BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A little of this, that and the other thing that we've been meaning to catch up on . . .
MORE FLOWERS: Seems like only 20 minutes ago we wrote about one of the parties at the spring Cincinnati Flower Show (Ault Park) and how the guests were saying there should be one in the fall.
Now comes word there will be one. In a big way.
An Autumn Celebration will debut in September '99 at Coney Island, confirms the show's marketing director John Angelo.
It will, Angelo says, be similar to the popular spring show, only with a harvest theme. "Our 3- to 5-year goal," he says, "is to build it to a 40,000-50,000 people a year event, like spring." The fall show will be more interactive. "You know how going in spring is like going to a museum? Well, there'll be that element but there'll be an interactive element, too, where you can get your hands in the mud."
Scarecrows, too. Whereas the spring show has a table setting display, fall will have scarecrows dressed in everything from farm gear to ball gowns.
The formal announcement is at a kickoff party noon-4 p.m. Sept. 26 at Coney. Wanna go? Call 872-5195, ext. 3. It's free.
IT'S A HIT: Now we're really worried. Last week, when the zoo announced that Bob the orangutan would spend Sunday watching Planet of the Apes, we fretted that it might give the apes ideas. You know, apes as masters, humans as slaves. As you know, Psst! is too old to learn how to tar roofs, so the idea didn't sit well.
Wellsir, turns out four orangutans and four gibbons did watch. "We gave them popcorn and other snacks, and they sat there for three hours," says general curator Mike Dulaney.
They watched on a 27-inch cable-ready TV donated by American Movie Classics, cable's vintage film channel.
"They were funny," Dulaney says. "Each has a spot where they like to sit. Each respected that -- no space invasions here."
There are no figures on crowd size (the public was invited to watch along with the apes) but Dulaney says there was "a steady stream" of observers most of the time.
So where's the new TV now? "In their living quarters. They had a 12-inch but this one's better. Plus, they have that satellite dish, so they have choices ... but we don't give them the remote." The apes watch TV from when they go in for the night (6 p.m.) to when they go to bed (10 p.m.).
Dulaney promises to keep watch on any Planet type behavior on the part of the apes -- and staff, too).
STILL MISSING: You'll recall the sad tale of Kalijaih, the cigar store Indian outside Straus Tobacconist's Walnut Street store in downtown Cincinnati.
Remember? A perp came by early one morning in July, loaded him into his car and disappeared. Employees didn't see it happen, because a pole blocks the view, and they're way busy at that hour.
A truck driver did see it, got the license plate number and told the police. But police were unable to find the perp.
They're still unable: "He's still lost," said Straus owner Jimmy Clark. "I think he's gone forever, even though we have all the reward posters up (a $150-box of Indigo cigars). Now, we're all wrapped up in plans for a memorial service in October because we're sure we'll never see him again."
But there will be an Indian out there again. "We'll replace him," Clark said, "after mourning."
And after a time to save up. Kalijaih cost $1,700 in '95. The new guy will run $2,000.
Psst! appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim Knippenberg at 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.
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