Bachelors Putting Their Best Feet Forward for Ball

That “dancing until 4” crowd--the Bachelors--are revved up for their 82nd ball Friday evening. But wasn’t it once until 5 a.m.? The young men about town are being very secretive about decorations. However, with co-chairmen Andrew E. Woodward and Grant Waring Ivey organizing every detail, under the aegis of president Rod Wilger, the party’s in good hands.

As always, the affair will be fancy dress. The Bachelors, who originally launched the gala as a way to reciprocate for friends’ hospitality through the year, will stage the soiree at the Beverly Hilton. They’ve booked Joe Moshay’s Orchestra.

Some will be attending their first ball as new members: Hugh Durst Bateman, Thomas William Baxter, David Cormack Brittain, Hugh Hinton Evans III, Samuel Horatio Halle, Briant Davidson Howes, Mark Reilly Kelsey and Christian Edward Markey III.

The smashing gold/ecru engraved invitations also salute this year’s patronesses: Mrs. Waldo Allard Avery, Mrs. John Talmadge Dillon, Mrs. Joseph John Keon Jr., Mrs. J. Thomas McCarthy and Mrs. Eugene Prindle.

A REAL KICK: Over lunch at Jimmy’s in Beverly Hills, we heard all about the Footlighters’ Cabaret Ball and their “just for fun” party the other evening at Cache restaurant and nightclub. President Mrs. William Edwards, ball chairman Mrs. Alva Lane Herd and organizer Mrs. Richard M. DuMont told all. The Footlighters, a group of 50, take the dancing approach to raising money. They’re loosening up for the big cabaret March 28 in the Conrad International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.

It’s to be a “Steppin’ Out” revue of glamorous cities, closing with a toe-tapping, knee-slapping Hooray for Hollywood.

Peg Edwards, a dedicated Footlighter for more than a decade, is a former professional New York singer, and she’ll star. Rena Old will sing and dance in “A Foggy Day.” Co-chairman Carole Emmett will have the spotlight with “The Lambeth Walk.”

Footlighters expect to raise more than $100,000 for the UCLA Craniofacial Clinic and the USC Children’s Cancer Study Group.

Heavily involved are Anne Leavitt, Cheryl Shiner, Susie Gordinier, Barbara Garrett, Francesca Bowyer, Lou Ann Zellers, Carleen Kemmerling, Treva Abrams, Noreen Mills, Tanna Havlick, Terry Rothbard, Suzanne Dillard (also a co-chairman), Charlene Chase, Mary Jo Blue, Gretchen Smith, Kirsten Hall, Joyce Ward.

JUMPING JUBILEE: If Christina Diver of San Marino is correct, the Tootsie Roll’s 90 years old, the New York Mets are 25, Flipper is 30 and Polytechnic School in Pasadena is about to be 80.

That calls for celebration. Thus, Barbara Poer and Spike Booth, will co-chair Jubilee ’80 on March 27 in the Poly gymnasium. Decorations chairman Cheri Wegg will indulge in fantasy. Valet parking will be located “by the elephant,” as a hint of what to expect.

Marcia Cannell has invited Rococo to cater. Auction chairman Nancy DeNero is organizing spectacular items.

Surely, one of the best parts, Michael Carney, New York City bandleader, will have nine pieces playing non-stop with Colleen Casey to entertain. Carney, you know, played for President Reagan’s 75th birthday party at the White House.

Tink Cheney is raffle chairman, hoping to raise plenty for Poly’s first benefit for its endowment fund. Gwen and Guil Babcock and Robin and Peter Barker are patron chairmen. More involved: Ann Giesler, Debbe Booth, Dawn Bazler and Nancy Esbenshade, Judy Morse, Cathy Gamble and Judy McDonald, Poly’s director of development.

SIMPLY FABULOUS: The House of Harry Winston, notes Claude Saujet, president, has always maintained a discreet policy about its clients. Obviously, for security.

But the royal romance of Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee who married Edward, Duke of Windsor in 1937, has always attracted international fascination. Now, the jewelry from her estate, valued at $7 million, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s on April 2 in Geneva, after the exhibition in New York between March 18-22. And Winston is disclosing some details about the magnificent jewels he sold to the duchess.

