Dinosaur Ball Is Due to Leave Imprint

It almost makes you cringe: Mystery centerpieces (we hear they’re live) are being concocted by Shelton Ellis of Gump’s for the Natural History Museum’s Dinosaur Ball on Saturday. In the museum’s vast halls, not only will the fossils gather for a ball, to paraphrase Ogden Nash, but so will a very black-tie crowd.

Bread sculpture dinosaurs (inedible) have been sighted around Los Angeles recently, bearing the news. They’re created by the baker at Dino De Laurentiis’ DDL Foodshow.

Ball chairman William A. Mingst promises spectacular decorations by some of the nation’s leading cartoonists, coordinated by Chuck Jones, creator of Bugs Bunny. Cartoon dinosaurs such as the “Blimposaurus” and the “Tyrannosaurus Wrecks” have been donated by Jones, Ken Anderson, Mel Shaw, Gary Larson (whose “The Far Side of Science” exhibit opens at the museum in November), Jim Borman, Doug Marlette, Mike Peters, Marc Davis, Rob Minkoff, Kelly Asbury, Kirk Wise and Dan Jeup. Huge two-dimensional blowups of the dinosaurs will decorate the halls.

Signed originals of the drawings will be available for purchase. Acceptances have already come from the Patrick Dohenys, the Fred Hartleys, the Robert Strubs, the Charles Luckmans and the Irving Stones.

Proceeds will be used to underwrite special exhibits such as the current “Ebla to Damascus” Smithsonian traveling exhibition now at the museum through June 1. Syria’s Ambassador to Washington Arafic Joujati was a surprise guest at the recent preview opening. The show represents some of the greatest treasures from the ancient Near East.

Community leaders have jumped on the bandwagon for Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center’s week-long (beginning next Sunday) series of “A New Star Is Born” events. The hoopla officially blesses the new nine-story Patient Tower.

Rodney Rood, Jan Ertezek, George Moody and Walter Beran are giving their support to the black-tie gala April 15 at the Sheraton Premiere. It’s there Bob Hope will receive the “Heart of Hollywood” award.

The fanfare follows the long and dedicated work of Robert C. Hill, the medical center foundation’s chairman, and of William N. Klove, medical center chairman, and their commitment to the health of the diverse Hollywood community. The tower is, in fact, the result of a five-year capital campaign to raise more than $70 million.

Ribbon-cuttings, a community luncheon at the Hollywood Roosevelt on April 16, tower tours and a workshop on women’s health issues are planned. Dedication week committee members include Morrison E. Chamberlin, George Fritzinger, Robert J. Giacovelli, Paul C. Masterson, Dr. Alden H. Miller, Allene L. Nungesser, Keith W. Renken, Leonard B. Stern and Bill Welsh.

It must be a marvelous weekend in Dallas. We’re talking about the Crescent Gala Weekend for the benefit of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Thinking big, the Texans are launching a $1-million endowment effort as part of the Kennedy Center’s $42-million National Performing Arts Fund, and they’re chauffeuring in friends from around the country for the festivities which, coincidently, celebrate the 10.5-acre unique complex (offices, hotel, shopping) adjacent to the Dallas Arts District.

At the heart of the fun is the Hotel Crescent Court (managed by Rosewood Hotels Inc., operator of the world-renowned Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, the Bel-Air here, the Hotel Hana-Maui in Hawaii and the Remington on Post Oak Park in Houston).

Former Texas Gov. William P. Clements Jr. and Mrs. Clements chair the event. It all started Friday evening when Caroline Hunt Schoellkopf, Kennedy Center trustee, and Robert D. Zimmer, Rosewood president, hosted cocktails in the Crescent Gallery, followed by the black-tie grand opening, and later, cocktails in the private Crescent Club.

We’re told Kennedy Center trustee Trammell Crow and Mrs. Crow, the William Herbert Hunts, Mrs. John Murchison, the H. Ross Perots, the T. Boone Pickenses and the Robert Mosbachers accepted. The Cloyd D. Youngs and the Lawrence R. Herkimers are co-chairmen. Betsy Bloomingdale will be there. Chefs are in abundance: Dean Fearing from the Mansion, Joe Venezia from the Bel-Air, Wolfgang Puck from Spago and John Makin from the Remington.

