(Note: Wrote this for our monthly in-house publication, The Terrace Talk)
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Ah, the Social Hour ... it is a time for wine, not whine.
From its humble beginnings (hint: Mr. Harmonica Man) to a sometimes overflow, standing-room-only Longhorn Auditorium, the Social Hour is now a Thursday afternoon happening at Trinity Terrace.
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Ah, the Social Hour ... it is a time for wine, not whine.
From its humble beginnings (hint: Mr. Harmonica Man) to a sometimes overflow, standing-room-only Longhorn Auditorium, the Social Hour is now a Thursday afternoon happening at Trinity Terrace.
It has become perhaps the most popular weekly gathering for our residents. Starting at 4 p.m., it is indeed a happy hour (give or take a few minutes).
The food/fruit platters provided are a nice treat -- thanks to Dining Services -- and so are the punch, the wine and even the water. Oh, and by the way, the BYOB aspect is very much a part of it (as if you didn't know).
The food/fruit platters provided are a nice treat -- thanks to Dining Services -- and so are the punch, the wine and even the water. Oh, and by the way, the BYOB aspect is very much a part of it (as if you didn't know).
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| Trinity Terrace's ukulele band/"orchestra" is one of the most popular features of the "Social Hour" on Thursday afternoons. |
This requires planning and "recruiting" by the Social Hour host/emcee, for the past year-and-a-half our "music man," Ken Knight, and before that, Bill Starz (for five years), Charles Kelley (for one) and Bill Gould (for three). It is not an easy task.
Making it more difficult, says Ken, "is having no budget to pay people [to perform or speak]. That severely limits the field."
(Fortunately, Resident Services does have a budget to bring in, on a regular basis, musical acts, book reviewers, speakers, etc., to enhance what the Social Hour also provides.)
What pleases Ken -- who billed himself as "chief procurer of talent" in a recent Social Hour committee report -- is "the satisfaction of enriching people's artistic lives," and, he adds with a smile, "the continuing adulation I receive [for the host role]. It is nice to feel appreciated. People are constantly telling me I'm doing a nice job."
Bill Starz and Bill Gould know that feeling. Because many of the roots of the Social Hour belong to them.
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Bill Starz inspired the beginning, organized the group -- and brought along his harmonica.
Shortly after he and Janice moved to Trinity Terrace in August 2008, he noticed that the events schedule included meetings of the "Sundowners."
That was a group of about 10 -- mostly women -- and trailer park-inspired name came from the premise that it is 5 p.m. somewhere, time for a drink. They met maybe twice a month on Thursday afternoons in what was then "the river room" (where the TT library is now), and they brought cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine or two.
"Mind if I play a few songs on the harmonica?" Bill asked. "Yeah, fine" he was told. So, he played Moon River and Shenandoah, etc., and "everyone enjoyed it."
He asked, "Any more people with musical talent here?" and got some responses. Soon the group suggested, "Why don't you take this over?" -- and he did.
And here came the "acts" ...
Shortly after he and Janice moved to Trinity Terrace in August 2008, he noticed that the events schedule included meetings of the "Sundowners."
That was a group of about 10 -- mostly women -- and trailer park-inspired name came from the premise that it is 5 p.m. somewhere, time for a drink. They met maybe twice a month on Thursday afternoons in what was then "the river room" (where the TT library is now), and they brought cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine or two.
"Mind if I play a few songs on the harmonica?" Bill asked. "Yeah, fine" he was told. So, he played Moon River and Shenandoah, etc., and "everyone enjoyed it."
He asked, "Any more people with musical talent here?" and got some responses. Soon the group suggested, "Why don't you take this over?" -- and he did.
And here came the "acts" ...
Martha Taylor was one of the organizers of the previous group and as much a part of the Social Hour beginning as Bill. And she was an early performer, a piano ragtime sensation even at age 90 then who -- as Bill noted -- "played by ear." A few weeks ago at almost 101 years young she proved at a Longhorn Auditorium party that she still can do a full dance (with Sherman Lawson).
