ON THE COVER 96
Fred Astaire, the incomparable poet of motion, leaves a grieving widow and children and, fortunately, generations of fans determined to keep burnished the memory of his elegance
UP FRONT 28
Mauled to death by a vicious pit bullterrier, James Soto, 2, of Morgan Hill, Calif. is the latest victim of a breed of fighting dog that may be just too dangerous
Fergie, Prince Andrew, John Travolta, Meat Loaf et al. whoop it up at Prince Edward's charity competition, but the royal jokers were too wild for the Queen
Practicing her own brand of full disclosure, Italian porn star Cicciolina bares all and wins election to Parliament
A legend of the American theater, George Abbott celebrates his 100th birthday with a revival of his 1926 hit play, Broadway
While Madonna was making music on tour, Sean Penn was facing it in a Los Angeles courtroom, en route to two months behind bars
JOCKS 45
Houston Astro Mike Scott reigns as baseball's most feared pitcher, thanks to his devilish split-fingered fastball
TO THE TOP 52
Tim and Nina Zagat's restaurant guides serve up opinions from thousands of amateur food critics
CRIME 57
Debra Banister was bored, John Wayne Hearn was her weapon; they made a love match that ended in murder
FOOD 71
Fresno's Ralph Tucker comes out slugging for the common brown garden snail
TEACHER 75
Some 250,000 student fans compete in Sam Micklus' "Odyssey of the Mind"
PAGES 79
Thirty-four years after poet Dylan Thomas drank himself to oblivion, his widow, Caitlin, recalls their debauched life together
WINNERS 85
With the help of concerned citizens, state lottery officials and a heifer named Babe, Michigan stages its first cow-drop raffle
BIO 86
With catchy songs, a raucous stage act and mood swings strong enough to tilt the globe, Ray Davies has made the Kinks a rock act that refuses to die
ROYALS 95
A bummed-out Prince Charles chews out Princess Di for picking the wrong parking place
ARTS 109
Howard Finster, 72, paints and assembles outlandish art for the Lord—and for Talking Heads, too
STAGE 115
London's Frances Ruffelle wins hearts and a Tony award in Les Misérables
LOOKOUT 121
Tumbler Derrick Gibson, 13 and just 80 pounds, may be worth his weight in Olympic gold
SCENE 123
In Laurie Mallet's unusual town house, even the furniture disappears into the woodwork
Mail 2
Picks & Pans 9
Take One 27
Star Tracks 41
Chatter 126
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