Double Celebration at Good Samaritan

Longtime socialite and benefactor Mrs. Henry Salvatori will be in the spotlight Sept. 28 when the newly completed Grace Ford Salvatori Auditorium at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan is officially dedicated at 4 p.m. It’s a double celebration, also honoring the Audrienne H. Mosely Conference Center, the result of the late Audrienne H. Mosely’s bequest. Her attorney, Neil Papiano, will attend.

At Mrs. Salvatori’s request (for years she was a volunteer in Los Angeles Philharmonic activities and her husband has played a major role in Republican politics), the 400-seat auditorium will be dedicated to the late Dr. Leland P. Hawkins and the late Dr. John C. Wilson Jr., longtime members of the hospital medical staff. Both Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Wilson will attend.

The two-story complex at 637 S. Lucas Ave. boasts 20,000 square feet.

More than 1,500 academic dignitaries, alumni and special guests will convene Sept. 26 on USC’s Cromwell Field for what’s being called the “largest lawn party” in the university’s history. It’s an “Invitation to the 21st Century,” a black-tie extravaganza to launch The Campaign, a four-year effort representing the highest fund-raising goals in USC’s history.

Appropriately, the futuristic dinner theme calls for bunches of metallic foliage--by the gross--and 150 silver lame cloths topped with candles to be lit at the last moment due to strong winds that sometimes blow across Cromwell. Rococo Custom Caterers will cook on outdoor grills.

Ammiel Najar will be show director. For extra pizazz, Arthur Bartner, Gene Evans and David Wolper will bring Liberty Weekend experience to the campus. Expect, for instance, a mile-high laser show, designed by Christopher Blodgett, and a master fireworks display. Norman Corwin will emcee; USC basketball star and Olympic Gold Medalist Cheryl Miller will open the show. Dr. James H. Zumberge, USC president, will reveal the mega amount.

The evening before, biggest donors will attend a Los Angeles preview with former Ambassador Walter Annenberg and Mrs. Annenberg as hosts (as well as the Zumberges and the Carl Hartnacks). And the Peter Ueberroths will host an Orange County soiree. Among those invited to the Los Angeles affair are Kathleen and Thomas McCarthy, David and Marilyn Atha, the Kenneth Leventhals, Mary Lou and George Boone, and Happy and Frances Franklin.

The three-day marathon continues Saturday when the all-Trojan family picnicks on the Doheny Library lawn before campaign fanfare supplied by the Trojan Marching Band. Then it’s on to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the USC-Washington football game.

Bubbles and bangles:

Just before flying off to India for husband Glen’s polo matches with the Maharajah of Jaipor (Bubbles) on horseback as well as on elephant, Gloria Holden had lunch at the Regency Club with the Mannequins Auxiliary of the Assistance League of Southern California. She met with Maggie Edwards and Susan Tourtelot to discuss details of the Sunset Garden Reception to be held at the Holdens’ home Oct. 26. Luis Estevez will show holiday fashions while guests have cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Gumps will show jewelry. It’s the Mannequins’ way of saying that Mr. Estevez will be featured next spring at the Mannequins’ annual fund-raiser, “Afternoon With Eve.” Proceeds go to the league’s Operation School Bell and the Day Nursery.

Benefit barrage:

All the trees have just been trimmed at the William Simons’ lovely Mediterranean home in San Marino. Thus, the estate is tree-tidy for the dinner tonight with music performed by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to benefit the Los Angeles Oncologic Institute at St. Vincent Medical Center.

This afternoon Merri Jean and Leonard Ross and the Foundation for New American Music will host the eighth annual garden musicale and buffet with Jack Elliott, music director, conducting the New American Orchestra. Assisting will be special friends Jackie Cooper and the Aku Cup All-Stars, Harvey Korman, Bill Watrous and Joe Williams. The Ross’ home in Beverly Hills was formerly owned by film star Marion Davies and newspaper czar William Randolph Hearst. Called Beverly House, it was built in 1926 as the “last word in 1920’s residential elegance.” However, the party’s casual.

Very notable:

USC President and Mrs. James H. Zumberge and Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Somer will host a reception today at the Somers’ home to welcome newly appointed Dean Larry James Livingston to the USC School of Music. His wife, Karen, will also be feted at the tea showcasing university talent.

The National Charity League Debutante Ball Committee entertained at a candlelight dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Armen Michael Sevlian in Northridge to honor debutante parents.

