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PEOPLE TALK Journalistically speaking "Good Morning, AmericaV' KatMeLee Johnson says her former competitor, Phyllis George, didn't deserve all the flak she caught dur­ ing her brief tenure on "The CBS Morning News." "Phyllis never said, 'I'm a great journalist.' Other people's perception of what you need-to$e is what caused that prob­ lem," said Johnson, a singer and entertainer who was chosen as a "GMA" special correspondent three years ago. Johnson, who had ho journalism experience before going to the ABC show, is in Atlantic City this week for an appearance on Sat­ urday's Miss America Pageant tele­ cast. "One thing I have never pre­ tended to be is anything other than what I am," she said. Before hiring her, Johnson said ABC told her they were "looking for a caring, bright and concerned human being -- which is what I am." Hefner cleans up his act in terms of my work." Hefner is working on an autobiography, but will be appearing in print even before it comes out. "Hef will be appearing with me -- also nude," Leigh said of her upcoming Playboy pictorial, "No," Hefner said. "One of us will be nude. You'll have to figure oilt which one." Eye patch for fashion No, John Connally hasn't suffered an eye injury. The black eye patch was just an affectation for his modeling debut in a Hathaway shirt advertisement. The former Texas governor and unsuccessful Republi­ can presidential candidate is the latest in Hathaway's 2-year-old cam­ paign featuring noted Americans. Hathaway spokesman Pete Penlzotto would not say how much Connally was paid for being in the ad, which describes him as "dynamic, determined, a national presence in law, government and business," but Connally did get to keep the striped shirt and tie he posed in. Space food Phyllis George Hugh Hefner has given up his trademark pipe but won't forsake another of his Playboy traditions -- bachelorhood. Hefner squelched GIllllDfififi reports that he was considering marrying his latest girlfriend, Carrie Leigh, 22, and she helped him make the point by saying, "We'd rather not screw up a good thing, actually." Hefner, 59, was back in Chicago, where he started Playboy, this week for the first time since 1979 and told the Chicago Sun-Times he was feeling better after suffering a stroke. "My life has changed since I had the stroke," he said. "I don't smoke the pipe anymore. I've changed my diet and I've changed my priorities Teacher-turned-astronaut Christa McAuliffe sampled her space diet and gave the freeze-dried scrambled eggs and dehydrated creamed spinach a "nine." "After (scho^) cafeteria food, everything tastes terrific," said McAuliffe, who may have hurt the feelings of the cafeteria crew at her old school, Concord High School in New Hamp­ shire. McAuliffe, 37, and her backup, Barbara Morgan, S3, of McCau, Idaho, sampled about 40 items such as dried apricots, government-issue cookies and shrimp cocktail in plastic-covered trays and rated them on a scale of one to nine. "This is much better than anything we make for ourselves at home," Morgan said. - Steven Spielberg's new television series, "Amazing Stories," has some well-known names -- himself, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, Martin Scorsese, Brian de Palma and Paul Bartel - directing episodes but says the show also gave him a chance to find new talent. "It's like the USC film'workshop," he said. "Most of the people are young and enthusiastic. It's a proving ground for film students"... Gore dominates 'Day of the Dead' If you've seen the first two installments of the "Dead" trilogy -- "Night of the Living Dead," and "Dawn of the Dead," you don't need to be informed that the third and supposedly final installment "Day of the Dead," is quite a gross movie. It's also no wonder the Spring Hill Theater in West Dundee has instituted a policy that no one under 18 will be admitted to see it. From a moral standpoint, there is no reason to recommend this movie to any­ one, except dedicated horror film buffs and film students who know that none of that gore is real. On the other hand, it's bizzare to think that there are lots of people (including some respected movie critics) who find them so sophisticated and darkedly funny. But in a way, they are. The last one was incredibly gory, but it made some sting- ingly funny observations about gun fanat­ ics and shopping centers. It's just that with the increasing reports of violent at­ tacks, murders, psychopaths and other perversities, why should anyone want to recommend films like these to the general public? And through it all, no one has ever bothered to explain what started this zom­ bie sickness in the first place. What distinguishes the equally disgusting "Day of the Dead" from its predecessors is that it chooses to spend a fair amount of time focusing on the rapidly diminishing survivors and their helplessness. Because of this, it actually makes an accurate observation on how irrational and animalistic humans can become when they are desperate. At times, the humans in this film act.as bad (or worse) as the flesh- eating zombies. The zombie dilemma in this movie also seems to mirror another real, horrible and frightening disease -- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syn­ drome (AIDS) -- and how people might react if it gets out of hand. "We have been punished by the Creator, says one of the survivors, a Jamaican helicopter pilot. "He visited a curse on us. Maybe he didn't Joe Agnew • % ' \ Herald staff writer