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| December 16, 1993 The Democrat-Reporter |  |
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Social Section--Page 4 The Democrat-Reporter
I
life
L den,
Alabama
Thursday,
Dece
|
In
Myrtlewood man returns home to care for mother, retire
By Allen Baswell in a road show performing operettas, group. Recreations Rooms andIn May, 1984, Bragg returned to
Some people have dreams that go It was in this show he met someone Settlement owned two community ser- Myrtlewood to care for his mother. In
unfulftlled, but not Luke Bragg. who would become a famous opera star. vice centers where he taught children's 1986, when Myrtlewood was celebrating
Bragg's dream of going to New York "I was thrilled to death to be in a show. theater in New York. It was at this time it centennial, he helped put together a
became a reality. Our leading lady was a tall, 17-year old, he started writing his own musicals, booklet on the history of Myrtlewood.
"New York was the city of my dreams, big flamed redhead named Beverly Sills. "I wasn't satisfied with what others By 1988, Bragg's mother was in fail-
I had been there for 36 years," Bragg We used to call her Bubbles," he said. were writing. So I decided to start doing ing health. In November, she suffered a
said. The road show eventually folded, and my own. I liked the work of Hans stroke and became an invalid. She was
Bragg, 71, a native of Myrtlewood, Bragg returned to Alabama where he Christian Andersen, he was my favorite, later diagnosed with breast cancer. She
spent those 36 years working as a singer, worked at Birmingham's Little Theater. The first musical I wrote was The Ugly died in 1991.
a dancer, and wrote musical plays for In the summer of 1948, he went back to Duckling, I also wrote a musical version In December, 1992, B ragg became ill
children's theater. New York to work at the Henry Street of The Mermaid," he said. himself. In January of this year, he had
"I loved children's eater. Hans Playhouse on the lower East Side of New He also staged sonic Broadway shows tests run, and found out he was suffering
Christian Andersen was a favorite of York. He also went to auditions for such as West Side Story, Fiddler on the from prostate cancer. He was operated on
mine," he said. Broadway shows. Roof, and The King and I. in March. Bragg said now all signs indi-
Being in show business as an actor or "I would go to an audition, and there During his time in New York, Bragg cute he is in pretty good shape.
dancer was something Bragg had always would be 300 people there. Sometimes would come back to Mynlewood to visit "I thank God I'm not taking any treat-
wanted to do. when they would choose people for the his mother Mrs. Mary Lee Coats Ward. ments. Apparently, the cancer was caught
"All my life I've wanted to act and dance line, I would think at long last, I'm He would visit during the summer and in time. My niece, who is a registered
dance. Growing up in Marengo County, going to make it (to Broadway). But I Christmas. nurse in Birmingham told me I was
it was unheard of for someone wanting to didn't get to first base. My height was One of his fond memories of his New lucky, rm delighted with the way things
get into show business," he said. against me," he said, York days, was the fall season, and the are. I've been greatly blessed by the
Bragg's first venture into show busi- Bragg studied modern dafice under opening of new plays. Lord,"he said.
heSS came when he was nine years old Hanya Holm, a native of Germany who "When fall came, I had this urgency to These days, Bragg said he is a "home-
when he wrote biblical dramas for became a leader and teacher in the mod- get back to New York. There was an body," and doesn't get out much, save to
Myrtlewood Baptist Church, em dance movement He also spent three excitement in the air when the new shows go to the doctor in Birmingham or to see
"I had wanted to do biblical dramas. I summers in the Catskill Mountains in opened in the fall. I used to love to walk his niece. Since he doesn't drive, Kelly
was always fascinated with old biblical upper New York performing in off- the streets and smell the chestnuts the Etheridge, a friend of Bragg since child-
stares," be said. Broadway plays, chestnut vendors were selling. It was a hood, helps him run errands, and takes
He continued entertaining, singing, "I worked as a busboy during the day new beginning,"Bragg said. him to wherever he needs to go.
acting, and dancing while he was in high and entertained at night," Bragg said. A new beginning which eventually Besides building up a collection of
school. After graduating from Repton He then decided to give children's the- faded from his life by 1984, he said. videotapes -- musicals by his idol Gene
High School he joined the U. S. Navy, ater a try, working at summer camps in Bragg saw that the life he thrived on in Kelly are his favorites -- Bragg has
where he served from 1942-46. From Pennsylvania, the Poconos, and Lake New York was beginning to change. So something else that keeps his busy: com-
there, Bragg went to Jacobs Pillow Placid, N.Y. too were the children he was working piling a history of Mynlewood and of his
College in Lea, Mass to study modem "I worked at a music and art camp in with. By that time, breakdancing was family.
dance. Then it was off to New York. Lake Placid. Sometimes I would see Julie becoming popular, Bragg said, and the "My years in show business have been
"My goal was to go to New York and Andrews and her children. She had a kids in his group were wanting to incor- relegated to scrapbooks and memories.
conquer Broadway, which I didn't My home there, t used to see Kate Smith, porate it into their acts. Too, the area rye had this urgent compulsion for histo-
biggest regret was not making it to too," Bragg said. where he lived in Manhattan was a trou- ry, and today, writing and compiling a
Broadway," Bragg said. For 13 summers, Bragg worked in ble spot. Three times when he was on a history of Myrtlewood is what keeps me
Bragg's first show was as a chorus boy Arden, N.Y for a children's theater subway going to work, he was attacked, going," he said.
Mary Lynn Wamble
trains at Navy center
Mary Lynn Wamble, daughter of
Betty H. Wamble and the late Tom
Wamble of Demopolis, is presently
attending quartermaster school at the
Navy Training Center, Orlando, Fla.
She serves as Master At Arms.
Forty years ago her father also
served his country in the U. S. Navy.
Heritage Center sells
cookbook of casseroles
Alabama Rural Heritage Foundation
has composed a cookbook featuring a
collection of casserole receipts from
Marengo and surrounding counties.
The book is now on sale at the Rural
Heritage Center in Thomaston.
For further information contact the
center by phoning 205-627-3388.
Dr. Baklanoff conducts
classes on diabetes
Dr. Joy Baklanoff, Ph.D is conduct-
ing classes and lectures on diabetes at
the Alabama Rural Heritage Center in
Thomaston, the second Thursday of
each month.
For more information on these cla.-
es call Charlotte Stokes at 205-627-
3388.
Card of Thanks
My family and I want to express our
sincere appreciation for your heartfelt
sympathy for us in the death of our
beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.
Your prayers, cards, calls, visits, and
other deeds made this time consoling
for us.
The Family of Gwen Little
Will, Shirley, Fab, and
Children
!
Now that his show business days are only memories compiled
books, Luke Bragg spends his time working on the history of
and of his family. Photo by Allen Baswell.
Cornerstone Church
p!ans cantata
Dec. 22
to e Church will hold its and celebrate with them. - 01d
Christmas cantata entitled "Cele- The church is located at in
iiliii brate the Child" Wednesday, Dec. National Guard Armory building
22, at 7:00 p.m. Linden.
Members invite everyone to come John Blair is the minister.
Now
Same great recipes
as always!
Turtleback Cookies
Birthday Cakes
Donuts
Come by arid
check out oar
Christmas
New! Barney Cookies Specials
Open: Mon.-Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
116 N. Strawberry Demopolis. 289-0339
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