DEXTER – There was variety, indeed, at the 19th annual Dexter Variety Show.

Wednesday, July 14, 1999

DEXTER – There was variety, indeed, at the 19th annual Dexter Variety Show.

The entertainment included music, comedy, ballroom dancing and more.

Joy Ihrke has been helping the show for several years.

"This year, the money we raise will help, in part, the Dexter City Park, where we have a new playground system for the children," she said.

The Dexter Community Club sponsors the show each March at Dexter United Methodist Church.

Martin Souhrada served as master of ceremonies and the Rev. Rob Gamble, pastor of the host church, was the "straight-man" for Souhrada’s jokes.

Resa Rabine also tickled guests’ funny bones.

"Most of the acts are from Dexter or the surrounding area," Ihrke said. "We just like to have fun."

The Elkton Upstreamers 4-H club performed and Linda Ottman, Grand Meadow, sang "Swingin’ History."

Three sisters, Diane Chapek, Leisha Kadansky and Bobby Vogel sang two numbers from the swing era: "It Don’t Mean A Thing" and "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore."

Bobbi Vogel also helped her three children, Eric, Chris and Brianne, perform "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." She also sang a solo.

Bruce and Mary Jo Otis, certified members of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancing Association, entertained the evening show’s audience.

Tiffany Kirkpatrick, LeeAnn Gilbert and Friends, Dee Hamilton, Holly Newman (daughter of Dexter Variety Show legend, Mandy Newman), also sang.

Mary Lou Hanson drew chuckles from the audience with "Gwynndolynn Speaks" and Wanda Edge and the emcee, Martin Souhrada, recreated the Abbott and Costello classic comedy routine "Who’s On First?"

Jolene Souhrada performed a "swing version" of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Lisa Mulholland and Bobbi Vogel shook the church with "Jump, Jive and Wail," a current pop hit by the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

The finale was Bob Hope’s classic "Thanks for the Memories" as the tribute to the "Swing Era" concluded.

Nathan Davidson, a music director for the Kasson – Mantorville school district, also performed. He taught many of the younger performers, during his stint at Grand Meadow Public Schools.

Davidson reminded the audiences of the Tuesday, April 27, 8 p.m. concert with the Stan Kenton Alumni Band led by Mike Vas at K-M High School.

But last Saturday afternoon and evening, the attention was focused on amateurs. If you could sing, play an instrument or tell a joke, you were needed at the show.

There’s nothing like home-grown talent to entertain an audience.

Even the intermission saw entertainers take the stage, the converted altar area in the church.

The choice was perfect.

Everett Vermilyea performed fiddle music with his friend, Earl Wieland, Austin.

Vermilyea is 80 and Wieland is 89 years old.

They were accompanied by Elijah Duren, Austin, on guitar.

Wieland has been playing since he was nine years old and Vermilyea, a Mower County Fair Old-time Fiddlers Contest-winner, has played the fiddle since he was a teenager.

"Between us," Vermilyea said, "we have a combined total of over 150 years of experience playing old-time music."