Series III comprises material relating to Gabriele's marriage to Vito Pisa, and her performances at his New York restaurant (across both its locations), Chez Vito, which she inherited and managed after his death. At Chez Vito, the divide between Gabriele's personal and professional life was blurred: although she started out at the restaurant as a part-time employee, Gabriele's marriage to Pisa placed the restaurant at the center of both her social and professional life. This series primarily comprises press clippings, photographs, and correspondence documenting Gabriele's life at Chez Vito as a performer, restaurateur, socialite, and wife. It also includes a copy of the original menu, promotional materials produced for the restaurant, recordings of Gabriele and the Chez Vito band, administrative documents, and score of arrangements performed at the restaurant and on its recordings. Notably, the series documents the private lives of Gabriele and Pisa, including photographs of their wedding, vacations, pets, and yacht. This series includes a number of recordings related to life at Chez Vito, including professionally produced LPs and other private recordings.
Box 6 Folder 6
Chez Vito articles, 1954-1956, 1958-1960, 1964, 1966-1967, 1969-1971
Also includes a postcard for the restaurant, correspondence (with First Lady Pat Nixon, and with public relations consultants). Includes articles about Judy Garland, Lady Bird Johnson, President Richard Nixon, Placido Domingo, and other celebrity figures. Includes a typed copy of "The Chez Vito Story."
Box 6 Folder 7-8
Photographs from Chez Vito, 1953, 1966, 1968, 1970, undated, 2 folders
Of Gabriele, Vito Pisa, Chez Vito staff, and restaurant patrons. Includes photographs of notable guests, including Zsa-Zsa Gabor, Alex Cord, and Dame Joan Sutherland.
Box 6 Folder 9
Chez Vito at the West 58th St location in the Hotel Maurice (photographs), undated
Box 16 Folder 5
Flyers, postcards, and business cards for Chez Vito, 1967, 1970-1971, undated
Includes some clippings of articles (original and photocopies) about Chez Vito.
Box 16 Folder 6
Personal correspondence with Vito Pisa and family, 1956, 1959-1964, 1969, 1976-1977
Mainly letters from Vito Pisa, but also includes letters from other friends, family and acquaintances. Includes funeral service programs for members of the Pisa and Gabriele families.
Box 16 Folder 7
Photographs from the recording session for Gabriele's Chez Vito LP, 1959
Box 19 Folder 1-4
Family and friends pictures, 1954-1963, undated, 4 folders
Documents various aspects of Gabriele's marriage to Vito Pisa, including their vacations, family events, their wedding, their pets, their yacht (Chez Vito II). Includes two transparencies and one photo printed onto hard stock. This photograph depicts a party (possibly at Chez Vito) in which Gabriele and other white guests dressed in yellowface, wearing costumes and makeup that denigrate people of Japanese descent and appropriate Japanese culture. Remainder of the original label reads: "1954- (wedding celebrations with Vito); vacation pictures; summer 1959-1960 with Vito Pisa in Italy; Vito Pisa, 1000 Park Avenue Terrace."
Box 19 Folder 5
United States passports for Gabriele and Vito Pisa, 1950, 1955, 1959, 1964
The lamination of one passport has become sticky: a piece of acid-free paper has been folded around it to prevent further adhesion.
Box 19 Folder 6
Photographs of Dame Joan Sutherland and Placido Domingo at Chez Vito, undated
Box 19 Folder 7
Administrative documents relating to Gabriele's assets, 1965, 1971, 1978
Documents relating to the valuation of various European jewels and antiques, a photocopy of Vito Pisa's will, and stock transferral certificates.
