Racing Numbers: 4.6.8 Lucky Colour: Yellow Lucky Day: Friday

■ Whenever you mention the name Alan Jones these days people immediately think of the Australian radio broadcaster on 2GB.

But there was a famous American singer and film star during the Golden Days of Hollywood who had a hit with a song called The Donkey Serenade in 1937.

Allan Jones was born Theodore Allen Jones in Pennsylvania in 1907.

He worked with his father in the coal mines until the age of 26 when he won a University Scholarship to study music.

Allan received classical training and got sing in several Broadway musicals before breaking into films with a small singing role in the Jean HarlowMGM film Reckless in 1935.

Allan was noticed by the studio and cast in the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera where he sang two songs Alone and Cosi - Cosa.

In the 1936 version of Showboat, Allan Jones played ‘Gaylord Ravenal’ opposite the beautiful Irene Dunne. I think this black-and-white classic is the best film version of Showboat.

During the making of The Great Ziegfeld, Dennis Morgan mimed the voice of Allan Jones singing A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody in a big musical production number as he walked down a huge wedding cake.

In 1937 Allan was cast in another Marx Brothers film A Day at the Races. He had a small role as the opera singer in Rosemarie and loved working with Jeanette McDonald.

Whatever Whatever Happened Happened To ... To ... Allan Allan Jones Jones

By Kevin Trask By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

His next film with MGM was Everybody Sing and Allan coached a very young Judy Garland in some of her scenes.

In The Firefly, Allan was once again cast opposite Jeanette McDonald and sang Rudolf Friml's composition The Donkey Serenade which was to become his signature tune.

Allan played the leading role in The Boys from Syracuse in 1940. His next film was A Night in the Tropics and this film had a disastrous effect on his film career. Allan and Robert Cummings were the two leads but the director was keen to introduce two new comedians called Abbott and Costello.

The comedy team were only supposed to do one sketch in the film but they were so good ● Allan Jones their roles were increased and Allan's role was reduced. Although Allan still appeared in films his career waned over the next five years.

During the war years Allan was one of the first entertainers to volunteer to sing for the troops overseas. He returned to the stage in Great Britain and then toured the US with several offBroadway musicals.

Over the next 20 years Allan worked the night - club circuit. In the early 1950s he appeared at the Tivoli Theatre in Melbourne and was a guest star on radio shows such as Australia's Hour of Song.

Allan was married four times and had tw o children. His son Jack Jones became a very successful singer and sings the theme song for the television series The Love Boat.

Allan Jones was a guest star in televisio n shows such as 77 Sunset Strip and The Love Boat.

During the 1970s Allan played the role of Don Quixote in stage productions of Man of La Mancha.

I met Allan Jones and recorded several radi o interviews with him when he was here in Melbourne in 1991 for a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall.

Shortly after the Melbourne visit Allan Jone s passed away of lung cancer at the age of 84 After all these years I still enjoy listening to hi s version of The Donkey Serenade.

Kevin Tras k Kevin can be heard on radio - Kevin can be heard on 3AW - The Time Tunnel - on Remember When The Time Tunnel - Remember When - Sundays at 9.10pm on 3AW Sundays at 10.10pm with Philip Brady That's Entertainment - 96.5FM and Simon Owens. Sundays at 12 Noon And on 96.5 FM 96.5FM is streaming on the internet. That's Entertainment - Sundays To listen, go to www.innerfm.org.au an d at 12 Noon. follow the prompts. www.innerfm.org.au Ultimate Sunshine Coast vacation

■ It's the ultimate example of 'everything old is new again'.

Loea Boutique Hotel - located opposite the Maroochy River on Queensland's Sunshine Coast - has undergone a renovation of epic proportions, taking what was a conventional motel-style accommodation offering and transforming it into an ontrend chic boutique hotel.

Loea offers double, twin and family rooms, the décor inspired by 'warm breezy beach days'.

Think a soft white colour palette, locally sourced rattan furniture, brass fixtures and luxury bed linen.

But while Loea is fresh and modern, it has not forgotten its classic roots.

On-site guests are greeted with a vintage-food-truck-van-come-reception serving up locally sourced food supplied by Gather by Bonnie and a range of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks as well as a friendly welcome.

There are also classic white cruiser bikes available for guests to use at their leisure, perfect for exploring the Maroochy River as you take the pathway to nearby Cotton Tree.

Loea is owned by Andrew and Lucy Pink, who upon relocating to the Sunshine Coast from the UK realised a gap in the market for boutique hotelstyle accommodation.

The end result is a culmination of Andrew's background in the hotel industry and their shared passion for travel and design.

Features of the property include a luxe outdoor magnesium pool surrounded by a communal alfresco lounge area and garden, local organic skincare products in the room, a private outdoor deck for each suite and the vintage food van on site offering coffee, alcoholic beverages and delicious brunch, grazing and dessert platters available for pre-order.

