Galanos in Fashion With Otis/Parsons

Telephones are chiming and conversations are buzzing over Otis/Parsons Critics Awards Fashion Show on May 2 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. The big news is that the Otis/Parsons board of governors headed by Elaine Goldsmith has a yes from James Galanos to receive its Design Achievement Award. Since the haute couturier is premier on the fashion scene, everyone is elated.

Especially Joan Selwyn, chairman of the dinner committee, and Marjorie Lyte, who lunched at Hillcrest Country Club to detail plans.

Next on the agenda is the cocktail meeting Wednesday in the Club Room at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills. Honorary co-chairs Iris Cantor and Jennifer Jones Simon will be announced, and the evening will focus on fashion industry supporters including Betsy Sanders of Nordstrom, Steve Meadows of Merry Mary Fabrics, Inc., and Eve Rich of Contempo Casuals.

Dinner and dancing are adjuncts of the May evening, but a highlight will be the Awards Show featuring fashions designed and created by the college’s junior and graduating senior classes in fashion design, working under Rosemary Brantley, chairman of the fashion design department. Pressing for perfection is Joan Selwyn’s committee, including Jonathan Bloch, Karlene Garber, Karen Baynard Gould and Bronya Pereira.

ALL HEART: Robin Parsky runs a tight ship. Marvin Hamlisch insists that when the chairman of the American Heart Assn. Greater Los Angeles Affiliate called him in New York to ask him to perform for the 10th anniversary ball, she called collect. Not only that, but she got the incredible Hamlisch to perform gratis, if she’d guarantee a Boesendorfer piano on stage at the Beverly Hilton. She did. He did.

Said the comedian/pianist/composer, “My father died of a heart attack, and when something happens, then you care a little more, which you shouldn’t.” But, he did, and 700 were clapping, tapping, swaying, giggling for the Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriter (“A Chorus Line”), who also happens to have an Academy Award for “The Sting,” not to mention “The Way We Were.”

Near enough to the ivories to see Hamlisch’s patent-leather and suede shoes tapping the pedals were a happy lot: John and Joan Hotchkis, Joanne and Roger Kozberg, Tim and Terri Childs, Cyndy Garvey and David Liebling (Hamlisch’s nephew), and Arthur Cleary, Robin Parksy’s brother, who flew in from Houston. They laughed when Hamlisch improvised on “Gladys Isn’t Gratis Any More,” “What Comes Up Must Come Down,” and “Picadilly From My Lily,” and then mixed them in a medley.

The ball is expected to raise nearly $325,000. Proceeds will be allocated to heart research at UCLA and USC. Kudos is due co-dinner committee chairman Lod Cook, chairman of ARCO, there with his pretty wife, Carol. Co-chair George P. Rutland, chairman of California Federal Savings and Loan, was out of town.

More credit will go to the big live-auction bidders. Gerry Parsky, senior partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury William Simon’s partner in financial ventures, for instance, scurried about to put a $5,500 syndicate together to buy the trip to the Scottish Highlands estate donated by Peter and Pam Mullin, there with a bunch of guests. Henry Molina of Whittier wasn’t there, but he won the RX-7G Mazda; the Sitmar cruise went to Dr. Michael Wong.

President Dr. Pravin Shah and co-party chairmen Mrs. Ki Hong and Mrs. Allan J. Swanson were accepting the plaudits for a job well done, and so were committee members including Aileen Henry, who had just moved into a new Pasadena home (her husband, Guy, is the new Los Angeles managing partner of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy), and Cheryl Doyle, who conducted the silent auction.

John and Liz Argue were among those hosting tables. Various thank-yous were coming from Jean and Russell Smith (guests of the Chuck Millers), the Neil Divers, the Richard Roeders, the David Partridges, Arletta and Don Tronstein, Mary and Victor Haltom and cardiologist Dr. Michell Covel.

ARCS DE TRIOMPHE: ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Los Angeles chapter will go “Hollywood Glitzy” for their Santa Monica Pier benefit March 7. That night the historic, newly renovated carrousel will go round and round in a carnival atmosphere planned by co-chairmen Penee Hull and Diane Liebenguth and president Terri Grojean.

They’ve booked Darlene Miller of Savoir Faire for an international buffet. Dick Miller will be master of ceremonies. Entertainment chairman Mrs. David Banks has also arranged for dancing to the Authentics.

Mrs. Walter Muller has a Jetta and a $4,000 necklace for the drawing, and Mrs. Vincent Holian, Mrs. Gerard Hall and Mrs. Jack Eddy are boasting 101 prizes (Hawaii and Las Hadas) in the “best odds in town” drawing.

PLEASANT TOIL: The 18 gentlemen sous chefs toiled all day under the guidance of executive chef Gary Comella at Le Bel Age Hotel. But the result--an imperial Russian dinner of one course after another (zabouskies, hot borscht, salmon, tea sorbet, truffle chicken a la russe, salad of mache, California Frisee, endive and chocolate Kiev torte)--would have crazed a czar.

