 |
||||
| WWW.PSFOLLIES.COM | JANUARY 2007 | |||
 Greetings, Darlin's! The "breaking news" is the opening of the Follies Online Souvenir Stand . There is more information included below, but I just wanted to say it is our intention to make the Follies' web store more than just "online shopping." We hope that visiting it is a memorable experience in and of itself, as you will see with the CD offering by this season's opening guest star, Miss Gogi Grant. Not only can you listen to sample selections from her audio CD, but on that page you will also find the story of her career. There's also a video clip of her closing New Year's Eve performance here at the Plaza Theatre, including her emotional farewell to our Follies Family. Much more will be added to this store in the coming weeks and months, so please check back often. Speaking of New Year's Eve, Follies audiences observed a surprise onstage marriage proposal between a Follies staffer and her (now) fiance, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. The few. The proud. Oo-rah to this young couple. The Follies' best wishes and God speed to them both. I'm sure you'll enjoy the photos and story below. And you should have received my announcement last week about our partnership with the UCLA Center on Aging for an exciting event! We hope you can attend on May 4, 2007. This promises to be a genuinely informative and entertaining evening. For eleven seasons here at the historic Plaza Theatre, The Mercer Brothers brought to Follies audiences - in addition to extraordinary entertainment - nothing short of a history lesson. Bud and Jim Mercer were the personification of show business - particularly the golden form of show business that was known as Vaudeville. Sadly, their act may well have been the last of its kind, but we are all the richer for having witnessed it. Fortunately, Bud Mercer has just written his memoir, entitled Tripping the Light Fantastic, which will be released in February. You can read more about his February 11, Palm Springs book signing below. And if you've often wondered who those friendly people are who answer our reservations phone lines, this month we've included a photo of them. You can now place the name with the face. (Two eluded our photographers; we presume them to be part of the F.B.I.'s Witness Protection Program.) I'd like to thank all of you who participated in last month's Music of Your Life survey and a second survey by our Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism. This month I would like to ask for your opinions once again with three brief questions shown below. Our Follies Forum now has 166 Users. I enjoy reading your musings and many anecdotes about the Follies and life in general. If you haven't yet started messaging other Follies fans, may I suggest you "join the party." Follies Favorites have a new recipe on their members' site for seafood croquettes from Follies Lovely Jill Owens (who was recently promoted to Dance Captain).  (left
to right) Follies Director of Sales Terry Jardin, Mrs. & President
Ford and Merrilee Markowitz (the Follies Man's sister) Finally,
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the passing
of esteemed Valley resident and our country's 38th commander
in chief, President Gerald R. Ford. He and Mrs.
Ford were frequent guests of the Follies and he was a true gentleman.
Our sincere thoughts go out to his family.
Until next month,
We appreciate you taking a moment to answer the following three questions:
Palm Springs Follies Stage Manager Answers "Yes" Onstage LCPL Blum is being deployed to Iraq in February and contacted the Follies about wanting to propose to his girlfriend on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, she had to work at the Plaza Theatre.
There at center stage, Blum asked for DeRoos' hand in marriage. The couple met a year ago when Blum was on leave in Palm Springs while stationed in Japan. DeRoos, a one-year Follies staffer, is originally from Lake City, Minnesota. Blum was born and raised in San Antonio before joining the Corps two years ago. They are planning to wed in a year between Blum's two upcoming tours of duty in Iraq. Click here to view a video of the proposal.
 Recalls The Mercer Brothers' Eleven-Year Run at the Follies
This is the real-life story of Bud and Jim Mercer, who worked as a team in show business for more than 70 years, from the early days of the Great Depression into the 21st century. Tripping the Light Fantastic is filled with anecdotes about The Mercer Brothers as they shared the stage with the famous and not-so-famous. The book is an inspirational story of perseverance, dedication, and the love of show business. 
Now you'll know the smiling faces behind the "smiling" voices!
 The Follies box office is open seven days a week and can be reached by calling 760-327-0225 or you can purchase tickets online 24 hours a day at www.psfollies.com and see your exact seat location at the time of booking. The Follies box office, located at the entrance to The Historic Plaza Theatre, is also open seven days a week. |
||||
So
much to report this month!
Near the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, Lance
Corporal Adam Blum USMC asked Palm Springs Follies
Assistant Stage Manager Ryan DeRoos to be his wife. The only
thing unusual was the setting: onstage during the Fabulous Palm Springs
Follies New Year's Eve show in front of 809 (suddenly) misty-eyed
revelers.
No problem. The Follies accommodated his request by bringing him onstage
in full-dress blues. The unsuspecting DeRoos was told to dress formally
in order to present a gift basket to a Follies patron during the performance.
Markowitz brought her onstage to join Blum, telling her there was someone
who wanted to give her a "midnight kiss."
Don't miss the opportunity to meet The Mercer Brothers' Bud
Mercer, now 93, when he signs his just-published memoir at Peppertree
Book Store (155 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-325-4821)
on Sunday, February 11, 2007, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
