Dancing Up a Storm for Dance Gallery

Some of the biggest dance talents in Hollywood and some of their most devoted fans will congregate at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Jan. 17 to catch the world premiere of “That’s Dancing!” and to celebrate the event later at a supper-dance at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The evening, hosted by the Dance Gallery Guild, is a benefit for the Dance Gallery, the complex in the downtown California Plaza that will include a dance theater, institute and library and is set to open next year.

Ruth Yablans is chairing the benefit and Cyd Charisse Martin, one of the featured dancers in “That’s Dancing!,” is honorary co-chairman. Mikhail Baryshnikov, director of the American Ballet Theatre, and another of the film’s stars, won’t be around that night. (On Jan. 19 he’ll be dancing in Washington in the Inaugural Salute to the President.) But very much on the scene will be Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly and Liza Minnelli, who with Baryshnikov are hosts for the film, produced by Jack Haley Jr. and David Niven Jr.

“That’s Dancing!” (written and directed by Haley) spans the history of dance in movies via a series of sequences from 150 Hollywood films. Says Niven, as he gets ready for the premiere: “We were able to secure footage and outtakes that have never been seen before.”

Heads will be swiveling at the star turnout--John Travolta, Marine Jahan (who did much forthe actual dancing in “Flashdance”), Debbie Reynolds, James Mitchell, Fayard Nicholas of the dancing Nicholar Brothers, Tamara Toumanova and, of course, Bella Lewitzky, the force behind the Dance Gallery.

The Holiday Scramble--a continuing saga:

Gerry Oppenheimer ascended the circular staircase of one of his living rooms and the crowd below him quieted down and listened. Gerry was there to tell everyone that this happy party was celebrating the birthdays of his wife, Virginia, and Tony Martin. Then out came their “cakes”--mounds of caviar with one candle. Guests--such as Charles Wick, head of the U. S. Information Agency, and his wife, Mary Jane; Pam. Beach’s Jan Young; New York and Beverly Hills’ Myles Lowell, and Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Murphy--sang an off-tune “Happy Birthday” and set to polishing off their own portions of caviar. On the buffet were beef Bourguignon and salad.

Ceil Moore and John Wiegman ended up sitting near Jean Trousdale and Dr. Ed Hill and Craig Stevens. And Alexis Smith, Ruth Yablans, Richard Gully, Jayne and Henry Berger, John and Louise Good, Frances Brody, Frank McCarthy, Sally Cobb (she and the hostess grew up in Kansas City ), Moss Mabrey, James and Pascal Regan, Elsie and Frank Pollock, Cyd Charisse, Val Arnold, Giney Milner and Bob Forward and the rest were scattered around other tables in the dining room.

Fritz and Ingrid Ohrback came back into town in time to host a wonderful Christmas open house with carolers at the front door, a harpist inside, Chuck Pick and his crew parking cars and and Chasen’s catering a groaning buffet. The crowd was thick with old pals such as Earle and Marion Jorgensen, Harriet and Ardie Deutsch (both couples saw the New Year in at the Walter Annenbergs’ desert compound), Kenny and Marianne Rogers, David and Dee May, Bea and Sidney Korshak, the Nick Vanoffs, Camilla Sparv and her ex, Bunker Hoover. Plus Kurt and Betty Niklas, the Henry Bergers, Peggy Parker with Walter Grauman, Nancy and Allan Livingston, Wendy Goldberg, Joanna Carson with Bob Parkinson, Lee Minnelli, Tina Sinatra with Bob Finkelstein, Jolene and George Schlatter, Dani and Hal Needham and Richard Gully with Ruth Yablans.

Gary Hendler said goodby and happy holidays to his Tri-Star associates at a party at Madame Wu’s Garden (Hendler is leaving to go it on his own as an independent producer). And also in happy moods at the restaurant were Gov. John Evans of Idaho and Gov. William Janklow of South Dakota, dining with their host, insurance tycoon Richard Pillinger; New Yorkers David and Nancy Sureck on a Southern California holiday (it also included anniversary parties hosted for them by Myra Waldo and husband, Bob Schwartz, and Louis and Anita Nye) dining with his brother Joe (he’s just recently retired as U.S. immigration chief for the Orient) and Madame Wu; Mr. and Mrs. Morton Philips (she’s Dear Abby); Miranda Eu with daughter B.J. and a few friends.

At L’Orangerie the holiday decor included one giant spray of white and sparkling tree branches and a few silver Christmas balls in the middle of the main dining room. And basking in that glow were Rusty and Zena Hoffman, hosting a dinner party that included a white floral centerpiece in a mirrored circle (by Christopher Matsumoto of Flower Fashions) and such guests as Gerry and Virginia Oppenheimer, Joan and Jack Quinn, the Genry Bergers, Jacques Camus with Joyce MacRae and Grace and Merrill Lowell, who had to leave early because she wasn’t feeling well. Also I. Magnin’s Jack Miles with Harold Davis of the the Bill Blass organization; Guy Greengard, and David Jones, who was having a holiday drink at the tiled bar after having dined at Le Restaurant.

Cecil Moore’s Christmas Day Texas feast was moved up a few days. On her buffet were Cecil’s version of San Angelo chili with all the fixings--enchiladas, tiny hamburgers and a special array of fruits and desserts. Among some of those hustling back for seconds were Belle and Seymour Owens; Doris Fields Heller, up from Newport Beach; John Wiegman; Ceil’s granddaughters, Debbi and Cristy, who live in Dallas; Sid Otto from Sand Francisco; Jack Lowrance; Max Eckert and the Robert Sullys, and Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Mastor with their children.

Irene Dunne’s chef, Melvin, prepared the Christmas luncheon and among the guests at this family fete were the hostess’ grandchildren, Mark and Ann Marie Shinnick; her sister-in-law, Doris Dunne, and nephew Allen Dunne with his wife, Lois, and their children, Stephen and Anthony; Loyola Marymount’s Father Maurice Chase (after lunch he spent the rest of the day as a volunteer on Skid Row); and Lois Dunne’s mother, Anne Manza.