The State Dinner Tent Reception for The Queen of England and Prince Phillip - July 7th, 1976 - Ford Administration
Frank adding flowers to a centerpiece for a State Dinner in Honor of Queen Elizabeth royal visit to The White House, July 7th, 1976. The Rose Garden Tent Reception. Ford Administration
The photo on the left is the preparation for a State Dinner Tent Reception in the White House Rose Garden for The Queen of England on the evening of July 7, 1976. In this photograph I was adding flowers to a lovely centerpiece that I assisted in the floral centerpiece designing for this historic State Dinner. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip was invited here to The White House on a State Visit and very special guest to The President and Mrs. Ford to help America celebrate our bi-centennial. I was invited to The White House to assist in the decorating team of this great historic event, under the direction of The Chief Florist and another top designer, who was selected by Mrs. Ford to be in full command of this decorating task. This was a "Great Historic Event" - I was living in this history on this day, and I was there, living proof, that this event happened before my eyes, and that I will never forget it. The elegance of this wonderful event will always be with me. The chills I received down my spine, just standing about twenty feet away from The Queen of England as she entered The White House receiving room, I was in the next room with my peers, preparing interior floral arrangements and putting the final touches on them. It's thirty-three years ago that this beautiful State Visit occured, but to me, it seems like yesterday, I remember this day so very well. The weather was about ninety-five degrees, on this day. The professional florist in charge of this mass project was indeed a fine gentleman and one with great talent in the field of floristry and elegant dinner decorating. The flowers were all of summer blooms and simply most beautiful to arranged in table centerpieces. It was a pure English garden decor type of a setting in that most beautiful white large tent, set up in the Rose Garden just outside the oval office. It was a very hot day, and I changed shirts three times during this project working in a very serious heat wave that afternoon. I remember taking a break from my workload and jumping into a cab outside on Pennsyvania Avenue heading to Garfickels Department Store to buy another two white shirts before the First Lady came down to inspect the table decorations in the tent. The tent was the size of a mini Cyde Beatty Circus Big Top. It was pure white, so elegant, so vast and perfect for a White House State Dinner for the Royal Couple. I also had the great honor of working with the very famous and elegant chef Julia Child. She was with me almost all morning directing me on setting the tables and displaying the floral centerpieces. Julia Child was an American Cook, author and television personality, who introduced French Cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream, through her many cookbooks and television programs. Her most famous works are the 1961 cookbooks and, showcasing her sui generis television persona, the series The French Chef which premiered in 1963. She was a lady of elegance in her personality and profession. I enjoyed her company so very much. During the day we engaged in different conversational topics and then she asked me if I knew any famous chefs. The only chef that came into my mind, and I tasted his cooking quite offen in my home, was Chef Boy Ar De! She responded to me with a hardy laugh after that answer. I also played a joked on my mother when I returned back to Richmond Hill, and told her that I gave Julia Childs our address, and that if she was ever in the neighborhood, to stop by our house for some of your home-made Lasagna. Knowing my out-going personality, my Mother really thought I gave the famous chef our address, she started to redecorate the house, I had to tell her the truth.
President Ford and Queen Elizabeth toast during the state dinner in honor of the Queen and Prince Philip at the White House.
Frank taking a break from the table decorating in the reception tent for the Queen's State Dinner. Sometimes you must stop work for a few minutes and smell some flowers, like Frank is doing in the Rose Garden outside the tent on The White House grounds. July 6th, 1976. This was the day before the big event.
Inside the State Dinner Reception Tent waiting for the First Lady's Inspection before the evening's gala event for The Queen of England. Tables decorated with the assistance of Frank Lazzaro. They created elegant centerpieces with assorted summer garden flowers of Daisies, Gerbers, Pink Ruben Lillies, Hydrangeas, Hyacinths, Sweetheart Roses, Sweet Williams and other lovely blooms as fill-ins with assorted greenery of light and dark foliages designed in a round garden style English country basket with roping cord around the basket. The highest flower stem was about thirty inches high. The White House Rose Garden - early morning of July 7, 1976. Ford Administratio
The photo above is the welcome reception for Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Phillip on the Great South Lawn of The White House in full military honor taken at 11:45am on July 7th, 1976. The "Red Carpet" treatment came all the way out on this day for the royal couple. This photograph is from Frank's camera taken by him while viewing this historic event from a White House window on the State Floor. It was a very beautiful day and a joy for all the people who was present to witness this grand afternoon. - July 7, 1976
First Lady Betty Ford observes the table settings and staff preparations with reporters for the evening's state dinner in honor of Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Philip. July 7, 1976.
This is an Official White House Photograph that was given to Frank Lazzaro by the President and Mrs. Ford after the State Visit. President and Mrs. Ford and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the Truman Balcony following the Queen's state arrival at the White House. July 7, 1976.
