Spring Has Sprung for Las Floristas Ball
Spring fever seems to be rampant, but if it’s affecting the quality of social and volunteer events, the damage isn’t apparent. Every volunteer organization it seems is bent on a major spring do, championing a major cause.
Energized for spring, for sure, is Las Floristas. Mrs. Kenneth T. Norris Jr. is honorary chairman and Dr. William L. Allen honorary chairman, and flowers will be imported for its 48th annual Floral Headdress Ball on April 25 at the Beverly Hilton. They’re calling the night “The American Dream.” With good reason: They’re pre-empting America’s July 4th Liberty Weekend, and based on Lady Liberty’s centennial, the floral festival and its hallmark Headdress Parade will have a lot of stature and statue.
Ollie Lynn and Jade Higgins, ball co-chairmen, tell us that the Statue of Liberty will be evident in many of the five-foot-high headdress competition spectaculars to be created by floral designers such as David Yeh, Marjorie Wight, Ren Wachenfeld, Tamara Seilbach, Debbie Karrenbrock, Don Honold, Jerrol Cline, Brian Rogers and Modesto Busto. Busily strengthening their neck and back muscles to don these headdresses are Las Floristas mannequins Sandy Wessel, Lisa Bailey, Mary Richardson, Nina Field, Shirley Renick, Beth Lane, Pamela Markovitz and Christine Walters. Judi Becket is producing the parade. Flower Pavilion is re-creating a White House portico, giant double doors flanked by stately columns for the grand entry of the mannequins. Two Carolyns--Stockwell and Flynn--are decor chairmen and plan a 15-foot bronzed Statue of Liberty to greet guests.
The cause is handicapped children.
Count them, each of the piano’s 88 keys are on the keyboard of the invitation shaped in the form of a grand piano. This will be no upright event. It’s Armand Hammer’s tra-la-la birthday celebration. He’s 88, just like the keyboard. His picture at the piano is on the invitation, with all sorts of grace notes festooning the news that the night is May 18 in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire. Black tie and fun.
Merv Griffin will be master of ceremonies. Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich will be in concert. Ludmila Lopukhova and Simon Dow of the San Francisco Ballet will dance. Merv will do “live “ interviews. Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and vocalist Joanie Sommers will play for dancing. Violinist Shoney Alex Braun will perform. We can’t wait.
Count on Pitzer College to have illuminating speakers for its National Issues Forum dinners. Monday former Secretary of State Dr. Henry A. Kissinger will make the major address at the benefit at the Century Plaza Tower’s Century Room. Pitzer chairman Eli Broad heads the dinner committee. Trustee Dr. Chadwick F. Smith is dinner chairman. The Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation has made a major contribution in support of the event.
Patrons hosting tables include Lodwrick M. Cook, Richard J. Flamson III, the Bud Austins, Anthony H. Barash, Peter S. Gold, Dr. Armand Hammer, Fred L. Hartley, Maria D. Hummer, Dr. William C. Janss, the Felix Judases, Bruce Karatz, Katherine Cone Keck, Frederick M. Nicholas, Edith and George Piness Jr., Carol Taufer, Glenn R. Watson and Donald F. Wright.
At Christmas time the Art Center College of Design sent motion cards to friends. The Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee adapted the concept into a pink rose and the graphics are splendid announcing “An Elegant Evening” for the premiere showing of the 22nd Pasadena Showcase House of Design April 18. After the house tours of the Mediterranean mansion at 1125 Lombardy Road, San Marino, guests will be shuttled to the Rosemont Pavilion for a black-tie dinner dance affair.
The logistics are fairly complicated, but simplifying it all are chairman Carroll Houston, her assistant Nadine Danz, and a committee including Barbara Little, Louise Strnad, Sally Doll, Judy Trefry, Connie Grund, Jean Crabtree, Ann Fletcher and Carolyn Bieggar.
Cindy McNeish is benefit chairman, appointed by Linda Cantwell, president. For the preview, Somerset will cater wonders such as Louisiana beignets with sauce creole, grilled oysters, rice pancakes with red pepper jelly, a tandoori bar, and ginger spiced chicken.
Sid Engle is playing for dancing. Troy and Co. will provide the jewels to spark the gowns and furs from Bullock’s modeled by Juniors members who show off rooms in the Showcase house.
The house will be open to the public April 20-May 18, except on Mondays and Tuesdays. Because of parking limitations, the Showcase people have an agreement with Bullock’s Pasadena for free parking and a shuttle service. There’s always a way.
