Winners of the American Idle talent show shown here (l-r) are Brian Honess, Cal Shadwell, Bubbles the Clown (an interloper), and Hooty Noble.

It was a dark and stormy night…BUT inside the Education Building of the Trenholm Road United Methodist Church the room was rocking. The Shepherds Center of Columbia was holding a fundraiser entitled "American Idle, An Aging Talent Show."

After a fine dinner, 17 contestants performed before three testy judges, door prizes were awarded, and fun was had by all. Dorcas Giles served as executive producer. Warner Montgomery was director and master of ceremonies. The judges were

• Ceille Baird Welch - poet, playwright, and retiree from Mental Health and Vocational Rehabilitation.

• Chris Powell - self- proclaimed "Pervert of the Year" who was banished from previous beauty pageants and talent shows for bribery.

• Ruth Gottlieb Moore - The Famous Story Lady and the Helen Hayes of Columbia theater.

Door prizes were donated by The Fresh Market, Italian Pie, New Orleans Restaurant, Dianne's on Devine, Zoe's, Frank's Car Wash, La Brasca's, Constan Car Wash, Villa Tronco, Palmetto Citizens Credit Union, Chick- fil- A, Shane's Steak House, McAlister's on Forest Drive, Olive Garden, Bull Market in the Vista, and SteinMart. They were given out by Bubbles the Clown (Dottie Boatwright).

The contestants were

• Mary Cole & Dave Downie playing dulcimers

• Reggie Freeman recalling a tax agent visiting a house of ill repute

• Bob Knox, Brian Honess, and Rochell Erwin playing trombones and piano

• Brenda Powell dancing to Rock Around The Clock

 

 

 

 

• Art West as a stand up comic

• Dorcas Giles and Margaret Beth Williamson singing The Deaf Old Woman

 

 

 

 

• Shelagh Montes impersonating Queen Elizabeth II

• Regina Noble playing her first piano recital piece

• Ann Joyner performing S-E-X

• Brian Honess playing a Mr. Rogers Neighborhood on the piano

• Hooty Noble reciting The Pee Little Thrigs

 

 

 

 

 

• Esther Witherspoon reading a letter to her banker

• Jim Welch performing Oh Lord, It's Hard to be Humble

 

 

 

 

 

• Allen Layson remembering his first blind date

• Cal Shadwell playing military anthems on the nose flute

• Eunice Sabo McQueen impersonating the Flight Attendant from Hell

• A dance by Five Swans & a Duck: Celeste Cobb, Sara Freeman, Sylvia Halbert, Sig Hyman, Thelma Hill, and Roberta Knox.

After careful consideration and ridiculous reasoning, the judges decided the winners were

• 3rd Place: Hooty Noble

• 2nd Place: Cal Shadwell

• 1st Place: Brian Honess