Hamlisch to Play at Heart Assn. Benefit

What composer/performer Marvin Hamlisch has agreed to for the Heart Ball on Feb. 6 is special: He’ll be the featured entertainer at the Beverly Hilton, without charge. Robin Parsky of Pasadena, chairman of the American Heart Assn. Greater Los Angeles Affiliate, says Hamlisch has agreed to the concession because his father died from heart disease. “I’m very anxious to help,” Hamlisch said.

It’s every benefit chairman’s hope. And, it makes it that much easier for the Heart Ball at the Beverly Hilton to meet its $325,000 goal (that includes the profits from donated prizes to be auctioned). Over the years the ball has netted nearly $2 million for heart research at USC and UCLA. You can be sure Hamlisch, who won a Pulitzer Prize for “A Chorus Line,” an Academy Award for best musical adaptation for “The Sting,” and more Oscars for best song and best original score for “The Way We Were,” plus a Golden Globe, will do his utmost.

Lodwrick M. Cook and George P. Rutland have taken on the task of co-chairmen of the dinner committee (that means they garner corporate commitments). Ball co-chairmen are Won Mi Kwon and Sharon Swanson. Tickets are $250.

RED LETTER DATES: The Social Service Auxiliary will dance black-tie to the Swing and String music of Kenny Sheldon on Saturday at its “Evening of Romance” dinner at the Bel-Air Country Club. What a schedule! The auxiliary abounded in cheer for a spectacular Christmas tea at the home of Mrs. John P. McNicholas, revealing names of presentees for their Presentation Ball. That was just the prelude to ball festivities June 1, when 22 will be presented to Archbishop Roger M. Mahony.

Very much involved are Mrs. Richard B. Goethals, auxiliary president; Mrs. Roger M. Sullivan and Mrs. William D. Jennett, presentee chairman and co-chairman; and Mrs. Peter Nigg, ball chairman.

DANCE, DANCE: Mylar silver and hot pink invitations, designed by Elise Ebbert and Shirley Renick as replicas of a dance card retrieved from the family scrapbook, are the bids for the Jan. 31 “Night at Filmland,” the preview of the coming Las Floristas Floral Headdress Ball April 24 at the Beverly Hilton. The preview’s patterned after a 1930s Saturday night at the Stardust Ballroom. And the grand atrium of Filmland, with its soaring 90-foot canopy of glass, was chosen as the showcase for the announcement of Las Floristas’ florists and mannequins.

LAPD (Los Angeles Party Designs, and not to be confused with Daryl Gates’ staff) is planning the shimmering affair. Neil Seidel and his musicians will sport hot pink bow ties and sashes. Florist chairman Julie Lee and her assistant Beth Lane will do the introductions of florists. Mary Richardson has been named ball chairman; assisting will be Sue Hall. They’ll be welcoming honorary ball chairman, philanthropist Alice O’Neill Avery. Mrs. Lud Renick (he of La Couronne restaurant) promises that after-dinner dancing will adhere strictly to protocol: couples must fill out dance cards for the waltzes and fox trots--and the rock ‘n’ roll. Las Floristas members raise funds for handicapped children.

FASHION SYMPHONY: Maybe that svelte Martha Kilroe will be wearing one of Michael Novarese’s enchanting pink-and-white afternoon/cocktail silks. Her name was drawn from the hopper at “A Symphony of Fashion” this week at the Biltmore. Furrier Joe Noblia of Giba-Noblia Furs presented a galaxy of Russian lynx and some U.S. fuzzies to the fashion ramp music of Clark Keen. Renee Hanson supervised the menu, which started with spinach with smoked almonds and peppercream dressing.

A happy crowd had been assembled by Mrs. Warren Williamson (she brought 14 from Pasadena in a deluxe van) and Mrs. Warren Jones, co-chairmen. Among them were Mrs. Joseph C. Brashares, chairman of patrons; Edith Roberts, president of the symphony association; and patron gatherers, including Penny Bianchi, Mrs. John C. Cushman, Estelle Schlueter, John D. F. Tarr and Olive Varga. There were a few nervous moments when Novarese was late, due to traffic congestion and Biltmore reconstruction, but he buzzed in, causing a few sighs of relief.

