HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME: Browsing through Borders this weekend I found a book I hadn't seen before about the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I found Johnny Mathis's entry marked with a small black and white photo of him trying his level best to look masculine in a heavy brown leather jacket...it was an old picture, and not the most flattering, I thought. I was dismayed at the reference saying Mathis was born in San Francisco. It seems that once misinformation gets out into the pipeline it's very hard to get rid of it. It wouldn't be so bad, except it left me wondering how factual the information about the other people is. I don't blame the author for this mistake, because an article is only as good as its references, and for too long Johnny Mathis' publicity organ has played up San Francisco and played down Gilmer, Texas. The author more than likely used a source that was given its information from the "official" entity. And so, here we are in the year 2000 still being inaccurate.
Johnny Mathis himself is not at all ashamed to recognize Gilmer as the place of his birth. I witnessed this myself at a concert I attended in Dallas a few years ago. "A lot of people think I was born in San Francisco, but I was born right down the road," he said. You should have heard the gasps of surprise! Also, a librarian out of Tyler in eastern Texas tells me that some of the wings of Gilmer's hospital are dedicated to Mathis' family members, and that he has also bought hospital equipment for them, which tells me that this wonderful man must be helping to take REAL good care of the people in his REAL hometown! I may take a Sunday drive and see for myself someday.
And speaking of Walks of Fame, Gilmer is putting one together, and they're selling bricks to go into the sidewalk there. They cost $50 apiece, and I've got half a mind to buy one and dedicate it to Mathis, just to make sure they don't forget their native son and what he's done for them! Will have to wait until what little refund I get comes in, though. Click here to read about the project.
MATHIS IN CONCERT: Mathis next appears at Caesar's Atlantic City. The shows are set for April 27 and 28th. Ticket prices start at $60.
I believe tickets are on sale now for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra shows on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12. Looks like they're not selling online, though. Some folks insist on doing things the old-fashioned way! I would call 1-800-699-3168 and ask about tickets to that show. Here's an online ad for the show. The BPO has a cool lady conductor, and I'll bet they'll make Mathis sound fantastic!
Tickets are on sale NOW for the Nashville Symphony concert in Antioch (June 14). There is an 8-ticket limit with strict enforcement, which is good, as 8 should certainly be plenty for anyone!
Tickets are on sale for the shows at the Silver Legacy Casino in Reno, Nevada. Prices are $50, $44, and $30; call (800) 687-8733 for details or use the online form.
The Westbury Music Fair has added two NEW dates for the summer: July 20th & 21st. Tickets are on sale NOW online via Ticketmaster for these new dates.
Tickets for the North Shore Music Theatre concert in Wednesday, August 15 and Thursday, August 16 in Beverly, MA are on sale online NOW!
Tickets for the concert in Saratoga, California (a suburb of San Jose) on August 30th go on sale to the public on April 13th. There is a ticket limit and prices are from $60-$100.
Don't know yet if tickets can be bought now for the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut (don't ask where that is) on October 5th and 6th.
Sorry, still no Canadian or other foreign dates that I can see. I think I'd find some way to let Mathis know you guys want to hear him sing, too.
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