Ponce de Leon Park, which has been an empty stage for anything remotely resembling stardom this year, is scheduled for a resurrection of glitter this Saturday, July 4, when the Hollywood All Stars, performers of stage, screen and television, will be in Atlanta to challenge the prestige and endurance of the Atlanta VIP’s, a collection of prominent names from Mayor Ivan Allen to Officer Don Kennedy, in the Charity Baseball Game.

The Hollywood contingent will include the following roster: Hugh O’Brian, Pat Boone, Pat Woodel, Nick Adams, Peter Brown, Mike Connors, Gary Clark, Jack Palance, Harvey Lembeck, Phillip Crosby, Mickey Callan, and Robert Fuller, representing everything from gunslingers and crooners to TV circus managers. Accompanying the teams as bat girls will be Annette Funicello and Mrs. P. Brown.

The Atlanta team will counter with Mayor Ivan Allen, Senator Charlie Brown, Chief Herbert Jenkins, Congressman Charlie Weltner, Ed Thilenus, Hank Morgan, Ray Moore, Frank Stittler, Officer Don and a corps of reserves not yet named. To add distinction, Senator Herman Talmadge will throw out the first ball.

The game will start at 7:00 preceded by entertainment starting at 6:30. It will last until 9:00, with fireworks going from 9:00 to 9:30.

But this is only the game, the participants, the place and the time. The story is in the purpose: providing hope where hope has before been merely a four letter word without a definition. The basic program, as designed by Children’s Charities, Inc., provides for an alternating distribution of funds to various children charities on an annual basis. This year’s funds will go to St. Joseph’s Village, a proposed archdiocesan facility to house both boys and girls.

These are not minor probable plans. They have been worked in great detail. July 4 was chosen as the idea date, due to the active interest in the holiday, created by a celebration, parades and the traditional spirit of patriotism.

Expectations of $75,000.00 have been projected, and advance indications are the goal will be reached. Most of this will come from ticket sales, with 2,000 box seat tickets available at a price of $1.00, with a $24.00 donation. Grandstand seats are $1.00 with a $4.00 donation. Half of the money will go to St. Joseph’s Village with the other half going to Motion Picture Relief charities, which is the only thing asked by the stars appearing. If the 1964 venture is successful, the game will become an annual event.

Chairman of the game is Father Daniel McCormick of Christ the King Church. Members of the Committee include Jack Freedman, Milt Allen, Joe Higgins, Jim Ferguson and Jean Hendrix. The Board of Trustees of Children’s Charities, Inc. has such prominent Atlantans as Rawson Haverty, Ed Forio and Lamar Sheats.