Box 22 Folder 1-2
Photographs of Chez Vito, undated, 2 folders
Box 22 Folder 3-4
Sheet music for arrangements for Chez Vito, undated, 2 folders
Parts (vocal and instrumental), vocal scores, lead sheets, and orchestral scores of various sizes. Mostly ozalid copyset scores. Many scores are annotated. Songs include: "Hungarian Medley"; "Musetta's Waltz"; "Laughing Song"; "I Could Have Danced All Night"; "Core'ngrato"; "Scalinatella"; "Fascination"; "Ou est tu, mon amour?"; "Estrellita"; "Ciribiribin"; "Don't Ever Say Goodbye"; "Crying in the Moon"; "Life on the Wicked Stage"; "Y al mirarte mi vida"; "No one but you"; "Comm' Facett' Mamm't' 'o"; "Dicitencello."
Box 25 Folder 3
Photographs of Chez Vito, undated
Box 25 Folder 4
Carte du jour for Chez Vito, undated
Cardboard menu showing hors d'oeuvres, potages, entrées, and desserts.
Box 26 Item 8
"3 Mosq. at Chez Vito: Do Not Use", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes
Box 26 Item 9
"3 Mosq. at Chez Vito: Chez Vito Record", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes
Box 27 Item 29
"Chez Vito. 1. 3:30; 2. 3:30; 3. 3:30 OK; 4. 3:30 OK (add music); 5. 3:30 (Benefit Cance[r?], Italian", 1968 January 2, 1968 January 4, 1 open reel audiotapes
Handwritten date on carton: "OK Part, 1/4/68." Crossed out on carton: "Humble Oil and Refining Company. Esso Heating Oil, Winter 1968. Music to Keep Warm By. Produced by McCann-Brickson Inc. Houston, Texas, January 2, 1968."
Box 27 Item 37
"3 Mosq. at Chez Vito. Side B: better recording", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes
Box 27 Item 38
"Side A: 3 Mosquiteers [sic.] at Chez Vito, undated, 1 items
Empty tape case; may have formerly contained Item 32.
Box 27 Item 42
"Leyna Gabriele: A Night at... Chez Vito", 1999 December 6, 1 digital audio tapes
Box 27 Item 44
"Leyna Gabriele: The Three Musketeers at Chez Vito", 1999 December 6, 1 digital audio tapes
Box 29 Item 107-108, 113-114
"The 3 Musketeers of the Opera at Chez Vito", 2000, 4 compact disks
Back of the label includes a photocopy of a long liner note and track list and the label: "c. Leyna Gabriele/Vito Records, 2000."
Box 30 Item 121
"A Night At Chez Vito", undated, 1 phonograph records
Printed label for Side 1 says: "Vito Records Ltd. A Night at 'Chez Vito.' Ciribiribin; Non ti scordar di me; Granada; Barcarolle; Dans mon coeur; O'Marinariello. Leyna Gabriele, soprano; Rose Marrone, mezzo-soprano; John Stamford, tenor; Warren Galjour, baritone; with the 'Chez Vito' Orchestra and Chorus. Recorded by Columbia Records." Printed label on Side 2 says: "Vito Records Ltd. A Night at 'Chez Vito.' La luz de la luna; Hora staccato; Core'ngrato; Funiculi-Funicula. Leyna Gabriele, soprano; Rose Marrone, mezzo-soprano; John Stamford, tenor; Warren Galjour, baritone; with the 'Chez Vito' Orchestra and Chorus. Recorded by Columbia Records."
Box 30 Item 122
"Romance at Chez Vito", undated, 1 phonograph records
Label for Side 1 reads: "Vito. Romance at Chez Vito. Chez Vito String Orchestra. Long Ago and Far Away; If You Go; I'll Take Romance; Secret Love; If; Love Affair; Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Vito Records Ltd. New York 22, N.Y." Label for Side 2 reads: "Vito. Romance at Chez Vito. Chez Vito String Orchestra. Serenata Sincera; Piscatore di Pusillipo; Valencia and Ca [sic.] C'est Paris; Autumn Leaves; Vurria; Voce' Notte; Das Alte Lied. Vito Records Ltd. New York 22, N.Y."