Glitter Turned to Gold at Orangewood Benefit
It looked like a New Year’s Eve party for tykes at the Irvine Hilton on Saturday night when the Orangewood Children’s Foundation staged its fourth annual Orange Blossom Ball.
Gumdrop-colored balloons towered over tables shimmering with metallic confetti. Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls held court as centerpieces. Mimes bewitched guests. And rainbows of balloons arched over the two dance floors flanking the ballroom stage.
Themed “A Child’s Dream,” the gala became a grown-up’s dream-come-true when its chairwoman, Kathryn Thompson, announced net proceeds to the Orangewood home of “more than $203,000.”
Such a fashionable crush. Elbow room was at a premium during the cocktail hour when 760 guests bumped bustles and gingerly sidestepped flowing ball gowns. Thompson--a fashion pacesetter--dressed in a cloud of raspberry silk and wore matching silk roses in her hair.
Elizabeth Tierney--chairwoman with Judie Argyros of last year’s gala--wore strapless white taffeta splattered with silk-screened roses. Argyros went slinky: A bodice studded in brilliants topped her body-clinging crepe gown. And underwriting chairwoman Willa Dean Lyon chose sequin-struck black silk, a smart backdrop for her diamond necklace hung with an emerald-cut aquamarine.
Even the men pulled out the stops. William Lyon, chairman of the Orangewood board, dazzled pals with vintage shirt studs of lapis lazuli and diamonds. “I want you to know that these (studs) are even older than George Argyros,” deadpanned Lyon, who, with Argyros, owned AirCal before selling it to American Airlines. (“Well, of course, Lyon would own old studs,” Argyros retorted. “Lyon’s an old stud!”) Lyon said he bought the jewelry at an antique show when “I couldn’t find an antique automobile I liked.”
But with all of the sartorial splendor, the accent was on helping abused and abandoned children live a protected and productive life. “You can look around the ballroom tonight and see that it is a huge financial success,” said Lyon during the reception. “We have a maximum sellout. But the real success is for the children.”
Orangewood Children’s Foundation funds, Lyon announced, are used for scholarships, child-abuse prevention services and foster-parent programs.
Guests seemed reluctant to leave the cocktail reception and go into the ballroom. Dinner bells were sounded. And sounded. When guests failed to budge, lights were lowered. And lowered again.
Once seated, the chatty crowd dined on a sophisticated first course: fresh artichoke bottoms filled with slivers of smoked duck. But even a child would have loved the rest of the fare--filet of beef and a dessert dubbed “A Child’s Dream”--a scoop of chocolate and orange ice cream served with fresh berries and a white chocolate shell.
After dinner, emcee Dave Lopez of KCBS Action News introduced Lyon, Thompson, Orangewood director Bill Steiner and entertainer Bobby Vinton, who delighted guests with oldies such as “Every Day of My Life,” “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “Roses are Red.”
Also on the scene: Gus Owen; Tom Tierney; Ruth and Leo Cook; Marvin and Pat Weiss (who, with the Cooks, underwrote Vinton’s appearance); Bob Passavoy with Carole Eichen (who coordinated the decor); Oralee and Jim McNamara; Nora and Charles Hester; Linda and Joe Martin; Irv and Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder (“This is my third event today,” she said); Claire and Nathan Rosenberg and Dennis and Carol Campbell.
Celebration ‘88: Strike up the gong! It took a Chinese gong to hush members of the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center on Friday so they could learn that the premiere of “Strike Up the Band” would help celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Yes, guild members were invited to attend the performance at the Center on Aug. 17 free of charge, announced Thomas R. Kendrick, Center president. Wild applause!
The announcement came before members of the 38 Guild chapters settled down to “Celebration ‘88”--their annual All-Guilds luncheon and fashion show--at the Irvine Hilton & Towers.
After they dined on Mandarin chicken salad in a ballroom done up with gold-lacquered statues of Buddha, rickshaws, gongs, footbridges and screens, they saw figure-hugging fashions that made them wish they had forgone their chocolate roulade desserts.
Beginning with dressy dresses and working their way back to casual wear (then back to dressy again), models paraded in fashions from South Coast Plaza and Crystal Court.
But event chairwoman Pat Strehlow of Corona del Mar, attending with husband Otto, almost stole the fashion show. “You can tell who knew what the color scheme would be,” said Strehlow, noting that her Chinese-red jacket and white skirt perfectly matched the Chinese red coverlets laid over the white tablecloths. Even Strehlow’s broad brim was red and white. And her white shoes were tipped in red. “You cheated ,” said an admiring friend, one of many who paused at Strehlow’s table to gush compliments.
More than $3 million has been raised by the guilds since they were formed in 1978. “These guilds have to be one of the most successful in the country,” said Tom Pascoe, the Center’s director of development. According to Pascoe, it takes $5 million annually to operate the Center. “And the Guilds provide 10% of that. “They are a real plus. “
On Strehlow’s committee: Judy Stapp, Gay Krpan, Marcie Lemon, June Solow, Janice Johnson, Regina Hunsaker, Sarah Alevizon, Julie Polhemus, Cassandra Gumpert, Irene Hajek, Vesta Curry, Fiona Petersen, Elaine Delman and Marlene Short.
Premiere at SCR: It seemed like a homecoming bash for David Emmes and Martin Benson, directors of South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, when they attended the reception at the Center Club on Friday night that preceded a premiere showing of “Golden Girls.”
Martin and Emmes returned from New York last week after receiving, on behalf of SCR, a special Tony Award for regional theater. “I think I’m finally coming down to earth,” Emmes said. “The whole experience was very exciting. First, the elation of hearing about it here, then the excitement of the awards ceremony.
“But it’s great to be back home where the bedrock is. We’re still the same people doing the same work. And that’s the most important thing.”
Of “Golden Girls” (at SCR through July 14), Emmes said: “It’s a very important play about a British women’s track team preparing for the Olympics. We’re honored that our theater was chosen for the United States premiere.”
Among those enjoying cocktails and buffet were Carol and Jim Coffman, sales vice president for AT&T--via; a grant, a producer of “Golden Girls”; Myrna and Richard Tripp, public relations director for AT&T; Jim Burra; Lynn Caswell; Tony DeRose; Ron Stamer; and Kasia and Gary Johnson.
