Letters: Gratitude for the legacy of Alhambra founder Ted Johnson

I’m writing to celebrate the life of Ted Johnson, founder and creator of the Alhambra Theatre, who passed away last month. In the mid-1960s, Mr. Johnson made the decision to devote his time and resources to providing a professional-level entertainment resource for the good people of Jacksonville.

In 1967, he opened the then-named Alhambra Dinner Theater and brought in the crème de la crème of Hollywood royalty to perform the most modern shows of the era. It was because of his business savvy and dedication that the Alhambra was so successful. Using his blueprint, subsequent owners have continued Mr. Johnson’s original vision of offering a high-quality live theater experience at accessible prices.

In many ways, by opening Alhambra, he has been a friend to multiple families. Like myself, many employees have been here for decades. Many employees met their future spouses here. Many customers met their film and TV star idols here. Millions of date nights have been held between these walls, proposals made on our stage, and anniversaries celebrated at our tables.

Countless acting careers have been launched here, giving rise to future members of Broadway stages, national tours, and film and TV sets. Names like Betty Grable, Leanza Cornett, Michael Learned, and Jamie Farr have graced this very stage.

While we certainly mourn the loss of such a visionary gentleman, we celebrate what he has done for our city. Many people, including the author of this piece, owe more to Mr. Johnson than he probably knew. We, here at Alhambra, thank him — for his talents, for his insight, and for his legacy.

Becky Uibel, box office director, Alhambra Theatre & Dining

Better solutions are needed than abortion

Many columnists have argued recently that pro-life citizens and lawmakers should focus on other issues, such as the housing crisis or gun violence. But if one doesn't have the basic right to life, none of those things matter.

Just because abortion is legal, it doesn’t make it right. Slavery used to be legal, after all. Unplanned pregnancies do present a problem, but there are solutions.

Pregnancy help centers offer testing, ultrasounds, counseling, 24/7 hotlines, maternity clothes, diapers, parenting classes and so much more. Most of these services are also free. The staff at these centers walk with women during an unplanned pregnancy, whether they choose adoption or to parent.

Another consideration is adoption. The National Council for Adoption estimates over 1.5 million couples are waiting to adopt a child. Yet each year only 50,000 babies are placed with a family. To make adoption a reality, employer benefits might begin to include adoption. Some companies offer employees $4,000 to cover travel expenses to obtain an abortion; what if companies provided $4,000 to employees who want to adopt?

In Jacksonville, a good first step is to call Emergency Pregnancy Services at (904) 308-7510. Caring Choices is another agency that provides counseling and adoption services; call 1-866-901-9647.

Finally, we must promote responsible behavior. Both men and women are consenting parties in most unplanned pregnancies. Now the rights of women are considered in abortion but what about the rights of men? Apparently, men do not need to be notified of an abortion. If men had more rights in this situation, maybe it would lead to a much greater level of responsibility, involvement, and support.

Marie Schaefer, St. Johns

Cartoon offensive to Catholics

The May 19 editorial cartoon that depicted Supreme Court Justices confessing their sins shows that anti-Catholicism is alive and well in 2022. We are confident that you would not have run a cartoon representing Muslims, Jews, Buddhists or Sikhs in such a negative manner.

But, in debating the great social issues of our time, anti-Catholicism is a standard part of the arsenal of those opposed to the church's position as it stands as a bulwark against secularism, relativism, modernism, and the hyper-autonomy that have long been tearing at the fabric of our culture.

The late Harvard professor Arthur Schlesinger once noted that prejudice against the Catholic Church was "the deepest bias in the history of the American people." Similarly, David Reinhard, Editorial Board member of the Oregonian, stated "anti-Catholicism is the bigotry that some have called the thinking person's anti-Semitism, the bigotry that survives, if not flourished, even in our politically correct age."

In this ultra-sensitive era, it's remarkable you are not extending the twin virtues of tolerance and inclusion to Catholics. Local Catholics deserve an apology and promise to not print this kind of reprehensible screed again.

Christopher M. Shea, CEO, Coalition of Concerned Catholics

The statue could help us move forward

I read with interest the piece by Matt Carlucci in the May 22 edition of The Florida Times-Union, about the statue in Springfield Park.

