Americana Group Honors Baroness

Because relationships between France and the United States “have been a little bit difficult,” according to the Baroness Nadine de Rothschild, she was especially appreciative that the Americana Associates were honoring her over the weekend at a gala in the Century Ballroom of the Century Plaza Tower.

Americana Associates support the beautification program of the diplomatic reception rooms of the Department of State in Washington. They count curator Clement Conger as a special friend. And since the anniversary of the Statue of Libery is being celebrated, and since copper craftsman F. A. Bartholdi was the installer of the statue and came from the town of Colmar in Alsace, it seemed fitting to ball chairman Peggie Bales that the Associates should honor the philanthropic baroness, also the author of the European best seller, “The Baroness Returns at Five O’Clock” (published in seven languages, but not in English). Said George Bales, “American pioneers respected the forests, the prairies, the eagle, the beaver, the buffalo. Therefore, the Americana Associates present you with a Steuben glass beaver with garnet eyes.”

The widely traveled baroness, wife of financier Edmond de Rothschild and mother of their only child, Benjamin, who attended Pepperdine, where Bales is a vice president, lilted up from the audience in her flowing Pierre Cardin, escorted by the dapper couturier Jean Louis. It was a very smart crowd: co-chairman Alyce Williamson (who was quoting the baroness, “Wrap your relationships in silk”) wore a blue and glittery Mary McFadden. Peggie Bales and Zsa Zsa Gabor, who chatted ceasely with her dinner partner and good friend, the baroness, both chose Ruben Panis. Maggy Louis and Martha Kilroe were garbed in Galanos.

The baroness described “why this very rich man would marry this very poor girl” (for love). Listeners included Louis and Marie Jones, Warren Williamson, Martha Chandler, Victoria and Tad Williamson, Katy and Freeman Gates, Ginny and Henry Braun, Kay Paschall, the David Browns, Lois Driggs, Joni and Clark Smith, Father Maurice Chase (who gave the invocation, “Lord, from the fear of calories please preserve us”), Bobbie and Ken Galpin.

Founder Florence Malouf lauded the volunteers. Everyone was praising Marian Malouf for the donation of 3,000 orchid blossoms for the ball (guests were invited to take them home and the ballroom was bare). Efrem Zimbalist was in on the presentation. Vocalist David Reign flew from San Francisco to captivate with “Memories,” causing a little toe-tapping from June Haver, at floor-edge in a black slit skirt. More in the crowd, Rhonda (Fleming) and Ted Mann, Fred MacMurray, Jean and Irving Stone, Connie and Ambassador John Gavin, Henry and Gini Mancini, the Robert Andersons, the Richard Eamers and the Glen Holdens.

The baroness was off the next morning for Israel, to dedicate two new schools with her husband. Later this month in Geneva she chairs an international debutante ball, sending proceeds to needy children in Columbia. The Baleses, who have visited the Rothschilds at their Paris home across the street from French President Francois Mitterrand’s palace, were off to New York to party with the Countess Mountbatten.

Ole! for John Bowles (retired president of Rexall Drug Co.) and nonagenarian Blanche Seaver (for 22 years a trustee of Los Amigos del Pueblo). They are officially the new Padrino y Madrina del Pueblo de Los Angeles. Senorita Vivien Consuelo de Bonzo saluted them amid festivities at the Avila Adobe on behalf of the Olvera Street Merchants’ Assn. She, like her grandmother, the late Consuelo de Bonzo, is owner and manager of La Golondrina Cafe, a Pueblo landmark.

The occasion drew Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin and his wife, actress Connie Towers, Spanish-attired dons and donas, charros in costume for the ceremony, mariachis, margaritas. Everyone was showered with rose petals by laughing senoritas. Enjoying immensely were Mrs. Harrison Chandler, the Karl von Platens (she’s the daughter of Harry Chandler, Olvera Street’s first Padrino in 1930), John H. Welborne, Christian Brant, Norma Bowles, the Bruce Pooles, Father Pat McPolin, James and Dulce Harris, the Jesus Gomezes, Nancy Madrid, Michelle Madrid, Helen Lozano, Gabriela Sutter, Herman Sillas, Mariana Salazar, Juanita Guerrero, Estella Lopez, Hubert and Shirley Laugharn, Walter P. Coombs, Judge McIntyre Faries, Harriet Weaver Vasque, Harold Ramser Jr.

The younger generation was chosen to represent those who have contributed to Olvera Street’s history: Valerie Garcia was there with her nonagenarian grandmother Carmen Garcia; John Babcock represented his great-grandfather Harry Chandler; Darcie Sterling Park represented her great-grandmother, the first Madrina, Christine Sterling. Pretty Suzanne Valadez accompanied her parents Belle and Mario Valadez (former Olvera Street manager). They’re all dedicated to preserving historical customs.

Springfest/LA was “40 and fabulous” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ojai Festival’s upcoming season and to recognize honored guests, Lawrence Morton, artistic director emeritus of the festival; Wallace A. Smith, general manager of KUSC/KCPB/KSCA-FM, and Ernest Fleischmann, executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Sheila Tepper and Rudolph Petersdorf were dinner chairmen at the Sheraton Grande.

