The Journal

Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Erin Whitson Doris Edwards, Webster Film Series greeter and ticket-taker, lives an adventurous life traveling around the world.

She sits quietly collecting tickets and checking IDs at the entrance to the Winifred Moore Auditorium. Many are unaware of her six-year tenure with the Webster University Film Series. While she's a familiar face to Film Series attendees, people often pass her by.

Doris Edwards, ticket-taker for the Film Series, sells and retrieves tickets while greeting people who enter the auditorium. Mike Steinberg, current director of the Film Series, said Edwards is there for a reason.

"Doris is the matriarch of the series," Steinberg said. "She's the friendly face we turn to our audience because she is endlessly charming and dependable."

Edwards, who has a passion for traveling, has ventured across six continents including South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. While she has yet to make it to Antarctica, she's been reading up on the continent in travel brochures.

"I really liked Australia, especially Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef," Edwards said. "Walking through the ruins of a 5,000 year-old temple in Egypt and cruising the Nile River was wonderful."

Edwards said Thailand was also a great experience, but she decided to pass on the local cuisine.

"I've eaten some pretty strange things: camel, crocodile, emu, kangaroo, llama and guinea pig, but I drew the line at the roasted insects at the outdoor markets in Thailand," Edwards said.

Edwards said while she loves to see every seat full in the Moore auditorium, she catches up on her reading on the slower nights. Edwards loves to read - especially crime and spy stories.

Edwards retired from Paradise Valley Golf and Country Club in January of 1999 after 19 years. She spent most of her time as the club's manager. Edwards tried playing golf for a number of years, but said her former boss, a professional golf instructor, once told her that anyone who played like she did should give up the game. So, she did.

After retirement, Vicki Woods, Edwards' niece and director of the Film Series at the time of Edwards' hire, offered her the position of ticket-taker. Edwards accepted.

"I like to get out and meet people," Edwards said. "When you retire, you can become a couch potato. I want to get out and interact with people."

Continued...

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