B.W. COOK--The Crowd

B.W. COOK

Nearly $60,000 was raised for Hoag Hospital recently by the dedicated

Hoag 552 Club. Unfortunately, a whole bunch of folks were lost at sea in

the process--on film, that is.

It was the local premiere of the much-talked-about film, “The Perfect

Storm,” based on the true story of fishermen aboard the ship Andrea Gail

who were caught in the horrific Atlantic Storm of 1991, off the coast of

New England. The adaptation of writer Sebastian Junger’s best-selling

novel into the movie starring George Clooney attracted a sold-out theater

of Newport-Mesa citizens anxious to see the thriller and do some good for

Hoag.

The annual movie event has become a much-anticipated summer evening on

the Orange Coast, underwritten by the theater-owning Edwards family and

screened at their premier film house. The largest single screen on the

West Coast is known as the Big Edwards Theater, Fashion Island.

Surely, when it comes to visualizing high seas, the big screen is the

only way to go. Audience members were literally ducking the waves seeming

to come at them on film. It was, frankly, almost 3-D.

Event chairman and theater magnate Jim Edwards III, who has championed

the event for the last nine years, still claims to be an avid sailor and

yachtsman, even after witnessing the “perfect storm” on film. Edwards,

who grew up involved in all kinds of water sports in the greater Newport

area, can’t be swayed by a little maritime disaster.

He did, however, wonder if the popcorn and soda sales had dropped,

given the violent water scenes. In the crowd with Edwards were his wife,

Patti, and a host of Hoag 552 screening committee members, including

evening co-chairman Dave Snowden, yachtsman and sport fisherman Richard

Berg of Bayshores, Jo Ann Bozza, Terry Calahan, Lynn Cathcart, Jim Dale,

Warren Fong, Jean Galloway and Faith George.

Also working the theater were Sally Hill, Arlene Howard, James

Johnson, Karen Joyce, Roseanne Levan, Shari Lords, Jocelyn Lutter,

Jacqueline Mercer, Gregory Miles, Bette Moses, Rosalie Puleo, Lancia

Rajanayagam, Heather Somers and Garnet Thompson.

Prior to the screening, the 1,000 guests sampled the food of local

eateries, such as Bluewater Grill, Bristol Farms, Clayton Shurley’s Texas

BBQ, The Clubhouse, Coco’s, Corrado Ristorante, El Torito Grill, Fannie’s

Yogurt, Ferdussi, Four Seasons Hotel, Ho Sum Bistro, Hyatt Newporter,

JACKShrimp, Margaritaville, Muldoons Irish Pub, Newport Beach Brewing

Company, Newport Beach Marriott, Newport Landing Restaurant, Newport Rib

Company, The Raft, Royal Thai Cuisine, Tutto Mare, Villa Nova, What’s

Cooking and Yankee Tavern.

It’s important to list them all because every proprietor works very

hard for Hoag, and generously donates the food and time to make the event

a success. They surely deserve community patronage in return.

Hoag 552 committee members also secured memorabilia, including signed

“Storm” posters from George Clooney and Sebastian Junger and even a stay

at the Hilton Hotel at Boston’s Logan Airport, about a 20-minute drive

from Gloucester, the setting for the movie.

More funds for Hoag were raised as bidders went wild to share in the

fun. The support club is composed of 2,600 members, and they have raised

in excess of $14 million over the last 31 years for the hospital.

Local citizens supporting the film premiere were Newport’s Albert

Auer, Barbara Aune, Bill Biava, Debbie Bibb, Walt Havekorst, Gary

Kessler, Patricia Lane, Joel Manchester, Toni Oliphant, Jack Sanders,

Sandy Sewell, Delane Thyen and Mark Weston, who were among a large and

enthusiastic crowd of local film lovers.

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* B.W. COOK’S column appears every Thursday and Saturday.