AAAArrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!!!  I have tried everything I could think of to get this done!  I have cleared GAC, reset permissions, exported templates, reinstalled and upgraded the portal (I didn't notice version 4.00.03 until the other day), deleted and added the virtual directory, had the portal in the inetpu folder, moved the portal to separate drives, and I have adjusted IIS settings in various areas of the application and application pools that this portal was a part of.  There is definitely more that I have done, but I cannot remember everything right now. 

In the end, the fix was very simple, but I haven't tried it until today because I didn't want to change this particular setting for what may be obvious reasons.  Once I created a NEW virtual directory with a completely NEW name, the Image Gallery function of the portal began to work perfectly!  This shouldn't have been so quick to work though since I have already cleared the GAC (which in theory is kind of the same thing), but it did.  So for those of you who were pulling their hair out and breaking various objects around your office or home, try this first.

I am now going to drink myself through the weekend for such an oversight.  If anyone sees me laying on the ground, please prop me back up against the bar so I don't get kicked out!  :)