AFI Associates’ ‘Night’ to Remember

AFI Associates of the American Film Institute have netted $500,000 since their inception less than two years ago. To say they’re tickled pink about their benefit June 26 at the UA Egyptian Theater is mild. The reason for all the excitement: They’ll be presenting the world premiere of Tri-Star Pictures’ “About Last Night,” and it’s directed by institute graduate (1975) Edward Zwick. “Our very own graduate,” said Patricia Barry, Associates president. Patti Skouras and Nancy Ellington are the dynamic duo heading the committee and the post party/dinner. Tickets are $250; they already have 40 tables sold.

According to Nancy Ellington, “The movie’s quite racy.” It stars Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, James Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins. It’s the film adaptation of David Mamet’s Obie Award-winning play, “Sexual Perversity in Chicago.”

This week, in the sunshine around the pool at the Beverly Hills home of glamorous Jacqueline Monash, the Associates played at their annual spring luncheon. Bonita Wrather, outgoing chairman of the Associates and now chairman-elect of the AFI board, was wearing a flowery summer silk. AFI executive director Jean Firstenberg was exuding enthusiasm for the cause. More involved are Jill Rogosheske, Terry Herst, Ruth Feldman, Connie Martinson, Sybil Goldrich, Millicent Wise, Peggy Self, Polo Miller, Barbara Berg, Sue Tracey, Helen Neufeld, Ava Ostern, Joan Rush, Penny Bigelow, Marcia Medavoy, Joe Sutton. They plan to net $200,000.

Academic regalia will not be worn, says the invite, when David R. Brown becomes the third president of the Art Center College of Design on June 21. The inauguration takes place in the sculpture garden on campus. Trustees will host a buffet luncheon. And internationally prominent graphic product designer Massimo Vignelli will speak. The center was founded in 1930.

It’s a beautiful setting in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, we hear. And Joan Irvine Smith had a lot of friends to help her celebrate the $35,000 Oaks Classic, the premium classic jumping event at her facility, the Oaks. The spot’s her baby, and she hopes to board and train thoroughbreds for competition. Among the many guests under the white tent were her mother, Athalie Clarke, and a flock of friends: Alice Avery, John and Norma Bowles, Dr. and Mrs. John Bullis, Mrs. Willard Brown, Walter Coombs, Mrs. William Clayton, Keene Watkins, the Jerome Doolans, Tony and Beagle Duquette, Montgomery and Jo Fisher, Freeman and Katy Gates, Mrs. Gavin Herbert, Mary and Bradley Jones, Mrs. Charles Thomas, the Homer Tobermans, Mrs. Will Ward, Mrs. John Wayne, Mrs. Dwight Whiting, the Toby Wilcoxes and the Evelle Youngers.

Rhonda Fleming Mann has pink and flowery invitations out for “A Summer Luncheon” catered by Arthur Simon and honoring about 40 friends. Among the guests will be her sister, Mrs. Stephen Engle of Oregon, and her daughter, Lynne Eising, who will be visiting.

Supporters of the St. John of God Nursing Hospital and Residence host a brunch in the Beverly Hilton Grand Ballroom on June 22 to fete Brother Patrick Corr on his 40th anniversary as director. The institution is located at Western Avenue and Adams Boulevard. More than 500 prominent figures in the Catholic church will attend, including Deborah Tranelli, Katey Sagal, Fred Hayman, Carl Karcher, Felix McGinnis, Flo Hayley and Mrs. Meredith Willson. The hospital has grown to a 188-bed facility and includes a special unit for the care of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Its fund-raising arm, the Hospitaller Foundation of California, Inc., is now raising money to build a 49-unit secure residence for the healthy elderly--a $4.5 million project.

Steve Allen, a “comedian by destiny,” the originator of the “Tonight Show,” a creator of “Meeting of Minds,” author of 28 books, husband of actress Jayne Meadows Allen and inductee into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, gets the spotlight Tuesday from the University Women of the University of Judaism. He’ll receive the Author/Artist of the Year Award at a luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. Millie Tynan is chairman; Diane Miller is president.

Club 100 fetes distinguished artists who have worked at the Music Center over the years at a celebration luncheon June 17 at the Regency Club in Westwood. To be honored are scenic designer D. Martyn Bookwalter, actress Julie Harris, actor Gregory Harrison, dancer Stanley Holden, musician Mehli Mehta, director George Schaefer, property master Carmine Marinelli and Center Theater Group technical director Robert Routolo.

Past Pizazz: South American cuisine and music--tangos, rumbas and sambas--are still in the minds of The Wings, the Music Center group that encourages audience attendance. They partied at the historic Gilmore Adobe in cool summer whites as specified by chairmen Susan Janes Hilton and Nancy Davis. Frank Hobbs will take over the presidency from Catherine Hunt Ruddy. More on the board will be Mark Foster, Susan Hilton, Brad Peppard, Andi Anderson and Jack Huber. . . . Castle Green, Pasadena’s Moorish colonial landmark, was the setting for the Foothill Creative Arts annual benefit Saturday, with Dottie Burnett and Nancy Killen co-chairmen.