President Ford introduces Cary Grant to Queen Elizabeth in the receiving line prior to the dinner.
President Ford toasts Queen Elizabeth.
Some words from Journalist & Philanthropist Walter Kaner of The Long Island Press - July 4, 1976
A newspaper columnist writes about Frank Lazzaro being called to The White House to assist with his professional skills in the decorating of the table centerpieces and floral displays for the State Dinner Tent Reception for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. The Long Island Press, Walter Kaner's Column - press released on July 6, 1976.
In 1950, Kaner founded the Walter Kaner Children’s Foundation to help poor, handicapped and mentally disabled kids in New York. His foundation has enhanced the lives of more than 250,000 physically and mentally challenged, economically disadvantaged children in the New York Metro area. Kaner truly loved children and delighted in making them laugh and improving their lives. He served on the boards of and supported numerous children’s organizations.
A personal note about Walter Kaner from Frank Lazzaro - Walter and I started a business friendship on my first visit to The White House and lasted for many years after that. He made me a household name on Long Island with his "famous" columns written about me in the popular Long Island Press with every decorating assignment I undertook at The White House for twelve years. My recognition from other newspapers, magazine articles and my speaking engagements on White House decorating at senior clubs and school organizations assisted in my status as a professional floral decorator for stately mansions on the exclusive north shore of Long Island and in The Hamptons, but it was Walter's contribution that played the biggest part of my media success. He was the most honored Journalist in the State of New York and the "star icon" Columnist for The Long Island Press, donating millions of dollars in fund raising events for children with disabilities for fifty years. His well known summer outings at Rockaway's Playland, New York's famous amusement park back in the day, and his very popular Children's Christmas parties at the landmark Antum's Caterers in Queens Village, New York was indeed the talk of Long Island and the state. I also became involved with this great benefit by contributing my time with volunteer work with Walter's parties including my donation of a ten foot decorated Christmas Tree from my flower shoppe every year for this most chariable event. He was a very kind and generous man and has put so much laughter and joy into the hearts of so many disable children. He was a real all American guy, and loved by so many kids and adults. Walter died on June 27, 2005 in Port Washington, N.Y. at the age of eighty-five. May he rest in peace. Good-bye Walter, thanks for all the "plugs" you gave me, may God bless you.
Walter Kaner - Journalist and Philanthropist
The Emperior of Japan State Dinner - Ford Administration - October 2, 1975
This article was written a few days before my trip to Washington for the floral decorating of The Emperior of Japan's State Dinner given by The President and Mrs. Ford. Taken from Walter Kaner's Column of The Long Island Press.
The call from White House officials came quickly and gave me only a few days notice for my assistance in this great assignment. I only have one official photograph given to me by the White House photographer of my floral designs and it shown below. It's been thirty four years but I remember it as if it was yesterday. I was under the direct supervision of another very talented man and his crew at The White House and obeyed all instructions from him. He made a sample of the style he wanted and I executed the design exactly to his specifications. I was very tired later on in the evening. We worked around the clock all day and into the night for this great event with the Emperior of Japan and the President and Mrs. Ford. The White House florist also played a very important role in this project, but sometimes outsiders were summons into the White House to display their talents to the nation. As sure as night follows day, anyone decorating the White House for such a very special event like this State Dinner was sure to be in the nation's top home decorating magazines the following month, sometimes on the front cover. When I placed the last floral arrangement on the table that evening, I was ready to sack out right on the floor in the State Dining Room. This I must say, was one of the most difficult assignments in my twelve years. Why, because, the crew was very small and the room decorating was very large.
On October 2, 1975, the Fords welcomed Japanese Emperor Hirohito to the White House. This film was made during the formal state arrival ceremony that occurred on the White House South Lawn. The State Dinner for The Emperior of Japan given by The President and Mrs. Ford - Frank Lazzaro contributed his floral design professional skills to this great historic event. The Chief White House Florist, Mr. E. Rusty Young requested Frank's presence to come to The White House and assist in this great State Dinner under the supervision of the Head Florist in charge of this large project chosen by The White House. The State Dining Room. Ford Administration
The Empress, Mrs. Ford, the Emperor and President Ford at the White House prior to a state dinner held in honor of the Japanese head of state for the first time. October 2, 1975.
Through their interpreters, President Ford and Emperor Hirohito talk in the Blue Room during a state dinner held in honor of the Emperor and the Empress Nagako. October 2, 1975.
Red roses was the main table centerpiece flower that was used in the State Dinner for The Emperior of Japan at The White House
Lazzaro's was founded on August 1st, 1979 in Floral Park, N.Y. by former White House Christmas Decorator and Department Store Visual Designer Frank Lazzaro. To know more about Lazzaro's and to contact us please use our Customer Service link in the department links above.
