SHOW BIZ
Beamer to launch local 'Mohala Hou Tour'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

ON THE ROAD: Keola and Moana Beamer are back on Maui after a Northwest tour with blues great Taj Mahal, for whom they opened in Jacksonville, Ore., and in Seattle. "Taj is a wonderful guy," says Beamer, "full of life and aloha. He told me some great stories about how he first heard Hawaiian music on a giant, ancient radio, listening intently through the static with his dad. 'Hawai'i Calls,' I bet."

Beamer also reflected with Pat Cockett and Carlos Andrade of the Hula Blues Band. "It was like hanging out at the senior bench at Kamehameha School again; we're still playing music and singing some of the same songs ... except now it's thirtysomething years later and our hair color has magically turned to white." ...

Beamer this month launches his Hawai'i "Mohala Hou Tour" to promote his latest CD, with gigs on July 27 on Kaua'i, Aug. 2 on Maui, Aug. 8 in Hilo, Aug. 9 in Kamuela, and two dates on O'ahu — Aug. 23 at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College, and Aug. 30 at Diamond Head Theatre. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Andee Gibb, former island actress, has joined the cast of "Tony and Tina's Wedding" at the Rio in Las Vegas. She plays Josephine Vitale, the mother of the bride, in the audience-participation musical being produced by director-creator Larry Sandrini. One of the challenges for Gibb: She had to learn "Santa Lucia" in Italian. ...

Isaac Calpito, another ex-local seeking work on the Mainland, is in New York after doing "Grease" in Europe. He's done an off-Broadway show, "Auntie Mayhem," which may evolve into an HBO project, and has been rehearsing for a new musical, "The Bronx Casket."

Sisters Tatiana and Nataysha Echevarria have been summering in the Big Apple with Calpito, taking voice and dance classes in the hope of getting a show nod, too. ...

Actor-director Scott Rogers is one proud papa. Rogers, who runs the American Academy of Film and Television, got his show-biz break in 1965, when his dad, producer Herb Rogers, helped him land a role as a munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" at what's now called Blaisdell Center. Now, Scott's daughter, Kanani Rose Rogers, 8, has been tapped to play a munchkin school teacher in "Oz," which premieres Friday at Diamond Head Theatre. Rogers' acting academy is home to Andy Bumatai's stand-up comedy class, which begins yet another round today. Call 596-8300. ...

HERE 'N' THERE: Quite a funny moment at Keo's in Waikiki, where we met with comedian Rip Taylor last week. "Daddy, Daddy," Taylor said in baby talk, referring to owner Keo Sananikone's adopted twins, a girl and a boy. Since becoming a parent, Sananikone has pulled back on his work schedule, so he's on duty only on Tuesday nights.

As Taylor munched on his favorite spring rolls, noodles and chicken-with-cashews dish at a table he shared with Jack and Maydell Cione, Taylor walked to the bar, where a TV set was on, and asked for a channel switch to ABC, where Bonnie Hunt's "Life With Bonnie" show was playing. Taylor had a prominent guest role as a gossip columnist. "I'll be back on the show next season in a recurring role," said Taylor. He didn't toss confetti on this particular evening. But he hauled out Rip's Chips — confetti-dressed, chocolate-dipped ruffled potato chips and nonpareils coated with sprinkles. Among his latest promotional tools. ...

When Jim Nabors was at Sylacauga High School (in Alabama) earlier this summer, he thought he was attending a ceremony to salute one of the school's achievers. Turns out that his high school buddy, Jim Pursell, announced that a $25,000 grant to the Sylacauga City Schools Foundation was being made in Nabors' name. "I don't know what to say — I'm very honored, Jimbo," Nabors told Pursell, chairman of Pursell Technologies. Nabors graduated from that school in 1947 and went on to the University of Alabama. Of course, he entered the "service" as Gomer Pyle. And he's lived in Hawai'i for years now. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Correction: The telephone number for the American Academy of Film and Television is 596-8300. An incorrect number appeared in a previous version of this column.