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Laurie and Tracy Krohn at the Houston Symphony’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” ball at The Post Oak Hotel Saturday Jan. 28,2023.
Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell at the Houston Symphony’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” ball at The Post Oak Hotel Saturday Jan. 28,2023.
J&D Entertainment’s “Audrey Hepburn” and “Marilyn Monroe” in character at the Houston Symphony’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” ball at The Post Oak Hotel Saturday Jan. 28,2023.
Welcome to Hollywood, Texas.
For one night only, Houston Symphony transformed the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown’s into scenes from the “Golden Age of Hollywood” for its annual black-tie ball.
Think “L.A. Confidential,” and “Chinatown.” A quartet of trench-clad reporter impersonators welcomed 400 guests into the gala. Pencils and notepads in hand, they shouted interview questions at arrivals. Inside, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn lookalikes posed against Art Deco-inspired backdrops.
A red carpet lined with “Walk of Fame” stars led patrons into the main event. That little detail was co-chair Brigitte Kalai’s idea. Sponsor and table buyer names were carved into the pink and black marble, including fellow co-chair Farida Abjani, who later shared her contribution to the evening’s festivities: sparklers in each dessert.
Gold rippled through the ballroom as individual cheesecakes were delivered to party-goers. The glittering hue proved a popular gown choice, too. Honorees Hallie Vanderhider gave the Golden Globe ambassadors a run for their money in sequined Naeem Khan. The newly retired oil and gas executive accepted her award onstage alongside fellow honorees Mary Lynn Marks and Revati Puranik.
In a post-pandemic world, Houston’s performing arts organizations now deliver short and sweet programs. No video and no live asks, with no adverse impact on the bottom line. Saturday night’s efforts raised more than $1.1 million toward the orchestra’s education and community engagement initiatives.
As co-chair Bill King, with wife Cheryl Bobbitt, wisely said from the podium, “The perfect speech is a short one. And I realize I’m the only thing standing between you and your dinner. So, bon appetit.”
The ballroom decorated by Richard Flowers’ the Events Company at the Houston Symphony’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” ball at The Post Oak Hotel Saturday Jan. 28,2023.
The ballroom decorate by Richard Flowers’ the Events Company at the Houston Symphony’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” ball at The Post Oak Hotel Saturday Jan. 28,2023.
amber.elliott@chron.com
Amber Elliott covers arts and society for the Houston Chronicle.
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