With Cossack stamina, Steaven K. Jones Jr. headed the souses for a second year.

Guests were treated royally: Anna Bing Arnold, Mrs. Harry Lenart, Peter and Helen Bing, Judy and Franklin Murphy, Daisy and Daniel Belin, the Rt. Rev. Oliver T. Garver, Harriet Chia Lin Moore, Richard Seaver.

And the sous chefs were so accommodating: Russ Alben, Charles Ames Jr., William Banning, Gordon S. Bodek, Lawrence Cowan, Robert Ehrman, Lawrence M. Goodman Jr., Orville J. Golub, Freeman Gosden Jr., Michael W. Harahan, B. Boyd Hight, Thomas R. Howell, Nathan J. Leanse, James Pardee, Hugo J. Standing and Stephen J. Stern.

Eleanor and Dr. Thomas Howell had just returned from six months in Nepal, India and Thailand. Dr. Harlan Amstutz was recounting his adventures riding giant sea turtles off Brenicke’s Ledge in Kauai. Marva Shearer had just been trounced on the tennis court by Sen. Alan Cranston (“impossible to lob over”).

President of Planned Parenthood/Los Angeles Judith G. Jones (wife of Steaven) marveled at the $175,000 raised this year at Food Fare at the Riviera Country Club and through the Men’s Dinner Committee, which included Karen Berk, Muriel Goodman, Sue Labiner, Ann Petroni, Janice Rusack, Carmela Speroni and Sheila Stern.

RED-LETTER DATES: British Consul Gen. Donald F. Ballentyne and Mrs. Ballentyne host a reception Wednesday to honor Yorkshire Television and the “Focus on Britain” series. . . . Jo and Bob McLain are welcoming Mary and Rod Laver with Mai Tais and pupus Saturday evening at the Silver Sands Racquet Club in Palm Desert. Rod’s the new tennis pro there. . . . The ladies of Operation: Children entertain at Jimmy’s in Beverly Hills on Wednesday to acquaint friends with their new asthma and allergy children’s camp. It’s a prelude to their ninth annual post Academy Awards luncheon in the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton.

UPCOMING, TOO: An inventory of $150,000 collectibles and bargains is promised for the second annual Junior League of Los Angeles Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Admission is free. For Chairman Vicki Baker and her committee, including Gretchen Allen-Bryant, Carolyn Taff, Jane Sample, Julie Lieske and Mary Olson, it’s been a year of collecting. It will take two days to move goods into the auditorium.

And the merry-go-round goes round for the California Historical Society’s “Carousel Party on the Pier” Feb. 27 in Santa Monica. Mrs. Norman B. Terry is benefit chairman for cocktails and supper. She’ll have able assistance from Mrs. John T. Boyle, Mrs. William Clayton Jr., Mrs. Silvio Hoshek, Mrs. Richard A. Hotaling, Margaret Thalken, Mrs. Joseph Vaccaro, Mrs. Timothy M. Doheny, Patricia Ketchum, Mrs. Sven W. Lokrantz, Mrs. Stirling L. Huntley, Mrs. Gary Conrad, Yvonne R. Flowers, Mrs. Kennedy Galpin (who’s had cataract surgery), Mrs. Maurice A. Machris, Maggie Pexton Murray, Judy Avery Newkirk and Mrs. Frank Simpson. In a circus mood, they’re planning corn chowder, jambalaya and vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce.

Dean Robert H. Gry celebrates the inauguration of the Dean’s Gold Medal Society for the UCLA College of Fine Arts next Sunday. Foremost student films and videos will be screened with George Schaefer, new chairman, Department of Theater, Film and Television, moderating in Melnitz Theater on campus.

CELEBRATIONS: Gen. Charles E. Yeager will be keynoter and Roy E. Disney will be presented the Distinguished Citizen Award at a “Patriotic Celebration” Feb. 27 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. The affair is sponsored by the National Council of Trustees and the Los Angeles County Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

Charles Luckman is dinner chairman. Co-chairmen are Carl Karcher and Milan Panic. Patron chairmen include Helen Pepperdine, Dr. Lee Dubridge and Dr. Glenn Dumke.

The black-tie dinner will also honor military guests.

FESTIVITIES: Pasadena Beautiful Foundation directors have sent invitations for their 26th annual awards banquet Feb. 24 at the Caltech Athenaeum. William Christopher (Father Mulcahey of “MASH”) will present awards. Timothy Driscoll, president, has named Lindsay and Anna Macdonnell co-chairmen.

KIIS-FM disc-jockey Rick Dees hosts the “Tribute to Johnny Grant” dinner Friday in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Premiere, Universal City. The San Fernando Valley Unit of the Arthritis Foundation benefits.