One of the early popular acts was Millie Miller, a resident who played piano for funerals -- "religious songs not appropriate for Social Hour," said Bill -- but entertained here with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
Waldo Rios, a registered nurse who worked at Trinity Terrace (and moved on to work primarily with the Hispanic community, was a violinist and performed at Social Hour many times, along with his brothers, one on piano, the other on bass. Their "Tonic Trio," said Bill Starz, played at the Bush White House and the Kennedy Center, and Waldo had studied music at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Millie and Waldo teamed up for one Social Hour, and Bill tried to accompany them with his harmonica. He found that "trying to hold a harmonica note along with a violin and piano, I can't do it. You have to stop to catch your breath."
But most weeks he kept playing -- just as his harmonica-playing father had taught him -- doing Sinatra, Streisand, Broadway and movie tunes.
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Early on, residents could not move in with walkers, the requirement was a doctor's note that they were able to move unaided for at least two years. But as the TT population grew and aged, that was eased. Other significant changes:
(1) A new name. It was pointed out that sundowners was a reference to the first indication of Alzheimer's Disease, so Bill Starz recalls, "we really couldn't use that name anymore." "Social Hour" was approved by the committee, although not to everyone's liking. The name stuck.
(2) Changes of venue -- first to the newly built Worth Lounge. Soon, with walkers now needed, it got crowded with 20 to 30 people and made it a tenuous setting. So when the City Tower opened 11 years ago, the new Longhorn Auditorium was much more convenient.
(3) For several years, the piano that was used -- in the dining area and for the Social Hour -- was sub-standard. Suggestions for a new piano included purchase of a Steinway, but the newly formed Social Hour committee thought that too expensive. It was Janie Burnett who agreed with Dr. Jimmy Burnett to donate her Yamaha, a much appreciated addition.
And, of course, piano players -- in addition to Martha Taylor -- have been an integral part of Social Hour.
Marketing alerted Bill Starz to a resident talent: Juilliard School-trained pianist LaVerne Whitten. The reaction to her performances: "Oh, wow," said Bill.
Since then, Marjorie Montgomery, Jeanette Keim, classical talent Patrick Sanford and the versatile Ken Knight have followed.
Alina Bercu of Romania, a Cliburn International Piano Competition entry, returned to our city and played here last year, and another, Leonardo Pierdomenico of Italy, is set to play this Thursday (May 2).
Checking available Social Hour records of the past eight years, there are at least 30 residents (some no longer with us) who were the "stars" of the hour, plus several relatives (at least three daughters, one son and daughter-in-law combo, and a sister of a resident).
Many were musical; others were verbal. Some were serious; some were not.
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After five years, Bill Starz gave up the "host" role.
"Too stressful," he said. "Getting people lined up and then having them cancel" was the biggest problem. "If you got, say, two months ahead [on scheduling], that was like a vacation."
Which is why Ken Knight can be seen pacing the lobby before a Social Hour, waiting for the featured guest to arrive. And why after someone cancelled a couple of months ago, the Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy made a save on a same-week notice moving up his scheduled appearance.
Bill Gould, in his second week as host, had to deal with a last-day cancellation. His recall: "I said, 'great granny's garters, what am I going to do?' What have I gotten into?"
Martha Taylor to the rescue. "I'll play [piano] for you," she told Bill.
She began "and played the wrong key," Bill recalled, "and it never fazed her. ... And she could tear up [ragtime] on the piano."
Bill's goal was "to work six weeks ahead" on scheduling. It helped that the TT ukulele group began making several appearances every year. And our Goofy Geezers acting troupe take center-stage -- sort of -- a couple of times a year.
Ken Knight stresses that he is appreciative of the help he receives in lining up guest performances.
A few of the past and more recent favorites mentioned by the hosts/emcees:
-- Former resident Gene James, who Bill Gould recalled played piano in his apartment, and also played organ. "[Neighbors] would hear him play, so we invited him to Social Hour three or four times," Bill said. "He was a hit. It rocked people's socks to hear this guy. He was meek and mild, but he banged that piano."
-- Longtime Fort Worth advertising executive/jingles creator Frank Burkett (on ukulele) and his sons -- a bass fiddle player, one on guitar and a psychiatrist who played the mandolin.
-- Melissa Stewart, who shared the wild, weird claims she dealt with in her insurance business, and included the infamous Billy Bob/Saginaw adventure.
