Shelby's Social Diary

A new James Bond sweeps down from the rafters to solve "theft" at fun-filled gala

Not since 007 Sir Roger Moore rappelled down the side of the Baron Ricky di Portanova home on River Oaks Boulevard has H-Town experienced a more surprising James Bond moment than when Mercury founder and artistic director Antoine Plante unexpectedly descended from the rafters of Wortham Theater Center to solve a puzzling crime.

That was Saturday night when close to 250 supporters of "the orchestra redefined" gathered on the Brown Theater stage for the "Mercury Royale" soirée. Gents in white dinner jackets, gaming tables and playing cards serving as table placements were just part of the Bond/casino-themed evening.

Plante solved the "theft" as honorary chair Deana Blackburn was nabbed wearing the spectacular earrings from Valobra.

Leading up to Plante's unorthodox arrival was an absorbing video channeling James Bond film intros, complete with silhouettes of Plante firing his pistol a la 007 and of fit femmes in leotards gyrating across the screen. Ben Doyle's Runaway Productions produced the video that told the story, written by Plante, of a jewelry heist from Valobra. Background music for the antics on the big screen was performed by Mercury musicians and the Richard Brown Orchestra. Think "The James Bond Theme," "Live and Let Die" and "You Only Live Twice."

Plante solved the "theft" when he nabbed honorary chair Deana Blackburn, who was wearing the spectacular earrings that Valobra had created as a raffle prize for the fundraiser. Live and big board auctions ensued, followed by Richard Brown dance tunes and late-night play at the gaming tables.

The performance with Mercury musicians included "Palladio" by Karl Jenkins and "Waltz" from Serenade for String by Tchaikovsky.

Chairs Christine and Jan Spin oversaw the gala for which St.John Flynn, program director at Classical 91.7/Houston Public Media, served as emcee.

The Bond production was a clever entertainment for fans of the orchestra that presents a full season of early music concerts in Wortham Center and conducts five neighborhood concert series across the city.

Applauding the James Bond ruse were Carol and Joel Mohrman, Larry Blackburn, Lyl and Andrew Harvin, Lynn Wyatt, Lori Muratta, Janine Inannarelli, Andrew Fish, Jan and Greg Davis, Barbara and Stephen Hall, Marisa and Todd Womble, Margaret Lombaro and Steve Burkett.

Antoine Plante, from left, Julia Little and Blake Eskew.

Photo by Morris Malakoff

Antoine Plante, from left, Julia Little and Blake Eskew.

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RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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