The Santa Monica History Museum’s Silver Anniversary will be celebrated at a gala dinner this Sunday, Sept. 15 at 5 pm at Casa del Mar Hotel.
Celebrity Stephanie Edwards is the honorary chair for the museum’s yearlong celebration and Judi Barker is chair of the event.
This fun and exciting fantasy event includes an entertaining step into history, gambling, a fabulous silent auction and entertainment.
Tribute will be paid to the honorees, Louise and Bob Gabriel, museum founders, Kristina Andresen, architect of the museum and Mary Ann Powell, CEO of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier.
Each is being recognized for their longtime support of the museum and services strengthening our community.
Program participants include Eddie Guerboian, the emcee and award presenters Misti Kerns and Kathleen Rawson.
The Gambling Ship Rex is the event theme.
The ship was anchored off of the Santa Monica Bay during the 1930s. The Rex, known for its gambling, was chosen as the theme because the museum originally established as the Santa Monica Historical Society in 1975 was started with only $30,000 dollars, which was a huge gamble that paid off.
Today the museum is a treasure trove with thousands of original artifacts and documents and over 600,000 rare photographs.
The museum serves as a vital cultural center for the West Side and a premiere destination attraction for Santa Monica’s national and international visitors.
Larry Balmagia, writer, will give the history of the Rex which was owned by Tony Cornero. It was one of the most lavish of gambling ships.
Thousands lined up on the Santa Monica pier to take water taxis to the Rex. The ship had two decks, one for gambling and the other for dining. Celebrities like Clark Gable frequented the ship.
The gambling ship era is important to Los Angeles’ and Santa Monica’s history.
Each dinner attendee will receive a commemorative History Gazette Newspaper with photographs and details about the history of the museum and the Gambling Ship Rex.
Reservations for the dinner are $150 each. Tables for 8 or 10 may be reserved.
For more information, contact Danielle at 310.395.2290 or visit the museum website at www.santamonicahistory.org.
