Art Gala on Washington’s Birthday

It’s no coincidence that the American Art Council’s “Salute American Art” benefit at the County Museum of Art falls on George Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22.

Mrs. William Carpenter chose the date. The glorious invitations, which arrived early in the week, are masterpieces themselves with George Inness’s “October” on the front and John Singleton Copley’s “Portrait of a Lady” on the back.

The gala, co-hosted by museum trustees, heralds the opening of the Inness retrospective at the museum--a collection of 63 landscape paintings by the 19th-Century American artist--and serves as a fund-raiser for Copley’s “Portrait of a Lady,” for which the museum paid in the millions. And, George Washington is remembered.

Demand for tickets is high, even with benefactors at $500 and patrons at $300. In fact, Ging Carpenter reports that two-thirds of the tickets were reserved early by sponsors. She’s expecting to net $150,000.

There will be dining, dancing (to Michael Paige) and a drawing for the door prizes--a hand-colored lithograph by Pasadena artist Roger Medearis and two art-oriented trips to the East Coast, donated by Gilner Travel and Christie’s.

Involved, too, are Julian Ganz Jr., trustees president; Mrs. F. Daniel Frost, sponsors chairman; Gary M. Ruttenberg, chairman of the American Art Council, and Messrs. and Mmes. Robert E. Duffy, Herbert M. Gelfand, Maurice H. Katz, Alan D. Levy, and Mmes. Jacob Y. Terner (she’s co-chairman), Theodore G. Congdon, Ganz, Boyd Hight, Steven K. Jones Jr., Ernest M. Lever, Gary M. Ruttenberg, Herbert B. Sussman and Robert Bruce Tebbe.

So many are coming from out of town that before and after parties are scheduled: The Katzes will host a Friday night champagne reception; the Gelfands will entertain at the morning-after Sunday brunch. Attending from New York will be the Warren Adelsons, the Glenn C. Pecks, Stuart Feld, Richard York, Ira Spanierman and Vance Jordan, and from San Francisco, Peter Fairbanks and the John Garzolis.

A few days earlier, on Feb. 19, museum president Earl A. Powell III and the trustees join Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. for a dual reception and preview of “Masterpieces From the Shin’enkan Collection: Japanese Painting of the Edo Period,” as well as the George Inness collection.

The black-tie cocktail affair is for VIPs, major donors and the President’s Circle, those who give $12,500 or more annually.

It’s OK for the American Heart Assn. (the Greater Los Angeles Affiliate) to be atwitter. It’s palpitating because of its ninth annual Heart Ball on Feb. 7 at the Beverly Hilton.

Ball chairmen Jacklyn Tilley Hill and Carolyn Miller have booked Neil Sedaka (count his gold and platinum records) to perform.

The dinner is sold out, thanks to the performance of the dinner committee chairmen stalwarts--Dr. Eliot C. Corday, Richard M. Ferry and Richard J. Pearson.

Over the years, ball proceeds, which benefit heart research at UCLA and USC, have totaled more than $1 million. Last year’s ball netted more than $200,000.

Adding more pizazz at this year’s ball--the raffle of the Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC and the choice of a luxury cruise to the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean, Alaska or Panama. And treasures will be auctioned, live and silently. These include a 10-day stay at Peter and Pam Mullin’s Scottish castle near Pitlochry (air and limo service, too), a week at Bangkok’s Regent International, a day on the set of “General Hospital,” a full-length mink, a catered dinner on the beach at Malibu, art, jewelry. Pitty-pat.

Mardi Gras costume is optional, but the mood to indulge in a Bourbon Street atmosphere, Dixieland music and New Orleans cuisine is essential for the Feb. 11 Mardi Gras at the Sheraton Premiere. The Volunteer League of the San Fernando Valley hosts the celebration.

Beth Crofoot is chairman; Mary Jane Cooper, president. The committee: Karen Sather, Penny and

John Adams, Marilyn and Gene Buchanan, Mary Jane and Andy Cooper, Terry Crofoot, Marilee and Richard Eils, Deborah and Rhio Haessig, DeAnne and Byron Hayes, Joan and Robert Thye, Gail and Jim Schiffner, Rachel and Jay Tarses, Kay and Tom Sanger, Pat and Ronald Lassy, Carolyn and Bill Kyle, Ann and Desi Heathwood.