‘Tis the season to announce debutantes: The San Marino Area chapter of the National Charity League held its announcement tea at the Biltmore and revealed debutantes will be Misses Jennifer Amestoy (the Louis Frank Amestoys Jr.), Jennifer Jeanne Angeloff (the Dann Valentino Angeloffs), Megan Boswell (the James D. Boswells), Ingrid Causey (the Paul Causeys), Karen Cooper (the Dale O. Coopers), Marianne Dick (Richard N. Dick), Julie Doyle (the Robert L. Doyles), Alison Foto (the Stephen A. Fotos), Donna Hodgman (the Donald R. Hodgmans), Tamara Hugasian (the Harry Hugasians), Kristen King (the John F. Kings), Jalee Lind (the Wesley R. Linds), Kimberly Marsh (the Gary G. Marshes), Jennifer McBride (the Donald G. McBrides), Katherine Milias (the Mitchell J. Miliases), Megan Montgomery (the Michael B. Montgomerys), Cheryl Morgan (Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Morgan), Stacey Morrison (Dr. and Mrs. Robert Morrison), Michelle Mortimer (the Wendell Mortimers), Jill Olsen (the Merlin Olsens), Julene Penner (Dr. and Mrs. Clifford Levis Penner), Caroline Reynolds (the John J. Reynolds), Rosalind Roberts (Dr. and Mrs. William Roberts), Tiffany Seden (the Theodore R. Sedens), Elisabeth Sheh (the Robert B. Shehs) and Jennifer Wilcott (the Scott Wilcotts).

Jane Popovich will be ball chairman; Margot Milias is NCL board president. The ball is Dec. 22 at the Beverly Wilshire.

Big Efforts: Palos Verdes Peninsula kitchens and elegant homes were on tour for The Circle support group of the Palos Verdes Art Center’s “A Cook’s Tour.” They belonged to Susie Hood, Robert and Mary Beth Van Dine, David and Barbara Hart, John and Carol Cobabe, Dr. Mel and Janice Snyder and Carol Wharton. . . . Scholarships totaling $54,000 were awarded to 27 minority college students at the Golden State Minority Foundation’s 11th annual fund-raising dinner at the Beverly Wilshire. Wallace W. Booth, chairman and chief executive officers of Ducommun, Inc., was dinner chairman; journalist Tony Brown was keynoter. . . . The Los Angeles Theater Unit, which recently celebrated its 100th performance of “Andrea’s Got Two Boyfriends” by David Willinger, hosted a benefit performance for Tierra del Sol, a school for developmentally disabled adults. The survival of the school is being threatened by the sale of property it occupies. Already $100,000 has been raised. Supporters hope for $200,000 more by December, according to benefit chairman Tabi Cooper.

Red Letter Dates: A cocktail reception saluting those instrumental in organizing the Olympic Arts Festival is planned for Wednesday in the City Hall Tower by the Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies. To be honored are Robert Fitzpatrick, Bella Lewitzky, Dr. Franklin D. Murphy, Peter Ueberroth, Edward Welch and Paul Ziffren. . . . The M. M. Miller Cancer Fund benefiting Huntington Memorial Hospital hosts its 22nd annual “Day at the Races” on Wednesday in the Gold Cup Room at Hollywood Park. . . . Connie Stevens hosts the all-male celebrity “Hunkathon” fashion luncheon to benefit the American Indians at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador today. Proceeds benefit Project Windfeather. Robert Conrad will be master of ceremonies and Norm Crosby will entertain while 25 male stars model.

Catch up: Tennis and Crumpet is one of the largest mixed doubles social tournaments around. Frankie Avalon was honorary chairman of the 40th annual event involving 50 private courts from the Westside to Pasadena. Chairman Shelley Clark juggled the match details. Flash Cadillac entertained at the party finale at Playboy Mansion West planned by Susan Poland. Proceeds benefit the preschool deaf children at the John Tracy Clinic, including its no-cost, unique correspondence course used by parents of hard-of-hearing children in more than 130 countries. . . . Dorothy Reichle of Newport Beach headed the leadership conference for incoming presidents of National Assistance League chapters across the United States. According to Janet Boyer of San Mateo, president, there are now 73 chapters and 17,000 members. . . . USC’s Town & Gown Junior Auxiliary president Kathy Horgan was at the helm with benefit co-chairmen Katie Hare and Judy Whitlock for the group’s auction at Santa Anita Race Track. . . . Mrs. Jerome Redston, president, led the Braille Institute Auxiliary of West Los Angeles on a jaunt to Newport with lunch at the Balboa Bay Club. . . . Raymond Liesegang, president of Century Parking, Inc., was in the spotlight at a fund-raising dinner Friday evening at Crocker Court for the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific. . . . Bookworms of the Assistance League of Southern California held their annual June luncheon in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Priscilla Austin of San Marino is new chairman, replacing Lois Van Leewen.