Singer-actress Cathy Foy and 10 talented young tap-dancing Shooting Stars from Diamond Head Theatre had the crowd soaring high at the Koa’e Kea Hawaiian Airlines retired hostesses annual party at the Ala Moana Hotel on Saturday. It was an entertaining, fun-filled trip for the gals and their guests. The evening’s theme was "Broadway Rhythm," and Cathy sang several hits from the Great White Way in fine style. The well-costumed Shooting Stars displayed perfect precision and smiling, happy faces while in the spotlight.
Five sexy ladies — Edna Cathcart, Ivanelle Mountcastle Choy, Cora Speck, Dolly Phillips and hardworking emcee Hale Rowland — all sporting long, thick colorful boas, brought down the house doing bumps and grinds a la Gypsy Rose Lee to "You Gotta Get a Gimmick." They each showed their stuff as they attempted to seduce lucky retired HAL Capt. Bob McGuire. He was a happy victim. It all brought raucous laughter. Backing Cathy & Co. were pianists Emmett Yoshioka and his wife, Judy, drummer Wayne Yabiku and bassist Benjamin Gascon. The evening began with the songs of Naluhoe, made up of Vicky Hollinger, Kawika McGuire and Pakala Fernandes. Hula soloists were Joe Recca, Mihana Souza and Ivanelle Choy. Roy Benham sang "Keawaiki." Greta Hegerfeldt and her halau Na Wahine Ui — Alice Booth, Eula May Sweet, Juanita Lee, DeLorrine Wong, Likelike Davis and Rowland — danced a beautiful "Ho’onanea." Robbie Avilla danced to "Makee Ailana," and Sharon Chee danced to "Pua Lililehua." Lorna Kaeck sang "Waikiki" as Shirley Recca danced …
RAPPING ON: I enjoyed recent stories about Rap Reiplinger and his love "Fate Yanagi," so when I bumped into fashion designer Amos Kotomori, who worked with Rap and his pals Ed Kaahea and James Grant Benton in the ’70s, it was natural that we talked about the trio. "I remember sitting in the living room of (singer-actress) Brooks Almy with Rap, Ed and James," Amos said. "I was producing my next fashion show ‘Tomoe Ame’ at Diamond Head Theatre (then Ruger Theatre). The show was named after the favorite Japanese candy with a toy — Japan’s version of the Cracker Jack box. The young men wanted to assist me by directing the show. It was in three acts, with each of them directing their own concept. I asked what their name would be, and they all shouted, ‘Booga Booga!’ It was the beginning of the first gig for the famous trio." They were a smash until Rap departed to go solo.
Amos said that for the fashion show, Rap’s act was about a puppet maker who brought the puppets, models wearing chiffon, to life. "On the stage was a large box with a real belly dancer on top. At the end the jack in the box pops up. It was Prince Hanalei, a showstopper." Prince Hanalei impersonated female strippers at the Glades nightclub in Chinatown. "James did a Hawaiian act with the three of them as tutus in holokus singing old Hawaiian favorites as the models danced hula. Ed’s act was very stark and dramatic, and included other Glades female impersonators, looking as beautiful as the real women models. I was onstage dressed in kabuki black, changing the models’ garments. Great memories. Amazing, brilliant men." Ed is the only surviving member of the original Booga Booga. Amos’ fashions are at Neiman Marcus — shirts for men and large scarfs that women are sewing together to make an outfit, he said …
Murphy’s Bar & Grill marked its 28th year Monday. "Lookin’ forward to the next 28," said owner Don Murphy from the kitchen …
KHNL will screen the excellent "Jim Nabors’ Impossible Dream" show at 9 p.m. Sunday …
Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.
