Human life stories always fascinate me. This time is of Cruise Director Gary K. Glading who wrote a book “Stars, Staterooms & Stowaways”, Discovery Books, UK, 2010.
Travelling on Holland America Lines before, from our experience we never knew personally who is who. On the Jade here he is Gary, Cruise director. He is everywhere: on the stage of the Stardust Theatre, at Spinnaker Lounge, Medusa, Aloha…
It seems that he is at every place you can imagine where the show
programs ran. The atmosphere is friendly, free style, extremely popular and democratic option for just about eveyone with more than tuppence in the bank as cruise lines have continued to develop their product by giving all their passengers a wonderful floating vacation.
On the last days of sailing on the Jade we came to see Gary’s book presentation and to know Gary closer.
Gary Glading trained in classical music in America and at the Le Conservatorie de Musique in Lausanne. After receiving his master’s degree, he was “discovered” by Marlene Dietrich (see her photo to the left) and hired by the famous Paris Lido to open their new show in Las Vegas where he worked alongside many of America’s legendary performers. He returned to Paris to star in the original Lido show on the Champs Elysees and to take part in television shows with such greats as Ginger Rogers, Shirley MacLaine, Tom Jones and Sacha Distel.
Gary’s life at sea began on New Year’s Day in 1985, when along with his professional partner British dancer Peter Allan, he accepted an offer to perform a two man song and dance show on a French cruise ship. Since then he has been an entertainer, cruise director, production show writer/producer as well as Director of Entertainment for a wide variety of cruise companies. Fluent in eight languages, Gary now works as a Cruise Director for P&O Cruises.
He lives in Italy where he runs an animal sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals.
During the presentation of his book he showed the photographs of many animals and people who help him in this endeavor. In such words he introduced himself to readers:
“Who, in their right mind, would choose to look after 32 cats, six donkeys, four goats, three geese, two ducks, two rabbits, a score or so of chickens and a wild boar? Only a dedicated animal lover, for sure!”
Our photo expose “Gary’s Book Presentation”:
So he is. To contact him, please, write:www.hanalei-animal-sanctuary-onlus.com or email: garyglading@alice.it
Nice to meet you, Gary. Good luck to you, your family and friends!
Listen: David Bowie-Ziggy Stardust
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