30 • July 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES Singing on the 4th of July!


After serving in the Navy, Bill Backer, and many other veter- ans, returned to complete col- lege years at Yale. He was a senior in 1950 and I happened to be completing my first year at Yale’s School of Art and Architec- ture.


Backer and fel-


low student, Gordon Wholey, were mem- bers of the F Soci- ety at Yale, a student musical


organiza-


tion which, in Spring 1949, had performed Backer-Wholey’s first full-length mu- sical, “Moonshine.” Crowds of students auditioned to be in their May 1950 mu- sical, “Three Sheets to the Wind.” I was chosen for a featured role and enjoyed participating immensely. The full or- chestra was conducted by the late, gifted, John Crosby, a charismatic fel- low who stud- ied with Paul Hindemith at Yale’s Music School. Cros- by, in 1956, had severe asthma, moved west and created his Santa Fe Opera


Theatres in New Mexico. At


7,000 feet above sea level, the crystalline desert atmosphere grants the audience star-filled


... continued from page 5


of Backer and Wholey’s suc- cessful musical in New Ha- ven, we were asked to give one more grand gala performance at the Waldorf-Astoria Ho- tel Grand Ballroom to benefit a new camp for children suffering from juvenile diabe- tes on May 15, 1950. Rumors flew that perhaps they were the new Rogers and Hammerstein


team


skies and world-class perfor- mances. Crosby conducted and served as general manager from 1957 to 2000, a 43 year span un- equalled in opera houses. Many


American


singers can thank Crosby for his vision to add an Ap- prentice Pro- gram to help young Ameri- can singers gain on stage experience in America in- stead of hav- ing to do that


in Europe. After multiple performances


headed for Broad- way. Not so. But a very happy time was had by all. Backer became a legend in the realm of advertis-


ing and was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 1995. Today, he and his family own a farm, raising horses, in the Piedmont area of Virginia. More about Backer’s work with “The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partner- ship,” an important non-profit that preserves all the historic sites from Gettysburg to Mon- ticello, another time. Happy 80th Birthday on July 17th, to dear Peter Schickele, aka PDQ Bach!


A Juilliard


treasure, this serious composer is also one of America’s great- est parodists. He even found time to write songs for the leg- endary folk singer, Joan Baez! Happy 4th! ~Ellie


Photo: Mrs. Ellie Schmidt circa 1950. (at top, bottom photo)


Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. Thomas Mann


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30 • July 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES


Send us your pictures from all around the world holding Upbeat and we are likely to publish it!


upbeat@upbeattimes.com John Serres Weird Facts & Fun Trivia -8 ... continued from page 23


Boys Center, the Sonoma High School Agriculture Department and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau scholarships program. The Sonoma County Fair Board and staff are pleased to dedicate the 2015 Hall of Flow- ers to one of the Fair’s most committed supporters and an outstanding champion of So- noma County agriculture, John Serres.


Join us “Down on the Farm” during the 2015 Sonoma Coun- ty Fair from July 24 – August 9, 2015, closed on Mondays. En- joy the thrill of live horse rac- ing, a giant carnival, the exqui- site Hall of Flowers show, live entertainment, delicious food, fun contests, games and more! For details, visit SonomaCoun- tyFair.com or call (707) 545- 4200. Like us on Facebook to keep up with all the fair fun.


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Call upbeat @ 707-494-1767 anytime!


Men are not prisoners of fate, but prisoners of their own minds. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt


The Italians drink their espresso with sugar, the Germans and Swiss - with equal parts of hot choco- late, the Mexicans - with cinnamon, the Belgians - with chocolate. Moroc- cans drink their coffee with peppercorns, the Ethiopians - with a pinch of salt. Coffee drinkers in the Middle East usually add cardamom and spices. Whipped cream is a favorite with Austrians.


Egyptians are very fond of strong coffee. They seldom add sugar, milk or cream. They serve unsweeteened coffee to mourners and sweeteened coffee at weddings.


FREE Summer Youth Chess Club!


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ Sonoma Central Library Presents Summer Youth Chess Club July 2nd to August 27th Thursdays, 10:30 am to 11:30 am + Lean the to Play Chess Taught by Richard Colorado Sr. Free! For beginners Grades 3 to 12. Central Library Con- tact: Brian, 211 E street OR CALL 545-0831. www.so- nomalibrary.org. Please be early to sign up and register. Boards and Chess pieces are supplied. Many thanks to the friends of the Santa Rosa Li- brary. For more info: Richard Colorado Sr. rikkolotado@ya- hoo.com 707-545-9999


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