The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 25, 1984 Page: 7 of 8
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Thursday, October 25, 1984
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Corey Haim, Peter Weller and Christopher Collet star in "First Born"
Museum curator works
to meet community needs
By GHANA VOWELL
Daily Reporter
The Courthouse-on-the-Square has not been the
scat of Denton County government for seven years,
hut Christy Leith, courthouse museum curator, said
she and her fellow workers are making sure that it
is once again meeting community needs.
"We have developed so much in the past year,"
Leith said. "We try to maximize the museum ex-
perience for our visitors. We can't just he a muse-
um to house artifacts. We need to meet communi-
ty needs."
"THEY BASICALLY created the job for me.
There had never been a museum educator before,"
she said.
Many programs have been added to the museum's
agenda since Leith joined the staff. She said they
help make the public aware the museum exists.
"People are always saying, 'Oh, there's a muse-
um up there,' " she said.
Among exhibits in the museum are the Victorian
Parlor, Country Kitchen, Sewing Area and Barnyard
Area. They are set up to help guests visualize how
life was in Denton County 100 years ago, Leith said.
Programs the museum offers include: Saturdays
at the Museum, which consists of special presenta-
tions such as storytelling and folk toymaking and
the Summer Workshop Series for Children, which
features workshops in various arts such as hand-
spinning and frame weaving.
ANOTHER PROGRAM, Victorian Christmas,
features such attractions as carolers, two decorated
trees on the courthouse lawn and a visit by Santa in
a fire truck. Leith will teach a course on Victorian
ornament making in December.
Leith said the newest thing on the museum's agen-
da is its school outreach program.
"We put together a proposal for the Denton Inde-
pendent School District and gave it to Dean Antho-
ny who is in charge of implementing House Bill 246."
she said.
The bill is now a law known as Chapter 75, Leith
said.
"In the new law, grades kindergarten through six
arc required to have arts education," she said. "The
proposal relates to social studies and art. It also cov-
ers culture, which is a real important aspect, now.
Each grade will have a different thing: natural dyeing,
handspinning, etc."
Leith said their proposal offered a free pilot pro-
gram for Denton schools. "If they want to adopt
our program, it will be an ongoing program, and we
will then propose a fee."
THE COURTHOUSE became a museum in 1979
with Thelma Stevens as director. "She laid the ground-
work for us, but had to quit due to health reasons."
When Leith became involved with the museum,
the director was Marta Kramer. Leith and Kramer
met at the 1983 Spring Fling, where Leith was doing
a handspinning demonstration. The Spring Fling is
an annual fair that features arts and crafts.
"She called back a few weeks later and asked me
to do a demonstration at the museum. That was her
chance to get to know mc," Leith said.
Kramer asked Leith to return and teach a children's
workshop, and eventually asked Leith to join the
staff.
"We are the smallest regional museum with the
largest part-time staff," Leith said. "The museum
employs a director, a secretary, a part-time curator
and a work-study student."
Leith said the museum's new director, Peggy
Hoffer, has a good business background.
"YOU HAVE TO think of this as a business,"
Leith said. "I supply the artistic point of view and
Peggy supplies the business sense."
Part-time curator Jane Posey takes care of the
collection, and Museum Secretary Peggy Jordan helps
with the archives, Leith said.
NT's contribution to the staff is work-study stu-
dent Tammy Keys.
"We are very excited to have her on our staff.
She seems to have business savvy," Leith said.
Leith said everything is finally coming together
for the museum.
"We feel like this is the year for the Courthouse
Museum. We're really excited," she said.
"Peggy (Hoffer) is farsighted, so we're continu-
ing to develop with the future in mind," Leith said.
NT DAILY
ADVERTISING
565-2851
i 1 >
ELECT
RUTH
TANSEY
Commissioner
Precinct 1
"Assertive
Leadership"
paid for by Ruth Tansey campaign
committee. Edward M Tansey,
campaign treasurer
THINK ABOUT IT
The Democratic Party
On Every Environmental
Yardstick Place Top
Priority on Protecting the
ENVIRONMENT!
We're Fighting for your Future
VOTE
DEMOCRATIC
Nov. 6
For a Ride to the polls
In Denton, Call
565-1165
Pol. Ad Paid for By '84 Democratic Campaign
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HICKORY & FRY IDEN10NI -383-1111 & PRESTONWOOD TOWN CENTER IDALLAS) -788 1717
The North Texas Daily -Page 7
Actor recalls NT school days
Former student to star in 'First Born'
By DANNIELLE THOMAS
Special Writer
Peter Weller remembers his days as an
NT student well. He will kindly recall road
trips to Austin and the radical ways of a
college student caught up in the anti-Vietnam
movement.
Two decades later, far from the demon-
strations on campus and the Jimi Hendrix
Experience, Weller sits in a room in one of
the most exclusive hotels in Dallas fielding
questions about his strarring role in the new
film "First Born," which opens Friday
Directed by Michael Aptcd. the movie
co-stars Tcri Garr as a divorced mother of
two young boys. Weller plays a drifter with
few morals who becomes Garr's lover and
moves in with her and her sons. The plot
centers on the conflict which exists between
Weller and the oldest son, played by Christo-
pher Collet.