As a newcomer to Jacksonville (about three years ago), I have followed the conversations about the statue with interest. To me, it is a beautiful piece of work that we should be proud to have in any Jacksonville park. I consider it a tribute to motherhood, regardless of who sponsored it. Perhaps the city council would consider a change to the title of the piece to “A Tribute to Motherhood” and further agree to raise funds for its refurbishment.

I would also suggest the city sponsor a challenge to the Black, Hispanic, and other ethnic communities to come up with a similar statue to honor their mothers, designed by an artist or sculptor of their choice to be placed in the same park. Let’s not destroy the past, but build on it to represent the multi-cultural community we in fact have become.

Ross Reardon, Jacksonville

Students miss the point of dress codes

Several recent stories have reported the case being made by students that tank tops, visible midriffs, and shorts with holes in them should be permitted attire in schools because apparently, it’s hot in Florida.

These students are missing the importance of presenting themselves in a dignified way to the world. School is preparation for life, obviously.

It's pretty safe to assume that teachers, administrators, janitorial staff, and other school employees are not wearing tank tops — these are clearly people also living in Florida. My guess is that they are dressed in a way that is respectful to their co-workers and to the students themselves.

I wonder how students would react if the cafeteria workers decided to prepare food in their bathing suits? After all, it gets really hot in the kitchen.

Ann Barrett, Jacksonville

What will it take for them to act?

Recently, the House of Representatives voted to provide $28 million to the FDA to address the national baby formula shortage. The need is great. As the Times-Union reported on May 19, "Shortages hit 30 percent in April and rose to 40 percent at the end of the month ... and the nationwide shortage was 43 percent the week ending May 8."

However, despite the need, our local representatives voted against the aid. Those representatives are John Rutherford, Kat Cammack and Michael Waltz.

Last week, two children were treated at a Tennessee hospital because their parents could not find baby formula for them. Will a child have to die before Rutherford, Cammack and Waltz act?

Keep this in mind when the next election comes in November.

Terry D. Bork, Jacksonville

Guns fuel hate

We — including those of us in Northeast Florida — are all complicit in the murder of 19 children in Texas. We are guilty in our silence to an ever-cascading avalanche of hate and discontent which is fueled by readily available assault weapons and ammunition. Worse, we hide this insanity around constitutional rights.

Yet we continue to elect leaders who pander to the loudest voices and the most money. Shame on us. If America is going to survive, we need to identify real leaders, people who can help us become better and more responsible citizens. At the very least, we owe it to the millions of men and women who have fought and died to help make our nation a more perfect union.

Martin Goetz, CEO Emeritus, River Garden Senior Services, Jacksonville

Port project doesn’t add up

I’m at a loss to see the massive economic benefits attributed to the deepening of the St. John’s River and the raising of the JEA power lines across the river.

Each time we drive across the Dames Point Bridge we see very few ships at berth. Clearly, the ocean carriers serving Puerto Rico are a significant portion of the port calls at JaxPort. Add to those the number of car carriers and Jones Act tankers that call JaxPort and it causes me to wonder why the dredging and raising of power lines were necessary.

It seems that the vast majority of the port calls do not require either enhancement.

Peter A. Baci, Jacksonville Beach

They meant muskets

I am not a lawyer, and I have never considered myself to be an originalist when it comes to understanding the U.S. Constitution. I am willing to join the originalists, however, when it comes to the Second Amendment.

I am in favor of issuing a musket to every able-bodied person in the country. In return, weapons that did not exist when the Constitution was written will be limited to the military and police only.

This seems like a fair compromise to me.

Jim Kavanagh, Jacksonville

Article unfair to Father Charlie

The clergy and laity of the Episcopal Diocese (consisting of about 250 people) have spoken in electing Father Charlie Holt as bishop. Beth Cravey’s May 16 article was so one-sided and it sounds like sour grapes coming from the LGBTQ community. It’s also not fair to Father Charlie.

Why did you not get comments from the conservative side of the church to see what kind of priest Father Charlie has been over the past 25 years?

Moses Meide, Jr., Jacksonville

Suggestion for school security

Why don’t we use retired military or law enforcement veterans as our school safety officers? In Jacksonville — along with many towns and cities across the country — we have a tremendous resource that appears to be untapped.

They would be available with current training and could cover the school year. Plus, there appears to be considerable unused COVID funds that could kick off the funding for this program.

Paul Franks, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: Gratitude for the legacy of Alhambra founder Ted Johnson