One of the early popular acts was Millie Miller, a resident who played piano for funerals -- "religious songs not appropriate for Social Hour," said Bill -- but entertained here with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
Waldo Rios, a registered nurse who worked at Trinity Terrace (and moved on to work primarily with the Hispanic community, was a violinist and performed at Social Hour many times, along with his brothers, one on piano, the other on bass. Their "Tonic Trio," said Bill Starz, played at the Bush White House and the Kennedy Center, and Waldo had studied music at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
Millie and Waldo teamed up for one Social Hour, and Bill tried to accompany them with his harmonica. He found that "trying to hold a harmonica note along with a violin and piano, I can't do it. You have to stop to catch your breath."
But most weeks he kept playing -- just as his harmonica-playing father had taught him -- doing Sinatra, Streisand, Broadway and movie tunes.
---
Early on, residents could not move in with walkers, the requirement was a doctor's note that they were able to move unaided for at least two years. But as the TT population grew and aged, that was eased. Other significant changes:
(1) A new name. It was pointed out that sundowners was a reference to the first indication of Alzheimer's Disease, so Bill Starz recalls, "we really couldn't use that name anymore." "Social Hour" was approved by the committee, although not to everyone's liking. The name stuck.
(2) Changes of venue -- first to the newly built Worth Lounge. Soon, with walkers now needed, it got crowded with 20 to 30 people and made it a tenuous setting. So when the City Tower opened 11 years ago, the new Longhorn Auditorium was much more convenient.
(3) For several years, the piano that was used -- in the dining area and for the Social Hour -- was sub-standard. Suggestions for a new piano included purchase of a Steinway, but the newly formed Social Hour committee thought that too expensive. It was Janie Burnett who agreed with Dr. Jimmy Burnett to donate her Yamaha, a much appreciated addition.
And, of course, piano players -- in addition to Martha Taylor -- have been an integral part of Social Hour.
Marketing alerted Bill Starz to a resident talent: Juilliard School-trained pianist LaVerne Whitten. The reaction to her performances: "Oh, wow," said Bill.
Since then, Marjorie Montgomery, Jeanette Keim, classical talent Patrick Sanford and the versatile Ken Knight have followed.
Alina Bercu of Romania, a Cliburn International Piano Competition entry, returned to our city and played here last year, and another, Leonardo Pierdomenico of Italy, is set to play this Thursday (May 2).
Checking available Social Hour records of the past eight years, there are at least 30 residents (some no longer with us) who were the "stars" of the hour, plus several relatives (at least three daughters, one son and daughter-in-law combo, and a sister of a resident).
Many were musical; others were verbal. Some were serious; some were not.
---
After five years, Bill Starz gave up the "host" role.
"Too stressful," he said. "Getting people lined up and then having them cancel" was the biggest problem. "If you got, say, two months ahead [on scheduling], that was like a vacation."
Which is why Ken Knight can be seen pacing the lobby before a Social Hour, waiting for the featured guest to arrive. And why after someone cancelled a couple of months ago, the Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy made a save on a same-week notice moving up his scheduled appearance.
Bill Gould, in his second week as host, had to deal with a last-day cancellation. His recall: "I said, 'great granny's garters, what am I going to do?' What have I gotten into?"
Martha Taylor to the rescue. "I'll play [piano] for you," she told Bill.
She began "and played the wrong key," Bill recalled, "and it never fazed her. ... And she could tear up [ragtime] on the piano."
Bill's goal was "to work six weeks ahead" on scheduling. It helped that the TT ukulele group began making several appearances every year. And our Goofy Geezers acting troupe take center-stage -- sort of -- a couple of times a year.
Ken Knight stresses that he is appreciative of the help he receives in lining up guest performances.
A few of the past and more recent favorites mentioned by the hosts/emcees:
-- Former resident Gene James, who Bill Gould recalled played piano in his apartment, and also played organ. "[Neighbors] would hear him play, so we invited him to Social Hour three or four times," Bill said. "He was a hit. It rocked people's socks to hear this guy. He was meek and mild, but he banged that piano."
-- Longtime Fort Worth advertising executive/jingles creator Frank Burkett (on ukulele) and his sons -- a bass fiddle player, one on guitar and a psychiatrist who played the mandolin.
-- Melissa Stewart, who shared the wild, weird claims she dealt with in her insurance business, and included the infamous Billy Bob/Saginaw adventure.
