A Roundup for the Satin-and-Spurs Set
They’re giving notice: The Luminaires Juniors of the Estelle Doheny Eye Foundation are putting on their satin chaps and silver spurs and sashaying to their favorite sidekicks (cattle barons and cowpokes) for a special evening of sagebrush and starlight May 31 at the spectacular Cliff May Mandalay Ranch. Their “Rhinestone Roundup†will be the place to be.
President Lucy (Mrs. Donald J.) Hromadka and benefit co-chairmen Diane Moller and Debbie (Mrs. Thomas C.) Foster are the brains behind this 10-gallon gala. They sent invitations with rhinestones. And, to help set the mood, Brent Kanaly and husband Steve of TV’s “Dallas†have offered Western props. Mimi and Bill Owen will truck in three dozen bales of hay. Sharp-eyed trivia buffs will be able to recognize some of the old fences, trough and saddles from “Bonanza†days.
Somerset Caterers is stewing up elegant Western cuisine. Guests will stomp with the Orange Blossom Cloggers and the music of Ramon and the L.A. Band.
Libby (Mrs. William, Jr.) Doheny is promising some quick-fire exchanges at the auction block--items such as six nights at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel with round-trip first class air fare for four.
The vivacious committee also includes Candida (Mrs. George V. III) Genzmer, Kathy (Mrs. James) Julian, Georgia (Mrs. James) Dahl, Chandra (Mrs. Brian) Leck, Mimi (Mrs. William, Jr.) Owen, Susan (Mrs. John) Montanaro, and Stephne (Mrs. Craig) Bennett.
And speaking of Luminaires, they and the Juniors join for the spring general meeting Wednesday at the San Marino home of Mrs. James Zumberge. Luncheon and a garden tour are on the agenda.
Support is pouring in for Rancho Los Amigos Foundation’s first “Amistad†(Friendship) Award Dinner on May 31 in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel. That’s the big tribute to Betty White, NBC Golden Girl. Table hosts include Estelle Getty, Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan, Isabel Sanford, David Hasselhoff, Gina Hecht, Elinor Donahue, Tim Reid, David Horowitz, David Graf, Dick Gautier, William Christopher. It’s all for physical rehabilitation.
Betty White is quite the star. At the 22nd Childhelp annual “Woman of the World†Awards Luncheon at the Century Plaza, there were cheers when she and Dolores Hope were presented as honorees. With 1,700 guests (Alice Faye, Rhonda Fleming, Fern Fitzgerald, Florence Henderson, Anne Jeffreys), it was a special occasion for event chairman Marilyn (Mrs. Glen) McDaniel and L.A. chapter president Dolly (Mrs. Andy) Granatelli. Scott Record, Kim Criswell (“Catsâ€), Robbie Britt and Gene Bell entertained. Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Cheryl Ladd and John Stamos made presentations. Arthur Simon did “Showtime Hollywood†decorations. Proceeds will be directed to the prevention of child abuse.
President Katie Osterloh and Afternoon With Eve chairman Barbara Karl were nervous about the weather, but the clouds held and everything was lovely and pink and white on the beautiful lawn at the Hilton Estate in Bel-Air for the city’s fashionably philanthropic to come out at the Mannequins of Assistance League of Southern California high tea. Cyd (Mrs. Tony Martin) Charisse received the very special Golden Eve Award. Seven Eve honorees walked on stage before all their friends: Sue (Mrs. Charles) Young, Rhonda Fleming (Mrs. Ted Mann), Barbara (Mrs. Alexander) Bowie, Teri (Mrs. Jack) Cahill, Mary Lou (Mrs. Donald) Hicks, wife of the undersecretary of defense, Elise (Mrs. Martin) Pasetta and Marjorie Lord (Mrs. Harry Volk). It’s the sort of affair where everyone looks wonderful. Barbara Bowie was in Valentino couture; so were some of her Newport Beach pals who came up for the occasion--Lynn Hirsch and Deeann Baldwin. Celebrity models looking especially trim in the William Travilla fashion show were Diane Anderson, Toni Webb (when the bartender arrived late, she poured Perrier and wine for the needy), chic Gretchen Wayne and Lucy Artukovich. More in the svelte group: Hillevi Schine, Sandy Wessel, Shauna Trabert, Maggie Edwards, Barbara Rush, Harriet Weaver, Frederika Roeder (nominated for president), Joni Smith, Sally Hinckley (Assistance League president), Peggy Hemmings, Fern McAllister.
