Welcome to the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame

The Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame was established in 2022, and was announced at a news conference at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on October 20 of that year. The criteria for induction were determined by the initial members of the steering committee.

Eligible candidates for induction include anyone who has made a mark in the arts or entertainment fields. Geographically, those who are Luzerne County natives, have lived in Luzerne County or who have made their mark in Luzerne County, are to be placed under consideration.

Nominees — whose names are typically submitted by the public — are collected by two committees: one representing the Arts, and one representing Entertainment. The two committees spend months debating and voting on the merits of each nominee. After the votes are cast, the official list of inductees is announced in the spring.

Generally, the split between “Arts” and “Entertainment” inductees is as follows:

• Inductees considered in the Arts category include film and television actors, writers, directors, dramatic theater performers and dancers, visual artists (including painters, production or costume designers, and architects) and arts journalists.

• Inductees considered in the Entertainment category include musicians (both bands and solo artists), musical theater performers, music producers and sound engineers, stage designers and music journalists and broadcasters.

Bill O’Boyle and Joe Nardone Sr. founded the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame, and the pair were joined on the first steering committee by Tony Brooks, Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, Jody Busch, Lindsay Griffin-Boylan, Alan K. Stout, and Constance Wynn.

The first induction class was announced in March 2023, with 18 individual artists and bands being cited as inaugural members. The first ceremony took place later that year on Oct. 14 at Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains Township.

Ahead of the second ceremony, Kathi Bankes, Will Beekman, Beverly Jean Johnston, Memo Lara, Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo, Gina Malsky and Morris Walker were added to the steering committee. The 16-member Class of 2024 was announced in April of that year, and the ceremony — now held at the Kirby Center — was held on Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2025 inductees were announced this past April, and Sam Zavada was added to the steering committee before the third ceremony. Additionally, the Hall of Fame’s Distinguished Achievement Award was established.

This year’s inductees include:

• Andrea Bogusko — The longtime instructor whose Music Company has become a fixture in the local community over four decades of business. Generations of students have flocked to learn from a master who brings legitimacy to each initiative she touches.

• Lillian Cahn — The creative pillar that built the Coach line of luxury accessories into a global brand. Her business sense, understanding of leatherworks and cultural foresight made her one of the most powerful women in the world of fashion design.

• Niccolo Cortiglia — The painter who crafted likenesses of politicians, public figures, and community leaders. In addition to his own impressive output, he taught some of Luzerne County’s greatest artists through his one-man art school in Wilkes-Barre.

• The Great Rock Scare — The energetic band that entertained audiences with their faithful renditions of classic rock hits. The group’s musical excellence and brilliant promotional backing took them to the peak of local popularity in the 1980s.

• Bob Heim — The cartoonist, illustrator and journalist with a charming sense of humor. His knack for finding the quirks in each new project is legendary, a fitting complement to his status as one of Luzerne County’s most fascinating artistic figures.

• Lyman H. Howe — The pioneering, traveling filmmaker who outpaced the ambition of his moviemaking peers. His turn-of-the-century achievements include the use of synchronized sound, filming in an airplane and documenting military and political history.

• Florence Foster Jenkins — The so-called “world’s worst opera singer” with a Carnegie Hall performance and fascinating life story to her name. Before a string of health issues dashed her genuine musical ambitions, Jenkins performed as a child prodigy pianist.

• The Leer Brothers Band — The supergroup that sprouted from some of the area’s most popular bands of the 1960s. Their groovy original material was an extension of the sounds that came before, helping to bridge the gap between two generations of musicians.

• Marion Lorne — The Emmy-winning actress who is most remembered for her portrayal of Aunt Clara in “Bewitched.” Besides her famous television work, she acted in films and theatre productions for seven decades in both the United States and England.

• Motionless in White — The aggressive metal band with a catalog that includes radio-ready hits and brutal deep cuts. Their gothic collective persona and haunting tones have brought them a devoted following of fans which stretches across the globe.

• Rose O’Neill — The artist who created the Kewpie characters and became one of the earliest female cartoonists to achieve national recognition and acclaim. In a male-dominated industry, she illustrated with an unashamed, feminine touch.

• Paul Pringle — The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. He wrote the non-fiction book “Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels,” and subsequently produced and narrated a podcast based on the book’s themes. He is the first recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Distinguished Achievement Award.

• Matthew Rogers — The Grammy-winning songwriter who has worked with some of country music’s biggest stars. His run of modern success has penetrated the competitive Nashville scene and resulted in a number of chart-topping tunes.

• Lawrence Russo — The sculptor whose work is present across the Northeast United States. His most famous sculpture — the Christ the King statue on the King’s College Administration Building – is one of the area’s most towering works of art.

• Joe and John Stanky — The polka-playing brothers who have wielded their instruments for the enjoyment of listeners’ ears and feet. The ensembles they have led — the Cadets and the Coal Miners, respectively — are staples of the community.

• Alan K. Stout — The music journalist and radio host with an unrivaled dedication to local artists and entertainers. Through his work in the media and as an event organizer, he has platformed Luzerne County’s finest alongside some of the world’s biggest acts.

The Arts committee includes Brooks, Johnston and Zavada. Jennifer McClinton-Temple and Margaret Roarty are set to join this committee in 2026.

The Entertainment committee includes Busch, Nardone, Stout, Walker, Zavada, Kathy Bozinski, Tony Callaio, Victor Guiliano, Marshall Kornblatt and Richie Kossuth.

This year’s sponsors include:

• Print & Media Sponsor — Times Leader

• Awards Sponsor — Visit Luzerne County

• Catering Sponsor — Culinary Creations by Metz

• Venue Sponsor — F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

• Photgraphy Sponsor — Valentin Studios

• Gold Sponsor — The Luzerne Foundation

• Silver Sponsors — Hal & Jean Flack Family Fund; Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association

• City of Wilkes-Barre; City of Pittston; State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski

• Bronze Sponsors — Community Bank N.A.; Gallery of Sound; King’s College; Luzerne County Community College; O’Donnell Law; Tambur Family Foundation

• Additional Supporters — Eddie Day Pashinski; Grotto Pizza; Friedman Properties; Johnston & Johnston Law; Anzalone Law