-- Singer Beverly Branch, daughter of Nell and Jim Branch, who Bill Gould said, laughing, "She can belt it out; she doesn't need a microphone.
-- Red-haired Dace Sultanov and her enchanting cello, either as a solo artist or teamed with others.
-- Red-haired Dace Sultanov and her enchanting cello, either as a solo artist or teamed with others.
-- The vocals (including Beatles songs) of Nancy Sumner Froman (daughter of our Sue Sumner ) with her bandmates, husband Greg Froman and Phil Hennen.
They were early "recruits" by Bill Gould, who said, "Who knew how that would go? They were really a spark, being so young and perky."
Trinity Terrace staffers who have performed include house painter Arjan Golemi, who sang Greek songs, and Bobby Davis, director of facility services, on guitar.
In the early Social Hour days -- still in the Worth Lounge -- there was Alex Smith -- the happy, friendly and hard-working veteran of our maintenance crew. He sang a number of Al Green songs, and recalls, "That was back when I had some vocals. My voice isn't as good anymore."
In the early Social Hour days -- still in the Worth Lounge -- there was Alex Smith -- the happy, friendly and hard-working veteran of our maintenance crew. He sang a number of Al Green songs, and recalls, "That was back when I had some vocals. My voice isn't as good anymore."
Smiling, he added, "I felt like I did a good job. But maybe they [the resident audience] might have just been drunk. They were drinking, that's for sure."
Right. The setting has changed, but some things haven't.
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Ken Knight was attending Social Hour, and performing, before he and Richard Morehead became residents, and Ken taking over as host/emcee "raised the whole level of performances," says Bill Starz, "because he's the first [music] professional to do this. He has so many contacts in the music field, in town, at TCU." And with his musical talents, he also has been a performer -- at times to fill in some waiting time.
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Ken Knight was attending Social Hour, and performing, before he and Richard Morehead became residents, and Ken taking over as host/emcee "raised the whole level of performances," says Bill Starz, "because he's the first [music] professional to do this. He has so many contacts in the music field, in town, at TCU." And with his musical talents, he also has been a performer -- at times to fill in some waiting time.
Audience sizes, says Ken, have steadily increased since he took over the role in December 2017, often topping 100 (Joe Armstrong has been responsible for doing the head count). No question that one person's talk filled up the room.
Not long after he became a TT resident, New York Yankees star/American League president/longtime Fort Worth cardiologist Dr. Bobby Brown entertained for more than an hour, spinning his stories like pitchers' best curveballs. The "count" for that audience was 174, SRO.
Quite a jump from when "50 or 60 people was quite a crowd," said Bill Starz.
There are -- and always have been -- rules against off-color jokes or stories (no bodily function mentions), and against promoting "outside" performances and book sales. But, well, some rules are bent because we are thankful for the visitors' cooperation.
We are thankful, period, for what the Social Hour gives us each week. It is a happy hour, a good time.
"One purpose is for people to sit and visit, get to know each other and talk," said Bill Gould. "The way it has developed is super good. ... To get people to here to come out of the woods and socialize, that's the idea."
"It's good for a program started by an amateur harmonica player," said Bill Starz.
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Current residents who have been featured in the Social Hour program:
Bill Starz, Martha Taylor, Ken Knight, Bill Gould, Eddie Whitten, LaVerne Whitten, Marjorie Montgomery, Louise Underwood, Tommie Sandstrom, Judy Norman, Maxine Kruse, Floyd Kinser, Marvin Bahnman, Melissa Stewart, Fran Stuart, Wilma Jean Tade, Joe Armstrong, Connie Pannell, Glenn Pannell, Dr. Jim Alexander, Don and Edith Martin, Patrick Sanford, Dr. Bobby Brown, Dan Baker, Hank Fitzhugh, Nico Van Thyn, Pat Richardson.
Former residents: Millie Miller, Gene James, Dr. Bill Craig, Joe LeGault.
Family of residents: Nancy Sumner Froman (daughter of Sue Sumner) and husband Gregg Froman, Paula Brower (daughter of Joyce and Robert Brower), Jim and Melanie Cleveland (son and daughter-in-law of Betty and Fred Cleveland), Beverly Branch (daughter of Nell and Jim Branch), Jodie Utter (daughter of JoAn Bates), Dian McCall (sister of Bill Gould) (and yes it is spelled Dian).
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