| The Grand Opening
The weekend of Sept. 30 -
Oct. 2, 2005
 Numerous photos of the RIBBON
CUTTING CEREMONY & PRESS
REPORTS
from the Grand Opening have
been added to the site. The
photos also offer a glimpse
of the hundreds of items that
make up the house's collection.
The Grand Opening weekend included:
- Friday
evening a reception/fundraiser was held in Maysville
at Rosemary's cousin's home. Ben Breslin invited all
to "Come On-A My House" from 8 - 11 p.m. at 219
E. Second Street, Maysville, KY.
- Donations
to the fundraiser were made by Concord
Records,
Patsy's
NYC Restaurant, Hope
Enterprises,
the Lucy-Desi
Museum,
the Netherland
Plaza Hilton,
the Ava
Gardner Museum,
Caproni's Restaurant, Louisville Stoneware, LoneStar Restaurant,
and many others.
- Saturday
morning, October 1st at 11 AM local dignitaries joined the Henry's for
the official ribbon cutting ceremony. Rosemary's husband
Dante, her brother and his wife, Nick and Nina Clooney,
and her sister and husband, Gail and Chris Darley and her
childhood best friend Blanchie Mae Chambers participated
in the ceremony.
- Joan Barthel, the co-author of Rosemary's "Girl
Singer" held a book signing at the house from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Along with the purchase of an autographed
copy of "Girl Singer" fans received a laminated
bookmark featuring a photo of Joan and Rosemary taken by
Dante in the front yard of Rosie's Augusta home.
- The
first ornament in The Rosemary Clooney House Collection
was made available for just $16.95. It's a three-dimensional
replica of the front of Rosemary's riverside home.
- Merchandise
for sale included t-shirts, cds, books, "White
Christmas" nightlights, dvds, and Christmas ornaments.
- The
second floor of the home was opened to the public. It
features Rosemary's bedroom with her actual furnishings
plus the Miss America room which houses Heather French Henry,
Miss America 2000's gowns, crowns and memorabilia from her
days as Miss Kentucky and Miss America.
- Linda
Hope, the daughter of Bob & Dolores Hope and Vice President
of Hope Enterprises provided The Rosemary Clooney House
with original rare photos and memorabilia featuring
Bob and Rosemary from the Hope archives.
- Building
materials salvaged from the demolition of Rosemary's Beverly
Hills home at 1019 Roxbury were exhibited. These materials
will be used in a planned addition to the Augusta home.
- The
director's scripts from Rosemary's television shows of the
50's were on display as well as Bob Mackie designs for
several of Rosemary's later concert gowns.
- On
Sunday the Belle of Cincinnati Lock & Dam Cruise
traveled from BB Riverboats in Cincinnati to Rosemary's Augusta
home. Boarding was at 7AM, departure at 8AM, and arrival
at Rosemary's at 1PM and return to Cincinnati around 7PM.
The Henry's, Dante and Gail were on board for the first
part of the trip.
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