Are you ready? Earclips--92.95 carats divided into two pear-shaped canary diamonds. (She is supposed to have written to Winston, “I can’t think of anything I’d rather have than these two diamonds.”) The 31-carat Golconda diamond known as “The McLean,” a 49-carat pear-shaped emerald and diamond pendant once owned by the king of Spain, cabochon sapphire and diamond earclips, a mere 75 carats. Much more. But noticeably missing is the 49-carat canary diamond ring, which had been acquired from Winston and is presumed to have been sold by the duchess.

GALA OPENING: Jimmy and Anne Murphy of Jimmy’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills are collaborating with Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Keating Jr. to fly friends to Phoenix, then, provide limousines and luxurious accommodations for the grand opening celebration of the deluxe five-star Crescent Hotel on April 3-4.

Lester Lanin’s Orchestra is booked to perform for the black-tie evening. The Keatings will host a private cocktail-dinner party at the hotel.

BUSY TOWN: The YWCA Leader Luncheon XIII is set for April 23 at the Westin Bonaventure. To get things rolling, Judy Murphy and Caroline Ahmanson entertained at tea at Judy’s in Trousdale Estates. The Leader honorees will be named soon . . .

Archbishop Roger M. Mahony will be guest speaker Wednesday in the El Dorado Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the request of the Social Service Auxiliary and the Juniors . . .

Alyce Williamson’s new Art Center One-Hundred group for Art Center College of Design gathered for its second meeting this week and heard art director Arthur Paul lecture on magazine design . . .

Incoming president Helen Whitehead of the Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital introduced new board members and saluted new active members: Patty Burschinger, Peggy Galbraith and Susan Seidel . . .

Lee Minnelli gathered a coterie of chums this week for cocktails in her Beverly Hills home and dinner at Le Bouvier’s Saloon. It was a sort of bon voyage affair inasmuch as she’s off to Paris soon for Liza Minnelli’s Feb. 26 occasion to receive the Comandeur de L’Ordre des Arts et Lettres. Among friends: Lydia and Charlton Heston, Tim and Nancy Vreeland, Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse (just back from London), Bradley and Mary Jones, Frances Bergen, Robert and Rosemarie Stack and JoAnne Le Bouvier . . .

British Consul General and Mrs. Donald F. Ballentyne hosted a reception last night to honor Yorkshire Television bigwigs.

MUCH MORE: Fraternity of Friends of the Music Center is kicking off a string of spring events, according to Roger Kozberg, president. Members will attend the Los Angeles Music Center Opera’s “Porgy and Bess” on Feb. 27, but first dine at L.A. OLE! In May, Friends plan a weekend of wine tasting and sightseeing in the Napa Valley, as well as a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” by the Joffrey Ballet. The men’s support group is campaigning to raise $650,000, it’s share of the $12.3-million Music Center Unified Fund . . .

Dining and dancing in honor of the 100th anniversary of Hale House is planned by the Cultural Heritage Foundation of Southern California on Feb. 28. The organization exists to preserve the Victorian era of Los Angeles at Heritage Square, located off the Pasadena Freeway at Avenue 43. The Centennial Ball, according to co-chairman Jody Schlichting, will elevate actor Robert Stack to first honorary mayor of Heritage Square. His great-grandfather, William Perry, built the Mt. Plesant House, also located at Heritage Square . . .

Los Angeles Alumnae of Pi Beta Phi will give proceeds to the Crippled Children’s Society when they lunch with an I. Magnin Los Angeles and Laykin et Cie Jewelers fashion show March 2.

PARTY CIRCUIT: Ovations and raves are anticipated by Ambassador College and the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation next Thursday when they present the Ballet Folclorico Nacional de Mexico in Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. Consul General of Mexico, Ambassador Augustine Garcia-Lopez, will be there. Co-chairmen Eileen Schoellkopf and Nancy Esbenshade are in a South-of-the-Border mood for the post-performance fiesta. Reaping proceeds are the Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation and the Pasadena Educational Foundation . . .

Friends of the School Volunteer Program of Los Angeles rally for Theater Party VII next Thursday at the Wiltern Theater. Co-chairing Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” musical are Ethel Bradley, Nanette Fabray, Dolores Wong, Carmen Zapata and Bernice Brown.