BOTH THE movie and Weller's perfor-
mance have received critical appraisal. His
character Sam is a villian and Weller realiz-
es that audiences rarely side with a villian,
but Weller said he believes his character
provides realism to the film.
"He's (Sam) not sympathetic, but he's
understandable," Weller said. "There's a
lot of guys like that running around out there.
lie's a dreamer who has needs and is des-
perate. His objective is to belong. He wants
to be loved."
Initially, Weller said he turned the role
down because the character was "extremely
underwritten." When he was allowed to
restructure four scenes in the script, he agreed
to do the film.
Weller began his acting career at an ear-
ly age when one of his father's friends who
'We were all caught up in
the exciting and romantic
Vietnam movement. The
world was going nowhere
and I was trying desper-
ately to get out of that
school.'
—Peter Weller
worked for Walt Disney auditioned Weller
for a singing and dancing part in a theatri-
cal production.
WELLER SAID he decided to attend NT
to study music, but his dramatic interests
quickly turned him toward theater. Although
he left after two years when he won a schol-
acship to the American Academy of Dra-
matic Arts in New York City, Weller's NT
adventures have become the center of many
of his conversations with journalists, he said.
"I don't mind talking about those days,"
he said, "the whole experience was true
'60s.
"At North Texas everybody was an acid-
head. We were all caught up in the excit-
ing and romantic Vietnam movement. The
world was going nowhere and 1 was trying
desperately to get out of that school. I got
tired of being a hippie and the whole col-
lege thing."
When Weller is not acting, he is usually
kept busy managinging the restaraunt he
co-owns in New York City.
WRITING IS another one of his cre-
ative talents, he said. He has written a screen-
play outline and poetry. One of his poems
will be published on a wall of the Orient
Express this fall.
"First Born" is Weller's fifth film. His
fourth film, "The Adventures of Buckaroo
Banzai," is in re-release. The accomplish-
ments seem almost unreal to someone from
Steven's Point, Wis. Weller said he was
once considered "limited with no talent,
looks, or appeal.
"Some people believed in me at North
Texas," Weller said. "I worked hard on
acting. Nothing came easy."
Studio to hold
talent auditions
Auditions for a talent showcase will be at noon
Friday in the New Arts Theater. 702 Ross Ave., in
Dallas. The showcase is sponsoreil by Professional
Actors Studio Inc.
The auditions are open to all actors in the Metro-
plex, said Cindy Miller, a producer with Profession-
al Actors Studio.
Actors should prepare a two-person scene that is
no longer than five minutes. The scenes should he
conversational and not theatrical, because the peo-
ple who view the showcase cast a lot of commercials,
she said.
Miller and producer-director Dan Turpin will choosc
the best six scenes for the showcase, which will then
be presented to local casting directors, producers ami
directors, Miller said.
Auditions may be arranged by calling 214-3.S5-8733
Christian film
shares beliefs
"Sharing the Message," the last film in a series
about personal evangelism will he shown at 6:30 p m
Friday in the University Ministry Center. It is spon-
sored by the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.
The series is based on conferences given h\ Becky
Pippert, author of the book "Out of the Saltshakcr."
said Tom Rubeek of the lntei'-Varsity Christian
Fellowship.
We, The Brothers and Sisters of
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
Would Like to Congratulate the Beta Theta
Fall Pledge Class of 1984. . .
Greg Slaughter
Paul Kieffaber
Phillip Wasson
Dan Zacherias
David Franklin
Blake Smith
Paul Barendsen
Dan Karkoska
Barry Ansley
Dean Stewart
Alpha Theta Little Sister Fall Class of 1984
Karen Beckhoff Nettie Nelmler
Kelli Elzner Daphine Staha
Lisa Gontarek Tricia Starr
Donna McKelvy Janet Wimberley
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Have something for sale?
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yirnl htMlintl itrlttllini
WHEN TIMf COUNTS. COUNT ON US
PART TIME POSITION
AVAILABLE
• Over the Counter Sales
• Cleiical Duties
• Light Bindery Duties
For more information contact
Art Amoyo at 387-1233
R A S S L
The Reading and Study Skills Lab is
offering non-credit courses in:
STUDY SKILLS CLASSES $15.00
Time Scheduling Guidelines. Textbook Study Methods
Notetaking Strategies. Test-Taking Skills
Memory Improvement Skills, Test Anxiety Reduction
Mon Wed 9-10 TTh 2-3
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TTh 11-12
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Strengthen Concentration
Mon Wed 10-11 TTh 9:30-10:30
Mon.Wed 2-3 T Th 1-2
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE & LAB
For specific problem areas in coursework and test anxiety
Laboratory times will be available 12:30-1 30 pm Mon-Thurs
and by appointment
CLASSES BEGIN THE WEEK OF OCT. 29
Additional classes will be scheduled
Sign up at Counseling and Testing Center
3rd Floor 321 R Union 565-2741
the Varsity Sport of the Mind
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STARTS OCT 29™
REGISTRATION ENDS OCT 26™
Calling for Individuals and Teams To Participate
$8 Fee Per Tournament Team
•UNIVERSITY PROGRAM COUNCIL, 4th FLOOR UNION
CONTACT: GREG JONES 565-3826
ARE YOU UP TO PAR?
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Eades, Trent. The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 25, 1984, newspaper, October 25, 1984; Denton, TX. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth332703/m1/7/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.