Bob Newhart will appear in Syracuse

SYRACUSE — The fourth annual Loretto Legends benefit concert will lighten up this year when it presents an evening with comedy icon and film and television star Bob Newhart.

Tickets for the Sept. 17 show go on sale Wednesday. The 7:30 p.m. program will be held in the Crouse-Hinds Theater of the Mulroy Civic Center, 800 S. State St.

Proceeds from "An Evening With Bob Newhart" will benefit the Loretto Foundation, which advocates for senior citizens and raises funds in support of Loretto's mission to enhance the quality of life for older adults in Central New York.

Mr. Newhart's Golden Globe- and Grammy award-winning career has spanned two successful television shows, ("The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart") and 14 feature films. He's sold millions of comedy albums worldwide and performs to sell-out crowds all over the country.

At Loretto's benefit presentation, the audience will hear such classic Newhart comedy standards as "The Driving Instructor," "Sir Walter Raleigh" and "The Submarine Commander."

The paperback edition of Mr. Newhart's best-seller, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This" (Hyperion Books), recently hit bookstores.

Mr. Newhart's career began in an unassuming fashion. He was working as an accountant in Chicago, according to a release from Solters and Digney Public Relations. Bored with his accounting work, he would call Ed Gallagher, a friend from a suburban Chicago stock company, and improvise comedy routines.

It was suggested that they record and syndicate them. They did — and they were unsuccessful. Mr. Gallagher, an advertising executive, was offered a job in New York and accepted it, leaving Mr. Newhart to go it alone.

Mr. Newhart knocked around Chicago, finding occasional work in voice-overs and commercials while still writing additional material.

Through a friendship with disc jockey Dan Sorkin, Mr. Newhart met with the head of Warner Brothers Records, who, upon hearing the material, offered Mr. Newhart a recording contract.

Established in 1926, Loretto is Central New York's largest leading older-adult and long-term care provider with more than 2,400 employees serving approximately 6,000 residents and participants each year with 22 programs at 19 locations.

Previous Legends concerts have focused on musical theater greats: Carol Channing, Robert Goulet and Chita Rivera.