Hellenic Museum Gala re-enacts Prewar Wedding, article in the Greek Star, Thursday, October 17, 1996
Preston Bradley Hall was the scene of an elegant prewar Greek-American wedding reception during the National Hellenic Museum gala and preview of the new exhibit called, Threads of Tradition: The Wedding on October 4, 1996.
The evening began at the National Hellenic Museum, 168 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago in the National Bank of Greece Building. The museum fourth floor gallery was filled with c 250 guests who were treated to a private viewing of vintage wedding gowns and accessories dating from 1885 until 1950. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served in the lobby of the National Bank of Greece lobby which added an interesting element to the gathering.
The opening gala was co-chaired by museum board members, Irene Antoniou of Oakbrook IL and Maria Svolos Gebhard of Chicago.
More than just a collection of wedding gowns, Threads of Tradition: The Wedding recounts the vital role of the wedding in the early Greek immigrant community. Each guest was given a program which addressed this role and included segments on arranged marriages unique to the Greek immigrant bride and groom. The exhibit was open to the public from October 18, 1996 through January 31st, 1997.
The National Hellenic Museum ‘Threads of Tradition: The Wedding Exhibit’ Gala was held on October 4, 1994 at the National Bank of Greece Building, Chicago. The location was the home of the NHM until it moved to the Greek Islands Building and finally to 333 South Halsted Street in Chicago’s Greektown. After the exhibit opening, guests walked across the street to the Chicago Cultural Center for dining and dancing. Here are five rolls of black and white film that were photographed by Diane Alexander White and have been scanned for the digital age in 2025.
The celebration begins with photos of Bill and Anna Stotis, Dino Armiros and a friend, followed by Demetra Svolos, Maria Svolos Gebhard, and Maria Antoniou. In the group of five is Dr. Mary Dochios-Kamberos who is second to the left with friends, Jim Santos and friend, followed by Beth Melas on the right with friend, next is Olga Garoufalis Frank Andonoplas and Madeline Gelis, followed by Belle Rummel on the right Theodora Vasils and to her left. Olga Garoufalis is posed in the next three photos posing with a wedding gown. Frames 28-32 that includes Connie Antoniou who is the daughter of Irene Antonio who chaired the event, followed by Irene Tzakis and Beatrice Marks, next is Francis Papas is in the middle of the grouping of three women, followed by Peter and Paula Fasseas who founded PAWS, a no kill shelter for animals, next Maria Svolos Gebhard in the is next in the gown and jacket who also co-chaired the event with Irene Antonio. Next is Dorothea Touris to the of Olga Garoufalis, Kathy Kalisperis Smith and Frank Andonoplas who is a well known wedding planner. Irene Antonio poses with her family and Dorothea Touris is in the middle of the exhibit space. In front of the Chicago Cultural Center are Tom and Beth and Papoutsis, followed by photos of the table assignments with Bill Vranas, Themi Vasils, Marilyn Tzakis and friend, Marilyn Tzakis with the calla lilies and the Tiffany Dome in the Preston Bradley hall. The four people seated at the table are Paul, Senya and Gus Kalpacke and Lillian Manos. Co-chairs, Irene and Maria are pose with the wedding cake, Theodora Vasils at podium, Dorothea Touris and Jim Mezilson on the dance floor along with Dino and Lida Armiros, Maria gives her remarks while flowers are given to the organizers, Suzanne and Jim Armarantos. The Greek dancing is led by Dr. Mary Dochios-Kamberos, Coula Hastalis, Demetra Svolos and friend, next is Demetra Svolos and daughter, Maria Svolos Gebhard, followed by Maria, Angelo and Olga Garoufalis. Irene Antonio is seated with her daughters and Maria, followed byAristotle and Lisa Halikias, with Maria and Olga. Maria, Olga with Nicki Marks, Gary Solomon, John Marks, next is Beatrice Marks seated with Pam Solomon, Maria, Olga, Nicki Manta Marks, Gary Solomon and John Marks, The Kalpacke Family with Maria, Olga and Dorothea Touris, followed by
Ann Phillips and Marianne Nichols, seated are a friend, Alexis Dassios, friend and Irene Demos. In the next table photo are John Dassios, Louis Demos, friends, Alexis Dassios and Irene Demos on the right. A photo with six people has Kathy Siavelis, Eleni Bousis and Arlene Siavelis on the right finishing with flowers are Suzanne and Jim Santos.
