When Liz and Tom Glanville signed on to chair the Children's Museum of Houston annual gala with Kathryn and Ian Fay, there was little question as to what the theme would be. During the heyday of decadent Studio 54, Liz Glanville was living in Manhattan and frequented the hottest club in town for those three years of celebrity nightlife revelry. That lively scene would be reincarnated, sort of, at The Corinthian.
Studio 54 hosted a very naughty clientele, just ask regular Mickey Rosmarin, who also lived in New York at the time. Drugs and sex in the balcony, he recalled Saturday night. No such ribald shenanigans at this fundraiser. But it was one heck of a party thanks to the spins of New York-based DJ Johnny Dynell, the '70s era stars (Donna Summer, the Village People and Liza with a Z) and the dazzling decor of Rebekah Johnson of Bergner & Johnson. And with underwriting and the live auction, the event raised $890,000.
As the 450 guests poured in, a score of disco balls spun overhead, the space shared with giant-sized gilded vases holding armloads of Casa Blanca lilies a la Studio 54 decor back in the day. At the far end of the reception area, a blazing neon "Studio 54" sign set the tone, the sign brought in from Las Vegas for the evening. Adding to the disco feel, tables were draped in glittering black and white geometric patterned cloths, some centered with white orchids, others with towering lilies.
While museum supporters were invited to dress in black-tie or dance fever style, the room was only spotted with the valiant in disco finery including Gina Gaston, Star Massing and Morgan Bomar in Afro wigs and Andrew McFarland and Tim Moloney in Andy Warhol coifs. There were lots of black sequins, the look of the late '70s, revisited for today's fashion scene.
The party crowd was vibrant with guests including Courtney and Bill Toomey, Mario Elie, Nancy and Erik Littlejohn, Christie and Mark Sullivan, Diane Lokey Farb, Estela and David Cockrell, Millette and Haag Sherman, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia, Jenniferand Lance Gilliam, Sarah and Bill Hurt, Kathryn and Jeff Smith (who served as engaging auctioneer), Stephanie and Bill Perkins, Krystal and Garrett Thompson and museum executive director Tammie Khan.
Courtney and Bill Toomey at the Children's Museum of Houston gala at The Corinthian.
