On Tuesday night I made my first visit to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills to see Maurice Hines, his Diva Jazz Orchestra, and three great tap dancers. Maurice and his younger brother Gregory became famous first tap dancing with their father and later as a duo 37 times on Johnny Carson tonight show before it left New York. They performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior and other jazz greats in Harlem, Las Vegas and around the country.
The 9 piece all woman orchestra was on a several levels platform on the stage and Maurice sang and danced (a little...he is 71) while he told his and his brother's life story. The highlight was appearance of John and Leo Manzari who are young brothers in their 20's dancing much like the Hines brothers use to dance. Then 9 year old Luke Spring sprung on the stage and danced up a storm.
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| Ceiling of the original post office now lobby |
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| The 1930's Lobby. The plaque on the far wall recognized the dedication by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. |
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| "Exaltation," 2013 by Emmanuel Fillion, France (b.1966) in the Sculpture Garden |
The venue took the existing 1930's post office with all it's B.H. grandeur with a small auditorium and then behind is a modern building with the new theater along side a sculpture garden. It is called The Wallis for the lady who gave the most money.
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| Maurice Hines and his Diva Orchestra |
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| The Wallis from the Theater Side |
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