Weintraub at Beach but Forecast Still Cloudy

Back from the Carribean, deposed studio head Jerry Weintraub was at the beach this week--but it was all business. The advisers meeting with Weintraub at his Malibu home, Blue Heaven, included his former personal lawyer and right-hand man, Ken Kleinberg, personal manager Norman Golden and his attorney, Gerald Parsky of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Under discussion--a possible settlement between Weintraub and United Artists. A person close to Weintraub said that his contractual situation with U.A. and its majority stockholder, Kirk Kerkorian, is “complicated.”

Contacted at his home, Weintraub said he had “no comment” on anything. Parsky, in Washington, said by phone that he didn’t believe there would be any “decision one way or the other until the middle of next week. We are working at it. We are trying hard to resolve things amicably. It’s a difficult situation.” And, he added, if it’s not resolved “to Jerry’s satisfaction, we will pursue other alteratives.” Weintraub was reported in “remarkably good spirits” by two close associates. Ironically, even without a studio, he could have a hit this summer. His “Karate Kid II” debuts June 20 from Columbia.

TRADING PLACES--Deputy Mayor Tom Houston headed off to Hawaii on Wednesday. Guess he’s really telling the truth when he says he has nothing to do with the mayor’s gubernatorial race, which is going hot and heavy. . . . Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi came here, was hosted (with his wife, Joyce) at a Dodger game and with a little pisano food at Nicola’s by Joe and Lee Cerrell. Fasi kept the table going with his story about greeting the President in Hawaii earlier in the week, then shaking hands with a fellow hiding behind sunglasses. “Hey, who are you?” Fasi reported that he asked the entourage member. “Why, I’m Larry Speakes,” was the reply. And TV is supposed to build images.

FAMILIAR FACES--Everyone knows the young, hipper stars are getting more and more political. But look at this committee list for a coming political dinner: Morey Amsterdam, Rory Calhoun, Don Defore, Dorothy Lamour, Ed Nelson and Zsa Zsa Gabor. They, and youngsters like John Schneider and Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar, have all signed on for the May 15 $500-a-head benefit for GOP Senate hopeful Bruce Herschensohn at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

POLI-SIGH--Women’s political fund-raising seems to be making a major jump forward. One constant complaint is that fund-raisers for women candidates carry too low a price tag. So the $100-a-person brunch May 10 for Rep. Barbara Mikulski, the Maryland Democrat running for Senate, is a big step forward. It’s at the Sheraton Universal and Lisa Specht and Mimi West are putting it together. . . . Richard and Victoria Traweek and Marvin and Madeline Gussman host a reception for Sen. William Campbell, a GOP controller candidate, May 10, at the Traweek’s Bel-Air home. For drinks and nibbles the tag is $500-per-person or per-couple. At Perino’s on May 13, Wally Karabian hosts a stag dinner (yes, some folks still do it that way) at the newly reopened Perino’s at $500 a plate, also for Campbell. . . . Vice President George Bush goes to Disneyland to support Rep. Bob Dornan on Monday at a $500-a-head private reception and a $200 dinner. The invite points out that Efrem Zimbalist Jr. will be emcee (“movie schedule permitting”).

KUDOS--To Marcia Koch, who did such a spectacular job as supper party chair of the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Guild “Chorus Line” premiere last fall, and now has taken over as president of the prestigious support group. She replaces Carolyn Blywise, who directed the group to a record-raising year of more than $500,000. Joining the board, which numbers Fran Stark, Anne Douglas, Joanna Carson and Wallis Annenberg, among others, are Elaine Goldsmith, Wanda McDaniel Ruddy and Ruth Glucksman. . . . To writer Sidney Sheldon, for his $250,000 gift to the capital campaign of the Motion Picture and Television Fund. He made it in memory of his late wife, Jorja Curtright Sheldon.

RETURN--Former VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro makes a two-day L.A. stop this month. The night of May 19 she does some fund raising for her ACT-PAC (Americans Concerned for Tomorrow) at the Circus Disco in Hollywood. The event chair and underwriter is Gene La Pietre, a heavy political contributor who is now said to be running for West Hollywood mayor. The next day, Ferraro speaks at a Beverly Hills Hotel Democratic Party lunch.