Crystal Ball: Some Glittery Thank-Yous

“Isn’t this a sensational turnout!” exclaimed Bonita Wrather at the Crystal Ball at the Beverly Hilton for St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation. Then, it was thank-you time--with good cause:

Big thanks, “and heartfelt gratitude, and this is not the first time,” she said to Frank Sinatra, who later wowed the fashionable crowd with all their favorites: “Once in My Life,” “I’ve Got the World on a String, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Big thanks to Nancy Reagan, honorary chairman who couldn’t attend but “who loves St. John’s.” Very big thanks to Dolly Green, who underwrote the dinner for nearly 1,000. And to all the chairmen--Mrs. Robert H. Adams Jr., Mrs. Earle Jorgensen, Mrs. Virginia S. Milner, Mrs. Frank Sinatra, Mrs. William A. Wilson and “your’s truly.” The spotlight skipped from one to the other, as all were introduced and stood for recognition.

“Now,” said Mrs. Wrather, wife of the late Jack Wrather, “This very small and incredible group will present a check for $1 million to St. John’s Hospital for our new cancer center (scheduled to open Nov. 4).” Also getting accolades, the powerhouse vice chairmen: Mrs. Corwin D. Denney, Mrs. William H. Doheny, Mrs. Henry E. Singleton, Mrs. Norman Sprague, Mrs. Charles B. Thornton and Mrs. Rodney F. Williams.

For being so generous (a choice of tables of 10 for $25,000 or $2,500), the crowd was rewarded with dynamo Peggy Lee, who slinked on stage in white satin and fur. Her finale, “Fever,” brought an encore, “Fever.” More rewards: Irv Cottler and his Orchestra directed by Bill Miller, and comedian Tom Dreesen: “I was 22 when I saw my first Republican.”

Ambassadors and major figures filled the crowd: Former Ambassador to the Vatican William Wilson and Betty brought former Ambassador to Spain Thomas Enders and his wife Gaetana as well as Princess Boncompagne of Italy (and they were holidaying in Mexico later in the weekend). Former Atty. Gen. William French Smith and Jean joined the Jorgensen group, and so did Sister Marie Madeleine Shonka, whom Bonita described as “dedicated, compassionate--and I can just see her smiling all the way to the bank.”

Mrs. Alfred S. Bloomingdale took two tables, filling one with friends, the other with Lisa and Kim Bell and their friends. Howard and Mary Varner (she volunteers one or two days a week at St. John’s) brought guests, the Ron Johnsons and the Arthur Springs. Alice Avery O’Neill was a supporter, along with the R. Stanton Averys, the Aubrey Austins Jr., the Jack Foremans (she’s a volunteer, too), who brought Father Donald Merrifield. Supporters Carl Gregory were with Peter and Robin Barker and the Ronald Hartwicks. The Terrence Lynches joined Dr. and Mrs. William Hummer. More in the crowd were former President Gerald and Betty Ford, the Robert Erburus, the Frederick E. Giersches Jr. (she’s on the board), Lester and Carolbeth Korn, Dr. Peter Boasberg and Stacey McNutt (his fiancee), Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, the Glen McDaniels, the Ricardo Montalbans (he was not driving a Chrysler), the Chase Morseys, the Gregory Pecks (he went backstage to congratulate Sinatra), Fred and Peggy Hartley, Mrs. Maurice Machris with the Eric Skipseys, the Jack Michels with the James Hesburghs, the Thomas Mullaneys with the Donn Millers, the Gerald Oppenheimers with the Henry Bergers, Eleanor Colt, the James Regans and the Frank Viaults.

