87TH JACKSON HOMECOMERS SEEKS TALENT ACTS

JACKSON -- The 87th edition of Jackson Homecomers, sponsored by Altenthol-Joerns Post 158 of the American Legion, will be held Aug. 16-20.

A popular attraction during homecomers is talent shows held each night except Wednesday, when the Homecomers queen is chosen. The talent shows are held on the stage in front of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse.

Homecomers chairman Jim Nelson said there are several changes this year in the talent shows.

"We changed the starting time of the talent shows from 7:30 to 8 p.m.," Nelson said. "We moved the talent show for dancers age 6 to 12 from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday night to give them a better time slot and more exposure to the audience. There will be no Saturday afternoon talent show. We have also added a finals bracket for the winners of the 6-to-12 year age group competition. They will compete in their own age bracket Saturday night along with the older contestants."

Nelson said individuals, duets, and groups that want to perform at Homecomers should fill out and return an application form no later than Aug. 11. The forms are available by calling Nelson, 243-4462, or writing to Nelson, 614 Sue Drive, Jackson, Mo. 63755. Or call E.P. Kurre, 243-4140, committee member.

"We're looking for amateur acts of all kinds: singing, dancing, acrobatic and instrumental.

The talent shows will begin Aug. 16 with competition for dancers, ages 6 to 12.

On Aug. 18, contestants ages 6 to 12 and 13 to 21 will compete in non-dancing acts. "There will be no piano entries this year because a piano will not be available," said Nelson.

The Aug. 19 talent show will include dance acts for ages 13 to 21.

The finals will be held Aug. 20 at 8 p.m., with finalists from the earlier talent shows competing in their respective age brackets.

Nelson said first-, second-, third- and fourth-place winners of each talent show will receive cash prizes of $20, $15, $10, and $5. The winners will compete on Saturday for first-through-fourth places. All winners in the Saturday finals will receive plaques and cash prizes.

In addition, the overall winners of the age group 13 to 21 will be invited to participate in the Youth Talent Contest at the Mid-South Fair at Memphis Sept. 23 through Oct. 2.

"The Mid-South Fair will have a representative in Jackson during the Saturday night finals to talk to the final contestants in the age group 13 to 21," said Nelson. "It is possible that more than the first-place winners will be invited to go to the Mid-South Fair Talent Show."

Nelson said last year six finalists were invited to participate in the show at Memphis.