Italian American Digest Spring2020DigestFINAL | Page 10

CLUB NEWS
PAGE 10
SPRING 2020
I talian A merican D igest
Elenian Club’s
50s Winter Dance
E
ighty-five years young, the Elenian
Club celebrated 50s style with the
King of Rock n Roll on Saturday night
January 11th, 2020 at The Forum in
Metairie. Members and guests came
together to recognize a milestone
anniversary of Elenian Italian Heritage,
service, fellowship, friends and family. The
Elenian Club began in March 1934 as
L’unione Italiane with President Augusto
Miceli seeding the thought to formulate
Left to Right:
Kim Hasney, Faith Peperone,
Randy Elvis Bonneval, & Jackie Bonie
By Faith Peperone
an American Italian Ladies Club. The
club was named in honor of Her Majesty’s
Royal Imperial Highness, Queen Elena di
Savoia of the Kingdom of Italy.
The evening was filled with 50s attire,
décor and live entertainment. Little did
the audience know, as the club president
addressed the crowd, the Jailhouse Rockers
were gathering to entertain as the opening
act. All in black suits with white dashed
seam trim, “Elvis” pompadour hair, and
black and white striped shirts, this striking
group of guys really surprised with their
Rock n Roll moves as they mingled in the
crowd and brought everyone back to the
fabulous Fifties. Then came the main act,
the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll…Elvis (Randy
Bonneval), Thank you very much. He
danced, sang, and adorned the ladies with
scarves in iconic Elvis style. The King
remained for photo ops, and dancing,
karaoke, and hand jiving continued for the
rest of the evening.
Elenians’ 50s Winter Dance Committee (from left to right):
Current President Maria Villafranco, Chair Liz Bertucci,
Chris Bertucci, Nancy & Paul “Danny Zuko” Hamburger,
Lisa Ingraham, Joan Gagliano, Faith Peperone, Marian
Montalbano, & Madelyn Gengo
Even the youngest member of the
audience, 11-year-old Emily Ingraham,
can’t wait until the next Elenian decade
dance.
Join us as we continue to keep our Italian
heritage alive here in New Orleans. Next
event is our Day at the Races March 28th
in the Black and Gold room at the New
Orleans Fairgrounds to benefit ACCESS
Pregnancy Centers, an Archdiocese of New
Orleans organization. Visit our Facebook
page or email us at:
[e-mail]