves for the Elvia show, plus the ushers were passing some out provided by a local hospice.

“I ordered the first fans from J W Cleary Co., Cols., Oh. (Mike Cleary now has 3 cottages in Lakeside) to raise money for the ’Friends Network” for the infrastruction repairs to Hotel Lakeside. We sold them in the beginning for 50 cents ea. Ordered a better quality (one with picture of Hotel) and sold for $1.00 each. Ted led the ”sales force” at the entrance of Hoover. He held the sales record selling more than 500 on a steamy hot Sat. Night when the OSU Band was appearing. After we ceased our fund raising effort, the Association ordered fans in bulk to use . The late Dorothy Knight helped me immensely with this project. It was fun and productive. Each dime earned was sorely needed to help restore the Hotel. Dee Grindley/”

Melissa Manchester performs at Lakeside

And what a spectacular show it was. I rarely stay for an entire performance, but hers was lively, well-paced, respectful to our heritage here (many entertainers don't "get it"), good patter, and a mix of the old and new, so that the boomers got to groove and remember and the younger set (and older) were also entertained. I went back and looked at a few YouTube performances when she was younger and racier, and I must say, I think her voice is better now that she is nearing, dare I say it, 60. She says she spent a few summers as a child at Lake Chautauqua NY because her father was a musician, so she got into the Lakeside spirit as soon as she came through the gate. (Lakeside is one year older than the Chautauqua NY community, but both are built on the same concept--a summer renewal through education, the arts and religion.) A prolific song writer, Ms. Manchester even sang to us a special song she wrote that afternoon about "Lakeside Ohio." The audience was eating out of her hand and gave her a standing ovation.

The whole week has had great performances. Last Friday (July 3) we enjoyed the Lowe Family who usually perform at Branson, MO. If you happen to be within driving distance of any of their road shows, you won't be sorry you made the effort. Then on Tuesday we heard the King's Brass, with so many trombones I thought I'd died and gone to musical heaven. I think all but the encore were Christian selections, another group that "gets it" about Lakeside and what we enjoy. Nagata Shachu, Japanese drummers, enthralled the Lakeside audience at Hoover Auditorium on Thursday night. I think the week of July 4, or its cross over, are big days here and the Vice President of Programming, Shirley Stary really pulls out all the stops.

Speaking of Hoover Auditorium, last Sunday we dedicated a Hoover Potato Digger, now enclosed in a little memorial outside the building near 4th street. The auditorium is named for A.L. Hoover, not President Hoover (although about the same era), and the Hoover family of Milan, Ohio held the patent on the Hoover Potato Digger, selling it to the John Deere Co., and donating money to complete the auditorium and thus rescuing Lakeside financially.