The thing to do was to buy a table for your friends, another for your children and their pals: Virginia Milner did that, and son Reese Milner included his fiance Mary Daly, James Dahl, Kendel Fewel, Brad Freeman, John Hall and the James M. Julians. Tom Trainer Jr. also hosted a young group, including Maria Vasquez and the Michael McCarthys. Dr. James Scharffenberger included Allyson Ashforth, Susan Christian, the Chris Gorogs, John Scharffenberger, Christine Singleton, the William Singletons and Joan Toole. Steven and Judy Jones, Bill and Daryn Horton, Libby and Will Doheny (new parents) were there, dining on the veal piccata and dessert chocolate wicker baskets. So were Phoebe and Joe Vacarro. John and Lucia Meyers drove off at the end of the evening in a pretty Mercedes with a hood ornament of a bird dog with a duck in its mouth.

MAJOR MOVERS: Edmonde A. Haddad, president of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, is elated: 1,600 tickets have been sold for the luncheon Friday when Secretary of State George P. Shultz is to deliver a major foreign policy address at the Century Plaza. On the reception committee will be Council directors including Joseph F. Alibrandi, Roy A. Anderson, Edward W. Carter, John F. Hotchkis, Earle M. Jorgensen and James Kenney.

OFFICIAL: Tuesday, the Department of the Interior and Secretary Donald Paul Hodel celebrated the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. The Liberty’s Centennial Gala the same evening at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, was the all-star finale to the restoration campaign. At the helm, Peggy and Lee Iacocca and Claudia and Nelson Peltz headed, co-chairmen. Liberty commissioners from the Southland attending were Suzanne Marx, Lady Dodge, Virginia Braun, Glen Holden and James Galbraith.

The evening before at the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor Awards Dinner feted Lee Iacocca and William May, who have championed the restoration of the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island. His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor, Archbishop of New York was honored; Bob Hope was master of ceremonies.

SLICK, SHINY--Invitations are out--horsey and nice--for the Neil Bogart Memorial Laboratories for Children’s Cancer Research “Night at the Races” Nov. 14 at Hollywood Park’s Pavilion of the Stars. Our tip sheet says that Bette Midler is honorary chairman, Rick Dees will be auctioneer and cocktails and all that serious betting for “the race to beat cancer” begins at 5:30 p.m., an hour before the big race. But that’s not all. Then come the awards, the auction, dinner, dancing, gambling (with fabulous prizes), raffles.

Mary Micucci and Nancy Stern are masterminding it all, assisted by Zaida Bedell and Cindy Sands. More in key spots: Keith Addis, Laurie Winhuff, Marilyn Frandsen, Dick Krizman, Ann Van Bebber, Paula Henderson, Sydney Ross, Abe Somer, Nancy Stern, Laurie Weinhuff, Marilyn Arthur, Michael Levine, Merna Braun, Jackie Applebaum, Joyce Bogart, Veronica Chambers, Marcia Diamond, Carole Bayer Sager.

The laboratories were founded as a memorial to entertainment great Neil Bogart and are located at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

PERSONALITY: Shirley Temple Black will be honored at Childrens Hospital Doll Fair Saturday at Marlborough School. The 65th annual event will feature a 50-year-old collection of Temple dolls, the play “Cinderella” (performed by Marlborough students), and all the attractions--Christmas boutiques, antiques, hot dogs, palmist, card reader, “moon bounce,” a petting zoo. It all benefits the Rehabilitation Center, for a nominal charge.

UPSCALE BASEBALL: San Diego Padres’ First baseman Steve Garvey will be honored at the California Special Olympics’ third annual Spirit of Friendship Award dinner Saturday at the Beverly Hilton. Donny Osmond is booked, also Special Olympian Daimon Thompson. Home Savings of America Orchestra will provide the music. Celeste Anlauf produces the show. Last year’s award went to Carl Karcher (Carl’s Jr. restaurants) and the event raised $134,000.

The same weekend, Garvey gives charity another Midas touch. The 12th annual Michelob Light Steve Garvey Celebrity Tennis Classic, a two-day event benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society, is scheduled at the John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach. The event has raised nearly $750,000 for MS since its inception in 1974.

