The red carpet then and now
Five years ago this week, I wrote about a local Oscar connection. As I’m heading to La La Land this weekend with Dianne Ansbaugh for People Magazine’s Red Carpet Experience, it’s fitting to take this red carpet walk back in time. Alas, my goal from 2013 to reconnect my two friends never happened before Anna passed away in 2016. Dianne and I plan to stop by Anna’s star on the Walk of Fame and say “hello.”
Main Street, Feb. 27, 2013:
The year was 1963 when Anna Pearce, aka Patty Duke, became the youngest thespian to be presented an Academy Award. Patty Duke received the honor for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker.”
In a “small world” story, one of my favorite friends, Katie Brodie, shared that moment with Anna 50 years ago. Katie’s uncle, Thomas Kalmus, invented Technicolor and served as the CEO of the company. Katie’s aunt, Elanore King Kalmus, a syndicated columnist, invited Katie to come to Los Angeles for spring break and attend the Academy Awards.
“So prior to the ceremony starting we were standing in a group and I was introduced to this petite teen and someone took our photo,” recalled Katie, who was 17 at the time. “Only later when they announced the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and she went up on the stage did I realize she was Patty Duke!”
What I find fascinating is that Anna and Katie both eventually came to live in Coeur d’Alene, and in the past two-plus decades, their paths haven’t crossed. My goal is to re-introduce them, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much alike they are. Laughter will ensue. And yes, the photo of the two from that brief encounter at the Oscars exists and is a classic!
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The weather forecast for the first day of March looks rather lamb-like with temperatures in the 40s and rain. Since it’s still winter and this is North Idaho we can expect some lion-like weather between now and the end of the month. I’m always surprised when people are surprised when we have snow in the winter.
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What’s Happening: Thursday through Sunday, final weekend for “Steel Magnolias” at Lake City Playhouse. 208-676-7529.
CYT opens “Narnia the Musical” at the Kroc Center on Friday, running through March 11.
Friday from noon to midnight at Peak in Post Falls is the 10th Annual Red, Ride & Blue Charity Ride to benefit the Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation. 208-773-0611. Also on Friday, Women’s History Month Gallery Opening at the JACC from 4-8 p.m.
Saturday, the Bartender’s Ball at The Resort Plaza Shops from 6-9 p.m. to benefit Help Every Little Paw. Wine, Stein and Dine benefiting the Post Falls Education Foundation at the Greyhound Park from 7-10 p.m..
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Happy birthday today to Don Pischner (80!), Bridgette Lowry, Dave Brubaker, Gary Dagastine, Bob Flowers, Bill Reese, Al Telles, Maurie Bruce, Dean Walsmith (50!), Allison Gerzina and Robin Gerzina. Celebrating March 1 birthdays are June Goecke (93!), Faye Griffiths, Preston Hill, Marina Otter, Lisa Tucker, Connie Chalich, Bud Kobs, Megan Aker, Karen Welts and John Billetz. On Friday LeeAnn Cheeley, Conrad Nelsen, Sharon Menti, Rhonda Shippey, Ginny Easterly (40!), Alexander Endo, Randy Hurt and Nickolas Aker put on their party hats. March 3 is the birthday of Sari Walt, Rebecca Kilmer, Rich Henning, Jessica Coleman and Gail Kinloch. On Sunday Michael Ward, Chris Guggemos, Sam Williamson, James Steffensen and Jon Newcomb blow out the candles. Natalie Eckstein, Becky Funk, Jim Riley, Amy Tolzmann, Paula Ryan, Nicole Barnhart, Kelly Lattin, Hallie Gennett, Allison Mehan, Stacy Veach, Carly Hall and Matt Matthews celebrate on Monday. Cole Turnbull, Billie Dust, Rich Winter and Adam Johnson mark another year on Tuesday. And while there are only 28 days in February this year, a shout out to Leap Year babies born on Feb. 29: Boston Smock, Kris Helstrom, Dean Walsmith, Dr. Jim Anderson, Lana Johnson Fensky, Nancy DiGiammarco (70!) and Charlet Hannon.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.