Celebrity Readers for the Pope et al.

What are the stars doing this fall? When Pope John Paul II and 27 ecumenical leaders meet in Columbia, S.C., next Friday, some well-known entertainment personalities will be participating as readers at the service. Among the names being mentioned around town are Helen Hayes, Bonita Granville Wrather, Michael Keaton and Richard Thomas. . . . Here’s an argument for quality TV expected this season--look for a two-hour TV movie based on “Inherit the Wind” and starring Kirk Douglas. Just as the “new Scopes trials” are making headlines. . . . And, heard about town, Mary Tyler Moore is supposedly set for the four-hour miniseries based on “The Magnificent Ambersons.”

ALOHA MONEY--Count it, $1 million, now counted as raised by Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, whose 4,000-person event set a record for Republican money-raising in Hawaii. Looking into the crowd, Californians could be noted, like former California chief deputy treasurer Grover McKean; Vice President George Bush’s political operative, Eileen Padberg, and her partner, Susan DeSantis; Fasi friend Joe Cerrell. . . .

NOTE WELL--Gregory Peck, Karl Malden, producer Norman Felton, Peter Shaw and Meredith Willson’s widow, Rosemary, were among the special guests at the dedication of the Investors Commemorative Research Endowment Fund for the City of Hope Medical Center. Special recognition went to the late Julius Lefkowitz, who spark-plugged the special project, with those involved including his widow, Norma, and former partner, Irving Klein.

UPCOMING--Happy anniversary to the Women’s Political Committee on Sept. 19. The 10-year-old organization has raised money for “progressive women candidates” and one of their winners, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), will be at their party. It’s at the Santa Monica home of Adele and Ira Yellin, and one can be sure of seeing such longtime WPC supporters as Marsha Kwalwasser, Jodie Evans, Peg Yorkin, Mimi West, Lisa Specht, Marcia Medavoy Ross, Debbie Rheuban, Joan Palevsky, Billie Heller, Marcia Herman, Dorothy Jonas and Joyce Jacobs. . . . It’s tonight at the Bel Air Country Club, when the Lampminders honor their founder and friend Basie McColloch. Benefiting are the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Clinic, West Los Angeles Boosters Children’s Program and the Blind Children’s Center. . . . If one has from $3,250 to $64,000 and needs to know the time, check out the Beluga watches unveiling at Fred Joaillier on Thursday. Of course it’s a “caviar and champagne” reception. . . . Honored by Women For: on Sept. 16 will be attorney Gloria Allred, actress Susan Clark, children’s advocate Stacey Winkler, producer Peg Yorkin, businesswoman Laura Balverde-Sanchez, cinematographer Brianne Murphy, TV exec Jo Caines, consumer specialist Sylvia M. Siegel and Laura Lake. . . . Before he gets to his big birthday bash Sept. 26, still newly moguled Jerry Weintraub on Sept. 13 chairs the “L’Chaim! To Life!” telethon benefiting Chabad. Pledges in each of the five years it’s been on the air have exceeded $2 million. . . . On Sept. 12, Junior Achievement hosts its Monte Carlo Night in Long Beach--a first-time-ever event. Guests will be aboard the Christabel and will party and gamble, with all proceeds going to one of the organization’s four programs. Thomas Fuelling is chairing the event, Thomas Lehmer and R. Anthony Smith are dinner co-chairs. . . . A reminder that the Beverly Hills Chapter of the American Cancer Society gets together with the Melrose Place Assn. for an auction of antiques, fine art and jewelry after a good time strolling, dining and browsing. . . . And a splashy reminder: Lily Tomlin, Burt Lancaster and Ally Sheedy are expecting all their friends Sept. 12 at the Virginia Robinson Gardens when Carla Fendi is honored and introduces her new fragrance, Fendi. The black-tie evening benefits the Actors’ Fund of American Western Council.