Sparkling Benefit Evening in Honor of Goldie Hawn

“Watch me. I’m eating to the music.”

Walter Matthau was indeed chomping on his rye bread in rhythm to the music filling the Century Plaza Ballroom at the dinner honoring Goldie Hawn.

There were stars shining at every table--co-stars of Hawn in many of her pictures--Matthau, Warren Beatty, Eileen Brennan. And agents enough to do a hundred films more, since the benefit for the Tel Aviv Foundation paid tribute to the late Stan Kamen, who headed William Morris’ entertainment division for many years.

Matthau was demonstrating his culinary acumen to his wife, Carol. She was wearing a glittery pink and silver dress. Which, she confided, she bought 10 years ago in Paris but never wore because it was “too Hollywood.” Carol Matthau--whom her husband kids about her wardrobe--said she would never take alimony. “I only take from people I love. And as I tell Walter, ‘God help whoever I love.’ ”

It was certainly a Big Diamond Evening. That’s assured whenever Barbara Davis and her buddy Candy Spelling turn out--but then Phyllis McGuire put the carat-counting over the top, with diamonds hanging from ears, neck and fingers.

The evening was a double tribute--to Hawn and to Kamen, her longtime agent and friend, who had the “dream” of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. Netting more than $300,000, the dinner assured the final funding of the project.

Gregory Peck took the stage to say that Kamen was a person “rich in old-fashioned virtue . . . completely unlike the stereotype of the Hollywood agent.”

Dionne Warwick sang “That’s What Friends Are For,” Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lahat spoke, Chevy Chase did a parody biography of Hawn (Neil Simon laughing at someone else’s jokes for a change), Brennan made a touching speech about how Hawn was “just about the best friend that anyone can have,” someone imitating President Reagan spoke, Robin Williams was very funny (“looking out, I see the people who put me on hold”), Matthau (in person and on film) talked about Hawn’s career, and then in a gravity-defying gold dress, honoree Hawn took the stage.

“I miss Stan a lot,” she said. “I think about him every day. He was part of my life. And part of my family too.”

People cheered. Because producer George Schlatter had done the show (he’s been close with Hawn since “Laugh-In” days), it was entertaining and ended by 10:30.

Leaving, Dr. Arnie Klein, there with Carrie Fisher, said he had a home-cooked meal the night before--an Italian feast whipped together by Danny Kaye in honor of columnist George Will.

Director Joe Feury, there with his wife Lee Grant, just gazed and gazed around the room. “It’s always the same faces,” he said. “They are just at different tables.”

DESIGNS ON CHARITY--The Southern California Design Industry Friends of the AIDS Project Los Angeles hold a massive party Saturday night, celebrating the formation of DACA (Design Alliance to Combat AIDS). It’s black-tie and at the Pacific Design Center. Angely Lansbury is the honorary chairwoman and special guest--and the invitation is crowded with the names of trendy design companies. Hurrah.

BULGES IN THE WRONG PLACES--Poor Cybill Shepherd. Didn’t anyone let her see the picture that Los Angeles Magazine has on the February cover? She’s got almost as much falling out the back of her dress as most Hollywood starlets do out of the front.