Crowd Coos Over New Exhibit of Birds

Natural History Museum trustees president Betty Reddin wore her old Hattie Carnegie pelican pin of gold and diamonds.

The occasion was the grand opening of the new Ralph W. Schreiber Hall of Birds at the museum. The late Ralph Schreiber was curator of ornithology and the creative force behind the new permanent exhibit. When Schreiber came to the museum 12 years ago, the exhibit “was all stuffed birds,” his wife Betty Anne Schreiber told guests at the opening. “He said, ‘Gee, this is boring. We’d better do another one of these.’ ”

The crowd of first-nighters saw Professor Percy Pelican, an animated bird with the voice of comedian Jonathan Winters. Others walked through a Canadian prairie of marsh birds with a colony of blackbirds and croaking frogs. In the sensory-perception display, philanthropist George Page tried to locate a mouse in the same way a barn owl would--with his sense of hearing. Max and Kay Jamison manipulated a bird in a wind tunnel, attempting to keep it airborne. And Tom Reddin, former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, stepped on the scales to check his bone weight--36 pounds.

A crowd including Dr. Craig Black, Lynn and Doug Brengel, Theresa Bucher, Mary and Gordon Crary, Jane Messler, Rick Drewry, Tally and Bill Mingst and Jim and Marilyn Zumberge viewed 100-year-old California mountain condor specimens and a coiling boa stalking a bird in a tropical rain forest scene.

Phila Caldwell, who arrived with Betty and Dick Steele, admired the exhibit on Schreiber’s bird travels in the Easter Islands. Her late husband, George, often accompanied Schreiber on outings and was a vice chairman of the hall campaign. Other guests were Stephen and Kay Onderdonk.

The crowd dined on whimsical hors d’oeuvres--grilled chicken at the Chicken Coop, duck at the Duck’s Nest and designer hamburgers at the Pink Flamingo Cafe--all catered by James Products.

THE CHAMBER: There was a pause “to honor the people in the Persian Gulf” and singing of “God Bless America” before the Inaugural Ball for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce got under way at the Century Plaza. Only then did the chairman’s medallion pass from James P. Miscoll, vice chairman of Bank of America, to Byron Allumbaugh, chairman and CEO of Ralphs. This was Miscoll’s first night out without his neck brace after spinal surgery. “We were looking at a bank in Boston and I got whiplash,” he said.

Allumbaugh told the 900 in attendance that the $300-per-person ball, planned by event chairman William D. Schulte and vice chair James W. McElvany, also was a salute to the utilities industry of Southern California.

Accepting accolades were Michael R. Peevey, president of Southern California Edison; Richard D. Farman, chairman and CEO of Southern California Gas; H. Trevor Jones, vice president of Pacific Bell; Lois Krieger, chairwoman, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Daniel W. Waters, general manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Michael Crawford, vice president, General Telephone Co.

Chamber leaders were in abundance: military expert Robert D. Paulson, with his fiancee, Robin Hoff (they will wed Feb. 2), Ed and Nadine Carson, Joan A. Payden, Sheldon and Sandy Ausman, Charles and Lorna Reed. Political leaders Mike Antonovich, Gray Davis and Robert Farrell were in the crowd. Former chamber presidents seen: Charles Miller, John Argue, Willard Carr.

LIVELY: The CHIPS (Colleague Helpers in Philanthropic Service), a group that aids abused children, is known for its chic. No wonder Fred Hayman has chosen the group to co-host his cocktail party honoring the 21-year-old New York fashion rage Christian Francis Roth on Jan. 29 at 273 Rodeo Drive. Roth has already won the Perry Ellis Award for his appliques of trompe l’oeil M&M;’s, clothespins and bottle caps.

THE DESERT: Frank Sinatra, who serves as “First Uncle” to hundreds of children at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center in Rancho Mirage, was the piece de resistance , welcoming 30 women to the newly formed Aunts Club at the Palm Springs home of country singer Dene Anton. The Uncles and Aunts make an annual gift to the center.

Actress Jill St. John became the “First Aunt” after hearing of the Uncles Club for men. Barbara Sinatra has named Helen Galen the “ Grande Aunt,” with the task of increasing the membership of the fund-raising Aunts to 100 . . . .

The Bob Hope Cultural Center’s McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts is gearing up for “It’s Broadway in Monterey,” a Feb. 8. gala featuring the New York-based National Dance Institute. Supporters lunched at the Vintage Club, Indian Wells, with Jacques d’Amboise, institute founder.

PAST PERFECT: The “Empty House Party,” hosted by Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee, is over. Now the abode above Eaton Canyon will be transformed into a wonder for the Pasadena Showcase House of Design opening on April 21. President Brenda Owen, benefit chair Linda Seiter, Judy Frank, Susan Olsen, Susan Clayton and Christina Campbell take on the job. But first, they joined 600 guests in trekking over the six-acre site and feasting on fajitas, Cajun crab salad, brie, lobster and potato soup and lots of carved pastrami at the kickoff party.

WITH LOVE: Leo F. Buscaglia attended USC on scholarship and has three degrees from the university, including his doctorate. The author of best-selling books on love and human potential recently returned the favor. Nearly 200 came for the USC School of Education dinner to celebrate his gift of $500,000. The bulk of the donation goes to the Leo Buscaglia Scholarship for Inner City Teacher Education, an endowment for graduates of inner-city high schools. Recipients get full tuition to train as teachers at USC, then teach and serve as role models in city high schools for at least two years. The other grant recipients are KUSC, the USC Library and the department of letters, arts and sciences.