Sounds Good: Kyler says 'There ought to be a movie'

By Darragh Doiron
Port Arthur News staff writer

Kyler says ‘there ought to be a movie’
Bob Kyler of Port Arthur called The News excited about a documentary he saw about Old 666, a B-24 in the World War II era that survived an air skirmish with 17 Japanese fighter planes.
“Somebody ought to make a movie about this thing,” Kyler said.
In fact, he said he’d love people to call him at 985-6270 if they want to get in on this. He asked for a straight Internet connection to Hollywood.
Kyler said he saw all this on the History Channel.
“Everything on the History Channel is the truth and nothing but the truth,” Kyler said.

Spelling Bee a hit
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is different every night, because audience members can “audition” to be part of the bee and the jokes are written around them. When I saw this touching, funny musical this past week at the Lutcher Theater in Orange, I was thrilled that they picked a woman from my church to get up there and spell. They announced her as wanting to be a Marie Osmond look-alike when she grew up. Another audience member-turned-cast-member was described as a prematurely gray 12 year old and the next face of Orville Redenbacher popcorn. When these extras finally misspell a word, the comfort coach gives them a juice box and they get the “Goodbye” song as they’re escorted off stage.
This show would be great with the real cast alone, including the character of Mr. Leaf Coneybear, who makes his own clothes and sings about being not that smart and liking his hair. William Barfee spells with his magic foot and Marcy Park speaks six languages, but realizes it’s OK to not live up to expectations. Also look for Asian Jesus.
The Lutcher will host “Drumline Live” on Jan. 14 and 15.

Wild Neches
Port Arthur News readers got word on a 200-mile canoe ride when “Paddling the Wild Neches” first came out.
Texas A&M University Press has just shipped copies of Richard M. Donovan’s books to local libraries, thanks to a donation from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.
The book’s content takes readers canoeing down a two-hundred mile stretch of the upper Neches. Donovan shares his experience of the river’s natural and cultural history, its animals and recounts stories of early settlers and East Texas hunting traditions. He also supports the river’s recreational potential for paddle fans and others.

New book tells local oil history
Museum of the Gulf Coast is selling copies of the new book “Water, Rails & Oil: Historic Mid and South Jefferson County.”
The book is $39.95. For information, call the museum at 982-7000.
ddoiron@panews.com