On Saturday, the Crows hosted a luncheon and fashion show at their residence. The Hunts showed off their Circle T Ranch, known for its thoroughbred horses and Boehm birds. Wendy and Emery Reves’ Collection at the Dallas Museum of Art was viewed, and the residences of the Clementses and Edwin L. Cox provided glimpses of private collections. Afternoon tea and champagne in the Fountain Courtyard of the Hotel Crescent Court or pampering at the hotel spa also were on the agenda. No time for naps.

Saturday evening everyone dined in the Great Hall of the Hotel Crescent Court on culinary wonders, then danced the night away to Cab Calloway and his orchestra.

Today is reserved for breakfast at leisure.

The whole weekend--a mere $2,500 per person. But, that’s Texas.

Invitations are in the mail for the National Arts Assn. Orchid Ball on April 18 at the Beverly Wilshire. Orchids will be everywhere and the night will be a salute to Cole Porter.

According to co-chairmen Beverly Petal and Mrs. Edward F. Warde, celebrities who performed in Cole Porter shows and movies will be on hand. Julie Wilson and John Raitt will perform.

President Mrs. Stanley R. Johnson has earmarked funds (last year the ball raised $57,000) for scholarships for gifted students in music and the arts. In the past funds have also been contributed to the Department of State, the Music Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Wednesday evening the Sunday Night Supper Club Series No. 3 clusters at Jimmy’s for the group’s 18th annual dinner-dance. Chairman Jacqueline K. Sesnon

says the crowd will dine and dance “so that others may breathe.” It’s all to fight emphysema. Athalie Clarke is underwriting the evening. Mrs. Hoxie Anderson is taking reservations, and new member Mrs. Robert Anstead will be there. Mrs. John M. Wallace will come from Salt Lake City for the party. Mrs. Norman Herman will furnish the spring flowers. Lucy Toberman coordinates the supper clubs. Among members are Mrs. Walt Disney, Mrs. Isabel Henry, Mrs. Frederick Keller, Mrs. Fred Nason, Mrs. Harold Ramser, Mrs. Lon V. Smith, Mrs. Will Ward, Mrs. Dwight Whiting and Mrs. George Whiting.

The seventh annual Venice Art Walk is not until June 1, but Wednesday the Venice Family Clinic will conduct a Preview Breakfast hosted by the Venice restaurant 72 Market Street. Supporters will talk up the upcoming tour of more than 40 Venice and Santa Monica artists’ studios, galleries and homes not usually open to the public.

Art Walk artists Eric Orr, Peter Alexander and Fred Eversley are coming for breakfast, and other early risers will see (by minibus) the studios of Charles Arnoldi, Pamela Weir-Quiton and D. J. Hall. They’ll also sneak a preview of the Venice Family Clinic.

Planning it all are Sheila Goldberg, chairman, and Laura Maslon and Irma Colen. This year, for the first time, historical tours will be included on the walk--visits to canals, architectural sights and the murals of Venice. Throughout the day, too, 200 pieces of art will be silent auctioned.

A rollicking, hearty reception and a lively costumed theatrical performance by the Utah Shakespearean Festival Company is the talk of the Costume Council of the County Museum of Art. Husbands of members who saw the company in Phoenix raved, and the council has booked the group for Monday evening.

Tickets are $25. Joni Smith is chairman of the event

beginning at 6 p.m. in the atrium with a Renaissance reception. There will be waiters and waitresses in Shakespearean costume and an authentic buffet of Welch rarebit, miniature steak and kidney pies, Scotch quail eggs, bangers and other delectables. Guests will then cross over to the Bing Auditorium for the performance.

Brian Corbell, James Easton and Gordon Freshman are among those inviting groups of friends for the fun.

Dale Snodgrass has chosen “April in Manila” as the theme of Friday’s party hosted by the International Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. in honor of the Los Angeles consular corps. Each year the party takes a different international flavor. Flags from 33 countries will fly.

Attire will be black tie or barong tagalog (the Philippines’ embroidered loose shirt). More than 400 guests are expected at the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire. Fashion designer Ruben Panis is transforming the room into a luscious exotic garden with waterfalls and bird song. Orchids are being flown in for the occasion. Musical rondallas will serenade guests as they arrive.

A painting of Mrs. Charles K. Snodgrass, by Philippine artist Fernando Amorsolo, graces the invitation. Assisting are Suzy Cross, Brena Hazzard, Suzanne Berglas, Delia Duarte, Ruth Gross, Lilika Natale, Suzanne Osgood, Helena Schlenenson, Diana Spencer, Meg Wemple and Mrs. Andre Adams.