El Pueblo de Los Angeles Celebration

Some of Los Angeles’ leading citizens are being invited to help El Pueblo de Los Angeles celebrate its 205th birthday Sept. 4 at the Avila Adobe in El Pueblo State Historic Park. They’ll dine on chicken and beef satay and cheeses, receive souvenir pins and stand for a group photograph. They’ll also pose for souvenir photos dressed in typical garb of original settlers. Honorary patrons include Gov. George Deukmejian; Mayor Tom Bradley; Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman; William S. Briner, director of the state Department of Parks and Recreation; Councilman Gilbert W. Lindsay and James B. Hadaway, director of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Mario J. Machado is creating the event.

Two days later, there will be a public celebration at the kiosk on Olvera Street. To help celebrate, those attending are being encouraged to wear national dress and bring a musical instrument. No pianos.

The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs will open in October. The good news is the James Irvine Foundation has announced a $100,000 challenge grant. “We are gratified,” said Mrs. Frank Sinatra, president of the center’s board and its chief fund-raiser. Among those who already have donated are Walter and Lee Annenberg, Natalie and Danny Schwartz, Barbara and Marvin Davis, Leon Hess, Zephyr Karahadian, Joanna Carson and Cecelia P. Straub.

The Coronet Debutante Ball announcement luncheon at the Bel-Air Country Club was bustling with family tradition. Of the 37 debutantes to be presented Nov. 29 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton, eight are daughters of Coronets. They’re Kristen Arnett of Manhattan Beach, whose mother was presented as Vicki Lott; Annette Duplanty of Brentwood, whose mother was presented as Diane Young; and Kathleen Lay Port of Hancock Park, Carolyn Crocker; Theresa Liuzzi of Rancho Palos Verdes, Mary Cosgrove; Kelly McLaughlin of Encino, Sharon Linkletter; Ashley Newman of Palos Verdes Estates, Valerie Weiss; Angela Stephan of San Marino, Dawn Dyer, and Alexis von Welantz of Pacific Palisades, Diana Webb.

Ball director Mrs. Terrence Richard White was there to welcome mothers and daughters, alongside Mrs. Philip S. Kamm Jr., president of the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter; Mrs. Joseph Remmes, president of the Coronet Debutante Ball board, and Mrs. Forester Mattson, chairman of patronesses.

More debutantes will be Cameron Allison, Vanessa Bernacchi, Jodi Brenneman, Anne Carter, Denise Cornell, Victoria Curea, Catherine Fenaughty, Juli Gill, Victoria Goplen, Donielle Hall, Katherine Harter, Anita Hill, Elna Hubbell, Hilary Jones, Wendy Kliever, Kathleen Lindholm, Kerry Logsdon, Shannon McCann, Carolyn McNitt, Ashley Newman, Elizabeth Savage, Molly Schneider, Kathleen Solum, Erin Stanford, Wendeline Tohidi, Gia Trasatti, Julie Treharne, Christina Wedberg, Marla Wilson and Madeleine Zwart.

Penelope Flynn, Coronets president, and Mrs. Kenneth Ruck, luncheon chairman, had a lot to do with the pink coronets of pink carnations and roses on the luncheon tables.

The Beverly Hills Pops Orchestra has been formed to perpetuate the musical heritage of Hollywood motion pictures and the Broadway stage. Founder-president David Gill Evans and benefactors are announcing an Inaugural Concert Season of four gala black-tie dinner concerts in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. James Stewart has agreed to be honorary president. Lionel Newman, former music head at 20th Century Fox and conductor for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Oscar nights, will be musical conductor. The first concert is around the corner--Aug. 27. Others are scheduled for Oct. 22, Dec. 2 and Feb. 25. Among founder patrons are the Robert C. Ansteads, Shirley Temple Black, Patte Barham Boyne, Margaret Martin Brock, Maude K. Chasen, Nathaniel R. Dumont, the Barron Hiltons, Dr. and Mrs. Hans von Leden, Mrs. Oscar Levant, Mrs. Bert Malouf, Rhonda Fleming Mann, Mrs. Fred Nason, the Gerald Oppenheimers, Barbara Pauley Pagen, Greta Peck, Walter M. Scott, the Charles P. Skourases Jr., the Thomas G. Somermeiers Jr., Marjorie Lord Volk and the Richard D. Zanucks.

About 500 assembled for the 27th annual Presentation Ball of Assistance League of Long Beach in the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom (transformed into a twinkling English garden with box hedges and ivy topiaries) to see medallions bestowed upon 12 debutantes: Krista Leigh Faber, Shahana Hassan-Reep, Victoria Jenkins, Monika Lingle, Nelle Medanich, Kellee Murchison, Carolyn Jo Sears, Hayley Sloan, Janna Stolle, Michelle Van Emon, Laura Watkins and Frances Westlund.

Angels Attic has “horse cents”--$37,271.19--from its successful “An Afternoon in Horse Country” attended by 300 at the JMJ Ranch in Hidden Valley. Of this, $20,000 will benefit the Brentwood Center for Educational Therapy for the Autistic, which plans to build two new classrooms. The Attic acquisition fund will receive $8,000, the Attic restoration loan will be lowered by $5,000, and about $4,000 will go to museum operations.

But, looking ahead, the museum--which houses displays of rare dollhouses--stages a doll appraisal clinic Sept. 4. Renowned doll auctioneers Florence and George Theriault will conduct a one-day session in the garden at the Angels Attic, 516 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica. They’ll charge $10 for every three dolls appraised between noon and 4 p.m. Tea will be served for a modest fee.

Past Perfect: The midsummer night party at Mille Fleurs, Rancho Santa Fe, hosted by Cecelia P. Straub, widow of Arthur O. Straub, draws VIPs from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach and Palm Springs. It traditionally follows the races at Del Mar. Lots, including Marge Durante, the Clement Hirsches and Alice Dutton, were on hand this year. The occasion also was a celebration of Bill Shoemaker’s 55th birthday. . . . Cary and Barbara Grant were hosts at the Peking Duck dinner at Madame Wu’s Garden restaurant for the dinner purchased by Peter Schweitzer at the Music Center Mercado.

Kudos: Robin Cleary Parsky has been elected chairman of the board of the American Heart Assn., Greater Los Angeles Affiliate. Only 36, she’s the youngest person to lead the organization and only the third woman to hold the office in 36 years. . . . Mrs. Herbert Baerwitz is new president of Friends of Julia Ann Singer, supporting the Singer Center’s outpatient treatment facility with a child abuse unit and service for emotionally disturbed and developmentally delayed children. Now plans turn to the center’s 70th anniversary and its luncheon/fashion show with couturier Michael Novarese on Sept. 11 at the Beverly Hilton. Co-chairs will be president Baerwitz and Mrs. Aaron Eshman.

There was a lot of oohing and aahing over Roy F. Sklarin’s bachelor apartment at the Wilshire House when Jackie Applebaum hosted a cocktail reception to introduce the international interior designer who has moved here from Fort Lauderdale. Now Sklarin will turn host for the Thalians’ Presidents Club pre-ball celebration Sept. 12, also at his apartment. Among guests recently were Jacques Camus, the Don Sterlings, Elliot and Diane Fineman, Alan Turner (he flew in from Aspen to meet the honoree), Karen and Lou Borrick, the Pierre Grivegnees, producer Jack Harris, Susan and Stephen Dunn, Marci and Fred Weiner (who were off to Rancho La Puerta for some R&R;).