{"id":52180,"date":"2022-09-26T16:33:34","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T16:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/?p=52180"},"modified":"2022-09-26T16:33:34","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T16:33:34","slug":"party-george-chakiris-90th-birthday-celebration-at-the-hollywood-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/party-george-chakiris-90th-birthday-celebration-at-the-hollywood-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"PARTY: GEORGE CHAKIRIS’ 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM"},"content":{"rendered":"

GEORGE CHAKIRIS’ 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM<\/h1>\n
\"George<\/a>

George Chakiris and Karen Salkin. Photo by Lauren Bennett.<\/p><\/div>\n

I sometimes have to pinch myself when I realize that I actually know Academy Award winner George Chakiris! And have done so for the past seven and a half years!<\/p>\n

So when I was invited to the Hollywood Museum’s celebration of his 90th birthday recently, even though I had a prior important commitment that I couldn’t break, I knew that I had to at least stop by for a little while, to pay my respects to the talented man.<\/p>\n

I had been to previous events that were held in the museum\u2019s lobby, but I\u2019ve never seen it as packed as it was that night. It must be nice to start your tenth decade being so popular!<\/p>\n

\"George<\/a>

George having worked his way to the front of the room, alongside Donelle Dadigan, the President of the musuem. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ll let you in on our connection in a minute, but lest you think you have to adjust your glasses, let me tell you that you did read that right\u2014George Chakiris did<\/em> just turn\u00a0ninety<\/em>!!! I was amazed at his age when I first met him, and every single person I\u2019ve ever introduced him to has the same reaction. My friend Laura is younger than some of my other pals who have met George with me, so she seemed a tad skeptical when I told her how great he looks. And then when she witnessed him at the party with her own eyes,\u00a0she\u00a0could not believe his age. She said he looks at least twenty years<\/em> younger, an assessment with which I wholeheartedly agree.<\/p>\n

\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin and George Chakiris. Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

George and I first met at a theatre gala in 2015, and we bonded immediately. We spent a lot of time talking that evening; about his career, show biz in general, the event we were at, and chuckling over my friend\u2019s incorrect assumption about his ethnicity. She\u2019s Cuban, so she was speaking Spanish to him; he had to break the news to her that even though he won his Oscar for playing Bernardo, the head of the Puerto Rican gang in\u00a0West Side Story<\/em>, he\u2019s fully American with\u00a0parents who were Greek immigrants\u00a0from Turkey. We all had a good laugh about her error.<\/p>\n

Ever since then, we\u2019ve met up at tons of artistic events, including multiple World Choreography Awards<\/em> shows, (the first of which is where I witnessed him being the only person on stage who received a standing ovation!,) dance shows at the Wallis in Beverly Hills, and even at a Cirque du Soleil, where I got to remind him of a major luncheon we were both due at later that month. I\u2019m always happy that my artistic tastes match those of the great George Chakiris!<\/p>\n

\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin and George Chakiris. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n

He was even nice enough to make an appearance at a local theatre’s production of West Side Story<\/em> a few ago! Mr. X was thrilled to meet him, and the three of us spent the entire intermission talking about George’s experience shooting the classic film. Mr. X has starred in television series with everyone from Lynn Redgrave to Patti Lupone, and done films with Jamie Lee Curtis and even Robert DeNiro, but I’ve never seen him so happy to meet someone. I was so proud that I could make that introduction for him.<\/p>\n

So, with all that history, to be at a soiree for George Chakiris’ 90th b-day, even for a short while, was truly special to me.<\/p>\n

As to the Hollywood Museum itself, Laura had never been there before, (even though she\u2019s grown-up here!,) and she was fascinated with every aspect of her first visit to the venue. While we were waiting for George to arrive, Laura explored the Max Factor make-up rooms adjacent to the lobby, and, even though she’s a cosmetics eschewer for her own visage, she loved the displays as much as I<\/em> always have. (Those rooms are actually where I filmed my very first segment for the Travel Channel back in the day, so walking through those doors is always a special feeling to me.)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The case with George Chakiris’ Oscar and Golden Globe. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

I also enjoyed checking-out the exhibits that pay tribute to George. His Oscar and\u00a0Golden Globe, both for West Side Story<\/em>, were in a case on one side of the room, and his own silver jewelry creations were featured across the way. I was told that his performances have often been described as \u201cquicksilver\u201d and \u201csterling,\u201d so perhaps that\u2019s why he decided to pursue the silver jewelry field when he was done acting. (My<\/em> performances have sometimes been referred to as \u201coy vey,\u201d so maybe, with that same philosophy, I\u2019ll get into making\u00a0chicken<\/em> soup<\/em>\u00a0when my days as a media personality are done!)<\/p>\n

\"Just<\/a>

Just a tiny part of the buffet. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of food, the Hollywood Museum is always kind enough to feed their party guests, and this spread was a lovely one. There were several finger foods, such as tiny shepherd\u2019s pies and pigs in blankets, along with giant shrimp and clever crudite cups, and beautiful macarons for dessert. The buffet wrapped-up before the speeches began, which were followed by George\u2019s birthday cakes\u00a0later on.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The case with George Chakiris’ own jewelry line, with a tiny cameo by Karen Salkin, who took this photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A few of George\u2019s famous friends were in attendance, and I spied old school Broadway and TV star Michelle Lee and singer Melissa Manchester. (At eighty and seventy-one respectively, they must be like children to him!)<\/p>\n

I had to leave right before the speeches began, but, as beloved as George is, I can imagine that the tributes were as glowing as he<\/em> was that night!<\/p>\n

\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin and George Chakiris. Selfie by Karen Salkin. (And no, that’s not a crown on her head, as George said it looked like. It’s just something in the background.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019m just sad that I didn\u2019t get to sing Happy Birthday<\/em> to George. (But, if he’s ever heard me sing, I bet\u00a0he\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0not sad about that omission!)<\/p>\n

So, since I didn\u2019t get to wish it to him in time for his actual September 16th bday, I\u2019m saying it now. Happy Birthday, George Chakiris! I hope we see each other again very soon. (And thank you, Hollywood Museum, for the opportunity to be a small part of his fete.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GEORGE CHAKIRIS’ 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM I sometimes have to pinch myself when I realize that I actually know Academy Award winner George Chakiris! And have done so for the past seven and a half years! So when I was invited to the Hollywood Museum’s celebration of his 90th birthday recently, even<\/p>\n

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