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Lincoln Area Music Society Opens
Summer Concert Series with cartoon favorites
[June 02, 2026]
The Lincoln Area Music Society
(LAMS) Community Band opened its outdoor concert series on Sunday
evening with a cartoon-themed concert. Sunny weather and cool
breezes made for a perfect evening to enjoy live music in Latham
Park.
The band was directed by Riley McDorman, Millikin graduate and band
director at Athens High School. The concert was emceed by Terry
McDorman.
As is a summer band concert tradition, the concert opened with “The
Star-Spangled Banner,” and the audience was invited to stand and
sing. Then the emcee introduced the theme of the evening's concert:
familiar melodies from cartoons. The band began this theme with what
McDorman described as “Bugs Bunny’s greatest hits,” a song entitled
“What’s Up at the Symphony?” arranged by Jerry Brubacker. This
medley included classical music that many will recognize from
watching that rascally rabbit, including refrains from “Flight of
the Valkyrie” and “William Tell Overture.” The second selection was
the theme from “The Pink Panther" composed by Henry Mancini for the
1963 movie of the same name. Mancini’s score for “The Pink Panther”
was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, however Mary
Poppins was the winner in that category that year.
The third song of the concert was from the first animated sitcom
which began airing on television in 1963: “The Flintstones.” The
theme songs continued with the theme from “Rocky and Bullwinkle” and
the first portion of the concert closed with the theme song from
“The Simpsons.”
The band then took a twenty minute
intermission, which afforded the audience and band the opportunity
to enjoy delicious homemade cake with ice cream prepared by the
Lincoln Woman’s Club. The proceeds from the cake and ice cream sales
at each summer band concert support the Lincoln Woman’s Club
charitable works and scholarships.
McDorman thanked LAMS business
sponsors and encouraged audience members to patronize the local
businesses that support these opportunities for community music in
Logan County: Pacesetter, ME Realty, Lincoln Daily News, Jake’s
Furnishings, El Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant, Eaton, Culver’s of
Lincoln, Begolka Farms (Bob and Darlene Begolka), and Abbott and
Associates.
The band opened the second half of
the concert with "Batman Generations” which was a mash-up of music
from the original television series, as well as more recent Batman
movies such as “The Dark Knight.” Ragtime favorite “Hello, My Baby!”
was the next tune and was featured in the 1955 cartoon “One Froggy
Evening” in which a frog in a top hat and cane would sing this song,
but only for the man who discovered him. It also began many Looney
Tunes cartoons.
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Next the band performed
“Popeye, the Sailor Man” followed by “Crazy for Cartoons” which
featured many fun and wacky sounds from the percussion section.
The medley featured music from a time when every motion picture
included a cartoon prelude.
Inspired by Porky Pig’s farewell at
the end of many a Looney Tune and Merry Melodies cartoon, the song
“That’s All Folks” concluded the cartoon theme. The traditional
final selection of the concert was Irving Berlin’s “God Bless
America.” The audience was invited to stand and join in singing.
LAMS is comprised of volunteers, and community musicians are warmly
invited to join the LAMS Community Band. Practices are Monday
evenings at Lincoln United Methodist Church. Any business interested
in sponsoring the LAMS summer concert series may contact
lincolnareamusicsociety@gmail.com.
This season’s LAMS Community Band summer concerts at Latham Park
will continue with performances on June 7, June 14, and June 28 at 7
p.m. There will be no concert on Father’s Day, June 21. The concerts
are free and the community is cordially invited to bring a lawn
chair and enjoy live music in a lovely downtown Lincoln park.
LAMS Summer Concert Series photo slideshow
LAMS performs Rocky &
Bullwinkle theme song - video
LAMS performs The Simpsons
theme song - video
[Stephanie Hall]
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