TV Legend Welcomed Fans Into His Home for a High-Tea Fundraiser Benefiting the Planned Dick Van Dyke Museum
Dick Van Dyke welcomed fans into his Malibu home on Sunday for a charity high-tea and sing-along event, marking an early start to celebrations for his 100th birthday, as reported by Variety.
The gathering, held on November 30 and co-hosted by his wife, Arlene Silver, raised money for two projects honoring the legendary performer: The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the Dick Van Dyke Museum, which is currently in development.
The fundraiser, produced by Chris Isaacson Presents and hosted by Stu Shostak, brought supporters to what Van Dyke affectionately calls “Vandy Manor” for two hours of conversation, audience questions, and musical performances. Van Dyke appeared alongside his vocal group, The Vantastix, opening the program with “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” the title song from his 1968 film.
Music anchored the afternoon. Van Dyke and his guests led the room through selections from some of his most beloved roles, including “You Two,” his favorite number from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and a spirited rendition of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins. When asked about his favorite part of the holiday season, the actor pointed to “the singing, the caroling,” before joining The Vantastix in “Caroling, Caroling,” popularized by Nat King Cole.
Van Dyke also spoke about daily life in Malibu, telling attendees that he and Silver often break into song at home. He joked that discovering her musical ability was the moment he was “sold.”
The program continued with “Carolina in the Morning,” followed by a humorous performance of “Old Senility,” a parody of “The Bare Necessities.” Van Dyke later revisited the lyrics written by Morey Amsterdam for The Dick Van Dyke Show theme song.
The afternoon closed with a group sing-along to “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” the classic finale from Mary Poppins that Van Dyke first performed with the late David Tomlinson.
Proceeds from the event will support ongoing efforts to preserve the entertainer’s legacy and expand public access to his work through the planned museum.
