Black Tie International Magazine 
Home
 
Select your preferred language
 
 
Celebrity Philanthropy News
 
Society News
 
Save the Date 2024
 
Black Tie
International Real Estate
 
Editor-in-Chief
Joyce Brooks
 
Publisher
Gerard Mc Keon
 
Nightlife with Rose Billings
 
Dr. Judy Kuriansky
 
Meera Gandhi
 
 
Black Tie  TV
 
Impact Investment
 
Featured Foundations
 
Advertising
 
Co-Hosting Events
 
Listing Non-Profit Events
 
Black Tie China
 
Black Tie France
 
Black Tie Israel
 
Black Tie Philippines
 
New York Society
 
Palm Beach Society
 
International Society
 
Hampton Society
 
West Coast Society
 
U.S. Society
 
Philanthropy  Giving
 
Entrepreneurial & Philanthropy Awards
 
Event Resource Directory
 
Promote your Services
 
Event Talent Directory
 
Feature Your Talent
 
Antiques
Art
Beauty
Blockchain
Cars
Couture Fashion
Crowdfunding
Fine Wines
Gifts
 Health & Wellness
Interior Design
Investigative Services
Jewelry
Kids on Location
Legal Services
Luxury Yachts
Pet Services
Private Air
 Real Estate
Recommended Reading
Restaurant Reviews
Single Friendly Events
Social Announcements
Sustainable Investment
Technology
Theater/Arts
Travel
Wealth Management
 
 
Add your e-mail
 Friends
of Black Tie

 
 
Black Tie Classic
George Clooney
Princess Diana
Back Issues
More Back Issues
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

web
analytics
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Society News  Pages 1  2  3

E- mail this page to your friends

Black Tie International:
John Wallowitch's Unique Christmas Eve Tradition

 

 

John Wallowitch’s Unique Christmas Eve Tradition
Lives On In New York City

Photos & Story by: Fiddle Viracola


 

Carolers outside  The Luxembourg House. Former Irving Berlin home

Carolers Outside The Luxembourg House. Former Irving Berlin Home
 

Jennifer Sherwood, Executive Director of the Turtle Bay Music School

Jennifer Sherwood, Executive Director of the Turtle Bay Music School

 
Bobbie and Henry Shaffner from Philadelphia

Bobbie and Henry Shaffner from Philadelphia

 
Bill Brown, Pamela Osowski, Alix Cohen, David Larkin

Bill Brown, Pamela Osowski, Alix Cohen, David Larkin

 
Véronique and Mr. Jean Olinger Pauline and Haderen Olinger

Véronique and Mr.Jean Olinger, Counseiller Représentant Permanent Adjoint to Luxembourg Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Pauline and Haderen Olinger

 
Singing Irving Berlin Inside

Singing Irving Berlin Inside

 
Bob Goldstein and Albert Marcus

Bobb Goldsteinn and Albert Marcus

 
Fiddle Viracola, Mr. Jean Olinger and Pauline Olinger

Fiddle Viracola, Mr. Jean Olinger and Pauline Olinger

 

 

 

Thank you!!!

Hon. Mr. Francois Knaff, Consul General of Luxembourg;

 

Véronique, Pauline, Haderen and Mr. Jean Olinger, Conseiller Représentant Permanent Adjoint at the Luxembourg Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

 

Ms. Laurence Pierron: executive assistant Luxembourg Board of Economic Development

 

Jennifer Sherwood: executive director Turtle Bay Music School.

 

You keep John Wallowitch’s unique Christmas Eve tradition alive in New York City. Your wide open-door generosity continues its welcome.

 

32 years ago, composer, cabaret star, pianist, TV cable star John Wallowitch began a tradition on Christmas Eve by singing Always and White Christmas, a capella, in front of Irving Berlin’s (one of the greatest songwriters in history) Beekman Place home of 42 years. John’s event grew people each year as he extended invitations to friends. Rehearsing in his apartment preceded the songfest with food and merriment.

 

In 1983 when Irving Berlin was 95 the miraculous happened. “For the first time” John said, “The lights were on in Irving Berlin’s home.” It was 6:00 pm and 9 degrees above zero,  The Irving Berlin Sing included Bertrum Ross (Martha Graham’s dance partner for 25 years and John’s partner) Broadway performers Steve Elmore, Audrey Johnson, etc. and me.

 

Author Henry Miller’s wisdom was part of that mosaic.
“I’ve done everything in life I ever wanted to do but meet Herman Hesse.”  Henry said. “I walked back and forth past his house and didn’t have the courage to ring the doorbell.  Years later, I met his son who said ‘My father would have adored you.’ That’s my only regret in life. Don’t ever forget to ring the doorbell Fiddle and encourage others to do so!!”