Movie review want to see us blow ourselves up ... maybe he wanted to show us who was the best man ... maybe he though we were getting too big for our britches." It's too bad both of these points will be totally obscured by the blood and guts, which obviously take precedence. "Day" begins with a view of a deserted street. There is trash and abandoned cars everywhere, and now-worthless money is being blown around by wind. Nearby are the zombies, who continue to hunt out humans. Its heroes include a strong-willed female scientist named Sara, who looks and acts like a cross between President Reagan's daughter Patty and Jane Fonda. She, some army men and others have taken refuge in an underground fortress, where an extremely eccentric and bloody doctor named Logan has taken to conducting rude experiments on the corpses of captured zombies. Unfortunately, the only thing this doctor's gruesome experiments have done is prove that the zombies attack on instinct. What's worse is that he actually believes they can eventually be taught to act respect­ ably. While her wimpy boyfriend goes bonkers, the strong-willed Sara begins to accuse the doctor of spending too much time experimenting. Meanwhile, the demented army captain in charge decides to take total control of the experiments -- and everyone else. This combination of fear, tyranny and hopelessness make the under­ ground barracks begin to mirror the world outside, where the zombies continue to wander and seek out new victims. Director George A. Romero apparently relishes in his ability to create bloody carnage through special effects. Since his last movie, he has obviously learned to perfect decapitation, which he repeats over and over throughout this movie. So for whatever reasons a person decides to see this film, they can't say they weren't warned. Let's just hope it doesn't give anyone else the weird ideas that are apparently floating around in ROfi^ero's subconscious. ' ( A s mentioned before, "Day of the Dead" contains Innumerable mo­ ments of violence and profanity. It carries no rating, but most theaters are denying admission to anyone under 18. It Is now showing at the Spring Hill Theaters In West Dundee.) s parade is set for Etgitfs Sesquicentennial Parade -- fe#kflTnf over 200 units -- will be held this Saturday, Sept. 14 begin­ ning at 10 a.m. The 150th anniversa­ ry parade is predicted to be the largest ever held in the Elgin area. More than 40 professionally deco­ rated floats -- representing a wide variety of Elgin area businesses, schools, civic and fraternal groups -- are also scheduled to take part. Added to that are nearly two dozen homemade floats or exhibit vehicles. Other marching unijts include a company of reservists from the El­ gin Army Reserve, complete with weapons vehicles; marching and riding units from various school and scouting organizations; novelty units; clowns and more. The Kane County Sheriff's Mount­ ed Patrol is also scheduled to ap­ pear, as are color guard units from a number of area American Legion and VFW posts. The parade will start on Highland Avenue at Lynch St., proceed west on Highland to Wing Park Boulevard, and north on Wing Park Boulevard into Wing Park in northwest Elgin. Following the parade, and old- fashioned "picnic in the parte" is planned. Parade-goers encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to Wing Park. There will also be abeard judging contest on the Wing Park Band Shell stage. This event will be followed by a free concert by the Elgin Sympho- ny Orchestra. The E80 has ar­ ranged a musical trip through time from the "Elgin" hymn from which the city derived its name, through the Sousa years and up the Michael Jackson era. Providing musical entertainment for parade-goers will be the Stream- wood, Elgin and Larkln high school bands; the 505th Air Force Band, Chanute Air Force Base, 111.; Chica­ go Highlander Pipe Band; Fairmont Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps, Lockport; the Imperial Scots, Car- tersvllle; Kingsmen Drum and ugle Corps, Joliet; Medinah Tem­ ple Oriental Band, Chicago; Midlo­ thian Scottish Pipe Band, Munde leln; and the Milwaukee Continental Youth Band. Also, Phantom Regiment Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Rockford; Pride of Evanston Drum and Bugle Corps; Tebala Shrine Oriental Band, Rockford; Silver Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Des Plaines; Waubon- see Community College Steel Bands; Patriots Fifes and Drum Corps, Wheaton; and the Great Lakes Navy Band. In addition, several floats in the rade will provide Dixieland and azz ensembles. Complimenting the musical units will be the 70-piece Fox Valley Con­ cert Band, wnich will play during the parade at the reviewing stand at the intersection of Highland and Larkin Avenues. Hospitality Day date Is set Wednesday, Oct. 2 Is the date for the 30th Annual Holiday Hospitality Day, sponsored by the Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital for McHenry County. The 1965 Hospitality activities will be comprised of a home tour, craft sale and luncheon. General Chairwoman Jean Smith and Suzanne McDonough have an­ nounced that the home tour will showcase three county properties, Includ­ ing a converted barn, a modernized log cabin and an historic farm -- with outbuildings featuring a chapel. The bazaar and luncheon will be held at the McHenry County Fair­ grounds. Goods for sale are handmade by the Coners, Weeders, Sewers and Busy Needles. Special items may be purchased at the Christmas House and Atrium