Additional Photos from our luncheon honoring Tom Dreesen
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The first faces that arrivals see are these hard-working PPB volunteers who have the luncheon tickets ready to hand to our members. Past President John Harlan, Membership Chair Marcia Minor and Karen Smith were those three volunteers at the June 29th luncheon for Tom Dreesen. (Don Graham photo) |
PPB Board member Lois Travalena chatted with PPB Assistant Treasurer Michael Brockman in the foyer of Sportsmen's Lodge before the Tom Dreesen celebrity luncheon. Michael is the person responsible for coordinating all luncheon details with the lodge, seeing that they are carried out, collecting members' ticket money and then paying the substantial Sportsmen's Lodge bill. (Don Graham photo) |
PPB member Neil Ross (left) spent some time with the dean of Los Angeles radio historians, Don Barrett, prior to the Tom Dreesen event on June 29. Don is the long-time purveyor of the popular Website LARadio.com and has published his chronicles in book form titled "LA Radio People". Neil is an announcer and voice actor. (Don Graham photo) |
Long-time PPB member and former Board member Jimmy Weldon is shown with First Vice President Bianca Pino in Sportsmen's Lodge before Tom Dreesen's celebrity luncheon and one-man show. Bianca also edits and publishes our greatly-improved Newsletter after each luncheon. Jimmy volunteers to keep Board members on the right track by offering uplifting messages that end each meeting. His early TV show featuring Webster Webfoot is still remembered by many. (Don Graham photo) |
Seated next to each other and waiting for the fun to begin when Tom Dreesen does his one-man comedy show, "An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra," were two noted comedians: Kathy Buckley and NBC4's weathercaster Fritz Coleman, who also does stand-up comedy. Kathy performs as the only hearing-impaired stand-up comedienne. (Don King photo) |
PPB Past President Tom Kennedy was on hand for this special celebrity luncheon honoring Tom Dreesen. Seated next to him was Mary Virginia McDonough. The June 29 luncheon was a departure from the usual presentation in that there was no dais of guests saluting Tom Dreesen. Instead, Tom performed his 90-minute comedy routine with wonderful stories about Frank Sinatra, for whom he opened in hundreds of appearances over a 13-year period. (Don Graham photo) |
After the well-received Dreesen luncheon, PPB's Second Vice President, "Shotgun Tom" Kelly was one of the many PPB members who met the honoree after his hilarious and informative one-man show, the same show that he performs for paying audiences at many prestigious venues. He graciously took pictures with and talked with numerous luncheon attendees. (Don King photo) |
Following his 90-minute "An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra," Tom Dreesen accepted PPB's Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award from PPB President Alan Perris. Dreesen told of his humble beginnings shining shoes as a youth to hosting "The Tonight Show" and other TV variety shows, and then spending 13 years travelling with Frank Sinatra as his opening comedy act. Luncheon attendees were richly rewarded with Dreesen's humor and touching stories about the late, great singer/actor. (Don King photo) |
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