Life in the Political Fast Lane at Bowling Benefit

They might not believe it back in Connecticut, but Sen. Chris Dodd raised $50,000 for his campaign chest by getting glitzy Hollywood types to bowl Saturday night in Santa Monica. Stars like Robert Foxworth (“Falcon Crest”) and Mike Farrell--two who applaud the Democratic senator’s strong stand against U.S. intervention in Nicaragua--turned out, with Farrell’s wife, Shelley Fabares; Rosanna Arquette; Cynthia Sykes; and Catherine Oxenberg. Foxworth’s National Public Radio show, “America Dialogues,” starts in January, but he says he’ll still have time to bowl in the “Falcon Crest” league. . . . Operation California’s Richard Walden bowled a 194, and Fabares managed a 43. Foxworth brought his own bowling ball--and his own driver. Catherine Oxenberg proved herself every bit a princess, leaving just-where-she-dropped-it that big old heavy ball that just proved too much. Photogs flashed, as she and Arquette, over and over again, learned how to do it. . . . Assemblyman Tom Hayden was joined briefly by a flu-bound Jane Fonda. Everyone, glutted with black-tie dinners, nevertheless seemed surprised at the event’s success. Board of Equalization member Conway Collis, with wife Peggy, stopped by organizer Rick Allen and admitted, “I tried to talk him out of it.” Dodd finally got his blazer off, and bowled a few frames.

USO OVERSEAS GOES ON--But this year without Bob Hope, who for the first time in 40-plus years won’t be making the annual overseas Christmas trek. On his annual Christmas special on NBC Sunday night, he claims, “In Beverly Hills, when Santa lands on the roof, you’re expected to provide valet parking.” . . . Catherine Bach leaves Sunday on the only Middle East USO tour. After seven years of Daisy Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” Bach is getting ready for some Off-Broadway work in a still untitled “dramatic musical,” but you’ll see her first on the Diet Coke ad she’s made with saxophonist Clarence Clemons and Whitney Houston.

RENOVATION--Look for a blue-ribbon committee to be put together for Project Restore, a just-in-the-works idea that reportedly involves city Public Works Commissioner Maureen Kindell. She apparently wants to spruce up L.A.’s landmark City Hall and is going to get the private sector behind it.

KUDOS--The ACLU Saturday celebrates the 194th birthday of the Bill of Rights by honoring film director Sidney Lumet, Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, attorney Lloyd Smith and outgoing ACLU director Ramona Ripston. At the Ambassador Hotel, look for Jack Warden and Rod Steiger. . . . Dionne Warwick gets her star on Hollywood Boulevard on her birthday, Thursday.

LOTS OF FIRSTS--Eddie Murphy makes the Guinness Book of World Records next week when it includes his record-setting advance sale on the “Beverly Hills Cop” video of 1.3 million. Folks at Paramount Home video are happy, happy. . . . As were the folks at Whole Earth Review when they received his check for $1,000 from Marlon Brando. Which makes him, in their terms, a “maniacal subscriber.”

ERICA ERUPTIONS--Erica (Susan Lucci) can certainly stir up the trouble on “All My Children,” where she’s been 15 years and now collects on a seven-figure contract. Now she’ll also be on NBC Jan. 19 starring in “Mafia Princess,” the network is certainly promoting her and the TV movie. Wonder if they know her ABC “Children” contract is up in March?