Social Pace Heats Up for the Summer

There may be no such thing as a summer social hiatus. Not in the eyes of energetic Los Angeles movers and shakers who shake ‘round the year. However, the tradition exists that any organization of major clout should schedule a May/June meeting or benefit before volunteers supposedly evaporate. Everyone’s doing it. Carol Henry, president of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera League, is already gearing to the Opera’s opening next Sept. 8 and a season of seven operas. Saturday she and board members will clue new members to the fall production of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) when she stages the second annual membership luncheon in the Grande Ballroom of the Sheraton Grande. Internationally known baritone Alan Titus, Dandini in “Cenerentola,” will sing arias by Mozart, Gounod, Wagner and Verdi, as an attraction for the new production conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, and only the overture to the season, which will include “La Boheme,” “The Fiery Angel,” “Tristan und Isolde,” “Macbeth,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Mikado.” The latter two will be a part of UK/LA 1988, A Celebration of British Arts in the spring. Peter Hemmings, general director of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, will address the crowd which will include Margie and David Barry, Wendy Bleiman, Joyce and Michael Bunkin, Beren Harris, Dr. Norman and Barbara Namerow, Susan Schmidt, Mary Katherine and Boyd Hight, Jane Hemmings, Warner Henry, Carl and Alathea Princi and Joan Thompson.

KUDOS: The Westside Women’s Health Center has met its annual goal of $100,000 to provide low-cost health services. . . . Pasadena Symphony Juniors meet at Annandale Golf Club today for their annual June luncheon. Susan McManigal of San Marino will present a check for $30,000, and Susan Ralston-McCormick turns the gavel over to new president Betsa Richards.

VERY VISIBLE: Billy Al Bengston may be one of the most visible of contemporary artists. It’s his 100-foot five-panel design, done in conjunction with Robert Miles Runyan, that’s serving as the barricade for The Tower, while the high-rise development is under construction in Westwood.

RIBBON CUTTING: There was fanfare aplenty to celebrate the historic renovation of the landmark Los Angeles Stock Exchange Building built in 1929 on South Spring. By August, it will be Stock Exchange, a nightclub and restaurant--on the original trading floor. Original architect Samuel E. Lunden joined Brian Potashnik, general partner, L.A.S.E. Associates, Councilman Gilbert W. Lindsay and Leonard Glickman, president, Spring Street Assn., for the festivities.

MORE CAPITAL: George Moody, president of Security Pacific, hosted the luncheon at which Mayor Tom Bradley called upon executives to join in raising $3 million toward the $11.25 million needed to construct a new facility that will enable Los Angeles Mission to expand services for the homeless on Skid Row by moving them off the streets back into society.

WAXING ELOQUENT: Marjorie Lyte and Julie Pizzinat are waxing eloquently about “Cajun at the Commons” Sunday evening. “Hot summer days, covered by large billowy clouds, moist breezes” remind them of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi, and so they’re mixing the fragrances of Cajun and Creole cooking for their party at The Commons on S. Lake Avenue in Pasadena. Says Julie, “Drop your Southern California cares and ways and fly off to N’Awlins via Hospice of Pasadena.” The duo are planning Dixieland jazz and contemporary fashions. Wines and foodstuffs are being arranged by The Crocodile Cafe and Jurgensen’s Grocery. Donations are $45. Hospice of Pasadena was begun nearly nine years ago by a group committed to the dignity and support of the terminally ill.

STARTING GATE: Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Chris McCarron and his wife Judy have said yes to be honorary chairmen for the fund-raiser trustees of the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring Inc. host Saturday at Hollywood Park Turf Club. Committee members Howard W. Koch Jr., Lisa Fremer, Dr. Bettye Davis, Carol Nadell and Judi Tevrow will be at the starting gate, raising lots for the child abuse prevention organization.

DEBUTANTE TIME: The plans were elaborate for the Debutante Announcement Tea the other day for the National Charity League, San Marino Area Chapter, in the Crystal Room of the Biltmore: Ron Rubin’s Orchestra playing each girl’s favorite song as she was announced; orange and lemon trees and ivy garlands arranged by Jacob Maarse, a preview of debutante fashions by Bullock’s Wilshire. President Barbara Smith, tea chairman Jean Crabtree and ball chairman Cherie Saxton were honoring the 26 to be presented Dec. 21 and their accomplishments--12,000 volunteer hours in philanthropic indoctrination over six years, designed to create civic responsibility.

Debutantes and their mothers: Karen Bare, Mrs. Bruce Bare Jr.; Jennifer Cole, Mrs. Richard Cole; Laurie Edmundson, Mrs. John Edmundson Jr.; Christine Edwards, Mrs. John W. Edwards; Cynthia Frykman, Mrs. Edward W. Frykman; Kelsey Garrett, Mrs. Marvin Garrett; Kathryn Gitzinger, Mrs. Philip Gitzinger; Tricia Grant, Mrs. Hugh M. Grant; Laura Graven, Mrs. Lawrence S. Graven; Beth Griebe, Mrs. Edward Griebe Jr.; Annemarie Grund, Mrs. Lee A. Grund; Corinne Havens, Mrs. John Havens; Erica Hoegee, Mrs. Richard Hoegee; Heather Holland, Mrs. William Holland; Cami Kaplanis, Mrs. Peter Kaplanis; Elise Kerckhoff, Mrs. John Darrell Kerckhoff; Rebecca Mielke, Mrs. Lary Mielke; Wendy Mills, Mrs. Nelson Mills; Katherine Ownbey, Mrs. Lloyd Ownbey Jr.; Lisa Pawlek, Mrs. Donald Pawlek; Kimberly Popovich, Mrs. John Kristoffer Popovich; Leslie Reeves, Mrs. Roy Reeves; Erin Tompkins, Mrs. Emmett Tompkins; Denise Varner, Mrs. Ronald Varner; Laurel Vidmar, Mrs. Jake Theodore Vidmar III, and Leslie Wallen, Mrs. Richard Wallen.

