Score a Point for the Men in Needlework

This may not be earth-shattering news, but Golden Thimble IX, the biennial needlework exhibit staged by the Auxiliary of the Hospital of the Good Samaritan, and probably the largest amateur and professional competitive needlework show in the United States (says Sally Woodward), will, for the first time this year, integrate men’s needlework into the main category of judging.

In the past, 10% of entries have been created by males. Now, they’ll be judged with the ladies’ handiwork. The other noon over lunch at the Pacific Dining Car, across the street from the hospital, Linda Posner, chairman, joined Good Sam’s Betty Sheller and exhibit co-chairmen Maxine Ridgeway and Mrs. John A. Woodward III. They exuded over the Gold Thimble Awards (from Sol Laykin), the tote bag luncheons and the masses of docents readying for the masses of buses that will arrive with those attending the Needlework Exhibit May 7-23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The $7 entrance fee will benefit the new obstetrics unit at the hospital. And, in return, viewers will see some of the finest in canvas work, surface embroidery, counted thread on canvas, counted thread on fabric--by both men and women--not to mention Gay Ann Rogers’ antique sewing boxes, Estelle Horowitz’s antique sewing tools (borrowed from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art).

More involved are Melinda Wells, Cheryl Baker, Mimi O’Keefe, Stanley Kersten (who’s doing the flowers), Amie Lu Haake, Jan Clayton and Janice Rusack.

The sponsors’ champagne preview is May 6.

AMERICANA: Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James D. Watkins will be honored April 30 at the Americana Associates’ Americana Ball at the new Four Seasons Hotel on Doheny Drive at Burton Way in Beverly Hills. Mrs. Henry Braun is coming out of her beautiful spring garden to stage the black-tie affair. Fred Hartley has agreed to be honorary chairman. (When he puts his imprimatur on benefits, proceeds soar.) Mrs. Ray Rodeno is vice-chairman, and more planners are Mrs. George C. Bales, Mrs. Robert Anderson, Mrs. Waldo A. Avery, Mrs. Robert Coryell, Mrs. Richard H. Eamer, Mrs. Glen A. Holden, Mrs. Bert Burgess Malouf, Mrs. Thomas M. Malouf, Mrs. Roscoe C. Webb Jr., Mrs. Warren B. Williamson and Mrs. John Yoell.

GARDEN PARTY: Ginie Braun’s garden is always in mint-tulip condition. Georgie Erskine insists she saw Ginie plucking out this and that posy, and replacing, even as guests arrived last week for the Costume Council affair honoring patrons and featuring couturier Nolan Miller. At least a quarter of the chic crowd wore hats as it lunched around the breezeways on Rococo basket lunches (whole artichokes with salmon salad, dill rice, lemon mousse, strawberry coulis and pecan bars). Patron founder Rita Barrett led a contingent including Francie Brodie, Jean (Mrs. William French) Smith, Caroline Singleton, Joan Raich, Linda Pennell, Anne Johnson, Maggie Murray, Alyce Williamson, Peggy Ward, Jane Ward, Marjorie Rainey and Inez Bell.

DODGER DOGS: Donald Hanley, vice president, refining, for Unocal, and the troops over at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce smell the chili, the Dodger dogs, the nachos and the cool-a-coos (ice-cream sandwiches). They’re headed, not for Dodger Stadium, but the California Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure on Monday for their 13th annual Dodger/Chamber salute and the stadium’s silver anniversary. Priority seats are $500, which gets you closer to Tom Lasorda, Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, Ross Porter, Jaime Jarrin and Rene Cardenas, and the 25th Anniversary Video. But $40 is acceptable. Dodger organist Helen Dell will play; Archbishop Roger Mahoney will give the invocation; Mayor Tom Bradley will bring greetings; Chamber chairman Thomas P. Kemp will officiate, and, maybe mention his presidential candidate brother, Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.).

PRETTY CLEVER: Invitations for the fashion tribute to Couturier James Galanos on May 2 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton are shaped like bodice patterns and designed by Juanita Kuan, Otis/Parsons. Iris Cantor and Jennifer Jones Simon are honorary chairmen of the Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design fifth annual scholarship benefit fashion show. And Joan Selwyn and her co-chairs, Steve Meadow, Eve Rich and Betsy Sanders, are formalizing the festive affair, which is always a smash.

EASTER HUNT: An old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt highlights 35th anniversary activities planned by Las Primeras Guild to the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles Saturday at Campbell Hall School, North Hollywood. Gates open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Chairman Judy Pabst-Hayes of Tarzana and president Claudia Crivelli plan three egg hunts for 8,000 eggs at 1 p.m. Gregg Elliott’s making it an 18-piece big band occasion.

KUDOS: Harriett and Alan Lederman, will be saluted Saturday and Sunday morning when the Volunteers in Multiple Sclerosis stage the 18th annual two-day fashion luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. VIMS has raised more than $1.6 million in its 20-year history. The Holly Mitchell Presents fashion show, with celebrity emcee Janet Leigh, will auction trips to the Mexican Riviera to aid the cause, Elizabeth Smith says.

CIRCLE IN RED: Food connoisseurs should be in gourmet heaven on the cuisine donated by some of L.A.’s finest restaurants and chefs at the Coalition for Clean Air’s Celebrity Dinner and Auction, “Le Bal Cristal,” Saturday at the Pacific Design Center. A few donors: La Toque, Whitefeathers, Silvio’s Chianti/Cuciona, Pane Caldo, Fung Lum. Rue McClanahan, Ally Sheedy, Ed Begley Jr., Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy will be among honorees. The group fights smog . . .

At the invitation of Catherine Deneuve and G. Franco Treccani, “deneuve a Los Angeles” will benefit Very Special Arts Friday evening at 354 S. Windsor. Tickets are $100, and the net will provide art opportunities for individuals with disabilities. . . .

The “hidden hero of manned space flight,” NASA Deputy Administrator Dale D. Myers, receives the Aviation and Space Historical Preservation Committee’s Award of Excellence Monday evening at the California Museum of Science and Industry. He was in charge of the Apollo 13 through 17 lunar landings, Skylab and development of the Space Shuttle.

AGENDA: Margarita Mendez, retired district chief of the California Department of Mental Health, is keynoter Friday for the USC sixth annual Hispanic Scholarship Library Endowment Fundraiser at Luminaria’s Restaurant, Monterey Park. . . . The nonprofit Lan Jordan Institute of Counseling and Psychotherapy celebrates 19 years of service at a dinner dance Saturday at the Century Plaza.

KEEPING UP: L.A. Master Planner has become a fashion accessory: It’s now in Rodeo Drive collections at the exclusive salons of Hermes, Bijan, Loewe, as well as Dyansen Gallery. The Planner is a comprehensive listing of major civic, cultural and political events. . . . Fresh flowers matched Brooke Pattengill’s palette for her country home high tea. Among friends in a spring mood were Eleanore Phillips Colt, Joan Graves, Sylvia Lazarus, Laine Altman, the Alan Crumps and the Alan Murdocks of Palm Desert. She’s readying for her May 7 show at Geary’s in Beverly Hills. . . . Flintridge Preparatory School Mothers’ Club devotees, including Priscilla Gibbs, Sharin Hullett, Toni Bird, Amie Lu Haake, Lynn Stubblefield and Darlyne Wimmer, celebrated the L.A. Colts’ celebrity polo spring opener at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, hosting late dinner and raising funds for the school library.