Snoop in Spokane? Fo’ shizzle
Snoop Dogg was in Spokane for three or four days last week, filming the role of Raul the doorman in “The Golden Door.”
Mr. Dogg was, apparently, not exactly the party animal of his reputation.
“He was really nice, really polite,” said Garrett Sanson, who drove him around town during the shoot.
Even though Snoop’s visit to Spokane was kept relatively quiet, Sanson said “everybody recognized him.”
“He loved his fans and appreciated his fans,” said Sanson.
He said Snoop gave $20 to a homeless man who then responded, “I love Snoop!”
“Snoop Dogg blew me away, in a really good way,” said Sanson.
Filming for “The Golden Door” was scheduled to end this weekend. Meanwhile, North by Northwest already has a new low-budget project teed up, “The Lady Killer,” a dark thriller written and directed by Canadian filmmaker David Krae.
A Duke on the ARt board
Actor’s Repertory Theatre has announced a new board of directors with some recognizable names: Anna and Michael Pearce.
Can’t place ‘em?
Anna is actually Patty Duke, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress. Michael is her husband.
They’re part of an entirely new board appointed this month after the exit this summer of co-founder Grant Smith.
In addition to the Pearces, the board now consists of: Raymond Ochs, Nike Imoru, Julie Curran, Mary Jo Naive and John Hofland.
Meanwhile, Reed McColm, local actor and writer, has been hired as the theater’s business manager.
By the way, if you haven’t seen ARt’s current “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” get yourself out to the Spartan Theatre on the Spokane Falls Community College campus, and discover why it’s considered one of the best American dramas of all time. Call (509) 838-4013 for tickets.
A live ‘High School Musical’
Meanwhile, if you have kids of a certain age you might want to check out “Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage!” the opening show of the Spokane Children’s Theatre season.
You’ll find out why “High School Musical” has been such a phenomenon amongst the ‘tweens and pre-teens.
The SCT’s live version opens Oct. 6 and continues through Oct. 28 at the Lair Auditorium at Spokane Community College. Tickets are available through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Fox photos and footage?
KSPS-7 is seeking photographs or home-movie footage of people working, performing or attending movies or graduations at the Fox Theater. They are also seeking any film footage which shows Spokane in the 1930s.
These will be used in an upcoming KSPS-7 documentary about the Fox. Call the station at (509) 354-7800.
A string quartet discount
Here’s a classical music bargain: Season tickets for the Spokane String Quartet, one of the region’s premier ensembles, are still available at a 10 percent discount through Oct. 21.
Go to www.spokanestringquartet.org for order forms or call (509) 998-2261 for information. The five-concert season opens Oct. 21, 3 p.m. at the Bing Crosby Theater.
Classic Rock on top
KKZX-FM (Classic Rock 98.9) sits atop Spokane’s Arbitron radio ratings – by a hefty margin.
Victoria Frederick, the station’s program director, said this is a nice reward for a station that remains dedicated to local programming. In case you hadn’t noticed, a number of radio stations use syndicated programming, even to the extent of having a “local” morning show originating in Nashville. KKZX-FM has the popular (and truly local) Radio Men morning show.
The other notable developments in this quarter’s ratings: The rise of KXLY-FM (The River, 99.9) by nearly two ratings points. The station’s new adult album alternative (Triple A) format is apparently beginning to take hold.
Here are the top eight stations, based on quarter-hour share, copyright Arbitron Inc:
1. KKZX-FM (classic rock), 7.3
2. (tie) KDRK-FM (country), 5.8
2. (tie) KIXZ-FM (country), 5.8
4. KHTQ-FM (active rock), 5.6
5. KXLY-FM (adult album alternative), 5.5
6. (tie) KEYF-FM (oldies), 5.3
6. (tie) KISC-FM (adult contemporary), 5.3
8. KZZU-FM (hot adult contemporary), 5
A local KXLY talk show
KXLY-AM (NewsRadio 920) has launched a new afternoon local news and interview show, “920 News Scope,” hosted by Mike Fitzsimmons.
This is not a traditional radio talk show. Instead, it will concentrate on “in-depth interviews on the day’s top stories as well as panel discussions,” according to the station. Fitzsimmons, in a press release, said it will represent “a departure from the shrill and hostile tone that talk radio has taken on in the past few years.”
It should give Spokane another much-needed radio forum for discussing local issues. It airs weekdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In other KXLY-AM news, Mike Conklin, former KOMO-AM reporter and anchor in Seattle, has been hired as the program director. He replaces Bud Nameck, who is now the assistant director of the Cougar Radio Sports Network.
Harmonica alert
Take note, connoisseurs of the mouth harp: Four of the top blues harmonica players on the planet are booked into Spokane for “Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blow-Out,” Nov. 23, 8 p.m. at the Mirabeau Park Hotel.
The other performers include Lee Oskar, formerly of the funk-rock group War; James Harman, a harp legend from Alabama; and James Cotton, one of the last surviving members of the 1950’s Chicago blues old guard.
Tickets are on sale (or should be soon) through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Arts Awards on the way
Monday will be a big night in the arts world: The City of Spokane Arts Awards will be presented at 6 p.m. at the Spokane City Council Meeting in the City Council Chambers, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
A reception for the winners will be held immediately afterward in the Kress Gallery at River Park Square. Everyone is invited to this free reception.
Local artists win grants
Two Moscow creative artists won $1,000 support grants from the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
Charcoal artist Elaine Green won a grant to help fund a solo show in Astoria, Ore. Writer Gregory Newell Smith won to help fund a creative non-fiction book about the arrest and trial of a sexual predator.
Both are Eastern Washington University graduates.