A Chance To Get Inside My Wallet

No, I don’t usually have $500 to throw around, not even to help the Spokane Symphony buy the Fox Theater, and I’ll bet you don’t either.

But I have my reasons for issuing the following challenge: If you, the readers of Spotlight, are willing to donate to the symphony’s Save the Fox Fund before the deadline on Friday, I will match it from my own bank account, up to $500.

Donate any amount of money - $5, $50 or $500 - and tell them it’s part of the Spotlight challenge. When the total reaches $500, I will march down to the office and give them my $500 check. (If Spotlight readers end up pledging money totaling far more than $500, I will be delighted and thrilled, but I’m still donating only $500. Do I look like I’m made of money?)

This is a cause that I would be a hypocrite not to support.

That’s because, in 1996, when the rundown old Fox was at its lowest ebb, I wrote a history piece about this 1931 landmark. I found out that it was one of the jewels of the Fox Theater chain, an art-deco treasure that had played host to Tallulah Bankhead, Bing Crosby, Nelson Eddy and a quadrumvirate of classical legends: Rachmaninoff, Heifetz, Rubinstein and Horowitz.

The Fox also has a place in Sinatra lore: A young Frank Sinatra appeared there with the Hoboken Four in 1935, and got in a fistfight backstage. I have the newspaper ad from that appearance tacked in a place of honor on my bulletin board: “Major Bowes’ Radio Amateurs - The Hoboken Four, Singing and Dancing Fools.”

So I believe it would be a crime to lose this building, and I am getting nervous about this drive. About $68,000 rolled into the fund in the five days ending Wednesday, which is great. But the total was still only about $500,000, which is still $700,000 short.

So it is time for us to put up or shut up. All donations are tax-deductible and should be sent to the Spokane Symphony at 621 W. Mallon, Suite 203, Spokane, WA 99201. Or call 326-3136 and charge it.

And be sure to tell them it’s part of the Spotlight challenge. You don’t want to let me off cheaply on this.

Fox benefit

Meanwhile, here’s another way to contribute:

Regal Cinemas, the seller of the Fox, will stage a gala grand opening of its new NorthTown 12-plex as a benefit for the Save the Fox fund on Sept. 27.

About 1,500 tickets will be on sale for $10 apiece. Tickets include a movie and all of the refreshments you can scarf down. Every penny will go to the Save the Fox fund.

Tickets should be available soon through G&B Select-a-Seat. We’ll keep you informed.

The Julia update

Julia Sweeney (“Saturday Night Live,” “Pulp Fiction”) was back home in Spokane visiting her parents last week, so we thought it might be a good time to catch up with her.

Her big news is personal, not professional: She is planning to go to China at year’s end to adopt a baby girl.

“I can hardly stand it, I’m so excited,” she said.

On the professional side, she has developed a lucrative career doing voices for animated shows, including “Baby Blues” on the WB network. She was also recently heard in the movies “Stuart Little” and “Beethoven II.”

Beyond that, most of her energies are now going into her writing career. She has many screenwriting projects in the works.

Giving Mom her due

After my review of Dan Donohue’s performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, several readers wanted to know: Doesn’t he have a mother, too?

Of course he does, and a terrific one: Mary Donohue of Spokane, who played a key role in nurturing her son’s talents and ambitions.

However, in an ill-judged attempt to be concise, I mentioned only his father. Mom deserves at least as much credit.

New logo, new name

The Cheney Cowles Museum will unveil its new logo, incorporating its new name - the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture - on Sept. 20.

The unveiling will be part of the museum’s annual meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Campbell House, 2316 W. First Avenue. Best-selling humorist Pat McManus will speak.

Tickets are $10 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Call 363-5302 for tickets.

Sports and money talk

KXLY-AM (920) is expanding local talk segments on two subjects dear to the hearts of many - sports and money.

Beginning Monday, KXLY sportscasters Rick Lukens, Dennis Patchin and Mike Boyle will host a call-in show from 6 to 7 p.m. every weekday (it will be pre-empted or shortened for Seattle Mariners broadcasts and other game broadcasts).

Also, the popular “Grant Marks Money Management” hour has been added to the Friday afternoon lineup. It will now run Mondays and Fridays at 2 p.m.