Members of the California History Council of the California Historical Society meandered through the newly redecorated Roosevelt (named for Theodore) Hotel in Hollywood over the weekend at their big party. They viewed the balcony with its old photographs, including one of C. E. Toberman (Mr. Hollywood for years), builder of the Egyptian Theater, a founder of the Hollywood Bowl, developer of 23 subdivisions between Hollywood and Beverly Hills (including Outpost Estates), member of 49 clubs. Guests even got to the 12th floor, one-time retreat of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

Then they settled down in the Blossom Room for a dinner of rack of veal, hearts of palm and chocolate mousse and the program, “Reminiscing at the Roosevelt.” Louis Fleming remembered fraternity parties there. Stirling Huntley brought one of his first dates there.

Mrs. Norman Terry chose the setting last August, climbing through plaster dust then. It was the perfect spot for Nancy Maushardt, California Historical Society vice president, to present Homer and Lucy Toberman (he’s the late C. E.’s son) with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the pervasive Toberman leadership. (Lucy herself has begun 30 Los Angeles organizations, including the Hollywood Bowl Patronesses.)

Ken Murray topped off the evening showing his Hollywood “home movies” and scenes from his “Blackouts.”

Among those reminiscing were Drs. and Mmes. Richard Call and John Callander; the William Claytons Jr., the Richard A. Hotalings, the Robert P. Millers Jr., the Frank Simpsons III, the Thomas Techentins, Patricia Ketchum, the Kennedy B. Galpins, the Kingston McKees, the Patrick Frawleys, Maggie Pexton Murray, Margaret Thalken, the Joseph Vaccaros, Joyce MacRae, the Charles Ameses, the Robert Brants, the Robert Bannings, Sheila Bullock, the Peter Bundys, the Clifton Cappses, the Gordon Fishes, the Terry Gloeges, the Bradford Halls, the Robert Krogers, the Willis Longyears (she wore his grandmother’s ‘20s dress), the Rod Roods, Mrs. Frank Seaver, the William Strubles, the Brice Tooles Jr., Mrs. Will Ward, Keene Watkins, the Angus McBains and ever so many Tobermans, including the Eric, the George and the John Tobermans.

What a night! Twenty-two talented chefs will create Le Grand Diner for the Scopus Society of the American Friends of the Hebrew University on Saturday at Le Bel Age Hotel.

Dinner will be prepared by Les Toques Blanches, the international society of premier chefs. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Attorneys Dale S. Gribow and Joan R. Isaacs chair the black-tie event, with Steve William Geving and Robert P. Zaigue as dinner coordinators. Fred Le Compte, president of the American Wine Academy, will serve as chief sommelier.

The chefs are: Pierre Sauvaget, president Les Toques Blanches/Theme Room Restaurant; Geving, First Interstate Bank; Michel Richard, Michel Richard Pastry; Christian Rassinoux, the Ritz-Carlton; Werner Glur, Westin Bonaventure; Walter Eckstein, Marina City Club; Michael Shafer, Century Plaza; Wolfgang Kaufmann, Los Angeles Athletic Club; Roland Gilber, Biltmore; Romain Bertrain, Queen Mary; Douglas Alhstrand, Sheraton Premiere; Eiji Kawamitsu, Biltmore; Bert Cutino, Sardine Factory; Hugo Fressle, USC; Jean Pierre Peiny, Le Serre; Jean Francois Meitenger, L’Orangerie; Gerard Robert, Le Crocodile Bistro; Alexander Gordan, Beverly Wilshire; Alain Grizard, Breakers; Derrick Dikkers and Gary Comella, Le Bel Age, and Robert P. Zigue, gourmet restaurant consultant.

Tea will brew for UCLA Design for Sharing on Feb. 9 at the Sheraton Premiere with no other than Sam Twinings, heir to London’s Twinings Tea Co.

Tea tasting (and a touch of sherry), tea dancing and a buffet supper are planned by Teri Aaron and Sheila Tepper. Entertainment will include silhouette artists, a UCLA combo playing tunes of the ‘30s and ‘40s and, of course, a tea-leaf reader.

The hotel is underwriting the occasion. Proceeds will benefit the group’s two community outreach projects--a ticket distribution program and performances to enrich the young, elderly and disabled.

The Angels for the Golden Key Foundation are the generous individuals who donate more than $1,000 annually. They’ll be honored at a dazzler at the Hotel Bel-Air on Feb. 8--cocktails, dinner and dancing.

The occasion supports the Reiss-Davis Child Study Center and the diagnostic services, counseling and in-house residential care for abused children.

It’s one of two parties the foundation hosts this year; the other is a celebration in honor of Eddie Albert on April 4 at the Beverly Wilshire.