Name Dropping: ‘Celebrity Status’ May Get Spotlight, but Not for Long

Say, what’s in a name?

These days--almost everything.

Only some names are “famous”--and some names are “celebrity.”

Stand outside any hot restaurant any night--and watch the paparazzi. See who they shoot. Watch studio moguls, major corporate execs, and, frequently, even established actors walk by. A few clicks. But, boy, get a minor lead from a minor nighttime soap, and the flashes go crazy.

Even in this town--supposedly long immune to celebrity because of too-frequent exposure--nothing happens without top names.

There is always the question--how to judge who is “famous” and who is merely this week’s “celebrity”?

Two rules--famous lasts; and talent, my dear, has nothing to do with it.

CERTAINLY FAMOUS--The 34th annual SHARE Boomtown party goes on May 16 at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. No announcement of the stars--usually of the socko variety--but the charity group’s show this year salutes Hollywood on its 100th anniversary.

A BURNING QUESTION--George Burns has done his bit--contributing $1 million to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The center says “thanks” by hosting his 91st birthday bash--which is also a good excuse to launch Phase II of its $90-million endowment drive. The festivities are Jan. 24 at the Beverly Hilton. Happy birthday (on the 20th), George.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS--Former Rep. Ed Zschau has joined the L.A.-based venture capital firm Brentwood Associates, to be their guy in Northern California. Zschau’s close friend Kip Hagopian is a partner. Brentwood was a big investor in Zschau Business System Industries, which he sold before going to Congress in 1982. . . . Kathleen Brown Sauter moves back to L.A. to lawyer with O’Melveny & Myers. Spouse Gordon Van Sauter’s employment plans still unknown. . . .

ARTSY WEEKEND--Actor-director Henry Winkler, actor Richard Dreyfuss, director Paul Mazursky and producer Irwin Winkler all go on stage Sunday at UCLA. They’re the guests of honor at the fourth annual Streisand Awards for student film makers and playwrights. The Streisand Center for Jewish Cultural Arts at UCLA’s Hillel was funded by Barbra Streisand in 1981, and aims at illuminating the Jewish arts by exposing patrons to the best in Jewish creativity. The four guests of honor will take the chance Sunday night to debate: “The Prophet Motive--What Is Happening to Jewish Consciousness in Film-making Today?”

BIG HELLO--When Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) hit D.C. this week, he had a heavy-hitter welcome. His sister-in-law, Katherine Graham, chairman and CEO of the Washington Post Co., had several dozen of her heavy hitters to dinner to meet and renew friendships with Graham.

WEDDING BELLS--Today’s the day--but only family will attend the ceremony. Financier Leonard Firestone will marry Caroline Lynch (the ex-wife of stockbroker Edward Lynch) in New York. The 80-year-old Firestone, widowed in 1985, met the bride at Jackson Hole, Wyo., when they were both the guests of Laurance and Mary Rockefeller. Wine expert Brooks Firestone will be the best man for his father, and the newlyweds will journey to the Caribbean with the Rockefellers for a honeymoon.

PASS THE ADVOCACY--Assemblyman Michael Roos (D-Los Angeles), L.A. Councilman Joel Wachs, Carter Hawley Hale’s Andrea Van de Kamp and public-affairs activist Joanne Kozberg “share the inside information on the political side of the cultural scene” Friday at the Regency Club. It’s “Tea and Advocacy,” sponsored by Club 100 of the Music Center.