-190 North host, Janet Davies, interviews two living legends of  Rhythm & Blues.  Joining Janet, Gene Chandler and Jerry "The Iceman" Butler give an inside scoop on A NIGHT WITH FRIENDS: THE LIVING LEGENDS OF RHYTHM & BLUES. 

-Billy Campbell, star of ABC Network's television show Once and Again, joins Janet Davies on 190 North. 
 

-190 North feature contributor Bill Leff takes a stroll around the world.  Adding a touch of humor to a tour of beauty and culture Bill visits the Museum of Science and Industry's Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit.

-190 North feature contributor Liza Cruzat tells the world that she is pregnant.  Contributing to the broken seal of silence, Liza meets with maternity clothes designer Amy Zoller to talk about her newest maternity fashions.
 

Jerry "The Iceman" Butler: Famous for his cool, debonair, romantic style, recognized as one of the architects of Rhythm & Blues; founder, with Curtis Mayfield, of the Impressions (1957), recording Butler's composition of "For Your Precious Love" in 1958; now serving his fourth term as Cook County Commissioner, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991; Chairman of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.

Gene Chandler: From 1962 to 1970 Chicago-born Chandler (born Eugene Dixon, he took the last name "Chandler" from actor Jeff Chandler because he thought it had a romantic ring) put 19 songs into the top 40, but he is known all over the world as the "Duke of Earl," his first hit (with the Du-Kays).  "Duke of Earl" topped the pop and R&B charts in 1962, dethroning "The Twist" from its #1 position, and sold a million copies in just over one month, launching Chandler's career.  As President of Bamboo Records he recorded another of his big hits, "Backfield in Motion," in 1969.

*Together with living legends of Rhythm & Blues, Ben E. King and Lloyd Price, Butler and Chandler perform together for the first time in Chicago.  "A Night With Friends" is more than a concert -- it is a spectacular musical event which showcases the epic talents of these pioneers in the field of music.

Performing on Friday, December 10, 1999 at 8:00PM the four legends can be seen at the Arie Crown Theater McCormick Place.  Tickets are available at Arie Crown Theater Box Office (information: 312/ 719-6190) or through Ticketmaster outlets.  If contacting Ticketmaster you can call: 312/559-1212.

For further information on A NIGHT WITH FRIENDS: THE LIVING LEGENDS OF RHYTHM AND BLUES contact:

But it wasn't long before the acting bug bit and he traded the sketch pad for the stage. Billy trained at the Ted Liss Studio for the Performing Arts, the Players Workshop of Second City in Chicago, and with Howard Fine in Los Angeles.

Billy rocketed into the public eye with his starring role as aviator Cliff Secord in Touchstone's movie The Rocketeer. He's appeared in The Second Jungle Book, Gettysburg, The Brylcreem Boys, Lover's Knot, The Night We Never Met and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Billy's all the rage on the stage as well.  He's appeared in "Fortinbras," for which he received a 1996 Ovation Award, as well as Mark D. Kaufman's "Backbone of America," "Hamlet" and "Guys and Dolls." 

And if you think you've seen Billy in your living room before, you're probably right. He guest starred on Family Ties and Hotel before becoming a regular on Dynasty, where he played Luke Fuller, one of the first male characters to kiss another guy on TV!

His other television credits include series regular roles in NBC's Crime Story and ABC's Moon Over Miami. His most recent appearances on television have been in Armistead Maupin's miniseries More Tales of the City, ABC's Max Q and the CBS movie, Monday After the Miracle. 

For further information about Billy Campbell's television character or ABC's hit prime time television program, Once and Again, click on: www.abc.go.com. 
 

CHICAGO - November 1, 1999 - The Museum of Science and Industry's Christmas Around the World celebration began in 1942 as a United Nations Day salute to American allies during the war.  Local ethnic groups were invited to each decorate a tree to reflect the traditions of their native country.  The first year, a dozen trees graced the Museum's halls.

Now in its 58th year, the exhibition has become a Chicago favorite and a holiday "must-see."  Today, an enchanted forest of 43 trees and three creches decorated by Chicago's cultural community groups is on display at the Museum from November 19, 1999 to January 2, 2000.  The Dairy Council of Wisconsin is proud to be the presenting sponsor of Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light.

Decorators take their jobs very seriously.  Many groups begin meeting in the summer to decide what elements their tree will include.  A reception is held at the Museum each year to welcome the groups, give them the opportunity to meet each other and to plan a decorating schedule.  For a two-week period, individual groups come to the Museum during their designated time to decorate their tree.  It can take the better part of the day to get it just right!

The trees feature hand-made crafts and ornaments passed from one generation to the next.  Each tree glitters uniquely, created with careful hands and cultural pride.  Christmas Around the World offers visitors a tare opportunity to peek into a "global living room" and to share in celebrations of the holidays from Poland to Puerto Rico, from Iceland to India.

The holiday magic doesn't stop there!  The Museum of Science and Industry also illuminates the season with the Holidays of Light collection.  Now in its sixth year, the multicultural display features holiday traditions that celebrate light or enlightenment.  This year's exhibition highlights the customs and traditions of the Chinese New Year, Diwali (a Hindu and Sikh festival), Kwanzaa (celebrated by African Americans), Ramadan (celebrated by Muslims) Hanukkah, Visakha Puja Day (a Buddhist holiday) and St. Lucia Day (a Swedish tradition).  Each display includes traditional artifacts contributed by a variety of individuals and community groups, reflecting Chicago's rich cultural heritage.

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the country's preeminent centers for informal science and technology education.  Located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, the Museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.  Between Labor Day and Memorial Day, hours are 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on weekends.  Thanksgiving Day, hours are 9:30 a.m. November 26 and 27. hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.  December 24, the Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  December 26 to 29, hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.  December 30 and 31, hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Regular hours resume January 1.

For further information on Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light or any other exhibits that the museum has to offer click on www.msichicago.org.  Or contact either Beth Akins, Museum of Science and Industry, (773) 947-6052 or Caroline Blum, PCI, (312) 558-1770.
 

Amy zoller began her design career in 1990 at Geoffrey Beene under the tutelage of Alber Elbaz, now designer of ready to wear at Yves St. Laurent.  While at Beene, Zoller was hired as an assistant designer at Oxcar de la Renta Studio where she worked closely with de la Renta.  After moving to Chicago in 1992, Zoller became a stylist of Marshall Fields.  Shortly thereafter, Zoller began to design custom couture pieces for a private clientele.

In 1995 Amy Zoller Designs, Inc. was established when, her first ready to wear collection was produced and shown to a private clientele.  Now, Zoller shows two major collections a year in Chicago, New York, Houston, and Los Angeles.  In the spring of 1997, Zoller began designing a maternity collection to meet the needs of her clients.  This collection offers sophisticated separates, dresses and gowns with the same design philosophy as her original collection.  The maternity collection is sold at Veronique Delachaux in New York and Chic & Showing in Tuscon.

For Fall/Winter 1999 Amy Zoller is into all things western.  Zoller uses ultra suede in olive, spice, bone and black as the focus of this collection.  This season, cowgirl meets hippie with fringed ponchos, jackets, kerchief tops and turquoise accents.  The collection ranges from cowgirl chic to sleek minimalism evident in her signature jersey which provides a perfect complement to the suede in the same palate.  Amy Zoller can be found at select boutiques such as Phoebe 45 and Celeste Turner in Chicago and Mix in Houston. 

For additional information, please call Amy Zoller at 312/335-0944.  Or, you can find Amy Zoller on the web at www.amyzoller.com.