A sentimental story of Doris Day
The hit “A Sentimental Journal: The Story of Doris Day” at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood was the entertainment highlight of the holiday season for a contingent of Glendale residents at Wednesday’s (Nov. 16) matinee. Bargain tickets could be had for $25.
Doris Day look-alike and sing-alike Sally Hughes brought down the house in the musical written by Adam Rolston and directed by Alvin Rakoff.
Those taking the “sentimental journey” through the up-and-down life of Doris Day included Glendale residents Florence and Ray Stafford, Cecelia Walker and former Glendale residents Gregory Simms and Joseph Dammann.
The musical also attracted audience members from the San Gabriel Valley. A bus brought residents of the British Home in Sierra Madre. Activities coordinator Donna Prater guided her charges, two of whom were Florence Brown and Doris Banks. “Doris Day represents our era in the dress, the glamour,” Banks said. “After the war, we all went dancing, and we all knew the music.”
Members of the Patrician’s Group, a Senior Club for travel, also were bused in for the show. Out of the 350 members, 36 were at the theater, determined to take advantage of bargain seats and a good time.
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The holidays bring plenty of opportunities for fundraising. The staff of Glendale Healthy Kids did themselves proud at Collectors World Gift and Novelty shop on Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. On Wednesday (Nov. 16), several dozen shoppers and supporters looking for discounted collectibles visited the store.
Glendale Health Kids’ Executive Director Camille Levee was among the first to arrive. After helping set up a generous spread of food and wine, a larger-than-life, carved wood Indian caught her attention. It was created by deceased artist Arch Stone.
It was a family affair for Montrose artist Edward Goral. Several of his oil paintings graced store walls. Eleven-year-old daughter Fiona Dunne-Goral posed for photos with her father in front of one of his oils. One of those was an oil portrait of Fiona’s brother Andrew Dunne-Goral. Fiona’s mother, Gloria Dunne-Goral, stayed busy behind the scenes. She works at Collectors World as a part-time sales associate.
Wood sculpture artist Bill Churchill also showed off his works, one of which was an ornate saddle. Churchill, from Anaheim, shows his sculptures in seven galleries in six states. Churchill’s goal is to “honor the natural beauty of wood.”
Also present was renowned Hummel expert Mario Pancino. All three artists, as well as the Collectors Word staff, are donating a percentage of their sales to two charities.
Shopping for gifts for Christmas included Glendale residents Paula Devine, just back from a tour of Third World countries, and Elizabeth Manasserian. Manasserian is the immediate past president of Glendale Healthy Kids.
The event’s fundraising will benefit Glendale Healthy Kids and grants provided by the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Mary Pinola Educational Endowment Fund.
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More opportunities for holiday shopping were provided by volunteers at the annual Christmas Boutique at St. Charles Church on Moorpark Street in Hollywood. Fourteen hours on Saturday (Nov. 19) and Sunday (Nov. 20) gave church members and the public plenty of time to buy gifts, crafts and baked goods.
Some 20 members of the church committee, “Golden Girls,” made all the merchandise in the sale. No vendors were in sight. Van Nuys resident Mary Wiser took on boutique chairwoman duties. She was partial to the needlepoint, arts and crafts and jewelry on sale.
On Saturday, Burbank residents and St. Charles “lifers” Gail and Guy Guenther never miss a boutique. In fact, Gail is a previous boutique chairwoman. The Guenthers boast that they went to St. Charles’ elementary school when it cost only $100 per family per year.
The St. Charles Church Christmas Boutique has been held since 1979. Expected proceeds of $5,000 will go to the parish council, members of which will use the funds for church services that help the needy and for church renovation.