Providence, RI (December 18, 2005): The 5-year old Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society and its 550-plus members continue their search for either “Miss Vivian” or any of her surviving relatives or friends.

“Miss Vivian” happens to have been the organist who performed at every Reds hockey game at the old R. I. Auditorium from the mid-1940s to the late 1960s. Folks remember her for providing the Reds with a lively entrance tune onto the ice before every game: “Roll out the Barrel.” 

“She was a lovely lady,” recalls George Patrick Duffy, a member of the society’s board of directors and former Reds’ publicist and radio broadcaster.

“Everyone at the rink called her Miss Vivian. She was a spinster, tiny in stature, extremely pleasant, and a darned good musician to boot. The organ she played at Reds’ games certainly was not a Wurlitzer, that’s for sure. And the Auditorium’s poor acoustics never enhanced presentation of her true talents.”

What the Reds society does know about Miss Vivian is that her full name was Vivian Porter, and she was a full time employee at a major Providence department store of that era, Newberry’s.

“I can remember Miss Vivian arriving at the Auditorium during blizzard conditions, hiking in wearing a pair of black, unstylish overshoes,” chuckles Duffy. “But she was a gamer. Like all the hockey players, she never, ever missed a game!”

Anyone who has information about Miss Vivian Porter, please call the R. I. Reds Heritage Society’s office at 401-247-2666 or e-mail UNH1959@aol.com.

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