Preston Bradley Hall was the scene of an elegant prewar Greek-American wedding reception during the National Hellenic Museum gala and preview of the new exhibit called, Threads of Tradition: The Wedding on October 4, 1996.
The evening began at the National Hellenic Museum, 168 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago in the National Bank of Greece Building. The museum fourth floor gallery was filled with c 250 guests who were treated to a private viewing of vintage wedding gowns and accessories dating from 1885 until 1950. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were served in the lobby of the National Bank of Greece lobby which added an interesting element to the gathering.
The opening gala was co-chaired by museum board members, Irene Antoniou of Oakbrook IL and Maria Svolos Gebhard of Chicago.
More than just a collection of wedding gowns, Threads of Tradition: The Wedding recounts the vital role of the wedding in the early Greek immigrant community. Each guest was given a program which addressed this role and included segments on arranged marriages unique to the Greek immigrant bride and groom. The exhibit was open to the public from October 18, 1996 through January 31st, 1997.
The National Hellenic Museum ‘Threads of Tradition: The Wedding Exhibit’ Gala was held on October 4, 1994 at the National Bank of Greece Building, Chicago. The location was the home of the NHM until it moved to the Greek Islands Building and finally to 333 South Halsted Street in Chicago’s Greektown. After the exhibit opening, guests walked across the street to the Chicago Cultural Center for dining and dancing. Here are five rolls of black and white film that were photographed by Diane Alexander White and have been scanned for the digital age in 2025.
The celebration begins with photos of Bill and Anna Stotis, Dino Armiros and a friend, followed by Demetra Svolos, Maria Svolos Gebhard, and Maria Antoniou. In the group of five is Dr. Mary Dochios-Kamberos who is second to the left with friends, Jim Santos and friend, followed by Beth Melas on the right with friend, next is Olga Garoufalis Frank Andonoplas and Madeline Gelis, followed by Belle Rummel on the right Theodora Vasils and to her left. Olga Garoufalis is posed in the next three photos posing with a wedding gown. Frames 28-32 that includes Connie Antoniou who is the daughter of Irene Antonio who chaired the event, followed by Irene Tzakis and Beatrice Marks, next is Francis Papas is in the middle of the grouping of three women, followed by Peter and Paula Fasseas who founded PAWS, a no kill shelter for animals, next Maria Svolos Gebhard in the is next in the gown and jacket who also co-chaired the event with Irene Antonio. Next is Dorothea Touris to the of Olga Garoufalis, Kathy Kalisperis Smith and Frank Andonoplas who is a well known wedding planner. Irene Antonio poses with her family and Dorothea Touris is in the middle of the exhibit space. In front of the Chicago Cultural Center are Tom and Beth and Papoutsis, followed by photos of the table assignments with Bill Vranas, Themi Vasils, Marilyn Tzakis and friend, Marilyn Tzakis with the calla lilies and the Tiffany Dome in the Preston Bradley hall. The four people seated at the table are Paul, Senya and Gus Kalpacke and Lillian Manos. Co-chairs, Irene and Maria are pose with the wedding cake, Theodora Vasils at podium, Dorothea Touris and Jim Mezilson on the dance floor along with Dino and Lida Armiros, Maria gives her remarks while flowers are given to the organizers, Suzanne and Jim Armarantos. The Greek dancing is led by Dr. Mary Dochios-Kamberos, Coula Hastalis, Demetra Svolos and friend, next is Demetra Svolos and daughter, Maria Svolos Gebhard, followed by Maria, Angelo and Olga Garoufalis. Irene Antonio is seated with her daughters and Maria, followed byAristotle and Lisa Halikias, with Maria and Olga. Maria, Olga with Nicki Marks, Gary Solomon, John Marks, next is Beatrice Marks seated with Pam Solomon, Maria, Olga, Nicki Manta Marks, Gary Solomon and John Marks, The Kalpacke Family with Maria, Olga and Dorothea Touris, followed by
Ann Phillips and Marianne Nichols, seated are a friend, Alexis Dassios, friend and Irene Demos. In the next table photo are John Dassios, Louis Demos, friends, Alexis Dassios and Irene Demos on the right. A photo with six people has Kathy Siavelis, Eleni Bousis and Arlene Siavelis on the right finishing with flowers are Suzanne and Jim Santos.
© Diane Alexander White PHOTOGRAPHY