Friday, September 6, 2019

Catalina Island Museum Presents: Wrigley Centennial: An Island Jubilee Saturday, September 21, 2019


Step back in time to 1919 and experience the Catalina Island Museum like never before during the Wrigley Centennial: An Island Jubilee on Saturday, September 21, 2019, beginning at 4 p.m. The Catalina Island Museum and Honorary Chairs Alison Wrigley-Rusack and Geoffrey Claflin Rusack invite you to a festive evening of entertainment, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of William Wrigley Jr.’s purchase of the Santa Catalina Island Company. The event is also a fundraiser for the museum allowing it to continue to provide world-class exhibitions and educational programs to the island and its visitors.

Master of Ceremonies and Celebrity Auctioneer Matt Rogers will lead the live auction of one-of-a-kind items including an original hand signed letter by William Wrigley Jr., a beautiful plein air painting of “Mrs. Wrigley’s Garden” by the late Brian Stewart along with an exceptional Pasadena tour package, plus unique experiences, exciting performances and exclusive vacations including a getaway to Napa via private jet with a hot air balloon ride, dinner and more.

Enjoy cocktails from a full hosted bar accompanied by 1919 inspired heavy hors d’oeuvres at the museum, directly inspired by an all-Catalina sourced dinner enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley during their first visit to the island. Continue the evening with lively entertainment including music by Impromptu, led by the musical stylings of acclaimed composer and pianist Michael Mortilla, featuring violinist Nicole Garcia, bassist Marquis Howell III and Alex Burke on the vibraphone. Witness thrilling knife throwing by the incomparable Jack Dagger, death-defying sword swallowing by the unkillable Jenny Lynne, the golden throated Janet Klein singing songs inspired by Catalina and the magic of Ron Lynch during a 1920s style Vaudeville show.

In addition to honoring the William Wrigley Jr. family, the museum’s celebration will also acknowledge other key families that have made an impact on the island’s development and success. Descendants of D.M. Renton, Otis Shepard, John Gabriel Beckman, the Banning brothers, David Blankenhorn, George Shatto, Zane Grey and others have been invited.  Throughout the evening, all guests will have the opportunity to share their favorite Catalina memory and/or connection to the island in a video booth provided by Bill Banning and Alison Armstrong of Story Bank Productions.

Prior to the Jubilee celebration, all are welcome to enjoy free admission to the Catalina Island Museum from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. as part of Smithsonian Magazine’s 14th Annual Museum Day. Experience the world-class art and exhibitions already on display at the museum including Wrigley's Catalina commemorating William Wrigley Jr. and his contributions to the Island, The History of Catalina Island exploring an island rich in events and personalities, MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship Awardee Elizabeth Turk’s Tipping Point exhibition highlighting and exploring extinction, and Esther Williams: The Swimming Queen of the Silver Screen chronicling Williams’ dazzling life from athlete swimmer to movie stardom. 

Tickets to Wrigley Centennial: An Island Jubilee are currently on-sale at $225 a person. To purchase tickets and for more information on pricing, events, and current exhibitions, visit catalinamuseum.org.

Free admission to the museum is available by visiting smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/museum/catalina-island-museum/ and selecting "Get A Ticket." Each Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Guests do not need to be attending the Jubilee to enjoy free admission.


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