Bradley Gets Last Laugh in Big Switch

ONLY IN HOLLYWOOD

Mayor Tom Bradley and hundreds of downtown corporate types (the “wing-tip crowd,” according to Chuck Pick of Chuck’s Parking) turned out to party and watch the mayor turn on a tall, outside Christmas tree, inaugurating the first phase of the 7.9-acre Citicorp Plaza opening downtown. Only thing is, the big switch the mayor pulled was fake and, through the windows, the crowd could see a jacketed man waving madly at the guy with the real switch. There was about a 10-second delay, which Bradley responded to with holiday good humor: “You must know that this is Hollywood. We have to fake something.” The Plaza will eventually house a major mall and a giant landscaped plaza for concerts and exhibits. Sounds like N.Y.C.’S Rockefeller Center, but the tree wasn’t exactly Rockefeller Center size, since the fellow who delivered the 65-footer reportedly got into a disagreement and left with his tree. A 35-foot replacement was found. So, if you’re looking for a big tree this year. . . .

D.C. DOINGS--Author Kitty Kelley, who’s finished her book on Frank Sinatra, threw a party for “Entertainment Tonight” writer Wayne Warga’s new mystery, “Hard Cover.” Californians such as Reps. Howard Berman (D-Los Angeles) and Mel Levine (D-Los Angeles) and D.C. writers such as Les Witten were at the Georgetown home Kelley shares with her spouse, Mike Edgley. Since First Daughter Maureen Reagan was coming, the Secret Service showed up early to “sweep” the house--and ran into longtime family friend, photographer Stanley Tretick, also sweeping--sweeping the front steps. Tretick says the highlight of the evening was when Rep. Tom Foley (D-Wash.), majority whip, described, as Reagan listened, the arrival of her father for his post-Geneva joint session of Congress. The arrival was accompanied by soaring helicopters overhead, and Foley dubbed the scene “Apocalypse Three.” The Washington consensus is that no President will be able to just drive up in a car after the security show that was put on at the Capitol.

PRIZES--The Hollywood Women’s Press Club, founded in 1928 by Louella O. Parsons, this year presents its 45th Golden Apple Awards. Nominees for most newsworthy--Meryl Streep and Elizabeth Taylor, Bill Cosby, Clint Eastwood (he’ll be at the awards) and Bruce Springsteen. Listed as a nominee for most newsworthy male discovery--”Cocoon’s” Don Ameche. Sour Apple nominees are Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal, Prince and Apollonia, Sylvester Stallone and Rambo. The winners will be announced at the Christmas Lunch at the Beverly Wilshire Sunday--with many stars on hand, including Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper, Joan Van Ark, Susan Clark and Alex Karras.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE-- Well-known performers join the students of Landmark West School on Dec. 15 for a luncheon performance. Ed Asner, Patty Duke, Julie Harris and the Lennon Sisters will be part of the show, “Gifts of Greatness,” at the Beverly Wilshire. Mrs. Veep Barbara Bush is the honorary chairman, Susan W. Robertson is president of the Parents Assn. The school provides high-potential dyslexic students with the opportunity to succeed.

CHRISTMAS CHEER--Dozens of stars--including Chevy Chase, Cathy Lee Crosby, Christopher Atkins and Linda Lavin--today begin visits to hospitalized children, as part of parties hosted by Bullock’s Department Stores and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. They’ll be at Childrens Hospital, County-USC Medical Center, Childrens Hospital Orange County, UCLA Medical Center and UC San Diego Medical Center. “Our theme for the holidays is wishes, and we hope through this effort their wishes for a happy Christmas begin to come true,” said Allen Questrom, Bullock’s chairman.

THE SPEAKER SPEAKS--Meeting with political reporters here this week, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown Jr. (D-San Francisco) was asked about his Sunday night fund-raiser at the Century Plaza. Breaking a hard rule of partisan politics, Brown--whose Northern California parties always break stylistic ground-- said he was “not pleased,” that he was disappointed with a lot of aspects of the evening--the program, etc. “I was interested in more people participating in the dance process and they didn’t. And then the food looked awful. By Los Angeles standards it was still a fabulous dinner, but by my standards it was (not). So when I got up there I wanted to be polite and low key. So by the time they got to me I was more interested in going back down there and talking to Morgan Fairchild.”

DINING OUT--It was the pretty and unmade-up Linda Evans lunching at Primi with a friend this week, in slacks and a big turtleneck sweater. But, on leaving, she did something Krystle Carrington would never do--she waved away valet parking and headed down the street, where she’d left her older Mercedes.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS--The outside of the invitation looks the same, but Hollywood types, be careful. There are two, not one, special screenings of “Murphy’s Romance” in the next few days. Tonight, one of the film’s stars, Sally Field, studio exec Guy McElwaine, director Martin Ritt and producer Lauren Ziskin host the screening and a party following. Thursday night, the film’s other star, James Garner, and his wife Lois host a special screening and a commissary supper to benefit “Save the Coast,” the environmental group.