A Yankee Doodle Night of Hoopla

Three hundred walked in to fifers and drummers at Les Dames of Los Angeles, International Hostesses’ Silver Kite ’89 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, and they walked out with Crayons and Smithsonian Institution coloring books of First Ladies’ gowns and the hope of $100,000-plus raised to restore gowns at the museum in Washington.

It was a Yankee Doodle night: “America” on the harmonica, John Raitt singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” You get the idea: Apollo II Astronaut Buzz Aldrin (he and Lois are off to Saudi Arabia) as Modern Pioneer; the Dan Aldriches wigged up as President George and Martha Washington.

Thanks to Les Dames, nearly one-third of the First Lady gowns have been financed for rejuvenation and Emil Lau and Robert Stack are raising even more.

Roger G. Kennedy, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, flew in to see that donors got proper praise. Among them: Harriet and Charles Luckman (Les Dames president Elise Pasetta arranged for Harriet to get the Silver Kite award), Ruth Tullis, Cynthia and Hal Gershman, Wanda Henderson and Bill Holzhauser, Marilyn and Harry Lewis, Shirley and Charles Colby, Jeanne Cox Brady, Adrienne and Vernon Underwood and Bobbe and Bill Pagen. Connie Towers Gavin was among those modeling California couture.

GALAS: Lucie Arnaz performs for Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center’s Foundation gala next Sunday chaired by Donald and Ray Watt at Filmland Corporate Center . . .

Melissa Manchester and Sammy Davis Jr. star Nov. 11 at the Beverly Hilton for a California Special Olympics dinner, and according to Stephen H. Ackerman, a 1949 Rolls Royce limo will be raffled.

ON BEAT: Suzanne Marx is new deputy director of finance to raise funds for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation for the presidential library. She also has invitations out for lunch Nov. 14 at the Regency Club to fete Gloria Holden in a send-off to Jamaica. Gloria’s husband, Glen, has been confirmed as Ambassador to Jamaica . . .

Lee Minnelli had her annual birthday luncheon at the Bistro Garden with a happy group--including Anne Douglas, Georgianna Montalban, Mignon Winans, Mary Jones, Harriet Deutsch, Jayne Berger, Frances Bergen, Nanci Denny and Nancy Zarif. Many of them were out for caviar and cocktails two nights later at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the opening of the Amir (the chic designer of men’s clothing) boutique.

KUDOS: To the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation and its golf benefit held at Los Coyotes Country Club for families of injured or slain officers . . .

To the 500 Club for City of Hope, honoring Roberta Herbison, vice president, Tiffany & Co., as Today’s Woman at three days of luncheons Nov. 6, 7, 8 . . .

To Marla Gibbs, Neal Papiano and Stuart Zimring to be honored at the Juvenile Justice Connection Project dinner dance Nov. 11 at Marriott Hotel/Warner Center in Woodland Hills. William Shatner is honorary chairman.

AGENDA: Fran Guenette and Adele Binder co-chair the black-tie dinner at Jimmy’s Wednesday for judges of the Western Region of the Metropolitan Opera National Council. San Marinans Nancy Cole and Paddy Grant are audition co-directors . . .

Historic Union Station frolics Wednesday evening for the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts’ “La Fiesta de los Muertos,” a $100-per-guest live auction; then a silent auction and sale continue Thursday through next Sunday. World-renowned Latino artists, including Robert Graham, participate. The Dia de los Muertos (described on the invitation as “A Celebration of Life”) activities last week also included fund raising by the Olvera Street Merchants Assn. to raise money to restore the Siqueiros mural of Olvera Street . . .

Caroline Ahmanson and Judith Murphy receive thanks as founders and co-chairs of the YWCA of Los Angeles President’s Circle at a reception today at the home of Yvonne Lenart . . .

The Richard D. Colburns host an evening of Bach, Vivaldi and Purcell for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Nov. 13 . . .

Treasures and Trivia will abound at the Pasadena Guild of the Childrens Hospital annual benefit sale today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2670 E. Walnut, Pasadena.

PAST PERFECT: Mary and Joseph League’s luncheon with Fe Zandi haute couture and honoring March Long and Cecelia Waeschle at the Beverly Hilton . . .

Michael and Kim McCarty and Leslie McDonald and Diana Attias gave their hearts to the Westside Arts Center benefit buffet and art sale at Michael’s Restaurant . . .

Maurice J. DeWald, chairman of the Music Center Unified Fund Campaign ’90 announced an ambitious $15.3-million goal at the kickoff at Lawry’s California Center . . .

India Rance chaired the Jack O’Lantern Ball honoring June Foray . . .

Co-chairs Maria Mustad and Kim Rosenfield fund-raised for The Wellness Community, South Bay Cities.

KALEIDOSCOPE: Heading the United Hostesses’ Charities Kaleidoscope Ball are Mrs. James A. Nathan and Mrs. Stanley Lederman and Mrs. Perry Steiner . . .

Speaking to Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge’s luncheon at Wilshire Country Club, Rear Adm. David G. Ramsey, on “China Today” . . .

Raising funds for alcohol recovery programs, the Clare Foundation at its Masquerade Ball at the new Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel . . .

The Assn. of Black Women Physicians honoring Drs. Marguerite Lewie, Mary McCoo and Anna Smith at the Biltmore Bowl . . .

Diana Rosen and Christine Oliver co-chairing the Adrienne Vittadini fashions for Della Robbia Guild at the home of Monique and Bill Back . . .

Reebok presenting Halloween for Hope at 20th Century Fox Studios for City of Hope.