‘Lighter’ Is a Heavyweight Fund-Raiser

Don’t expect Chasen’s chili or that luscious banana cake at “The Lighter Side of Pritikin” party Oct. 13 at Chasen’s restaurant.

Golden Kyle, Pritikin chef, and Bernard Klerlein, Chasen’s chef, have talked it over and are giving consideration to developing a sophisticated menu that adheres to the Pritikin low-cholesterol program. Like potato skins with Pritikin sour cream, black bean soup, 3 1/2-ounce portions of chicken strips or white fish, sliced fresh fruit. This is the bare bones. The hot chicken kabobs teriyaki on the benefit menu also meet the test--as does the cheese cake.

Funds are being raised for the Nathan Pritikin Research Foundation, the nonprofit group that supports scientific writings and has donated heavily to a project at Northwestern University, a study in its final stages of regression in the incidence of coronary disease.

Also that evening, Ilene Pritikin, widow of Nathan, who established the Pritikin Longevity Centers, will symbolically transfer the reins of the foundation to the next generation--to her son Robert Pritikin, 37.

Dinner chairman Lionel Waxman, and Bea Kaiser, fund-raising chairman, plan that “the lighter side” of entertainment will center around Carl Reiner and Dom DeLuise.

GALA IN GOLD/SILVER: The Southwest Museum’s galas always seem so genuine: authentic Southwestern cuisine, authentic Southwestern ambiance, authentic intense fund raising. It was all there the other evening at the Gold and Silver Gala benefit that chair Dawn Douglas, gala patron Charmay B. Allred and the museum board put together for autumn.

The accolades were also authentic: Dr. Norman F. Sprague Jr., who has so generously made up the museum’s deficit in more than one year, was honored for his support over 35 years, particularly as president. He is “a visionary who made this museum what it is today,” museum board chairman James Dickason said. A gallery has been named the Norman F. Sprague Jr. Gallery in his honor.

Actress Cybill Shepherd, appearing in St. Laurent’s black-tie suit, also got accolades. According to the museum’s director, Sandy Huntley, she helped increase the museum’s paid membership by 50% through a mail appeal that she edited. “When I came to this museum, I felt right at home . . . and I was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn.,” she quipped with a Southern drawl.

Though not all items in the auction garnered anticipated bids, everyone was calling the night a success. Most of the auction items were exotic treasures. George Sheridan won over Frances Wheat for the Marjorie Spencer Navajo rug. Bill Tilley (who with Nadine was hosting a glamorous party for Sen. Pete Wilson at the Tilley home the next night--at $1,000 per couple with Bob and Dolores Hope and Jackie and Gene Autry the honorary chairmen) slipped the exquisite turquoise nugget necklace by Maryann McCafferty over his neck after he won the silent bid. Dr. Norman Sprague III was successful on the unique White Buffalo sterling tray as well as dinners at Sabroso and Rebecca’s. David and Katherine Alexander won an Oaxaca rug, trustee Bob McCarthy two Navajo rugs. Janice Carpenter kept a close eye until the final seconds on a Huichol Indian mask. And David Gold and Beverly and Ed Fitzgerald had a running battle over at least one item.

Beverly and John Grundhofer (he’s vice chairman of Wells Fargo and chief Olympics fund-raiser in the Los Angeles area) were on their way to Seoul for the Olympiad closing.

Jim and Linda Dickason hosted Peter and Helen Bing, Richard and Susie Miller, Lupe Hinkle and Robert Hastings, Frank and Canadian Consul General Joan Winser and Willard and Inez Bell, who reported that while sailing that day, they had rescued some people who had fallen overboard.

More in the crowd were former Ambassador to Mexico John Gavin, Erlenne Sprague, former U.S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith and Jean, Marion and Earle Jorgensen, Ruth and Tom Jones and Tom and Chardee Trainer.

MIRACLES: “Margaritas, Mariachis and Miracles”--the second benefit of the year-old Auxiliary at USC’s Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital--is Friday at Lawry’s California Center. Beth Stevens and Betty Kaiser are co-chairmen. Members want to create a meditation room for patients and family members in the multi-million dollar Norris addition to open in 1991.

GARDEN VARIETY: The Los Angeles Theatre Center and Bill Bushnell, artistic producing director, are inviting the center’s new friends “to see what’s growing in the garden” at the center. The party’s next Sunday at the home of Byron and Marlene Lasky in Santa Monica.

RED LETTER DATES: Olive Crest Treatment Centers for Abused Children hosts its Black and White Ball on Oct. 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach. Proceeds will go to the newly created Olive Crest Abused Children’s Foundation. Perry King will be master of ceremonies. . . .

The Natural History Museum stages the opening reception for “Lost and Found Traditions: Native American Art 1965-1985” Thursday evening. . . .

Santa Clarita Valley community leaders will join for the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation second Founder’s Circle Tribute dinner Friday at the JW Marriott Hotel in Century City. Richard Keysor is foundation chairman. Dr. Edward Pechter chairs the Founder’s Circle. . . .

The Constitutional Rights Foundation Lawyers Advisory Council hears Terrance Flannigan, chief deputy appointments secretary to Gov. George Deukmejian, speak Thursday at its annual awards luncheon. To be honored are Robert Henigson of Lawley, Felix & Hall; the Hon. Chris Markey, judge of the year (and the new vice president of legal affairs for USC), and George Bird, lawyer of the year. It’s at the New Otani Hotel.

FALL RUSH: Coronet Patronesses of the National Charity League and Peggy Snow, ball chairman, entertain at their deb parents party at the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica today. . . .

Dr. Alexandra Levine, AIDS researcher, speaks to Town and Gown of USC on Tuesday on campus. . . . Danny Thomas is honorary chair of National Philanthropy Day Nov. 18 (last year Americans donated $93.68 billion to charities). . . .

The third annual “Eat for Art” dinner featuring Westside chefs and artists is Monday at the Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Arts Foundation chair and restaurateur Michael McCarty is producer and co-chairs are Elaine Hoffman and Sheila Goldberg. . . .

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich saluted Descanso Gardens Guild and president Gloria Winkley for creation of the new gardens gift shop. . . . Skip and Sherry Miller surprised Jim LeVitus with a birthday party attended by 100 friends. . . . Next Sunday Cal State L.A. hosts a fete for the Edward R. Roybal Endowed Chair in Gerontology. . . .

Cecelia and Clifford Waeschle plan dinner at the Beverly Hills home of Joyce Rey on Tuesday to benefit St. Joseph’s Center for the Homeless. . . . Friends of Robinson Gardens honor 21 new members at a tea Wednesday at the Beverly Hills home of Cheryl Adler. . . . Special friends such as Patti Austin, Norm Crosby, Tom Scott, Henry Mancini and Carl Reiner will be on hand for the annual garden musicale and buffet with the American Orchestra and Jack Elliott, its music director, today at the Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills.