Article:'Shower of Stars' Success Prompts a Yearly Follow-Up

Billboard, June 13, 1970

MEMPHIS -- The 1970 "Shower of Stars" was such a financial and artistic success that it will become an annual event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Danny Thomas, the show's mentor, said "I'll be in touch with Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Don Rickles, Don Adams and others, to determine who will be available next year."

The benefit will return to the Mid-South Coliseum next May 29 in conjunction with the Danny Thomas Memphis Golf Classic, said Fred Gattas, who was general chairman of the benefit show in Memphis May 30.

Thomas said, "The benefit will exceed $100,000 and that is a lot of coins for St. Jude. The hospital was opened in 1962 as a $2 million research institution for childhood diseases.

For the benefit, Thomas presented Frank Sinatra, who flew from London where he is filming a movie; Dinah Shore, Jerry Lewis; Thomas' daughter, Marlo Thomas, and Thomas was master of ceremonies.

The gross of the show will exceed $100,000. The artists, 31 Memphis policemen, 13 Shelby County deputies, 94 Mid-South Coliseum employees and the 27-piece band under direction of Ernie Bernhardt of Pepper-Tanner Studios donated their time to the show.