This is RTS for Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007
ON GIGI: Gemma Galati, who now lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, has
some fond memories of the store she operated with her family some
20 years ago.
“It was nostalgic reading of Gigi and its ultimate closing. On
Aug. 6, 1984, my daughters, Jai and Marisa and I were excited as we
opened Gigi.”
“It was a family affair, the name derived from ‘Galati Girls.’
Jai was in college and Marisa in high school at that time.
“The original Gigi became a gathering place for the women in
Bradford, especially the office workers who looked forward to
shopping on their lunch hour.
“From Gigi came Jai’s ‘Jean City’ at the Bradford Mall and
Marisa’s Gigi, Virginia Beach.
“It was such fun going with my daughters on buying trips for our
respective stores.
“I was also fortunate to have two loyal employees, Marilyn Riggs
and Nora Upthegrove, who helped give Gigi that family feeling. My
thanks to them and to all of Gigi’s loyal customers from 1974 until
I sold Gigi in June of 1985.
“And so, Aloha and Mahalo Gigi – I loved every moment I spent
with you.”
MO MARILYN: A reader provides an article in the New York Times
which gives an update on the goings-on of opera legend and Bradford
native Marilyn Horne.
The article was in the Jan. 29, 2007 edition.
“Marilyn Horne Puts Her Prot_g_s on Parade in Song,” says the
headline.
Along with providing details of the recital Marilyn sponsors
annually, the article had this to say:
“The standing ovation came before a note of music had been sung.
The Marilyn Horne Foundation’s annual gala recital is supposed to
focus on song, but it also focuses on Marilyn Horne.
“Looking radiant in gold lace, apparently undaunted by a year’s
struggle with cancer, she played host to Friday (Jan. 26) evening’s
event at Zankel Hall, a night after giving a master class there,
with every bit of her star flair. And at her first entrance the
audience stood with applause and shouts of ‘Brava,’ to greet
her.
“Strange to say, the main attractions of the Horne Foundation’s
four-day event (now in its 13th year), of which the gala was the
culmination, do the least singing. This year master classes led by
Ms. Horne, Barbara Cook and Evelyn Lear rather overshadowed two duo
recitals by young singers.”
