Words to think about: The meaning of the word ICON

Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 2, 2014 • Page A5
Words to think about: The meaning of the word ICON
T
By G. W. Abersold Ph.D
he word ICON is an ancient Greek word that
originally referred to a religious object. A painting, a statue
or a place that had religious significance.
In our modern culture it is often
used as a symbol. It is also used as
having cultural or economic value.
It is in the latter usage that I refer
to the Palm Springs Follies as an
icon. In the usage of having cultural and economic value that,
along with its founder, is iconic.
For the past 23 years it has annually attracted almost 4 millions
visitors. Riff Markowitz is the recognized founder of the Follies. He
also has presided over every one of
the 4,655 performances. He admits
to being 75 years old. He is handsome, suave and extremely quick
witted.
A native New Yorker, his family
moved to Canada when he was
only a child. At age 15 he left
home to join the circus as a clown.
That was a rough life for a
teenager, so he landed a job as a
radio dis jockey in Kirkland Lake,
Ontario. His natural “gift of gab”
leads him to TV and he began to
produce and direct plays.
By 1973 he had six TV series and
moved to Hollywood. His success
was meteoric. Several TV series,
HBO mystery series and Riff retires at age 50 to Palm Springs.
His own biography states, “He
failed at retirement.” His bound-
less energy refused to be stifled.
After meeting the mayor of P.S.,
Riff had an idea.
In 1992 the curtain rose for the
first performance of the Fabulous
Palm Springs Follies and will
close on May 18, 2014.
Markowitz is an excellent standup comic. His casual acerbic wit
appeals to young and old. He and
his co-founder, Mary Jarden, have
established a format that has remained the same through the
years.
Riff is obviously the key. His
easy going demeanor and quick
quips has the audience in stiches.
I heard this one years ago and
have never forgotten it. In referring to Palm Springs, Riff called it,
“The vestibule to eternity.” The
aging audience is often the buttend for many of his references.
Riff is Jewish and his background provides him with many
bits of humor. He makes fun of
their lack of sexuality, their proclivity to shop and spend money
and especially their opinions.
“Whenever you get two Jews together you always hear 3 opinions.”
Markowitz mocks all religions;
Catholics, Protestants, Mormons.
He is especially fond of ridiculing
Congress and Government Agencies.
I’ve been to at least ten of his
shows. I’ll never forget the first
one. The curtain rose, the lights
went out, the orchestra conductor
rose at the pit; he gave the down
beat and the great sound of music
captivated. He had all the moves
of a vibrant director.
Then, very quickly it dawned on
me there wasn’t an orchestra. The
music was canned The conductor
was pantomiming. I was stunned.
I usually enlightened my guests
about the introduction.
Through the years the Follies always had guests at the performances such as Bob Hope and
Ginger Rogers. The singers and
dancers in the cast range in age
from 55 to 84. Most of them at one
time or another performed with the
New York City Rockets, in Las
Vegas and on Broadway.
Several performers that I remember were: Gogi Grant, Dorothy
Klosss, Bud and James Mercer,
Brad Cummings and Rex, John
Davidson, The Diamonds, Anna
Maria Alberghetti, Kaye Ballard.
The Four Aces, Howard Keel,
Frankie Laine, Peter Marshall, the
Mills Brothers, Donald O’Connor,
the Modernaires and Kay Starr.
Riff has always shared his personal philosophy. It’s simply, “It
ain’t over ‘til it’s over” He insisted
that everyone must continue to
practice all or part of that which
we have mastered over our careers.”
In his magazine he writes, “Our
cast-all of whom are working
decades longer than they have ever
hoped-have proven that “old age”
can be vibrant, rewarding, sexy
and, perhaps, perhaps even successful.”
A highlight for me is always the
concluding act. Usually patriotic
with patriotic music a spirit of joy
pervading the atmosphere. As the
audience leaves, the performers
and the stars are at the exits greeting one and all.
I cherish a picture taken of Susan
Anton and me. A native of Yucaipa, California, she is as great a
performer as ever.
Remember the show closes on
May 18, 2014. If you haven’t seen
it, now is a good time.
Amen. Selah. So be it.
Redlands Women’s Golf Association raises funds for Inland
Women fighting cancer
PHOTO/PATRICK FITE
The Redlands Women's Golf Association (RWGA) recently presented a check to the Inland
Women Fighting Cancer for more than $26,000. Pictured left to right are RWGA Treasurer Monica
Corcoran; Inland Women Fighting Cancer founding members Cathy Stockton, Nancy Varner,
Annie Sellas; and RWFA Chairperson Kathy Maiberger.
T
By Patrick Fite
he Redlands Women’s
Golf
Association
(RWGA), an organization
associated with the Redlands
Country Club, recently donated a
check for more than $26,000 to the
Inland Women Fighting Cancer
(IWFC) fund.
The RWGA raised the funds at
the annual Rally to Believe Tournament at the Redlands Country
Club. During the last five years,
the annual tournament has earned
a total of $92,575 for fighting cancer.
“This money is going specifically
to help cancer patients in the Inland Empire,” said RWGA Chairperson Kathy Maiberger. “Let’s
face it, cancer hits every single
family. I believe it’s important to
keep supporting this organization
because it is for all of us -- men,
women, and children in the Inland
Empire. We need to make our
cancer departments in the Inland the best in the nation.”
Empire the best in California, and Accepting the check on behalf
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Inland Women Fighting Cancer
were cancer survivors and IWFC
representatives Nancy Varner,
Cathy Stockton, and Annie Sellas,
all of Redlands.
IWFC is dedicated to increasing
the quality of care for cancer treatment in the Inland Empire, including upgrading imaging equipment
and supporting a cancer resource
center at Loma Linda University
which provides access to nutritional expertise, psychological assistance, nurse managers, a
spiritual component for those who
choose, computer tablets which
provide patient navigators in different languages, quality wig services and other resources to help
patients get well.
The women emphasized that the
cancer resource center at Loma
Linda University, which is called
the Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer Patient Resource Center, is available
to any cancer patient in the region.
Even if the patient is being treated
at another facility, the resource
center is available to them.
The IWFC is part of the Stater
Brothers Charities and is currently
a 24 member committee composed
of volunteers from the community.
Sellas told the Redlands golf
group that one of IWFC’s most recent donation was to the Loma
Linda Children’s Oncology Department Hospital to provide beds
for parents so they can stay with
their children who are undergoing
treatment for cancer.
“To go up there and to see all
these little angels smiling and
happy with their parents -- that’s
an example of what makes this so
worthwhile,” Sellas said. “It takes
everybody to help others who need
help. You guys are amazing, so
thank you for allowing us to be
here and partnering with you.”
“All your love and people like
you are what make people get
healed,” Sellas told the members
of RWGA.
Vista Cove
Care Center
at Rialto
Quality Skilled Nursing
and Rehabilitation
(909) 877-1361
1471 South Riverside Ave. Rialto, Ca. 92376