Big Sisters of L.A. to Host a Fashionable Luncheon

It would take a secretary, a computer, a maid, a valet, a reliable 10-minute dry-cleaner and 72-hour days to keep up with all the social doings and do-goodings going on in Los Angeles.

Big Sisters of Los Angeles must have given Chevy Chase a big hug, because they’ve got him for master of ceremonies for their luncheon--and fashion commentary--Wednesday at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

It’s an “Afternoon With Gershwin” sort of thing. Celebrity models Sarah Purcell, Jane Seymour, Sandi Scully, Jayni (Mrs. Chevy) Chase, Charlene Tilton, Moon Zappa, Dana Hill and Joyce Bulifant will be showing off Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beane, Oscar de la Renta and more prominent couture selected by Lauren Twenty (she’s chairman), owner of the boutique at 11714 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood.

The party marks the founding of the Big Sisters Guild, composed of significant annual contributors who also serve as role models and give guidance to needy and neglected girls.

On the executive committee: Lorraine Beck, Mrs. Wes Bilson, Alice Coulombe, Georgiana J. Francisco, Shirley Jones Ingels, Sherry Lansing, Marsha Mason, Mrs. Richard G. Osborn and Roz Wyman.

This should be a kick: Danny Kaye conducts the Trojan Marching Band on Saturday at the festive half-time show at the USC-Oregon State football game in the Coliseum. It’s part of USC Homecoming Day festivities. Yell leader alums will reunite during half time, too.

Earlier, tons of alumni will gather for a 10 a.m. pre-game picnic in Alumni Memorial Park with the theme “A Tribute to USC Volunteers.”

That’s the idea of Homecoming co-chairmen Eber Jacques Jr. (Class of ‘61) and Oscar Parra and Diana Jones (‘69). Under auspices of the General Alumni Assn., alumni clubs and sport groups will sponsor tents for remembrances.

Sally Brant, who’s served two happy years on Sen. Pete Wilson’s Southern California staff, won her realtor’s license in January, and has made a major career change: She’s joined George Prindle Co. in Beverly Hills as a sales associate, and is already a success at selling houses on the West Side. The first was to Ed and Wendy Borcherdt, who have moved back from Washington.

Wendy’s the new executive director of President Reagan’s PAC--Citizens for the Republic--based in Santa Monica. The Brants fete the Borcherdts on Saturday at a “Welcome to the West Side” cocktail party.

We hear the best place to get a yummy sourdough sandwich is the new Crusty’s Sourdough Cafe at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco.

Vicki and Brian Corbell (they own Hotel Systems International, including Dupont Plaza in Washington, the Barclay in Philadelphia and the Inn at the Park in Anaheim) invited friends up for “the restoration of an old friend,” the cafe previously called Drake’s Tavern. They’ve spent more than $7 million in capital painstakingly rejuvenating the hotel, including restoring the original high ceilings of Crusty’s bar and the plaster detailing with Siamese figures of dancers’ heads and monkeys mixed with Greek and other motifs.

Chinese artisans recreated the ceiling by hand-carving the precise work that once existed, in 1928 when imaginative Leon W. Huckins created the hotel at Powell and Sutter in an era of elegance and extravagance.

Taking some side steps to the 21st floor of the hotel to the likewise-restored Starlite Roof were Bill and Beth King of Rolling Hills, who flew themselves up; Armand Habiby, Wayne and Fran Dryden, Ralph and Lynn Berke and Neil McGovern and three of the four Corbell children, Mercedes, Tory and Brian. Among those from San Francisco were Paul and Ann-Eve Hazen (he’s president of Wells Fargo), and from Orinda, Sherri and Dick Dumke and Bob and Bev Chickering.

Georgia Tatum, president of the Pasadena Guidance Clinics, and directors and staff hosted an open house and celebration last week to recognize the clinics’ 60 years of service.

According to Georgia, this is the first in a round of celebration events, aimed at rekindling interest in the clinics in people who were loyal in the past and in all who want to be loyal in the future. She’s asked friends to personalize notes to friends to clue them in.