INTERNATIONAL: Sallie Estes Seltzer of Sherman Oaks, daughter of the Richard Seltzers Jr., will make her European debut June 25 in Vienna, Austria at the Ball des Rosenkavaliers at Palais Schwarzenberg.

PLAUDITS: Tributes were bestowed upon Leo Chaloukian, president of Ryder Sound Services, at Perino’s by the Armenian Film Foundation and four governmental branches. Not only was he saluted for “Platoon” (it was the Academy Award winner for sound recorded at Ryder), but for his civic-mindedness, including four scholarships annually to UCLA. Archbishop Vatche Hovesepian of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Hollywood delivered the invocation, and foundation vice president Walter Karabian, former California Assembly majority floor leader, was master of ceremonies. More heaping praise were Burton Stone, Louise Simone, Peter Pilafian, Robert Papazian, Judge Richard Amerian, State Sen. William Campbell, Lilit Marzetuny, Flora Dunaian J. Michael Hagopian, foundation chairman. Wife Virginia and son Dale also attended.

KEEPING UP: “The Group” at Otis Parsons dined and danced at 385 North around the special menu created by Roy Yamaguchi, chef/owner. . . . Celebrities went on stage at the 72 Market St. Oyster Bar and Grill in Venice as part of the National Public Radio’s “Fanfare” Campaign for the Arts, a three-year $8 million fund drive. . . . UCLA Gold Shield Alumnae danced the night away at black-tie affair at Sheraton Grande co-chaired by Judy Levin, president, and Sheila Cameron, to raise funds for scholarships. Among the crowd Sue and Chancellor Charles E. Young, Eva and Dr. Raymond Orbach, Polly and Dr. Elwin Svenson, Patti and Dr. Harlan Amstutz, Lanie and Lazare Bernhard, Nancy and Dr. Wiley Barker. In celebration of its 50th anniversary last year, the group raised an endowment of $250,000 to establish the Gold Shield Faculty Prize as a biennial award for outstanding faculty members in mid-career. . . . John H. Rohrbeck, Sonnai Frock and Friends of Reconstructive Surgery Research hosted wine and dessert in Hancock Park to preview the Sea Goddess II, the ultimate sailing vessel. Friends plan to charter the ship for a weeklong luxury Mediterranean cruise departing from Monte Carlo Oct. 3 with ports of call Portofino, St. Tropez, Collioure, Barcelona and Ibiza. Only 58 staterooms, so hurry . . . It was a headless ball, a Phantom Ball III, that Nancy Powell headed last week. No one attended; they just gave to Community Counseling Service, a nonprofit mental health agency with out-patient facilities, two 24-hour crisis residential houses and a career development center.

SPORTING: Baseball’s Willie Mays and basketball’s Julius Erving will be honored with Life Achievement Awards June 22 at the second annual Cedars-Sinai/Drexel Burnham Lambert Sports Spectacular Dinner at Century Plaza. Frank Gifford will emcee to benefit the new medical genetics-birth defects center at the medical center. . . . Last year participants were turned away due to popularity of the fifth annual Latin Business Assn. Celebrity Classic Golf/Tennis Tournament. Chairman Ruben Garcia expects the same this year July 24 at Industry Hills Country Club. Mario Machado will be master of ceremonies during the presentations . . . Some 180 golfers are expected to compete in the HEAR Center’s sixth annual Golf Tournament Monday at Glendora Country Club. Chairman Sandy Albrecht expects to net $25,000.

GAVEL SOUNDS: Mrs. Ronald Jacobs took the presidency from Catherine Graw at the Spastic Children’s League of Los Angeles installation at the Malibu home of Mrs. Tom Small. . . . Mrs. Michael C. Parker of Sherman Oaks succeeds Peggy Fletcher as president of the Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary. Her board will include Mrs. John Daly (Candlelight Ball chairman), Mrs. Richard P. Crane Jr., Mrs. Simon M. Lorne, Mrs. Martin R. Melone, Mrs. Neil O. McGopvern, Mrs. Timothy M. Burns and Mrs. Gary B. Conrad. . . . Bess Karniol continues as president of Los Angeles Chapter of Hadassah. Others serving will be Elaine Schenirer, Elaine Rabitz, Sara Bocarsky, Mary B. Scovis, Anne Cane and Esther Goldioch.

TAPPED: Los Angeles County Museum of Art has elected two new trustees: Toshio Nagamura, chairman of California First Bank, and Joe D. Price, collector and museum donor. . . . Lois Starke Matthews has been named to the board of directors of Huntington Memorial Hospital. . . . Los Angeles Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Mrs. Thomas J. Leavey as their “Citizen of the Year.”