WESTERN FRONT – Amy Vanderbilt's Valentine's Ball

Description:

Lin Bennett organized a ball in the Grand Luxe Hall inspired by the death of Amy Vanderbilt, a leading authority on American etiquette. The evening featured musical and theatrical performances starring Glenn Lewis as Amy Vanderbilt, Paul Wong and Ann Allen as the Emperor and Empress of Wu, the Vignettes as a chorus line of debutants, and Eric Metcalfe as Dr. Brute—who played the Brute sax with accompaniment from Taki Bluesinger (drums) and Don Druick (flute).

The space was decorated with Valentine-themed décor, including heart-shaped cut-outs held by the Hand of the Spirit. Guests were invited to appear in evening dress, and dancing followed the performance.

Video documentation is available upon request.

Wearing a tuxedo, Eric Metcalfe plays a handmade saxophone painted with leopard spots. He is joined on the stage of the Grand Luxe Hall by Taki Bluesinger on drums and Don Druick on flute. The back of the room is decorated with paper cutouts of black hand shapes holding red hearts.

Paul Wong sits dressed in a pink satin gown decorated with blue and silver beading, another figure dressed in gold satin with sequinned detailing sits next to him. Paul's black hair is done up with pink roses which crown his demure, calm expressioned face. He's holding a white napkin in his left hand. Behind the figures heart shaped decorations held by Spirit Hands line the wall.

A shrouded figure sits on a large armchair in a densely furnished sitting room. They are dressed up in a leopard print cape and hat with long black tassels covering their face. One pink gloved hand hold a large book and the other points across the room. A figure in light pink satin is cropped from the frame, only the back of their skirt and right arm is visible, a white gloved hand floating towards the veiled figure.

Captions:

Taki Bluesinger, Eric Metcalfe as Dr. Brute, and Don Druick performing at Amy Vanderbilt's Valentine's Ball, photo documentation, Feb 14, 1975.
Paul Wong and Ann Allen at Amy Vanderbilt's Valentine's Ball, photo documentation, Feb 14, 1975.
Glenn Lewis performing in Amy Vanderbilt's Valentine's Ball, photo documentation, Feb 14, 1975.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.