That’s entertainment: Twenty years ago

Warwick Musical Theatre’s founder, Buster Bonoff, was elected to the Rhode Island Hall of Fame.
Conimicut’s newest restaurant, De Ja, offered a taste of Thai, with a hint of American, Italian and Indian.
The Corruptor starred Mark Wahlberg and Chow Yun-Fat as cop buddies. The Mod Squad was a poor revival of the old TV series. The Matrix starred Keanu Reeves. Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis starred in The Out of Towners.
City Nights Dinner Theatre was still in Pawtucket. For $24 you got a family style dinner and a ticket to “Sylvia.”
Pawtucket Community Players presented “They’re Playing Our Song,” featuring Steve Morris and Richard Blue of Warwick. Pat Kohler reviewed it for me.
Director Bert Silverberg held auditions for the Cranston Community Players production of “Children of Eden.”
Trinity Rep presented Dario Fo’s “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!,” starring William Damkoeler, Phyllis Kay, Fred Sullivan Jr., Janice Duclos and Dan Welch.
“The King and I” was at PPAC, while “Translations” was at Gamm.
Earth Day was celebrated at Goddard Park, with the Fat City Band and Pendragon performing.
The RI Philharmonic Pops Concert featured Victor Borge.

40 Years Ago

Midland Mall Cinema was showing Wifemistress starring Marcello Mastroianni and Laura Antonelli.
George Mamilton starred as Count Dracula in “Love at First Bite” at the Showcase.
“Hurricane” starring Mia Farrow and Jason Robards was at the Warwick Cinema.
Dizzy Gillespie was at the Ocean State Theatre (PPAC), followed by Liza Minnelli.
Country singer John Conlee was at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.
Diana Ross was at the Providence Civic Center. Tickets were $10.50 and $12.50.
Daughter Robin saw her first Broadway show, “Sweeney Todd,” along with members of the Cranston East A Capella Choir. They paid $14 each for 2nd balcony seats. Eugene Lee designed the set. Today, Robin and her husband travel to New York City at least once a month to see a play or musical.
Ford Rainey came to Trinity to play Willie Loman in “Death of a Salesman.” I wrote that Richard Jenkins “stole the show from the veteran with the portrayal of Willie’s son, Biff.”
The Ocean State 18th Annual Cat Club Show was at Bishop Hendricken.
Steak teriyaki was $7.95 at the Old Grist Mill in Seekonk. Chicken teriyaki was only $5.95