Shop. Helen Wright's unique miniatures will also be available for Durchase. Advance tickets are available at the Hospital Atrium Gift Shop, the Spring House on the Square, and the fairgrounds. Cost of the home tour is 16. The fairgrounds will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour homes will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more Information on Hospitality Day activities, contact Virginia Peschke at 338-6544 INDEX/SECTION B Omifled 10B-15B Coato » DearAbby , ffi Entertainment IB, SB, SB, IB, MB Opinion IB Regional 4B ORTHWE8T DEWSPAPERS • - ENTERTAINMENT Friday, September 13,198S Section B Country music visits Veteran's Acres* By Joe Agnew . Herald staff writer Nineteen-eighty five will go down in history as the . year that music helped generate money for worthy causes. First, there was Live Aid for Africa. In a few weeks, Hie University of Illinois in Champaign will bec hosting Farm Aid. • Though not" as large in scale as the two mentioned, the Crystal Lake Park District will stage its own benefit ^Sunday, Sept. 15, when it presents "Country Music Fest '85," from noon to 4 p.m. at Veteran's Acres Park. :' S Close to 1,000 persons of all ages are expected to attend the event, which will feature four country and bluegrass bands: Sweetwater, the Lost Dutchman, The Silver Dollar Band, and The American Tradition Blue- ,grass Band. All proceeds will go towards the Northern ; Illinois Special Recreation Association. : NISRA provides recreation -- including the popular Special Olympics programs as well as basketball, track and volleyball events -- to people with special needs in • Barrlngton, Cary, Crystal Lake, Marengo, Harvard, ; Woodstock and Wauconda. Park districts in these villages contract with NISRA ; to supply such programs to these people, because their staff is trained in these areas. * Although the Country Music Fest won't feature the big-name talent or generate the millions of the two aforementioned concerts, they all share the the com­ mon cpncept of being produced entirely through dona­ tions. Equipment such as the sound system, tents and flyers announcing the event were all supplied free by area businesses. Pat Dutcher, one of the event's organizers, noted that although the music festival has been staged in various forms and places for several years -- including a two- day camp-out at the district's Main Beach last Septem­ ber -- it has never been used to benefit a cause or a local organization such as NISRA. Dutcher's efforts to book'bands had her calling as far as Kentucky, and she added that more bands expressed interest in playing if they hadn't been involved in other engagements. But through her efforts, The Lost Dutch­ man Band, Sweetwater, The Silver Dollar Band, and the American Tradition Blue Grass Band each man­ aged to take time out to perform on Sunday afternoon. The Silver Dollar Band is a five-piece country band that regularly plays at the Sundance Saloon near Mun- delein. It features Neil Daly on bass; Bob Lindsley on drums, Drew Carson on lead guitar, Paul Kramer on guitar, mandolin and fiddle, and Liz Holat on lead vocals and rhythm guitar^ The American Tradition Blue Grass Band includes Ed Sloan on guitar, and his two daughters Stacy and Amy, who play the mandolin and fiddle respectively. Joining them are banjo player Jack Dempsey, and Jeff Buric, who plays the stand-up bass fiddle. The Lost Dutchman Band features Dutcher's husband "Dutch" and Barry Simms. Both play banjo and guitar, and both sing. Dutcher explained that Simms plays the banjo "claw hammer style," which involves strumming the instrument's strings, while Dutch plays the instru­ ment in the more popular finger-picking style. Sweetwater includes vocalist, gutiarist and bassist Bruce Waters; vocalist, drummer and guitarist Larry Johnson; and Bobby Swigart, who plays guitar, bass and violin. The music will begin at noon at the Frank Repp Memorial baseball field, (formerly the Babe Ruth field), which is located at the bottom of a wooded and grassy hill, where spectators can get a full view of the musicians. Persons attending are encouraged to bring picnic lunches, blankets and lawn chairs for what is expected to bcra comfortable late summer day. The groups will each play a 45-minute to one-hour set. Local radio station WIVS (850 AM) will also broadcast the entire fest live. "It is now a charitable event," Dutcher said during an interview Tuesday. "That's how we were able to get our sponsors to cooperate. Dutcher also noted that the event was put together in two month's time. Looking back now to mid-July, when it was initially planned, she remarked "We didn't think we could do it." She added that people should not only attend to help raise money, but to enjoy the music in the beautiful setting of Veteran's Acres Park. And although it has traditionally been known as a bluegrass festival, she explained that the decision was made to expand it to cover popular country music too. Unlike most benefits, there will not be a phone bank set up to take donations, Dutcher said. Admission to the Country Music Fest will be $2 for adults, with children 12 and under admitted free. Dutcher said individual contributions to NIRSA would also be greatly appreciated. Organizers also promise plenty of free parking. Those coming in cars are asked to park at the Walkup Street entrance. Overflow parking lots are available for when the main one is filled. There will also be a small amount of concessions sold, including potato chips, soft drinks and hot dogs.