Party Line: Celebrating 75 years of Levitt Shell

Photo by Michael Donahue // Buy this photo

Among the performers at the Levitt Shell's 75th anniversary "Sunset Soiree" were (from left) Sid Selvidge, Kelley Hurt, Lisa Shoup and Sam Shoup. They performed music from the 1930s in honor of the Shell's opening in 1936.

Guests were transported back to 1936 on Saturday night at the "Sunset Soiree" at the Levitt Shell. That was the year the open-air theater opened in Overton Park.

Songs celebrating the 75th anniversary of the theater, known for many years as the Overton Park Shell, reflected the time period. Entertainers not usually known for singing such material included Sid Selvidge, whose numbers included Fred Astaire standards "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket." Kelley Hurt was a hit with songs that included the sexy "Was I Drunk."

David Less produced the concert and put together the 15-member orchestra. Bass player Sam Shoup was the arranger for all the pieces except the instrumental "Moon Over Miami," which was arranged by his father, the late Don Reid. Sam's sister, singer Lisa Shoup, also performed in the show.

About 600 attended the event, which included tables and dinner up front and lawn seating.

The evening also included a video produced by David Leonard and David Hymel that featured Charles Chandler and Sister Terry Starr "reminiscing about the heyday of the Shell," said Barry Lichterman, Levitt Shell founder and board of directors president. "We should say 'the former heyday' because we think the heyday is now."

'Spirits with the Spirits'

Veteran Memphis bartender Lafayette Draper concocted some bewitching drinks for the first "Spirits with the Spirits" fundraiser at Elmwood Cemetery.

Drinks included The Tombstone, Yellow Fever and Last Gasp. The Stump Lifter -- gin, vodka, rum and fruit juices -- was a drink Lafayette made 45 years ago at the Memphis Country Club, said Elmwood trustee Jeanne Arthur.

Apparently, the live music and party chatter at Elmwood didn't wake the dead, which include such luminaries as former Memphis mayor E.H. "Boss" Crump, author Shelby Foote, outlaw Kit Dalton from the Dalton gang and silent-movie actress Jenny Moon, who appeared on screen with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

It was no coincidence the event was held on the 13th of the month and there was an "almost full moon," Jeanne said.

Guests were given little flashlights so they could walk through the cemetery, which was dimly lit by votive candles.

Movies including the 1931 version of "Dracula" played on the roof of the Victorian Gothic cottage near the cemetery entrance.

Music was provided by Tout Le Mon, Tony Thomas and Hank and Nora. Food was catered by The Uptown Grocer.

Symphony League luncheon

With her wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and slinky black dress, Caroline Harrison couldn't be anybody but Holly Golightly from "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Caroline greeted guests at Memphis Symphony League's luncheon Friday at the Memphis Country Club. Special guest was Sam Wasson, author of the best-selling book "Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman."

Commenting on his book about the 1961 movie directed by Blake Edwards from the Truman Capote novel, Sam -- who was interviewed in front of the audience by Memphis film commissioner Linn Sitler -- said, "Audrey was so sophisticated, she was so elegant, she was so glamorous. The sophistication, elegance and glamor was a way of being sexual without being overt. You could be elegant without being vulgar."

Even though Audrey was playing a call girl, her character personified "the modern woman." Audrey's Holly Golightly was somewhere between Marilyn Monroe ("too much sex,") and Doris Day ("not enough,"), Sam said.

The first song performed by singer/actor Daniel Spiotta was, of course, "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Betty Carol Germany was his accompanist.

Jimmy Rout and Mabel McNeill were event co-chairmen.

-- Michael Donahue: (901) 529-2797. donahue@commercialappeal.com

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