They “can’t wait 15 years for a cure” for multiple sclerosis, the disease that affects their good friend, Marilyn Hilton (Mrs. Barron Hilton), so they formed a group called GEMS (Grand Echelon for Multiple Sclerosis Research) about six weeks ago, and tonight they host a Sparkling Sunday Evening, hoping to raise $100,000 for research.

It will be at the Hiltons’ home, the filming “home” for “The Colbys of Dynasty II,” which airs later this year.

These sparklers will introduce their new Pacific Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation amid cocktails, a buffet dinner, auctions, music, dancing and star-studded entertainment.

Naida Barnes, who happens to be an RN, is party chairman, and all of Marilyn’s devoted friends are dedicated to raising fun--Patricia Mahoney, Diana Ruchti, Donna Dahl, Nancy Dillon, Peggy Edwards, Barbara Field, Kathy Hilton, Patricia Mickelsen, Diana Murphy, Margie Peterson, Kathleen Richards, Essie Rippel and Andrea Spirtos.

They expect a crowd of 400.

In the tree-shaded sprawling grounds of the Flintridge Riding Club, Flintridge Guild of Childrens Hospital transformed the setting into a harvest scene Saturday night complete with scarecrows, hay bales and wagons, barbecued steaks, dancing, a casino and auction. Guild president Kathy Hess and benefit chairman Shere Adair were the major domos.

Now, today, the final day of the four day Flintridge Amateur Horse Show, the club is excited about its $25,000 Chrysler Grand Prix at 2:30 p.m. This is a World Cup qualifying event, sanctioned by the American Horse Show Assn., which gave the show an “A” rating.

The riding club is located at 4625 Oak Grove Dr. in La Canada-Flintridge. All proceeds, earmarked for plastic surgery, go to Childrens Hospital, according to Linda Bartlett.

Champagne will bubble Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at J. C. Penney Montebello when Miss USA, Laura Martinez-Herring, is feted. The Penney Company and the Latin American Professional Women’s Assn. join to celebrate the grand opening of the store at 1600 Montebello Town Center.

Tickets at $20 per person benefit the East/Northeast Little Sister Program.

Bountiful amounts of silver, crystal, porcelain, antiques, white mink pillows, luggage, household items, tools and clothing have been assembled for the 25th Silver Anniversary Birthday Party Thursday of the Next-to-New Shop at 210 E. Broadway, Glendale.

That’s the Guild of Memorial Hospital of Glendale’s project which has raised half a million with 250,000 volunteer hours. Originally it was then guild president Jean Woodward’s idea.

Most thrift shops have paid managers. This one pays no salaries. Charter member Mrs. R. O. Anderson, first chairman, still works there after contributing 10,000 hours. Mmes. John Knox, Charles Lucas, Daniel Greening, Paul Livoni and Doris Jaquith have given thousands of hours.

Mrs. John L. Withers is Silver Anniversary Year chairman, and Mrs. James V. Dooley current guild president.

The Joan Robinson Fuselier Memorial Fund., Inc. has a dinner-dance Friday at the Friars Club in Beverly Hills. Marla Gibbs and tap dancer Gene Bell head the entertainment, according to Thelma Miles Smith, dinner coordinator.

Susan Sciacca heads the People Helping People U.S.A. “Fishing for Fashions” luncheon today at the Sheraton Premiere.

The Foothill Health & Education Foundation of Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora benefits from the debut of Candlelight Pavilion, the all-new dinner/musical entertainment center, Friday. The production of “Premiere Jubilee” at Griswold’s Claremont Center, according to Ben Bollinger, artistic director, will feature American’s best-loved music from ragtime to 1985. Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Andrews are co-chairmen, hoping to raise $30,000.

Sisters Servants of Mary Guild hosted a bridge luncheon at the Beach Club with Mrs. Richard Danner chairman.

Next Sunday the UCLA Museum of Cultural History plans a reception for the opening of “The Eloquent Dead: Ancestral Sculpture of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.” It’s from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery.