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A Mountain Of Musical
Notes
By
Reno Litterio |
 Quincy
- Way back when it all started, May 24, 1948, the first
show was at Joseph’s Hall, next to St. Mary’s Church in West
Quincy. The family of Gertrude and Andrew Dirksmeire and
their talented children were called upon to organize the
parish show. At that time, Fr. Antonio Cintolo was the
spiritual director and ‘Andy’ Dirksmeire Sr. was director.
Not only was the show a big hit, the group had so much fun,
they decided to stay together and thus was born the “Belles
and Beaux.”
For 32 years, Andy was an active MC, even though failing
eyesight left him legally blind. Upon Andy’s death, his
assistant and daughter, Trudy Martel, took over with her
sister Anne Tullis as her assistant. In all this time,
Belles and Beaux have performed at every Military base and
veterans’ hospital in the greater Boston area, from Ft.
Devens in Ayer, Cushing Hospital in Framingham, Brockton VA
Hospital and the Chelsea Soldiers Home.
The locations now include civilian hospitals, churches,
senior citizen complexes, charitable organizations and the
John Hancock Hall for amputee veterans. They were
accompanied by Freddy Guerra’s Orchestra.
Shows at the Hotel Bradford include the Bradford Roof, Coral
Room and The Bradford Ballroom with the Marines Band as well
as shows on the Boston Belle Cruise ship with Fred Donahoe’s
orchestra. TV shows on the South Shore included a fund
raiser with Barron Hugo in Quincy, A Braintree Council show
on Braintree TV, four consecutive years Of Christmas shows
on Weymouth TV and a Cardigan show as well. Many VFW shows
were performed at various posts for which they received a
national award.
The Belles and Beaux do two to three shows a week, both
afternoon and evenings and on rare occasions, two shows in
one day. On May 24, 2008, the Belles and Beaux celebrated 60
years with an anniversary dinner at the VFW Hall in
Braintree Square, a culmination for the many talented people
who volunteer their talent and time to entertain. The group
has performed a total of 3,625 shows in 60 years with 481
members over the six decades of entertaining. Can you
picture this? If all these musical notes sung, played on
instruments, hummed and danced were combined, we would have
a mountain of musical splendor. Congratulations to the
Belles and Beaux and its many talented volunteers, past,
present and future.
Words are the pen of the heart, but music is the pen of
the soul
– author unknown
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Belles And Beaux
- Current Members |
Charter
Members
Trudy Martel - Director
Anne Tullis - Assistant Director
Mary Redmond
John Ragusa
Rita Callahan - Auto Harp
Doris Bowman
Sr. Theresa Donovan - Pianist
Sheffie Douglas
Frank Redmond - MC
Mimi Paluzzi
Paul Mahoney - MC
Pel Mahoney
Maria Tuffo - Concert Pianist
Loraine Ragusa
Roz Cutler
Diana Patuto
Lester Sable
Marie Tobin
Fran Andronicus - Pianist
Leo Andronico |
Lenny Colarusso -
Pianist
Anne Klienerman
John Kvicala
Jane Mudge
Dorthy Smart
James Stanley
Helen Wilhelm
Annette Crowley
Lou Davidson
Mary Martin
George Pilioglos - Guitar
Helen Pilioglos
Ruth Spano
John Spano
Helen O’Leary - Pianist |
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About The Author
Reno J. Litterio is the cofounder of the Ward 4 Senior
Citizens Social Group in Quincy in 1992 and is now Chairman
and Director of the group. You can reach Mr. Litterio at
renowarior@ aol.com.
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