Going Places with Dina Guzzardo
Margate’s Lucy the Elephant is a true historical landmark.
First erected in 1881 by James Lafferty from Philadelphia, she was originally named “Elephant Bazaar,” and was intended to entice prospective real estate buyers and tourists to the area.
She got her name in 1902 when Sophia Gertzen decided to turn her into a tavern, and in 1903 she was the summer residence of a British doctor and his family. Over time Lucy deteriorated, owing to her proximity to the sea air and was largely neglected.
She was listed for demolition in 1969, but fortunately the Gertzens donated her to the newly formed Save Lucy Committee, which raised funds to save her and move her to a city-owned location a short distance from where she was originally built.
By 1974, Lucy was finally re-opened to the public after a long 12 years and was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1976, joining the likes of The Statue of Liberty, Hoover Dam, and Mt. Rushmore, and cementing her place in U.S. history. Although she is currently still undergoing restoration efforts, you can still go on a modified guided tour which will take you inside.
With restorations still ongoing, the Save Lucy Committee has bills to pay. You can help keep history alive and enjoy an outstanding evening of musical entertainment by attending a concert by Grammy nominated artist Deana Martin, daughter of the legendary Dean Martin, 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at Resorts Superstar Theatre.
Martin grew up around music and was exposed to some of the most iconic singers of all time on a daily basis. It was these frequent visits from Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. which persuaded her to follow a career in the entertainment industry.
Her performances reflect her bloodline, with her soulful voice captivating her audiences. She typically performs her father’s songs along with several other pop hits.
Martin is not just a talented singer. She is the epitome of a woman of many talents as a best-selling author, national radio show host, an entrepreneur and a licensed pilot.
Martin was last in Atlantic City in 2015 where she thrilled audiences in a sold-out show. She will be coming to the Superstar Theatre at Resorts, 1133 Boardwalk, which is where her late father and Frank Sinatra last appeared together back in the 1980s.
She will be accompanied by an impressive 18-piece orchestra and special guest, Steve Maglio, who has been likened to Deana’s Uncle Frank (Sinatra) on many occasions and is the perfect singer to be accompanying her. Don’t mistake him for an impersonator, though, as Maglio has his own unique style which has thrilled audiences all over the country.
Both singers were an easy choice to perform in this benefit concert, with tickets sure to sell out. It is also the only performance Martin has scheduled and will be your last chance to see her perform live in 2022.
Tickets start at $35 for general admission, and there are options for $50 with better seating. There are also two VIP options available for fans wishing to help a little more with the fundraiser.
Individual VIP seating includes a post-concert dessert reception and a meet and greet with Martin for $125. There is also a VIP banquette option for groups of six, which is the same as the VIP seating plus a booth for you and your friends for $900.
The preferred seating and both VIP options are available exclusively through lucytheelephant.org. Other tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
If you cannot attend the event, but still want to help in restoring and saving Lucy, there are several other channels to do so. The charity relies heavily on sales in their gift shop and online store, the guided tours, and donations. It is even possible to reserve her for private functions.
So if you are looking for a location for your next private dinner, fundraiser, or other special event, what would get people talking more than having dinner inside of an Elephant, which also happens to be a designated National Landmark?
You can also volunteer with the organization as a tour guide or in the gift shop assisting with various day-to-day operations.
To purchase tickets to the Deana Martin concert, learn about volunteering, make a donation, buy gift shop items or answer any other questions you may have about Lucy the Elephant see https://lucytheelephant.org/.