 

“John, ring the doorbell. Tell the maid what you are going to do.” I blurted.’ “No!” Everyone barked. “We’ll disturb him.” “He’s old.” On they went dueling with “Ring the doorbell.” Finally, John rang; told the maid, then conducted: I’ll be loving you Always…I’m dreaming of a White Christmas… 

 

Suddenly, drapes were drawn. Cops pulled up. Door bolting was heard with “My God, we’ll be arrested.” John led more Berlin gems: We’re having a Heat WaveThere’s no business like Show Business…Easter Parade…  God Bless America.

 

As we crossed the street leaving, the maid opened the door calling: “Come in! Irving Berlin would like to meet you!” John, who could cry at an adjective in any sentence, was ecstatic. His hero wrote 1500 songs, 19 Broadway shows and 18 movies and John made the words love and respect for the great American composer, active verbs.

 

Into the kitchen, we were escorted.  There stood Irving Berlin in a beige cashmere wrapper with a black I.B. on its pocket, over his pajamas. “This is the greatest Christmas present I ever got.”

 

Phil Roura from The Daily News wrote a Twas the night before Christmas, Clement Moore’s type poem about it, using our names and ending with Berlin/ Santa Clause, And to all a good night. From that, John became the known authority on Irving Berlin. Work appeared. The New York Telephone Company called me and we performed a tribute to Irving Berlin, for their Summer Arts Festival etc. The miraculous happens when it comes from the right center.

 

After the death of Berlin at 101 in 1989 his townhouse became The Luxembourg Consulate. The Consulate General opened its doors to John’s tradition, and we sing in the room Call Me Madam was composed in for Ethel Merman; see Berlin family photos by Edward Steichen on the wall; view the lit Cul de Sac Christmas tree from Berlin’s favored curved window, as memory spins Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Rosemary Clooney, singing the songs, we sing.

 

John died in 2007. Anna Mae Wallowitch, John’s beloved sister wanted the tradition to continue. It does in a different format: Bobb Goldsteinn, The Roger Edens Foundation and Albert Marcus at the helm.

 

Time circles. Let’s not forget that John Wallowich was the first domino. He made us laugh and sing from his heart as big as a melon.   It’s his footprint in the snow with Irving Berlin’s walking us through musical history linked to the generosity of Luxembourg House.

 

Recently, I over heard a young preppy tell her date, texting at a movie, “Some immigrant guy named, like Irv, wrote a Christmas song for Whites."

(White Christmas?)

 

God Bless America!!!!

 

 

 

                                         

To list an upcoming event please contact: 
joyce@blacktiemagazine.com

 
Back to Society News


 




 

 

Joyce Brooks Jewellery banner

 

Black Tie  International Philanthropy

 
Meera Gandhi
 

Featured Save the Date

 

Ackerman Institute for the Family

 

Black Tie International Realty

 
BRGY SALANG
 

Featured Foundation

 

Peace Angel Project

 
avazoo logo
Avazoo


Launch of the First
Billion Dollar Charity Raffle

 

Couture Fashion

 

Bridal Store

 

Black Tie Gift Selection

 

Black Tie Gift Selection

 

Featured Art

 
Taty
 

 Society News
 

Ocean emergency

 
Oceana
 
Black Tie Magazine Gala
 
Carnegie Hall Opening Night
 
Casirta Maria
 
Zodiac Ball
 
Eliabeth Taylor Gala
 
Texas Heart Institute
 
Womens Foundation Gala
 
Meera Ghandi
 

Pamea Anderson

 

Prince Albert Gala

 

Featured Foundations

 
chuck feeney
 
 

Search the Site

 

 

Impact Investment

 
carbon geocycle
 

Black Tie China

 
lang lang foundation
 

Black Tie Philippines

 
City in a forest
 
black tie philippines
 

Nightlife with Rose Billings

 
Met Gala
 
sara Johnson
 
debutante Ball
 
Judy Kuriansky
 
Gerard Mc Keon
 

Celebrity Philanthropy News
 

sera Vergera
 
nicole Kidnman, jennifer Aniston
 
jean shafiroff, paul mc cartney
 
princess margaret of kent
 
Al Pacino, American Icon Awards
 
clive davis
 
american hospital of paris foundation
 
french heritage society
 
lupus research alliance
 
un women for peace
 
ben kingsley
 
ceylon tea party
 
Blavk Tie Gala
 
ecosoc
 
joyce brooks
 
UN Correspondents Association
 
cardinal dolan
 
palm beach heart ball
 
vienese opera ball
 
lady in red gala
 
sanford stem cell
 
weizmann institute
 
carlos slim
 
israel 65th anniversary
 

Black Tie International Realty

 
secret paradise resort
 
 

Event Resources Directory

event resource directory
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Copyright 2006 Black Tie Magazine. All Rights Reserved .

Privacy Policy |