Members of the San Marino Area Chapter of the National Charity League are spiffing for their Debutante Announcement Tea on May 31 in the Gold Room of the Biltmore Hotel. They’ll reveal the names and watch a fashion show in the Crystal Room. The 23rd annual ball itself is set for Dec. 22 in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Jane (Mrs. John Kristoffer) Popovich is chairman.
KUDOS: To the Oak Tree Racing Assn., which has donated $208,000 to 32 recipients, including $50,000 to the United Way, $16,400 to Claremont University and approximately $8,000 each to the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation, Childrens Hospital and the Independent Colleges of Southern California. . .
To Cecily Castenskiold, who’s received the rare order, Knight of the Dannebrog, from Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark. The order was presented by Danish Consul General Henning Kristiansen for the honoree’s 20 years of service to the Danish community of Los Angeles, and especially for the cultural program “Scandinavia Todayâ€. . .
To the Little Company of Mary Hospital, recipient of $100,000 from William H. Hannon, chairman of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation, as a gift toward a new chapel. Sister M. Damian Young said thank you. . .
To the Charles Buddy Rogers who donated $50,000 in antiques, porcelains and paintings for auction to benefit the Permanent Charities Committee of the Entertainment Industries. . .
To the Lullaby Guild, netting $42,000 (“past tense and wonderful,†they say) for the Children’s Home Society from their Ebony Fashion Fair headed by Vange Westfield. . .
To Atlantic Richfield for its $35,000 challenge grant to the Senior Care Network of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena . . . A luncheon at the hospital also honored Dr. Lew Allen Jr., director of Jet Propulsion Laboratory. . .
To the volunteers honored by the United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation at the Circle of Service Award at the Beverly Wilshire--Dorothy Ritter (wife of the late Tex Ritter), Rita Edelman, Rae Naftaly, Doris Marihart, Fay and Ben Benson and Doris Brandon . . .
To producer Gloria Monty, named Woman of the Year by the Paulist Choristers of California at a black-tie dinner at the Beverly Wilshire . . . to Dorothy Kirsten French, recipient of an honorary doctor of fine arts degree at Pepperdine University commencement exercises . . . to Roger Wagner, feted at his final concert as music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, at a champagne reception, followed by the unveiling of a commissioned portrait by artist Sylvia Shap . . . to Dr. Bernard Lown, co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (awarded the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize), lauded by 200 at a gathering at the home of actress Barbara Bain in Beverly Hills. Los Angeles Physicians and Hollywood for SANE co-chaired the party.
MORE KUDOS: Mrs. Philip S. Kamm Jr. is the new president of the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter . . . Janet Killian will be installed president of the Burbank National Charity League . . . Christy Penny is heading the Pasadena Day Nursery Guild after her installation at the Valley Hunt Club.
Mary Lou and George Boone, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, Sotheby’s and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising were the benefactors making possible the recent Decorative Arts Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collector’s Weekend featuring a symposium and an Heirloom Discovery Day at the Pacific Design Center. The two-day event featured Dwight Lanmon, Timothy Schroder, Peter Wain and David Hawkins.
Lee and Suzanne Chase hosted two fun reunions this last week for her sister, Cynthia Henry Thielen, who’s running for lieutenant governor of Hawaii where she’s resided 19 years. That doesn’t mean she’s forgotten by her old Marlborough chums. Among those who have turned out to greet her: Betty Nelson, Jo Kroger, Valerie Martin, Janice Boswell, Susie Carver, Diane Stadlinger, Karen Stewart, Susie Brown and Camie Laine. Some double as Stanford classmates. And some date back to El Rodeo grammar school Beverly Hills days. More reminiscing were Wendy and Ed Borcherdt, Sylvia and Donald Weber, Bibba and Don Winn, Val and Robert Brookes, and Jean and Dick Schuur, Frank Henry, Carol and Jo Anne Doumani of Northern California and, from Newport Beach, Paula and Guy Earl, Janet and Richard Jordan and Jan and Prentiss Taylor.
Past, but Special: Polo in the Santa Ynez Valley headed by Harry Gelles at Joel and Oatsy Baker’s Circle J B Polo Ranch in Buellton to aid the St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley building fund. Polo stars such as Bill Devane, Doug Sheehan, Alex Cord, Dorrie Forstmann, and their captains--Brooks Firestone and Oatsy Baker--put on a show, followed by the party later that night on the Firestone ranch.
