The Coral Gables Times

26 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, December 6, 1962

ONCE HE GUARDED GIRLS He Looks After Chandeliers

BORELLA STANDS AMID HIS CHANDELIER 'CITY' By JUNE GRAY Woman's Editor This "city in the sun" draws people here for many reasons. George Borella chose April Fool's Day, 1935, because he thought he was the biggest fool in the world when he let his boss persuade him to come from Chicago to Miami to open a chandelier shop. George, owner of Borella's Gift Shop, 2343 Salzedo St., makes chandeliers tailormade to suit his customers' tastes. The 59-year-old Italian-born, whose name resembles that of the Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis - started in the business 44 years ago. "The time was right after World War I, and it was very easy to get a job in Chicago." George recalls. "I had just finished grammar school, and the rain was pouring. "Since I did not want to walk in the rain or take a street car, I answered an ad from a chandelier shop because it was located down the street from my home." PICKED FROM 100 BOYS George was chosen from about 100 boys. "The boss lined us up and looked us over. I have never been able to figure out why he chose me." * This started George in the business. But he has never developed a set pattern for the construction of his chandeliers. Each is his own creation, and usually the customers accept his decorations. Then, all that remains is the shaping to fit the decor of the room and the husband's pocketbook. Since George builds his chandeliers from the beginning, he had to develop a filing system for his prisms. "I use to keep them in drawers, but I could never find anything. So a friend of mine who smokes two boxes of cigars a week saves the boxes for me." He lines the boxes up on shelves, fills them with prisms, leaving one outside so that he knows what is in each box. CUSTOMERS TRY TRADE After watching George work, his customers say they are coming in to stay and learn the trade. "And they do," said George. "All my customers become my friends, and when they come back I talk to them. As a result, I don't get my work done." Many women also come in and buy clear and colored prisms to make earrings. FROM ITALY George's parents moved to the United States from Northern Italy when he was two years old. His grandparents, who were landowners, disinherited his father for marrying one of their tenant's daughters. "My father never bothered with them again even to the day he died." Just before coming to Miami in 1935, George was having marital problems, so he decided he needed a change. The change was getting a job at the World's Fair as a bodyguard for the fan dancer, Sally Rand. The only person who really gave him trouble was the boxer, King Levinsky, who came through the pass gate and went into the chorus girls' dressing room. After the girls complained, the manager told George to keep the King out. "What was I going to do with this big bruiser who had no respect for anyone? My brother, who was an athlete, solved my problem. "He had wanted to be the King's manager and the King had respect for him. So I told him who my brother was. Afterwards, the King always went through the regular gate and bought a ticket." George lives alone in the Southwest area since the recent death of his sister Louise. "I fell in love with Miami when I came here and I intend to stay until they bury me in Woodlawn Park Cemetery," he concluded.

Saturday Fashion Show To Benefit UM Scholars

Coral Gables Democratic Women are having a luncheon and fashion show Saturday at the Country Club of Coral Gables to raise money for their political science scholarship fund at the University of Miami. Mrs. J. Frtiz Gordon, 1706 Country Club Prado is chairman of the event. Club members who will be modeling holiday fashion for morning, afternoon and evening wear are Mrs. Celia Adams, Mrs. Lesta Cox, Mrs. Thomas Duff, Mrs. Arthur Evans, Mrs. Robert Franklin, Mrs. Vincent Gallagher, Mrs. Jack Gentry, Mrs. William C. Herrell Jr., Mrs. Carl Irvin, Mrs. Charles Kulicka, Mrs. Leonard Mead, Mrs. John Prunty, Dottie Rawlings, Mrs. Fred Ridolf, Mrs. George Stebbins. Children of club members who are modeling are Cheryl and Nancy Berchtold, Cynthia and Joni Brilliant, Frances Bohnsack, Therese and Cecile Clark. Jake Jr. and Jo Anne Cooper, Kimberly Duff, Sondra and Toni Fascell, Virginia Ann and Susie Greyer, Lynn and Buddy Herrell, Cathy and Connie Sue Holleman. Randy and Susan Holley, Leonard Mead, Floyd Jr. and Linda Miner, Deborah and Mark Morningstar, Donna Taylor and Johnny Washington.

