SMILES REPLACE FROWNS FOR SYNDROME.

Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY 

The light of Mary Schallert's life turned 39 this year. She turned it leading a full, productive life with many of the friends she met when she was 4, and her mom took her to a small park in Studio City every Saturday.

That's where Susie Schallert and dozens of other local kids with Down syndrome played while their moms talked and leaned on one another's shoulders, way back in the dark ages.

``Our kids were called Mongoloids back then,'' Mary said. ``The doctors told us after our kids were born they would never walk, talk or have a life of their own. The doctors were wrong.''

Susie and her friends are pushing 40 now, and they still meet every Saturday, but not to play.

They visit local cultural centers, like the Getty Museum a few Saturdays ago, and the Autry Museum last week.

They play beautiful music in a popular bell choir called the Bellringers and perform with the Born to Act Players.

Not bad for a bunch of kids who were never supposed to walk, talk or amount to much.

``When Susie was born, our doctor told us we should just put her away and enjoy our other children,'' Mary said. ``My husband looked at the doctor and said, `She's our baby; we're taking her home,' and that's what we did.

``My husband has since passed away, and Susie's my roommate now,'' she said Monday, smiling as the light of her life helped her friends in Activities for Retarded Children prepare for this Saturday's musical at the North Hollywood center.

``It's all so different now than it was 35 years ago for moms like Mary and their children,'' says Jane Sarture, acting director of ARC, which helps adults with Down syndrome work on life skills and lead independent lives.

The organization grew out of those Saturday meetings with moms and their kids in the park.

``Just the fact that we go to so many public places together now, like the Getty Museum, and people come up to us saying they're so glad to see us there enjoying the art alongside them, is just so great,'' Sarture said. ``That was unheard of years ago. We weren't invited or welcome many places.''

On the rare occasions they did go out to public events, Mary added, people would stare at Susie and her friends or turn away.

``Now, they're getting smiles and words of encouragement, and I can't tell you how good that makes us feel,'' she said.

So, if turnabout is fair play, the Midsummer Night Music Festival is ARC's chance to invite the public into its house to say thanks.

It's an evening of music in an outdoor setting, provided by some of the best musicians in Los Angeles donating their talent for one of ARC's main fundraisers.

The festival will take place from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at ARC's center, 6456 Whitsett Ave., North Hollywood.

A donation of $20 for adults and $15 for ages 5-15 is requested.

Stop by and meet the lights of a lot of mothers' lives.

dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Susie Schallert, left, and Hillary Shaw, clean beds at the Activities for Retarded Children center in preparation for this weekend's Midsummer Night Music Festival fundraiser in North Hollywood.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer