Dale is having his usual tuxedo traumas, only this evening he is having them at the posh Ritz Carton Hotel where Dale and Ruth are staying for the evening.

Ruth is ready to rock and roll and knock ‘em dead!!

The happy couple! Two newspapers and the Lyric Opera photographer couldn’t resist taking photos. (Dale only looks like he is bored to death, he is really having the time of his life!!)

After the opera, Tony Fitzpatrick who was having an Art Attack for Fox Thing in the Morning, a local TV show, attacked Ruth as she was about to get into her golden chariot to be whisked away to the Chicago Hilton and Towers for the Opera Ball Dinner Dance.

He graciously offered her a beer and a slider to tide her over until she got to the hotel, but she reluctantly had to decline his kind offer. (Actually the slider smelled so good, she was tempted to take him up on his offer!)

NOTE: For those of you out there in cyber space who have not had the benefit of growing up in Chicago, a slider is a very greasy hamburger from White Castle. We were weaned onto them!

At the Ball, a young gentleman sporting a self-made diplomatic sash couldn’t resist complimenting Ruth and Patricia on their Judith Leiber purses! I’m sure he meant well and we took a picture of him anyway!

Patricia and her husband Irving Salem, who live in New York, travel all over the world going to opening nights of operas. They were fortunate to have been seated next to Ruth and Dale at the opera because no one had told them about the taxi situation after the opera!

Ruth and Dale, displaying true mid-western hospitality, drove them over to the Chicago Hilton and Towers for the party after the opera. A friendship was started!

The ballroom of the Chicago Hilton and Towers never looked so splendid!!!

Long Live the Opera!