Main Street
'American Beauty' a real hometown favorite
By Mary Ann Cook
ACADEMY CALLS: Los Gatos and Saratoga have a strong link with this year's Academy Award nominations for American Beauty, in both the acting and producing roles.
The producer of American Beauty is Jinks-Cohen Productions, and Dan Jinks is a local product, an '81 grad of Los Gatos High School. He earned a theater arts degree from New York University in '85, and worked as assistant to two different independent producers, both in New York and Los Angeles.
After that, he started his own production company, with a like-minded friend. American Beauty is the first film the company has produced. What a way to start. He was captivated by the script when he first read it, and had tried to get it produced for several years.
Jinks is the son of Claire and Larry Jinks who relate that Dan always has been interested in theatrics. Even as a youngster, he would put on magic shows, as Whodanny the Magician, and earn pin money in the neighborhood.
Annette Bening, Best Actress nominee, was a member of VITA (Valley Institute of Theatre Arts) in the summer of '81, and played Juliet to Bill Peck's Romeo, among other roles.
Peck is now a special ed teacher in San Jose, and is the son of Willys and Betty Peck of Saratoga, thespians in their own right. It was summer productions in the Peck backyard that led to the formation of VITA by Bill Peck and Judith Sutton. Bening's aunt, Kay Merkel lives at the Meadows.
As of this writing, the Academy Award winners haven't been announced, but you'll have heard by now, whether these two local links collected the prized trophy or not.
FOUNDATION FORMED: Before his recent death, Robert Wilton Foster established an education fund to be used by The Terraces staff for further education. He donated $300,000 to establish the Foster Family Education Fund, in honor of his wife, daughters and grandchildren.
Employees of The Terraces (or other American Baptist Home Foundation-run residencies) will now be able to further their education in geriatrics, or a related field, thanks to his generosity.
He lived at the Terraces for seven years with his wife, Elizabeth, and he wanted to show his appreciation for the dedicated care they received there, said their daughter, Phyllis Satter.
FIBER ARTS: Big doings in the fiber arts world in April, with two simultaneous local shows--one in Saratoga's Aegis Gallery of Fine Art and one at Elemental Arts Gallery of Los Gatos. The two shows are in conjunction with the Conference of Northern California Handweavers, which will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, from April 14 to16.
Local weavers exhibiting at Aegis, include Jeanne Tillman and Lorri Scott, both of Los Gatos. Tillman makes her own paper out of natural materials, such as iris or daffodil leaves, and weaves paper threads from these products. Scott creates hand-dyed silk materials, and fashions garments from them.
Scott is in charge of the fashion show for the conference, to be held at 8 p.m. on April 14. Tillman is coordinator of the fiber shows in the two galleries. Judy Heintz, of Saratoga, and Mary Simmons, of Los Gatos, create artwork from gourds, and are exhibiting at Elemental.
They belong to the Calabash Club, so-called because the calabash is a form of gourd. This group of "gourdists" has 100 members. Potential members may call Heintz at 408.867.4829. Some 10 gourdists will show their wares at the Elemental.
An artist reception for the Elemental Gallery will be held on April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. The reception at Aegis is on April 9, 1 to 3 p.m.
FASHION SHOW: Three Los Gatos students, from Presentation High School, will model in that school's Fashion Show Benefit on April 7, at the Fairmont Hotel, in San Jose. They are Lauren Parola, Sara Werner and Nicole Booth.
Models are all seniors, chosen by the faculty, based on their accomplishments. The show is a benefit to provide scholarships for Presentation students, who need financial aid. Tickets are $95. For information or tickets, call 408.264.5110.
TREADING THE BOARDS: Los Gatos Lion, Jim Reynaud, played Butt Rhetler, in Gong Whither Wind, in the last melodrama held at the Oprey House in Old Almaden. Owners June and Harry Fromm of Los Gatos, had their own melodrama. Their lease with the county recreation department had been pulled.
The Fromms are seeking a new playhouse, from which the Barbary Coast Players can perform, and Reynaud/Rhetler and the rest of the cast can continue the run of that southern spoof. Gong was Reynaud's first venture into theatrics, and he captured the lead at auditions for the show back in November.
Now he's hooked, a dedicated Barbary Coast Player. In his 9 to 5 role, he's a chiropractor, and an active member of the Los Gatos Lions. This year, he's the Tailtwister, in which job he wheedles money from members for their accomplishments, trips, feats and the like. His only other acting foray was as volunteer stuntman for a local movie production. Now he'd like to try out for a spot in regional theater.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
