If you like a representative sample of rural Americana, you can do no better than attend the annual Kaleidoscope program in Mandan, ND.  There is a little bit of something for everyone.  As it is always presented the week before July 4, the theme and several of the acts are patriotic in nature.

The choir sang a medley of armed forces, "Anchors Away," "And the Caissons Go Rolling Along"  and more.  As each song was sung, members of that military branch in our audience were asked to stand and be recognized.  They were greeted with warm, enthusiastic applause.

There were dancing "girls." These ladies comprised the Capitol City Cloggers.  One of their members told me they practice three hours a night with one five-minute water break.  Tough!

The stars of this year's show were Bill Franke and Miss North Dakota, Annette Olson.  The latter sang the National Anthem and "Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue."  Bill and I sang in UND's Varsity Bards back in the late 60s.  He is a retired music teacher who sang a patriotic number and a couple of songs aimed at the aging boomer generation.  One of his tributes to we oldies was a collection of excerpts, remastered, from songs of the 60s.  For example, James Brown's "I don't feel good," and Leslie Gore's "It's my prostate and I'll cry if I want to."

This group of dancers includes three grandmothers.  They were great hoofers.

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