PEOPLE

Back at home in her apartment at 435 Valencia Ave., is Anne (Mrs. Charles M.) White. Anne and her late husband resided in Coral Gables many years and their two sons, Dr. Charles M. White Jr., and Dr. Bradford White entered the first grade at the Coral Gables Elementary School. Charles, a psychiatrist and his family reside in Bremerton, Washington; Bradford and his family, formerly of Orlando where he practiced medicine, now live in Jacksonville where he is in the Medical Corp of the Army. ★ ★ ★ Mary Lou Hahn, 1246 Algardi Ave., is social chairman of the Miami Women's Panhellenic Association Buffet Christmas Luncheon which will be held Saturday at the Key Biscayne Hotel. The Panhellenic Chorus, which was started last year under the direction of Mrs. John Stoltz, 925 Osoria Ave., will furnish music. ★ ★ ★ Phi Sigma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi is having a bake sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Central Shopping Plaza. ★ ★ ★ Edward J. Barry II, sonarman second class, United States Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Barry, 912 Wallance St., is serving aboard the destroyer USS Power, which recently spent two weeks representing American seapower in the joint Central Treaty Organization Operation Midlink Five. Also on board is Navy Ensign Richard A. Windatt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Windatt, 1555 Alcala Ave.

PEOPLE

Former Gableite William Replogle has been initiated into Pershing Rifles, a tri-service organization for men in the ROTC program at Kansas University. He is a sophomore and his father, M. C. Replogle is also a student at KU in the graduate school. ★ ★ ★ Coral Gables student Vincent Maury will appear as Sam Bagley in Gerald Critoph's "A Long Way from Home" which opens tonight (Thursday) in Stetson University's Stover Theatre.

Todd's

Gifts of Distinction 2164 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, HI 8-5215 Come in and browse around. Open until 9 p.m. thru December BONDED FRUIT SHIPPERS from the heart of the orange grove GIFTS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD GOURMETS' SHOP Specializing in Cocktail Snacks and Hors d'oeuvres INTERNATIONAL TELEFOOD SERVICE Serving all principal cities

JACOBS PLUMBING

NEW WORK - ALTERATIONS - REPAIRS JACOBS PLUMBING RALEIGH 10 Yr. Warranty - 30 Gal. Electric Glass Lined WATER HEATERS 11027 S.W. 7th Ter. $42.95 Delivered Ph. CA 1-3740

YOU CAN BUY ANY PHOTO IN THE PAPER

THE TIMES-GUIDE 364 Sevilla Ave. 8x10 Glossy $1.50 each

CHASE FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION

Ample, private, front-door parking at CHASE FEDERAL NEW SOUTH DADE LOCATION - U.S. 1 at NORTH KENDALL DRIVE just off Palmetto Bypass MAIN OFFICE-1100 LINCOLN RD. MALL

LEARN how prayer can heal

Attend a FREE lecture "HOW CHRISTIAN SCIENCE REVEALS GOD'S HEALING POWER" By ARNOLD H. EXO, C.S.B., of Evanston, Illinois Member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts 8:00 P.M. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 DADE COUNTY AUDITORIUM 2901 West Flagler Street, Miami Under the auspices of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Coral Gables, Florida

GABLES AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE INC.

CARRIER ... SALES ... SERVICE ... INSTALLATION ... FEDDERS CALL HI 3-1655 FOR AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE GABLES AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE INC. 246 ALCAZAR AVE, - CORAL GABLES, FLA. H. P. (PAT) MURPHY - HARRY WAGNER ... Former employees of Rogers Air Conditioning Co.