New Hope Historical Society will present “A Tribute to Odette’s” at 2 p.m. Jan. 26, during the Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival.
Sponsored by Nektar, Wine, Beer and Whiskey Bar, and The Riverhouse at Odette’s, the event will begin with a walking tour led by New Hope Historical Society board member and past president, author Roy Ziegler.
The walk will trace Odette Myrtil’s career in New Hope from her beginning as the manager of the Playhouse Inn to the opening of her popular and iconic Chez Odette.
Following the tour, at 3 p.m., Bob Egan at the piano and vocalist Cecily Laidman will re-create the magic of Chez Odette at the “Chez Parry” Mansion in New Hope. The cabaret will feature old-time favorites by two popular artists from Odette’s past.
A few months ago, many watched as the old Chez Odette’s was plucked from its home along the Delaware River in New Hope to make room for the new luxury boutique resort, The Riverhouse at Odette’s. Thousands of cabaret and nightclub fans certainly felt the nostalgia from so many good times they enjoyed there.
Odette Myrtil, violinist, singer, vaudeville, Broadway and film actress, created the club in her own image over the 15 years that she operated the cabaret mecca.
Born in Paris, Odette was as happy supervising the creation of her famous French onion soup and escargot in the kitchen as she was at the piano bar, singing and playing her violin for her adoring fans. In fact, she was so popular that local folks even tried to elect her mayor of New Hope in 1965.
Odette Myrtil left her namesake restaurant in 1976 and died two years later in Doylestown. The old place became known as Odette’s Restaurant, offering fireside dining along the river, and there was still a piano bar. But only Odette’s spirit remained.
The walking tour will begin on the back lawn of the Parry Mansion in New Hope, promptly at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.
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