Historical Society to Reminisce at Gala

When the Southern California History Council of the California Historical Society does a party, it’s a big one. They’re “Reminiscing at the Roosevelt” with a benefit dinner Jan. 24, and the evening honors Lucy and Homer Toberman for their ongoing contributions to Hollywood’s cultural life and historical preservation.

Mrs. Norman B. Terry, benefit chairman, has chosen the Blossom Room for cocktails and dinner. Mmes. Kennedy B. Galpin and Joseph Vaccaro have been at work securing an impressive Patrons Committee. To name a few, Mrs. William J. Bettingen, the Ernest A. Bryants III, Dr. John and Nancy Call, Robert and Janice Carpenter, the William Claytons Jr., the Warren H. Crowells, the William H. Dohenys, the Richard A. Hotalings, the Hugh L. Macneils, the Edward H. McLaughlins Jr., Mrs. Fred Nason, the Thomas P. Pikes, Mrs. Karl von Platen--all history buffs, too.

The goals are to maintain and catalogue the unique photographic collection housed at the History Center in Los Angeles and co-sponsorship of the annual statewide “History Day,” which encourages students in grades six through 12 to prepare projects, papers and media presentations on historical themes.

Assuring success is the committee including Sheila Bullock, Patricia Ketchum, Maggie Pexton Murray, Margaret Thalken and Mmes. Frank Simpson III, Rodney F. Williams, William Struble, Maurice A. Machris, Sven A. Lokrantz, Stirling L. Huntley, William Goodan, Silvio Hoshek, John J. Bucklin, Joel H. Newkirk and Willard Bell.

Wielding his baton, Andre Previn’s on the front of the invitation, in black and white, and it’s the bid from the board of governors of the Performing Arts Council of the Music Center and Joseph J. Pinola, chairman of the Music Center Unified Fund Campaign ‘86, to dine with Maestro Previn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Sunday in the Blue Ribbon Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Harry Wetzel, PAC board chairman, and Ernest Fleischmann, the orchestra’s executive director, will join in welcoming campaign leadership, which includes members of the Chairman’s Council (it directs the campaign); members of the Cabinet (civic, business and Music Center leaders) and the Major Gifts Committee team members (representing various areas of expertise).

The 1986 goal is lofty--$9.5 million to be raised by June to support the Music Center resident companies: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Center Theatre Group-Mark Taper Forum, the Joffrey Ballet, Music Center Opera Assn., Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Music Center Education Division.

More than 2,000 ultimately will raise funds.

A sleek replica of the original 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car, the world’s first automobile, is but a touch of the class on view for the invitational reception and dinner celebrating the opening of the “Mercedes-Benz Centennial Exhibition: One Hundred Years of the Automobile” on Monday.

The governors (Ed Harrison) and the trustees (chairman Robert S. Attiyeh) of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the management of Mercedes-Benz of North America (sponsors) have proclaimed black tie for the festivities, plus, of course, valet parking.

Hans-Juergen Hinrichs of the board of directors of Mercedes will be there, along with Eric Krampe and Ralph Winkler, and the president of Mercedes-Benz of North America, Walter Bodak of Montvale, N.J., is coming.

The ladies will have to go some in couture to match the dignity of the 20 Daimler, Benz and Mercedes-Benz vehicles on exhibit (to the public, Tuesday to July 6). Among autos will be the 1905 American Mercedes, built in New York by Steinway under license from Daimler of Germany; an original 1914 Mercedes grand prix racing car, a 1929 Model SS and a 1935 500K cabriolet.

A diorama re-creating Gottlieb Daimler’s workshop in Cannstatt, Germany, where he built the first motorcycle and the first four-wheeled auto, will be displayed too.

Last year a member of the Costume Council reportedly called her husband from Paris and gushed, “I’m having such a good time--I’m glad you’re not here.”

Lest the wrong impression be given, she was raving about the costumes and textiles she was viewing and the museums that Edward Maeder, curator of costumes and textiles for the County Museum of Art, had gained entre to.

Now, says Mrs. H. Grant Theis, the trip will be repeated, and already 17 of last year’s group have signed up for the 20 spots available. Again, Barbara Leidenfrost is making food connections. The ladies are programmed for museums in the mornings and for gourmet luncheons, which, we hear, normally go until 3 p.m.

Armand Hammer is hosting a private dinner and cocktail reception as part of the festivity surrounding the Palm Springs Desert Museum’s showing of the acclaimed exhibition, “The Armand Hammer Collection: Five Centuries of Masterpieces.”

It will include the Kirk Douglases, former President and Mrs. Gerald Ford and those who are making the exhibition possible Jan. 16-March 9. Among them are the Jerome Goldsteins, the Josef Goreliks, the Walter N. Markses, the Leo Owenses, the Carl D. Pearls, the Walter Probsts, the Irvine Robbinses, Stephen Chase and leaders of the Women’s Committee of the museum.

Already presented in Alabama, New Mexico and Florida, the show of 115 masterworks highlighting art from the Renaissance to the 20th Century is sponsored by the Armand Hammer Foundation and the Occidental Petroleum Corp.

The UCLA Film, Television & Radio Archives and Cinema ’89 (Friends of the UCLA Film Archives and La Cinematheque Francaise) are hosting the world premiere of the Cinematheque Francaise restoration of “Casanova” (1927) Jan. 23 at Royce Hall, UCLA. Later in the evening George Delerue will be feted at a gala reception. He’s the Academy Award-winning composer who composed and conducted the original score.

Consul Gen. of France Francois Mouton has helped put the evening together. Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck are chairmen of the Cinema 89 Founders Committee. On the gala committee: Joan Burns, Jocelyne Wazzan, Mmes. Richard Hammerman and Earle Crandall, Patricia H. Ketchum, Dini and Les Ostrov, Jacques Poletti and more.