This is complemented by the little luxuries you come to expect at places like Loea, such as free WIFI throughout, king-size beds with luxury linen bedding, quality toiletries, free on-site parking, tea- and coffee-making facilities and air-conditioning.

Visit Sunshine Coast Interim CEO Craig Davidson said renovations such as the one at Loea gave travellers fresh new reason to visit the Sunshine

Coast.

"New products and experiences are an important part of keeping up with consumer demand," he said.

Travel

with John Rozentals

“They provide fresh incentive for visitors to stay longer and spend more, entice new visitors to the region and encourage return travellers to try something new."

Prices start from $170 per night for a double room, book direct at www.loea.com.au.

NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.

Briefs ■ Free flights to Europe and savings of $4000 per couple are available on back-to-back river cruises on the Douro River in Portugal and Danube River through central Europe in September and October next year.

The 18-night 'Double Up on the Danube and Douro' package is being offered by Riviera Travel River Cruises and Cruise Traveller.

The holiday begins with a flight from Australia to Porto in Portugal for a night's hotel stay before guests board Riviera Travel's deluxe river ship, Douro Elegance, for a sevennight cruise along the along the beautiful, vineyard-lined Douro River, past rustic wineries, quaint villages and rugged cliffs right up to the Spanish border.

Highlights include visits to vineyards and port cellars, dinner at a typical Portuguese farmhouse, a flamenco show a full -day excursion to the historic Spanish city of Salamanca, a tour of the walled medieval village of Castelo Rodrigo and the 18th century, baroque Mateus Palace and its extensive gardens.

The cruise includes eight complimentary guided excursions.

Back in Porto, guests are then flown to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for a two-night stay in a fivestar hotel to explore the quaint city before a flight to Budapest and another night's stay.

Including the two cruises, accommodation in Porto, Lisbon and Budapest, transfers and guided shore excursions, the 18-night package is available from $9895 per person, twinshare for bookings made by November 30.

Phone 1300 561 001 or visit

www.CruiseTraveller.com.au

■ Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium has released new calming resources, including two guided meditation sessions, set to beautiful imagery of marine creatures.

Created for Melburnians who might be struggling with the current lockdown or those simply seeking a mindful exercise, the new Marine Mindfulness webpage aims to encourage relaxation and help promote a sense of calm.

According to studies, observing live fish in an aquarium decreases anxiety, enhances relaxation and improves one's mood.

Sea Life Melbourne is offering a 10-minute meditation session focusing on mesmerising moon jellyfish gracefully pulsing through the water as well as a five-minute session featuring sleek trevally gliding through the 2.2-million-litre oceanarium.

www.melbourneaquarium.com.au

■ Accor is offering medical teleconsultations to guests staying at many Accor hotels, resorts and apartments across the globe through its partnership with AXA.

All Accor guests in Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia have access to a network of thousands of medical professionals 24/7 via a telemedical consultation to assist with medical situations that arise during their stay.

OK. With John O’Keefe Burnso wins lottery

■ In a tell- all podcast interview the recently retired 3AW joint Breakfast presenter John Burns revealed how in 1989 he won $800,000 (tax free) in a local lottery.

At the time Burnso was a solicitor and overnight his lifestyle changed. He paid off a rather large tax bill, finalised his mortgage, purchased a new car and went skiing at Aspen.

Soon after the windfall he joined 3AW and the rest is history. During his farewell speech Burnso said “I’m the luckiest man alive” and no truer words have been spoken. Couterfeit crook ■ In the UK the bobbies have caught up with one of the largest counterfeiters of pirate records.

In real life the syndicate posed as motor dealers but in reality were arranging duplication and sales of pop CDs featuring most of the big names in showbiz .

Chief pirate was fined £464,000 and given 18 months in the slammer. This incident is dinki-di although we do admit it sounds like an episode of Minder with Arthur and Terry. Naughty dog, Bluey ■ Ask any pre-school youngster about the ABC animated serial Bluey and you’ll get the thumbs up. He’s a real favourite, but of late Bluey has got a bit naughty using the word ‘oonga boonga’.

Censors at ABC thought those words could sound racist against the indigenous communities and poor old Bluey had to delete the offending words .

Stones Store, Soho ■ Next time you’re in London, and it won’t be for awhile , make a point of checking out the new attraction at number 9 Carnaby Street.

The address houses the flagship House of the Rolling Stones – a retail store selling authentic Stones memorabilia, music, fashions, furniture and more. If you do drop into the store you might catch a glimpse of Mike or Keith doing a stretch counting stock. Sound effects ■ Recording engineers are often put to the test when tracks are being laid. Creativity is sometimes the name of the game, like the multi sounds required way back in 1962 when the industry was pretty raw, never the less engineers experimented. I n recording the international No 1 Telstar guitar instrumental they needed the sound of a space rocket –nothing available, so they flushed the toilet and it sounded just like the real thing.

Confirmation that the best ideas are born when sitting on the ‘john’.