Award Winning Songs Performed At The Community Club

Kathy McCormick co-chairman of General Program, singer pianist and arranger Mitch Kahn, Sal Catania and Ruth LaBosco, co-chairman of General Program On Wednesday, May 5, 2010 the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead welcomed back multi-talented performer Mitch Kahn who entertained us with his beautiful renditions of many of the songs that won Academy Awards from the 1930’s to 1980’s. Mitch was introduced to the audience by a former grammar school teacher of his, the one and only Sal Catania, who confessed that he has become a “groupie,” following Mitch around as as he performs at many of the hotels, private clubs, restaurants, banquets and charity events in and around New York City. A former musical child prodigy, Mitch is trained in both classical and jazz piano as well as orchestration and voice, and has become one of New York’s most sought after entertainers.

Mitch Kahn and Sal Catania pose together on stage after Sal introduced Mitch as a former student The award category for best song in a motion picture was introduced in 1934, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awarded the Oscar to “The Continental” from the musical film “The Gay Divorcee.” The only requirement for receiving a nomination at the time was that the nominated song appeared in a motion picture during the previous year. However, the rule was changed in 1941 and only songs that were written specifically for the film were eligible to be nominated and win.

Mitch encouraged the audience to join in as he performed winning songs that included such favorites as Jerome Kern’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” Bob Hope’s theme song “Thanks For The Memories,” “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from the “Wizard of Oz”, Irving Berlin’s

“White Christmas” from “Holiday Inn”, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “It Might As Well Be Spring”, Sammy Kahn’s “All The Way” (which became a Frank Sinatra standard), Lerner and Loewe’s “Gigi”, Marvin Hamlish’s “The Way We Were”, and Mitch's personal favorite, “Moon River” from “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” which was a Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer collaboration. In between songs, Mitch told us some unknown and very interesting stories about the winners - and losers - of the Oscars. We look forward to seeing him soon to hear more of these beautiful Academy Award winning songs.

Prior to the program, a short business meeting was presided over by Community Club President Emily Sair, who thanked her Board and all the members of the Club for their help this past year in making the 90 th anniversary year such a success. The minutes of the previous meeting were read, the treasurers report was given and all were invited to stay for refreshments after the program to view the works of fine art created by members enrolled in studio art classes that were on display at the Peggy Otto Studio Exhibit at the Casino.