That's entertainment: Twenty years ago

By DON FOWLER
Posted 8/21/19

By DON FOWLER Warwick Musical Theatre had Weird Al Yankovic, The Statler Brothers, Donna Summer, Huey Lewis and the News, Kathy Mattea and Sundown, and Howie Mandel on the revolving stage. The stars kept coming out at night, with the addition of Carrot

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That's entertainment: Twenty years ago

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Warwick Musical Theatre had Weird Al Yankovic, The Statler Brothers, Donna Summer, Huey Lewis and the News, Kathy Mattea and Sundown, and Howie Mandel on the revolving stage. The stars kept coming out at night, with the addition of Carrot Top, Roomful of Blues, Asleep at the Wheel, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Kenny Rogers and Alabama.

The Blair Witch Project was the most talked about movie of the summer, a fake documentary with handheld cameras. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts starred in “Runaway Bride,” a romantic comedy that Joyce liked a lot more than I did. Pierce Brosnan starred in The Thomas Crown Affair, while Bruce Willis starred in one of my favorite movies of all time, The Sixth Sense, that had a fantastic twist at the end.

Bobby J’s Family Restaurant on Airport Road had clam strips, baked scrod, baked stuffed haddock, meatloaf BBQ chicken and liver, bacon & onions “early bird specials” served 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., all for $6.49.

Ocean State Lyric Opera presented “La Boheme,” featuring Maria Spacagna and Diane Alexander at Vets.

40 Years Ago This Month

Sammy Davis Jr. put on one of the greatest shows in the history of the Warwick Musical Theatre. He was then celebrating 50 years in show business. Perry Como filled the tent for five shows.

Trinity Rep gave us a great “Dial M For Murder” with an all-star cast of Richard Kneeland, Daniel Von Bargen, Richard Jenkins, Ed Hall, George Martic and Margo Skinner.

George Krieger was barbecuing chicken on a grill in front of his tiny restaurant on the Cranston side of the Pawtuxet River Bridge.

Nick Nolte starred in North Dallas Forty and Frank Langella starred in yet another Dracula movie. Two big summer movies were Concorde-Airport ’79 and The Amityville Horror.

Banjo Dan and the Midnight Plowboys were at Warwick City Park, along with the Drew Corcoran Orchestra.

Kiss was at the Providence Civic Center. My old friend, Ira Dember, reviewed it for me, taking along my then 14-year-old son.

Remember the No Name Restaurant in Boston? It was one of my favorite restaurants and the prices were dirt cheap 40 years ago. A bowl of fish chowder was 55 cents. Swordfish was $4.50. A broiled seafood platter was $4.25.

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