Big Sisters Honor Barbie’s Bosses
Pink toy convertibles filled with Barbies and sporting “Big Sis” license plates almost crowded out the hot apple pie and vanilla ice cream desserts on the tables at the Professional Associates, Big Sisters of Los Angeles, gala Tuesday night at the Beverly Hilton.
Vicki Martin Johnson chaired an evening of ample fun: Singer Thelma Houston headlined entertainment (“Lean on Me”), and the corporate world came out to honor Mattel Toys Chairman John Amerman and President Jill Elikann Barad.
Said Disney President Frank Wells, introducing Amerman: “He is a warm, truly decent, gentle man.” Barad praised Big Sisters: “They are vital role models who open horizons that would not exist.”
The night netted nearly $150,000, with Pam Dawber and Sarah Purcell paying tribute to Rayna Hersowitz, former Big Sisters president. City leaders in the crowd included Richard Riordan, Jeffrey V. Peterson, Bob Rollo and Frank Hickman III.
A LA GATSBY: The Los Angeles Spinsters plan to turn their 65th annual spring ball May 3 into “An Evening at the Gatsby Mansion,” at the Beverly Hilton. Spinsters President Victoria Eastus will host a pre-ball reception. Kim Wilder is planning the Roarin’ ‘20s soiree with her ball committee, Margo Wright and Maryellen Mack.
PAST PERFECT: Mary Jensen and Joni and Clark Smith (still ruddy from six days of dog-sledding in the Arctic, where they slept in an igloo each night) turned a party room at the Los Angeles Country Club into black and white magic (a checkered dance floor, black curtains) for the prenuptial party honoring Stephanie Booth and Palmer Murray. Everyone wore black or white. Parties are so unique these days.
ON CUE: Marion Jorgensen said the sun would come out, and it finally did, but the Society of Fellows of the Huntington Library decided to move the Spring Garden Party inside last Saturday.
James Yoch, University of Oklahoma professor and garden expert, flew in to delight an audience with “The Influence of the English Arcadia on Southern California Landscape Design.” To the relief of many, he noted, “The best gardens aren’t too tidy.”
Mingling were Stanton and Ernestine Avery, John and Mary Ann Sturgeon, Superior Court Judge David Thomas and wife Peggy, George and Maggie Jagels, Larry and Mary Tollenaere, George and Marilyn Brumder, and George and Nancy Moss. Those in the know were giving early congratulations to Bob Erburu, who on Monday was named new chairman of the trustees, and to new trustees Marion Jorgensen and Bob Wycoff.
CITY LIFE: Sandy Ausman is taking over as the new chairwoman of the Blue Ribbon of the Music Center.
In one of her final farewells, outgoing chair Joanne Kozberg brought two Michaels together for conversation and afternoon tea for members at the Music Center--Michael Crawford, the Phantom of the Opera, and Michael Jackson, KABC radio host . . . .
Jo Usher, president of Group Effort, proudly announces that the group, which recently honored Marjorie and Richard J. Stegemeier at its 12th annual dinner auction, is up to $4 million raised for four charities: Arthritis Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Hospital diabetes unit, Los Angeles Children’s Museum and Loyola Marymount University . . . .
Marcia Hayden chaired the dinner-dance at the California Club for Angel’s Flight benefiting Catholic Charities Crisis Center . . . .
Bettie Bearden Pardee, author of “Great Entertaining,” let loose with the party tips at a Beach Club lecture and lunch arranged by Joan Aldrich, Melinda Conner, Raylene Meyer, Julie Prewitt and Vanya Rohner for Childrens Hospital . . . .
There was lots of fun for the 600 gathered for the 60th annual birthday lunch of Loyola High School Mothers Guild. Guild President Kathy Gray and Susan Armistead were on the greeting line.
GIFT OF HEART: We weren’t exactly right when we reported that United Way didn’t throw a party to celebrate the end of its annual campaign.
United Way didn’t pay for a party, but 750 volunteers and staff who raised $90 million (and are still raising more) paid $40 each to cover the cost of their thank-you party at Universal Studios.
SHOWCASE: They were saying at the Premiere Night of the 27th annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design on Saturday that the showcase house, the first modern one for the group, is one of the best yet. The views are fabulous, the designs fascinating.
In a no-hitch party night, Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee President Brenda Owen and her husband Bruce greeted guests, who had been shuttled from a parking lot, for the tour.
Then, just as light raindrops fell, first-nighters shuttled back to their cars and to the Ritz-Carlton Huntington, for late-night partying.
Benefit chair Linda Seiter and her husband John were in the forefront with Carol O’Toole, Paddy Grant, Dick and Kathy Schlosberg, Liz and Gordon Anderson, Marianna Little, Suzy Schulman, Pam Livingston, Susan and Merlin Olsen and Cindy McNeish.
PEOPLE WATCH: Fred Hayman and Betty Endo hosted Italian fashion tycoon Donatella Girombelli for an intimate sit-down dinner . . . .
Rodney and Margaret Ann Rood blushed as 1991 Sweethearts at the Fashionettes Awards Gala . . . .
Denise and Jack Smith will be named Very Special Parents of the Year by Helping Hand of Los Angeles at its Mother’s Day Luncheon May 3 at the Beverly Hilton . . . .
The Los Angeles Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, on May 3 will salute four distinguished women of the year--Mary D. Allen, Dr. Maxine S. Ostrom, Barbara Nyden Rodstein and Jaclyn Smith--at the Four Seasons . . .
Constance Towers will lead the 75th birthday chorus for “Sleeping Beauty” filmmaker Eyvind Earle when his art exhibit opens at the Tamara Bane Gallery on Melrose Friday evening . . . .
Michael Botwinick, new director of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, will be the honoree on a museum Cinco de Mayo harbor cruise May 5.
PERFECT DAY: Nancy Dowey, Marilou Yoel and Marie Humphreys planned it all--even ordered the sunshine to show off the California seascape--for The Group’s (supporters of Otis Art Institute) junket to Santa Barbara. First stop, touring Virginia Rogers’ historic Montecito house and grounds, then lunch at the Santa Barbara Biltmore and a visit to the home studio of artist Jack Baker.
KUDOS: To Susanne Fitger Donnelly, new to the board of the Student Conservation Assn. . . . Linda Bozung and Pauline Fraser, new to the Weingart Center Assn. board . . . Loretta Lindholm, to be installed Wednesday as president of the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter . . . talent agent Abner and Vi Greshler on their 50th wedding anniversary.