Update on the International
Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Ball on Friday in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire: Ball chairman Dale Snodgrass, a native of the Philippines, originally chose her theme, “April in Manila,” a year ago. Now the event will pay tribute to Corazon Aquino and the Philippine people. Consul Gen. and Mrs. Armando Fernandez will represent the new Philippine government at the event.
“Cheers, Chocolate and Chow” puts a new look on the Pasadena Mental Health Assn.’s “coming of age” 21st birthday party April 19 at the home of Melinda Winston. “The potato skin bar was such a hit last year,” says Susie Hollingsworth, benefit co-chairman, “that we’re bringing it back and adding hearty hors d’oeuvres to the mouth-watering chocolates.”
Former president Joan Thompson says: “We’re also planning a raffle; the prize’s a secret.”
Still, the truffles have it: those are the chocoholics who pay $150 as patrons, and there are a lot: the James Gambles, Bob and Esme Gibson, Tom and Susie Hollingsworth, the Charles Kennedys, the R. B. Kruegers, the G. B. Lovedays, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Nalick, Frank and Joan Thompson, Mrs. Karl Von Platen and Bill and Eileen Zimmerman.
Every dollar donated will generate seven dollars of service for mental health counseling.
It seems all Hollywood has been rounded up to save the wild horses April 20. That’s the day the Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA joins forces with the Wild Horse Sanctuary of Shingletown to raise funds for both groups in a wild horse adoption and polo extravaganza at the L.A. Equestrian Center in Burbank. The Ford Motor Co. is sponsoring the event to benefit the Sanctuary, a 5,500-acre ranch dedicated to providing a home for wild horses, and the Ensemble, which is launching its first full-produced season in its new two-theater location in Hollywood.
Playing for the Ensemble will be Capt. William DeVane (“Knot’s Landing”), pro-player Joe Henderson and actor Doug Sheehan. The team for the Sanctuary will be headed by Capt. Pamela Sue Martin (“Dynasty”), playing with pro Tom Goodspeed and actor Alex Cord (“Airwolf”).
Gates open at 2:30 p.m. for the 3:15 p.m. game. But the grounds of the Equestrian Center will be open all day April 19 as well as on the 20th, the day of the match, for viewing wild horses up for adoption and sponsorship in a program designed by the Sanctuary and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Qualified buyers will be able to adopt a wild horse for $125.
Tickets for the celebrity/pro match range from $50 to $6.
Look for lots of celebrities: Stefanie Powers, Ed McMahon, Joanne Carson, Jennifer O’Neill, Jane Seymour, Doug Sheehan, Veronica Porsche Ali, Dick Van Dyke, Joanne Pflug, Michael Jackson (of radio), Johnny Grant, Ed Winters, William Shatner and John Randolph.
Perino’s is back on Wilshire at 4101. Joining for “the delicate taste of Italian and Continental cuisine” Wednesday evening at the invitation of G. Billi, general manager, Charles Lange, maitre d’, and Frank Vince, banquet manager, were a lot of those society and Hollywood folk who used to gather there regularly: Lucy and Homer Toberman, Justice Mildred Lillie, Delbert Mann, Chuck Fries and Ava Ostern, William Oldknow, John Severino, Ruta Lee, William C. Bryant, Dudley Moore and Arthur Hanley.
Kidspace Museum in Pasadena celebrates “A Day in the Life of a 6-Year-Old” at its Kidspace Birthday Party on April 29. Balloons, of course.
Now it’s Sid Caesar’s turn. He received a standing ovation during the recent Friar’s Club Gene Kelly roast for his multilingual double talk kudos heaped on Kelly. Monday, he’ll be the center of attention when longtime Friar’s president and toastmaster Milton Berle “pays tribute.” We hear Caesar’s penning a book, “How to Make Friends With Yourself” following on the success of his autobiography, “Where Have I Been?”
Last year Sandpipers, the South Bay philanthropic group, raised $80,000 on its Design House. They’re doing it again Tuesday to May 11 (except Mondays) at 1412 Paseo La Cresta in Palos Verdes Estates. Franci Agajanian and Roberta Guarnieri are Design House chairman.
To premiere things, Sandpipers feature a “Murder Mystery Mansion Tour” Saturday. During the gala, guests will try to solve the murder by finding clues as they tour the house, which showcases the work of more than 20 interior designers. The night’s festivities will then continue with hors d’oeuvres and a five-course dinner at Renaud’s in Redondo Beach.