JEWELED: The Donald Tallaricos host a “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” evening Nov. 6 at Tallarico Precious Jewels in Beverly Hills. The caviar and champagne reception catered by the Bistro Gardens is a salute to Sonnance, which supports the House Ear Institute’s Center for Deaf Children, and will do major fund raising Nov. 21 at its benefit featuring Ambassador and Mrs. John Gavin as honorary chairmen. Tallarico will present a gift certificate to co-chairmen Helen Irvine and Penelope von Kalinowski to be awarded as benefit prize.

ON RESERVE: Elin Vanderlip and Lehman Katz, the Harry Wetzels, Betty Fields, the Bradley Joneses, the Roger Cormans, the John Goods and Mrs. Peter Bing are among those who have reserved tables for the champagne Garden Gala the Friends of Friend Art host Nov. 12 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Biltmore. Penelope Hobhouse, British author and BBC television star, will tell all about “Private Gardens of England.” Proceeds will be used to restore the Louis XVI Theater at the Legion of Honor in San Frandisco.

PAST PERFECT: They know exactly what to wear for the Candleight Ball in December after the I. Magnin couture fashion show they hosted the other noon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Chairmen Mrs. Charles F. Murray and Mrs. John Daly arranged the affair for the Juniors of Social Service. Some taking it all in were the affable Mrs. Frederick F. Fletcher, president, Mrs. Richard G. Newman, ball chairman, Mrs. John F. Bernard, Mrs. Thomas E. Larkin, Mrs. James W. Hobson, Mrs. Simon Lorne, Mrs. Mark Overland, Mrs. John Stephens, Mrs. David Wood and Victoria Toberman . . . Dr. Joseph P. Van Der Meulen, USC vice president for health affairs and dean of the school of medicine, was keynoter for the Trojan League of Los Angeles annual benefit featuring the School of Nursing. League president Joann Koll and benefit chairman Janice Boswell then brought the crowd back to campus for the Town and Gown luncheon . . . USC Librarian and Vice Provost Charles Ritcheson presided over the reception in the Doheny Memorial Library to celebrate hanging the Cole Porter portrait painted by Artis Lane and given by members of the National Arts Assn. headed by Jeanne Johnson . . . Dr. S. James Vamvas, on the eve of his 80th birthday, was receiving lots of kudos at the tribute dinner at St. Sophia Cathedral co-chaired by Dr. and Mrs. Vasilios Lambros (who wears a lot of Galanos designs) . . . John Mason, partner of Mason and Sloan law offices, and Andrew Garb, managing partner of Loeb & Loeb law offices, received the Gold Medal Awards at the Beverly Wilshire, presented annually by the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis . . . Gumps and Friends of Vieilles Maisons Francaises joined for the presentation of silver from the Collections of Puiforcat by Cyril Naphegyi, president of Puiforcat. It’s a repeat of the party so successful in San Francisco, says Nancy Hinds. . . .

MORE MIDAS TOUCHES: Las Floristas deals in major figures, so there’s $250,000 profit from the Headdress Ball to support handicapped childrens clinics at Rancho Los Amigos and the County/USC Medical Center. Judi (Mrs. Welton) Becket is newly installed president.

UPCOMING: Cedars-Sinai United Hostesses’ Charities plans a “Glitter Madness” dinner dance Saturday at the Beverly Hilton. President Nancy Nebenzahl and co-chairmen Janet Birnkrant and Cheri Yousem are “reminiscent of the Ziegfeld era” . . . Billy Barty, Natalie Cole and Erik Estrada are among celebrities appearing at the Palmer Drug Abuse Programs second annual Las Vegas Night Saturday atop the 24th floor at Universal City . . . Hadassah’s national president Ruth Popkin is in town this week, celebrating the group’s 75th anniversary with Los Angeles leaders, including Los Angeles president Bess Karniol . . . Lavina Dawson is producing the variety show at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 8162 Melrose, for the Response Center of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center . . . Sellabration ‘86, the South Bay big charity fund-raiser, is Saturday at the Torrance Marriott, and it benefits Little Company of Mary Hospital. Terry O’Keefe of Rolling Hills Estates is chairman and William C. Applegates heads the men’s committee. . . .