Stars Shine at Holiday Premiere Fund-Raisers

Two blockbuster premiere parties kept Hollywood out late on successive nights this week, as “Out of Africa” opened (benefiting St. John’s Hospital) and the Women’s Guild of Cedars-Sinai hosted the opening of “A Chorus Line.” . . . The best holiday premiere, though, could be the debut of the brand-new daughter of Ed and Victoria McMahon--Katherine Mary. Her proud papa calls Katy “The Muffin.”

ABOUT AFRICA--Rarely do 1,400 jaded Hollywood types cheer and cry at the end of a premiere--unless one counts Tuesday night’s screening of “Out of Africa.” Universal Pictures put together the post-premiere party benefiting St. John’s, with Judy Ovitz chairing and Nanci Denney, Marion Jorgensen, Betty Williams and Bonita Wrather co-chairing. The Century Plaza, which gets glitzed-up regularly, somehow was transformed into a early 20th-Century colonials’ club, complete with an all-African menu. For once, all people could talk about was the film, including the incredibly romantic scene when an on-safari Robert Redford washes Meryl Streep’s hair. “I wouldn’t mind being in Africa,” Wallis Annenberg told her escort, author Scott Berg, “but only if I could bring a hairdresser along.”

CEDARS CHORUS--Once again, the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Guild pulled it off, as the young stars of “A Chorus Line,” along with director Richard Attenborough, table-hopped between groups of Hollywood’s top names. Dozens of autograph seekers and paparazzi lined the red carpets between the Plitt theater and the Century Plaza, seeking out stars like Ally Sheedy, Linda Evans, Gregory Peck and “Cocoon’s” Steve Guttenberg. Anne Douglas had chaired the sold-out premiere--which raised $400,000--and she and hubby Kirk, along with his son Michael Douglas (who plays Zach), were delighted at both the film and the party’s outcomes. The main topic at the McMahons’ table was the arrival of the “blessed event” on Dec. 2, with lots of toasts to “Katy.” At their table were various “aunts and uncles” of the new McMahon--Mary Ann Mobley with hubby Gary Collins--she kept insisting “Not Katy. Mary. Get it straight”--and Suzanne and David Horowitz, who already had sent over his consumer-safety “Baby Home Video” and a “Fight Back”-approved baby car seat. Collins took a lot of kidding for refusing to do his becoming-legendary imitation of a lizard--but there is always the chance he’s saving it for “Hour Magazine.”

IN THIS CORNER, THE GROOM--Agent Ron Meyers tonight hosts an exclusive stag party for groom-to-be Sylvester Stallone. We can’t tell the location, but it doesn’t start until 9:30.

SEASON GREETINGS--Here’s the best, a card that really shows the Christmas spirit. A persona of one of the prestigious Rodeo Drive stores is sending out “Holiday Greetings” cards--neither engraved, nor handwritten, they are instead “signed” with a rubber stamp with her name and the name of the store.

BEST WISHES--Wonder why Marcia Medavoy and her beau, motion-picture exec Hal Ross, looked so happy driving out of Hillcrest last week? Maybe because they’ve set the date for their wedding. It’s next Friday, with a party at the home of her parents, Roz and Henry Rogers.

SIGN OF THESE TIMES--The large green-and-white sign at the rear of the Beverly Hills Hotel, denoting the employes entrance, is in English and Spanish.

THEATER PARTY--Opening night for “The Normal Heart”--a benefit for AIDS Project L.A. chaired by Gene La Pietra--saw star Richard Dreyfuss, with his wife, Jeramie, join author Larry Kramer and stars like Madonna, Sean Penn, “Poltergeist’s” Zelda Rubinstein and “Silver Spoons’ ” Erin Grey for a gala reception at Miceli’s Restaurant.