Thalians Presidents Club members attend a pre-ball celebration hosted by international interior designer Roy Sklarin at his Wilshire House residence. Guests included former Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin and his wife, Connie; the Dick Van Pattens; the Lyle Waggoners; Rod Taylor; Mary Hart; Bernie and Yolanda Kopell; Thalians acting president Ken Dibbs; Ruta Lee with Webb Lowe; Dr. Harry and Diane Abramson; Barry and Carol Kaye; Rosina Nesbitt; Michael and Ilene Gerber (she’s co-chairman of the ball), and Stan and Beena Ogner. Sklarin has agreed to donate a seven-day cruise (to Miami or the Bahamas) aboard his 75-foot yacht, Fame, with full crew, as an auction item for the ball Oct. 11.

Luciano Pavarotti starred at the supper party Severyn and Penny Ashkenazy hosted at their Mondrian Hotel after the sold-out concert at the Hollywood Bowl for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Pension Fund. Madelyn Renee, the soprano who replaced the ailing Joan Sutherland at the concert, and conductor Emerson Buckley joined the Italian tenor and about 100 guests on the terrace overlooking Los Angeles night lights. In the coterie: Philharmonic chairman Rocco Siciliano and Marion, Norman and Sadie Lee, Philharmonic vice president Olive Behrendt, Curtis and Priscilla Tamkin, John and Joan Hotchkis, Ernest Fleischmann, Jackie and Sydney Rosenberg, Joanne and Roger Kozberg, Joan and Jack Quinn, Jackie and Ben Hoberman and Arnold Ashkenazy. Also: Supervisor Deane Dana and Doris; Councilmen Michael Woo; Councilwoman Joy Picus and her husband, Jerry, and state Sen. David Roberti and Mrs. Roberti.

Abundant Fashion Do’s: San Marino Area Auxiliary of Five Acres will present its annual benefit luncheon Thursday at the Pasadena Hilton. Producer June Van Dyke will feature the award-winning designs by Edith Head and introduce couturier fashions from Bonwit Teller. Rafaela Peschke is benefit chairman. . . . Michael Novarese was the design star this week at the Beverly Hilton when Friends of Julia Ann Singer lunched to support emotionally disturbed and learning disabled youngsters. Sari Eashman was chairman, assisted by co-chair and president Eva Baerwitz.

Circle in red:

Mr. and Mrs. William Hiestand will host a benefit cocktail reception, “Rekindle the Spirit,” next Sunday to benefit the California Handball Assn. More involved are the Ronald Garvers, the Roderick Devins, the Robert Kribs, the David Ludwicks, the Jack Mackeys, the Hunt Williamses and the Sherman Wagensellers. . . . St. Mary’s Hospital Guild plans “Las Vegas Night” on Saturday, raising funds for the guild’s $120,000 pledge. . . . Veva and Kingston McKee of San Marino are hosting a cocktail party Sept. 24 for UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor Curtis R. Simic and physiology/anatomy professor Gary L. Firestone. . . . former County Supervisor Warren M. Dorn will be honored Friday at a testimonial dinner at the Pasadena Hilton’s International Ballroom. Bob Hope will star. It’s also a benefit for the Pasadena YMCA. Russ Shipman is executive chairman; Jim Peterson, dinner coordinator. . . . St. Margaret’s School in San Juan Capistrano celebrated its founding with its second annual Founder’s Day Dinner this weekend in the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton. In the spotlight, new headmaster Markham Campaigne, formerly of Bishop’s School in La Jolla, and his wife, Mary Ann. Chairman Dardie Dunlap was assisted by Susie Foss, Laraine Clampitt, Sue McWayne, Kathleen Delano, Julia Cheney, Charlotte Thomas, Diana Crandall.

Concern II took over the Beverly Center on Saturday evening to present “Casino de Paris.” Casino-type gaming, dancing, supper, a fashion show and edibles from the Hard Rock Cafe, California Pizza Kitchen, the Siam Orchid and Starky’s Deli lent flair. Steve R. Freed, chairman of the group of young fund-raisers, says proceeds are earmarked for children’s cancer immunology research. In on the planning: Sue Brucker, Steve Teller, Rick and Debbie Powell, Laura Ellen Segal, Anne and Bill Barnett, Lisa Horwitch and Nancy Paul.

This evening at the Bistro in Beverly Hills, fans of the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom (WODOC) will gather to fund-raise at $1,000 a table (or $150 per person). WODOC is the 600-acre wilderness in Franklin Canyon that provides volunteer-led nature walks. Expected to attend the dinner and auction (a raffle is expected to raise at least $30,000) are Daniel R. Kuehn, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; Joe Edminston, director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; Beverly Hills Mayor Charlotte Spadaro; George Sidney; Harold Held; Sybil Brand, and founder Sooky Goldman.