European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine bedside boost to network for a patients by Mike Genalo new York Bureau imagine if you will maj. Charles Winchester that Boston Brahman speaking with a Brooklyn accent. Or radar of Reilly with a Gruff baritone voice More suited to a grizzled Drill instructor. Welcome to another episode of . As performed by the veterans bedside network. Their delivery May not be As polished and their voices May sound a bit out of character but the Bottom line is that the program is entertaining and rewarding both to the performers As Well As to the audience. The network Vanin existence 42 years relies on volunteers who regularly visit veterans administration hospitals and assist patients in putting on their own entertainment. In 1943 actress Singer Jean Tighe was entertaining the men at military hospitals in new York. She was gratified to see that while the show was in Progress the men were animated and vibrant but once the entertainment ended they reverted to being withdrawn and introspective. She decided that in addition to the entertainers who performed for them they also needed a program that would allow them to entertain themselves. Despite moral support she Laboured alone for two years to organize some sort of program. Carl Rigrod a broadcast executive was the first to enlist in Tighe a cause and in february 1948 they assembled eight volunteers who began visiting a hospitals in new York City. They called their Little group the veterans Hospital radio Guild Vigand 10 years later added a t to include the new medium television Var to. Over the years it has become less cumbersome to refer to the group As veterans bedside network. Then As now the volunteers would travel to the various a hospitals with a script kit. The kit consists of copies of an edited version of a to or radio show and patients at the Hospital would be assigned roles in the program. Volunteers also would come equipped with theme music and sound effects equipment. Initially the programs used to be performed live and sent Over the hospitals internal broadcast system. Today the skits Are performed in the recreation room and taped on audio or video cassettes to be distributed through the hospitals recreation department. A the sound system that used to be in Many of the hospitals has deteriorated through aging Quot said Wallace Green executive vice president. A the hospitals Felt that the Cost to replace them was prohibitive in Light of All the other pressing medical expenses they  the network has Over 250 scripts stored at its new York Headquarters there Are also hundreds of recordings in addition to the sound effects equipment. Quot we have scripts of Many of the major to series and also some that go Back to the old radio Days of Fibber Mcgee and Molly a said Theodore Manekin National executive director. "m.a.s.h. Is by far the most popular with the patients and it s also the simplest to put on As the scripts Call for All men with the exception of hot lips. A in instances where there might be several women in a show its difficult to get enough female volunteers to perform in the  in addition to the recording of skits the network also supplies song books and conducts sing a Longs at the hospitals. Usually it requires Only a Volunteer to play the veterans bedside network provides a participation therapy with script and music activities conducted by dedicated volunteers in a hospitals throughout the United states. Piano to get the session underway. Quot the producers of the programs have assigned us the rights to use the music and dialogue of the to and radio skits Quot says Manekin. Quot we also have the song books with hundreds of old time hits that have been assigned to Van for our  everyone gets involved in the program As volunteers. Green who has been with Van since 1959 frequently serves As director for the performance. On one occasion he even enlisted Manekin to snore on Cue. Quot i had a sore Throat for two Days after that Quot said Manekin. In addition of serving As entertainment for the men the program has also proven to be great therapy. Almost every Volunteer has at least one Story of a seemingly uncommunicative patient who is coaxed out of his Shell to either take part in one of the skits or join in with a Solo at the sing a Long. People who Haven to spoken in months or even years join in and sing during the show. One Man who the doctors said had been unsuccessful in learning so much As his name was encouraged to get up and sing. Another who was unable to speak due to an illness was enticed to play the role of a cat the cat was the Star where he hissed in anger or purred in Contentment As the Story progressed. Quot we found the key to open the door of one who was lost and opened up his world in a Small yet important Way Quot said Volunteer Nancy Andrews of a patient named John. Patients with scripts records dramatic sketch. They also have a program where veterans videotape an interview with a celebrity. These tapes Are sent to other hospitals through the a system in the United states. There a the Christmas card program where veterans Are taped sending greetings to friends and relatives. These too Are distributed through a facilities. Since 1961 they be sponsored a yearly contest a commonly called Quot the contest a among the various facilities. Edited script kits Are sent to approximately 70 hospitals across the United states and the veterans Are invited to produce As professional a tape As they can and submit it to Van. After a screening of the tapes by the staff at Van the finalists Are submitted to a celebrity panel this year it is Roger Grimsby to newscaster and Marvin Hamlisch songwriter for the selection of the Winner. The winning team will travel to san Diego for the a festival of the arts and perform their skit on stage. Quot there Are no losers Quot says Manekin Quot every entry receives a certificate of appreciation for their  the Van has chapters in Pittsburgh Indianapolis Chicago Kansas City Dallas and Loma Linda calif., in addition to its Headquarters in new York City. Manekin estimates that there Are 75 volunteers servicing those cities and their a facilities. Quot they re not All available at one single moment s notice Quot says Manekin. Quot but they re the Core of our support who we depend on to show  last year the network recorded something upward of 14,000 tapes a both audio and video a for distribution to the a hospitals. With a budget of approximately $20,000 per month All raised from voluntary contributions the Van has fallen on hard times. Manekin is hoping for enough of an infusion of funds to allow the network to maintain it s present level of activity while restructuring the organization. Quot contributions Are coming in spurts Quot says Green. Quot we re extremely Gratful and it allows us to keep the program up and running. But it really does no to allow for any Long Range  Manekin while trying to remain upbeat about the fundraising is realistic about their situation. Quot its not something people think is exciting or important. Veterans Aren t sexy now Quot he says. Wally Green on the other hand is the eternal Optimist. Quot we re an institution Quot he said Quot and institutions go on and on and on. Don t they Quot note anyone wishing to make a tax deductible contribution to the Van May do so by writing Veteran s bedside network 250 w. 54th Street 9th floor new York . I00i9. Monday october 29, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13