Standing on Ceremony

This strikes me as odd. A high school in Danville, Illinois is renaming its auditorium in honor of Danville native Dick Van Dyke. Okay, great. But they're hoping Dick can make it there for the dedication ceremony which for some reason will take two days — May 27 and May 28.

Mr. Van Dyke has been very busy lately with his book tour which ain't over and includes that appearance we mentioned for the Writers Bloc group in Beverly Hills on May 31. Renaming an auditorium is not a vital, time-sensitive activity. You'd think they'd say, "Dear Mr. Van Dyke…We will hold the ceremony whenever it is convenient for you to get here."

Anyway, thanks to Bruce Reznick for the link. And by the way, the May 31 event — where Carl Reiner will interview Dick Van Dyke and Dick will sign his book — is sold out. If you're a local friend of mine and you still want to go, drop me a note. I may know someone with a couple of extra tickets.