Smoothing a Glitch in Party Plans

Once again, Operation California proved it knew what to do in the face of a disaster.

The black-tie party at Julie Andrews’ and Blake Edwards’ on Saturday night brought more than a $200,000 net to OpCal, which provides disaster relief and medical supplies around the world. But the party was also a quick recovery from a scheduled-then-canceled black-tie dinner--a night announced to honor Philippines President Cory Aquino and to present to her, in absentia, OpCal’s ’87 Human Achievement Award. When there was some confusion about Aquino’s role in the evening, OpCal had strong supporter Andrews step in to host a smaller party.

Any doubt that Aquino was not supportive of OpCal’s efforts was banished with a praise-laden videotape greeting from her office: “You have given generously--immediate relief, dignity and hope . . . I deeply appreciate all the help we are given to speed our recovery and lighten our load. Thank you for the honor you have bestowed on me tonight. It really belongs to all Filipinos whose courage and ideas I strive to represent.”

Any questions of the evening being financially successful were banished when Marjoe Gortner raised about $108,000 in auction. And any doubts of the evening being a swell party were banished by a wonderful, and wonderfully quick bit, by Rich Little, topped by pianist Michael Feinstein, playing Cole Porter and Gershwin and generally making a tent on the Pacific feel like the best piano bar in Manhattan.

Truly Original Menu

Heavy security abounded on the Malibu beachfront estate (a fair description, since it was a half-block walk from the gate to the tent, and there wasn’t a house in sight). Dozens of walkie-talkied staffers provided a high-tech contrast to four sheep sculptures grazing in pastoral splendor.

And, once inside, the 300 guests got to graze over a truly original meal from Rococo--little Tex-Mex peppers stuffed with goodies, followed by family-style service of big platters of chicken and lamb chops and young veggies and corn pudding. The dinner crowd included Nelle and Al Toffel (she says she’s really excited about upcoming grandmotherhood), their host George Peppard, California Community Foundation’s Jack Shaklee with Meg Williams, Robert and Audrey Loggia, Barbara Corday and Barney Rosenzweig arriving latish with Sharon Gless and Dr. Milton Wexler (therapist to Hollywood and a screen-writing partner of movie-producing Edwards). Wexler said that the New York fund-raiser this past year for his Hereditary Disease Foundation had some logistical problems, since guests like Mike Nichols and Elaine May were turned away after they arrived at the swank Metropolitan Club in less than de rigueur outfits. So, he said, they promised a fund-raising night out here in upcoming months, a “revenge of the Metro Club,” that would include no dress code.

One always-relaxed dresser, Bruce Willis, working on Blake Edwards’ latest, “Sunset,” a mystery with James Garner, was set to show, but never did. Showing up were Tom and Pam Korman (he manages pianist Feinstein), Playboy President Richard Rosenzweig with spouse Judy Henning, Wendy Stark with Gortner.

OpCal’s Richard Walden, whom Andrews called “an inspiration to us all,” said that this year the organization had even expanded in a small way into domestic relief--in one way, he explained later, by helping 19-year-old Matthew Weaver in his extraordinary volunteer feeding program on Skid Row.

Matthew’s father, Gordon Weaver, the head of the Young & Rubicam Entertainment division, showed that his son’s caring was part of a family tradition. “I’ve never done this before,” he declared, after first bidding $2,500 for a casting of a Remington sculpture--then turning it back so it could be sold again. And who bought it? None other than Weaver, who the second time around wrote a check for $3,000.

CROWDED SUNDAY--California Spirit III proved once again that the generosity of a handful of local, famous chefs can result in a $60,000 profit for the American Cancer Society. Spago’s Tom Kaplan’s deft organizational hand was seen if not stirring the pot then at least in setting up the entire event. Trumps’ Michael Roberts served yummy sausages and sweetbreads, City Restaurant’s Susan Feniger served up wonderful salmon, Saint Estephe’s John Sedlar made an astounding “tropical taco” (good, good, good), Tommy Tang served up Thai-style mussels, and Valentino’s Piero Selvaggio ladled out Italian charm along with yummy pasta.

The event’s honorary chairperson, Sherry Lansing, and the event chairperson Sandra Bernstein agreed that having the party at the estate of the late agent Gordon Mills (Bernstein is with Merrill Lynch and set it up) was a perfect idea. Just a few blocks away, GEMS, the fund-raising committee for the Pacific Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation, had put together a perfect lawn party at the Holmby Hills home of Marilyn and Barron Hilton. Strolling between umbrella-topped tables and booths were the party organizers, including Kathy Hilton, Peggy Edwards, Nancy Zarif and Marianne Rogers. It looked like a SHARE reunion at one table, with Madlyn Rhue, Edye Rugolo and Anne Jeffreys Sterling chatting it up over chili and desserts. Reflecting both the Gatsby-era theme and the “GEMS” title, Joanna Carson had draped herself in ropes of David Webb’s coral, proving, she said, that “Sometimes, more is better.” . . . More “Brownies” were, of course, better at the party celebrating the several-months-old nuptials of former Gov. Jerry Brown’s loyal cohort Jodie Evans and philanthropist Max Palevsky. Kids were invited to the party along with adults, so Brown found himself partying with the likes of “Rocky” Collis (offspring of Board of Equalization Chairman Conway Collis and Peggy Henry), Agaarn Johnson (son of Appellate Justice Earl Johnson Jr. and Chief Asst. Atty. Gen. Barbara Y. Johnson), Lindsay Berman (daughter of Rep. Howard and Janice Berman), Diana Van de Kamp (daughter of Atty. Gen. John and Andrea Van de Kamp) and Katie Phillips (daughter of John Phillips and KNBC’s Linda Douglass). Also on hand state Controller Gray and Sharon Davis, Ramona Ripston, pollster Richard Maullin, and a goodly assortment of true “Brownies,” the senior former Gov. Brown, Pat, with wife Bernice, daughter Kathy Brown and granddaughter, Sacha Rice.