In the crowd: Madge Burford, Jean Higgins, Carol Bressler, Joan Caillouette, Mrs. Robert Cheesewright, Nancy Dinsmore, Mary Jones, Eleanore Phillips, Patty Pillsbury (whose son Taylor is in Australia for firsthand America’s Cup reportage), Victoria Cobery, Polly Goodan, the Verne Orrs, orchestra director Jorge Mester, Mrs. Max Pegram, Jenny Rutt, Gabrielle Santaniello, Elayne Techentin, Corinne Werdel, Cheryl Wegge and Mrs. Henry Yost.

FUND FUN: Colorado College in Colorado Springs is conducting a $43.5 million fund-raising campaign--loyal alumni kick off the Los Angeles area campaign with two major invitational events. One is a luncheon Friday at the Jonathan Club downtown, the other a luncheon Saturday at the Beach Club. Marilyn Marksheffel Duque and Phil Swan are collaborating on the L.A. drive. Others campaigning ($28.2 million already has been raised) are Weta and Allen Mathies, and Deborah Stern Booth. Early acceptances have come from the William Mingsts, the Sam Colemans, the Roger Olsons, Kate Colmery, Joyce and Christin Lathrop, and John and Martha Kiggen. Colorado College president Gresham Riley and Prof. Walt Hecox will appear at both events.

DESIGNER-MINDED: Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale’s pretty home will be no small drawing card for the Colleagues’ first meeting of the New Year. They’re meeting Jan. 28 to salute their new president, Mrs. Frank W. Clark Jr., and two new members, Patti Skouras and Ruth Newbert. The subject, says Erlenne Sprague, will be the Colleagues Sale on May 9 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Colleagues are busily collecting designer items, furs, jewelry, china, silver, antiques, furniture, bric-a-brac--anything wonderful that goes into a glamour sale.

UPCOMING: Bruce Herschensohn addresses the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Los Angeles County chapter at noon Jan. 29 in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. Mrs. Donald Corzine says he’ll discuss “Behind the Headlines” and look at what constitutes a breaking news story. . . .

How do you say thank you? Co-chairs Kathleen Johnson and Margaret Goldschmidt will host a cocktail party Feb. 1 on behalf of the Associates of the Center for the Partially Sighted to honor donors. Sid Caesar and Steve Edwards have accepted. Helene Sonderling takes the reins as president, with Yvonne Dean, Laura Borsten and Sylvia Lindenberg are other driving forces. . . .

Up north, the Monterey Vineyard/March of Dimes Gourmet Gala is scheduled Saturday in the grand ballroom of the Monterey Sheraton Hotel. Some 25 celebrities, all amateur chefs, will pair up to prepare their favorite dishes in specially designed kitchens. Then Chef Heinz of the Monterey Sheraton will make it artistic for 450 benefit-goers to chow down. Carmel resident Joan Fontaine, and Cary Gott, winemaster of the Monterey Vineyard, are honorary chairmen. . . .

At the home of Bruce and Janet Karatz on Wednesday, Ali MacGraw and Cheryl Tiegs will be in the forefront for the California Abortion Rights Action League to toast “14 years of safe and legal abortion in America.” It’s a $50 per person evening.

PLAUDITS: The board of trustees of the Hollywood Canteen Foundation has allocated more than $225,000 to be divided among 27 veterans’ charities. Best of all, the Jules and Doris Stein Foundation is matching the contributions of the Canteen Committee, raising the total given to more than $350,000. . . .

Permanent Charities Committee has reached $1.8 million, 55% of its 42nd annual campaign drive. . . .

The women of Chai Committee lunched at the new estate of Maury and Yasuko Kraines and heard Bernard Kalb, former assistant secretary of state for public affairs, speak. The Chai goal is $1.5 million.