Kaye on Podium for Bowl Fund-Raiser

“Everybody,” says stylish, music-loving Mrs. George S. Behrendt, “loves Danny Kaye, from heads of state to children. It’s going to be a wide cross section of these fans, people from all walks of life, old ones and young ones,” she adds, “who will show up at the Hollywood Bowl when Danny conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic.”

Olive Behrendt, who has been chairman and president of the Philharmonic board and now serves as its vice chairman, is heading up the Danny Kaye night at the Bowl on Sept. 8, a benefit for the orchestra’s pension fund. “It’s going to be a family night,” she mentions in the same breath with ticket prices, which are $50 for box seats, and from $25 to $5 for those higher up. Soon after his appearance at the Bowl, the maestro flies to Washington, where he’ll attend the Sept. 10 White House State Dinner for the prime minister of Denmark, Paul Schlueter.

Getting down to specifics, the crowd at the Pension Fund Concert is expected to include MCA chief honcho Lew Wasserman and his wife, Edie; Kirk and Anne Douglas; radio’s Michael Jackson and his wife, Alana, and a host of other head-turning celebrities. Plus, of course, the Philharmonic board, which is serving as Mrs. Behrendt’s committee for the fund-raiser and includes chairman Rocco C. Siciliano, president Sidney R. Petersen, vice presidents C. Joseph LaBonte and Donn B. Tatum; secretary Dennis M. Kent; Ed Carter; Bram Goldsmith; John F. Hotchkis, Royce Diener; Chauncey J. Medberry III, Joseph J. Pinola and H. Russell Smith. And, of course, the Philharmonic’s executive director, Ernest Fleischmann.

A group of yuppies (their ages range from 18 to 35) who banded together as Concern II (Young Adults Funding Cancer Research) is putting together an evening of “food, frolic and fun” at the newly renovated Santa Monica Pier Carousel. “Ride a Painted Pony” is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7, and it’s the third annual fund-raiser for the group, which has already raised $350,000.

Riding painting carousel ponies isn’t the only activity scheduled for this party. There’ll be a raffle (contributions from Robinson’s, Furs by Mannis, Sea World, Aames Clothing, Angelus Furniture, etc.); mimes, jugglers and fortunetellers. Jim Capps of Bristol Farms is handling the decor and food (cotton candy and popcorn, naturally, plus crab and shrimp appetizers, pate and roast sirloin, mouth-watering mousses) and Jim Marcus has volunteered his disc jockey expertise.

Nancy Powell, a Concern II founder, is chairman for the party committee, which also includes Victor Reskin, Lisa Horwitch, Lawrence Ziff, Monique Moss, Tani Miller, Mindi Horwitch, Debbie Hovsepian, David Newmark, David Weiner and Nancy Paul. Tickets for the pony rides and all the rest of the frolic are $40 per person.

The Social Scramble: Planning to accompany Paul Bruggemans on a luxe cruise down the Nile in January are Francie Brody; Vincent Price and his wife, Coral Browne; Belgian Baron Stefan Janssen, and a few more congenial souls.

Steven F. Konow, vice president for first-run syndication at Warner Bros., is planning a big blowout at Madame Wu’s Garden on Sept. 26, the day he turns 40. It’s going to be a sporting event, judging by the guest list, which includes the Dodgers’ Tommy Lasorda, quite a few of the Dodgers’ players, Jerry Buss, the L.A. Raiders’ Al Davis and a lot of other athletic-minded pals.

Disney Studio’s Jeffrey Katzenberg and Paramount’s David Kirkpatrick, who once worked at the same studio, were dining at the Siamese Princess, but at different tables; and director Hy Averback and the restaurant’s Chris Chapman had a nice reunion (Averback directed the pilot for “Love Boat” aboard the Pacific Princess in 1976 when Chapman was the ship’s real cruise director).

Dates to Remember: Wednesday for the opening night symposium, plus Indian music and food at the California Museum of Science and Industry, where Herb Agid’s “Soul of India” photographic exhibit runs from Thursday to Sept. 30.

Sept. 4 when Childhelp Center-Los Angeles, June Haver and Fred MacMurray and Frances and Happy Franklin host a kick-off party at Giorgio for Childhelp’s upcoming Gala Italiana (Oct. 3 at the Beverly Hilton) starring none other than Perry Como. Circle that one in bold strokes.

Sept. 3 when the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its first Los Angeles Raiders Luncheon, “a rousing kickoff” for the three-time World Champions “on their march to Super Bowl XX.” Cheers for Al Davis, team owner; coach Tom Flores, and the assistant coaches and players, as the Raiders open their 1985 NFL season Sept. 8.

Sept. 14 when the board of trustees of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. invites patrons, benefactors and special friends to attend the 15th annual Beastly Ball in the Los Angeles Zoo’s Theme Building. The evening will include elephant and camel rides, a buffet dinner and the usual, and hotly contested, animal adoption auction. It will be Helen Maher’s last year as ball chairman and she says, “I’m planning on an outstanding party.”

Oct. 5 for the champagne brunch celebrating the opening of the Plaza de la Raza Second Annual Folklife Festival and the opening of the Margo Albert Theatre.

Oct. 17 for the Hospital of the Good Samaritan’s 100th Birthday Celebration Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. This “Dance Through the Decades” will be the high spot of almost a year of celebrating. Ball chairman Mrs. John Cree Wilson Jr. and her committee--Jan Clayton, Janice Carpenter, Susan Blumenthal, Letitia Zaro, Peggy McLeod and Jo McLain are working awfully hard on some very elegant plans.

Oct. 25 when the League for Crippled Children honors Madame Sylvia Wu, as “philanthropist, restaurateur of the year and citizen of the world” at its 43rd Jack O’Lantern Ball in the Beverly Wilshire’s Grand Ballroom. The ball, explains ball chairman Mrs. Frank D. Higgins, “is our major fund-raiser for our present $750,000 pledge to fund a new 12-bed recovery room, patient holding area and attendant alcove at Orthopaedic Hospital.” Efrem Zimbalist Jr. has already pledged to be master of ceremonies for the ball.

Social Backtracking: The turnout was terrific for the cocktail party and slide presentation of “The De Mille Dynasty,” a preview as it were of the tribute to the multi talents of the De Mille family, which opens at Century City (in the old Silverwood’s building) on Oct. 25. The evening was a cooperative effort co-hosted by the Americana Dance Theatre and the RREEF Fund (RREEF is the company that owns and operates Century City). And among those there: Richard C. Wilson, president, Century City Inc.; the Noubar Ashjians (she’s Gov. Deukmejian’s sister); Lloyd Rigler, president, Adolph’s Foundation; Paramount Studios’ Michael Daley; Edward Maeder, curator of textiles and costumes, County Museum of Art; Gary Essert, director, American Cinematheque; Councilman Joel Wachs; Sandra Moss; Republic Pictures’ Bud Groskopf and his wife; Betty Lasky; the Norman Kreisses; attorney Louis Nizer with Mr. and Mrs. William Chertok; Anne Jeffreys; Jane Greer, and the Randall Presleys (she’s Cecil’s granddaughter).