Toy Story 2 made a great movie sequel, while Disney on Ice presented “Toy Story” on skates at the Providence Civic Center.

The Green Mile starring Tom Hanks as a compassionate prison guard was very good. Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, starring Rob Schneider, was very bad.

Stuart Little starring Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis was a “cuddly, cute kids movie,” while Anna and the King starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat was a romantic epic film. Kramer vs. Kramer was another great movie of 1979.

David Mamet’s puzzling “The Cryptogram” was at Trinity. The acting by Brian McEleny and Anne Scurria was excellent. I didn’t care for the play.

I declared J.P. Spoonems as having the best hash, Twin Oaks the best baked stuffed shrimp, Down City Diner the best meatloaf, Chelo’s the best fish ‘n chips and Governor Francis the best home cookin’. Not much has changed, except Down City is gone.

Gamm presented “Quilters,” which I described as “A Work of Art.” 40 Years Ago

Remember Kreiger’s in Pawtuxet Village? They served a fantastic home-cooked Sunday brunch for $3.

Remember the old Fore ‘N’ Aft in Warren? You could get a delicious deviled crab casserole for $8.75 and a plate of escargots for $3.50 or a five-shrimp cocktail for $3.75.

Gregory’s was a sprawling restaurant on Oaklawn Ave. in Cranston, where a prime rib dinner cost $8.75.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the popular Christmas movie. So was The Rose starring Bette Midler.

Providence Opera Theatre did “The Barber of Seville” at the Ocean State Theatre.

Trinity Rep presented “Sly Fox” in the downstairs theatre, while “Christmas Carol” played upstairs.

Daughter Robin reviewed the Cranston East production of “The King and I,” starring her friend Chris Troiano as the king. Other friends in the cast included Tom Gershkoff, Nick Perry and Jean Moon. Cathy Cornell and Carol Butler were on the properties committee and Glenn Surabian was the business manager. They all got rave reviews from the unbiased critic.

The Allman Brothers were at the Civic Center.