Happy Mother’s Day: Lynn Redgrave visited Los Angeles on the last leg of her national tour as national chairman for UNICEF’s Mother’s Day Campaign, designed to promote immunization for life against the six major childhood diseases . . .

Coronet Patronesses of the National Charity League host their annual mother-daughter luncheon Saturday at the home of immediate past president Marie (Mrs. Robert) Humphreys in Brentwood. Pat (Mrs. Robert) Hadfield is chairman assisted by Frances (Jack) Carter . . .

Southern California artist Linda Yaven of the Otis Art Institute of the Parsons School of Design faculty has been commissioned by the Westside Women’s Clinic to create its first fine art poster commemorating the clinic’s annual Mother’s Day Garden Brunch Sunday at the Brentwood home of Pamela and Arthur Leeds and the mother/daughter workshop Saturday at the Church in Ocean Park in Santa Monica.

The Friends of the Joffrey host the closing-night party of the Joffrey Ballet on May 18 on the Steps on the Court, Crocker Center. Artistic directors Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino and members of the dance company will be guests at the event planned by Adrienne J. Gary, Ruth Shari, Laurice Sommers and Michael Berk, chairman of the Friends. It’s immediately following the Joffrey’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Music Center.

The dressed up, pretty and the newly decorated Hollywood Bowl Volunteer Cottage will debut Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Hollywood Bowl Volunteers and Philharmonic Affiliates are joining to salute designers and donors.

Noted Mexican writer and diplomat Carlos Fuentes will be honored Friday by Pomona College at a luncheon at Seaver House following his talk on campus. Prof. James Likens of the department of economics is planning the affair.

Sid and Florence Caesar, John Forsythe, Ed and Victoria McMahon, Milton and Ruth Berle and a host of other luminaries will be on the dais for the Eddie Cantor Charitable Foundation Susie Award dinner Saturday at the Beverly Hilton. Both Lou Rawls and Robert Guillaume will entertain at the black-tie 20th annual dinner honoring Anheuser Busch executive vice president Mike Roarty.

Taiko drummers, koto players, Japanese embroidery demonstrations and origami workshops are in the works at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum when trustees host a cocktail buffet Friday in honor of the opening of “Ethnic L.A.: Japan.” Says museum director Jack Armstrong, “This is the second in a series of cultural explorations into the ethnic diversity that makes Los Angeles unique. In keeping with the museum’s hands-on style of learning, school children who visit Friday will participate in making traditional paper dolls in kimonos with handmade rice paper.

Participating in the opening will be Lani Sakoda, Sue Antebi (president of the Inner Circle, the museum’s premier support group); Mary Worthington, the museum’s director of exhibits and programs; Mayor Tom Bradley and Morris Pynoos, president of the trustees.

Some of Claremont’s most creative kitchens will be on view today as part of the benefit tour planned by the Auxiliary of the Casa Colina Hospital of Rehabilitative Medicine in Pomona. Co-chairmen Mrs. Jack Hoxsey and Mrs. Norman Carniello have scheduled the Indian Hill Dining Room at Griswold’s Inn, the Casa Colina Hospital kitchen and three private homes.

Marcia (Mrs. Stanley) Hayden’s lovely gardens in San Marino will be the site of “A Day in the Country” luncheon planned Wednesday by the board of the Mayfield Junior School Parents’ Club. Two’s Company Catering will provide basket lunches, according to chairman Laurie McKinley, and Joy Sullivan and Barbara Voors. Eighth-grade students are working away on the short speeches each will give in tribute to his parents.

Saturday fun: Chairman Patty Pillsbury of San Marino heads the private party at Charleyville restaurant in Pasadena. It’s the third annual scholarship fund-raiser for the Friends of Almansor Education Center. Assisting are Anita Tsuji, Joey Leslie, Julie Reid, Mireya Jones, Adele Binder, Marilyn Burton, Barbara Smith, Vicki Livingstone and Susie Johnson . . .

Dr. and Mrs. Philip Fagan will host the Friends of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center at an evening of Dixieland entertainment, Creole cooking and Cajun cocktails in their Brentwood home . . .

Dining and dancing, Renaissance style, at the Palos Verdes Estates home of Mr. and Mrs. Julian Elliott will help underwrite the expenses of the 15th Annual Peninsula Music Fair to be held in Palos Verdes in October . . .

Naomi Riddle, widow of Nelson Riddle, will accept a tribute for her late husband at the California Junior Symphony Assn. 50th anniversary concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. For years, Nelson Riddle served as chairman of the board . . .

The 80th annual banquet of the Dominant Club will be celebrated with a champagne reception at the Wilshire Ebell clubhouse. Wilberna Wigelsworth, president, is greeting guests . . .

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts a reception and preview of “The Edwin Binney 3rd Turkish Collection (the Art of Ottoman Turkey)” on Wednesday evening at the museum.