Voices of Christmas Set to Sing for St. John’s Hospital

Take a deep breath, shake off a few pounds and be ready for the rush-rush of holiday parties. Whistle “Jingle Bells” or, better yet, consider the Voices of Christmas dinner-dance Dec. 7 in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire. It’s a premiere Westside event. The Voices are a group of singers sponsored by the Michael Burke Foundation of St. John’s Hospital and Health Center. They’ll be accompanied by Les Brown and His Band of Renown for the black-tie affair. Tickets are $175.

Among the loyal sponsors this year are Douglas Pardee, William Conrad, Jack Kramer, and Bob and Puff Laverty. The foundation was organized in 1952 in memory of Michael Burke, son of composer/arranger Sonny Burke. The goal is the early detection of heart disease; the foundation has purchased more than $1 million in cardiac equipment for St. John’s.

TEAS AND THINGS: “Tea for You” invitations are out from the Friends of Childhelp. The happy holiday affair on Thursday is hosted by John H. Martens and Neiman Marcus/Beverly Hills. Ellen Byrens, chairman, has snared a coup--the new Bob Mackie California Collection, which will be previewed in the NM Club room.

AND WREATHS AND HOLLY: With the Thanksgiving cranberries still in the fridge, Boys Republic is tying up pods, nuts and fruit into its unique Della Robbia Christmas wreaths. Production goes on for three weeks, the culmination of a yearlong effort by children who are out gathering the natural materials all year.

The single fund-raiser for Boys Republic pays one-third of the budget in the self-help youth programs for disadvantaged boys. Wreaths can be ordered by phoning (714) 591-9122 or by writing Boys Republic at Chino, Calif. 91709.

AND A WELCOME MAT: Pasadena Symphony Orchestra Women’s Committee members are hosting their annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour on Saturday and next Sunday, showing off four pretty Pasadena homes decorated for the holiday season by florists.

Carol Bressler and Mrs. Georgiana Hixson co-chair the affair. Tickets are $12.50 presale and $15 at the door, with a groaning table of cookies and wonders for refreshment.

The four houses this year will be Adam and Penny Bianchi’s pavilion overlooking the Arroyo. (They’re moving to Montecito, much to the displeasure of friends.) It’s embellished with chintz and Louis XIV mirrors. Bruce and Laura Graney (she was one of the first Lotto winners) will show their New England country home by architect Paul Williams. The Graneys, major antique dealers and collectors, are new owners.

The Chapman Wood home of Willard Chamberlain will reveal Connecticut antiques and bird objects d’art. The Hale Solar Laboratory, home site of Christine and William J. Shirley, is on the tour. It was built in 1924 by the Carnegie Institution of Washington for astronomer and solar student George Ellery Hale, credited with guiding Throop Institute into becoming Caltech. He was a pal of the late Henry Huntington and one of the original five trustees of the Huntington Library.

Florists who will set the yule tone are Milo Bixby, Silver Birches, Jacob Maarse and Olive List.

DICKENS DINING: The “best of times” is what the USC Friends of Music intend to celebrate Friday at their annual Charles Dickens Dinner in the Crystal Room of the Biltmore.

Invitations promise warming libations, a sumptuous feast and music and merriment. The Crystal Room becomes a Victorian hall with garlands of greenery, trees bedecked with sparkling lights, centerpieces of colorful fruits and clusters of mistletoe. Each course at the feast will be heralded with song--men choristers accompanying waiters, a maiden singing “Lavender Song” with dessert. Under Rodney Eichenberger, the USC Chamber Singers will carol and make merry, circling tables and coaxing 300 guests into song.

The party has the touch of Lucy Hubbard, Friends of Music president, and USC music dean Larry Livingston. Lending support from the Dean’s Circle will be founders Florence and Marion Malouf, Virginia Ramo, J. Douglas Pardee, Helen Lindhurst, Steven Spielberg, Elizabeth Vincent and Thomas Tilton of San Francisco.

HOLIDAY BALLS: The Spastic Children’s League annual Candy Cane Ball is Saturday at the Century Plaza Tower. Pia Zadora and the Las Vegas Pops highlight the entertainment. Proceeds, says league vice president Lois LeRoy, will benefit the Children’s Training Programs of the United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation in Los Angeles. . . .

The Loyola High School Mothers’ Guild celebrates at the annual Christmas Gala on Saturday. Guild president Clair Shea will extend holiday greetings with Bonnie Fisher, chairman; the Rev. Patrick Calahan, president of Loyola; and the Rev. William Muller, Loyola principal. Expected to attend are Cheryl and Bob Baker, Sally and Bob Pernecky, Pauline and Richard Stonehouse, Susan and Michael McAndrews, Ally and Stephen Keller, Laraine and James Trinity, Daryl( and Vernon Underwood, and Jayne and Roger Sullivan. . . .

Flowers and pines will mix, says chairman Barbara Glabman, for the Christmas Carol Ball hosted by the 552 Club of Hoag Hospital of Newport Beach on Saturday. Reservations at $552 per couple are limited, but call the Support Groups office at (714) 760-5917 if you’re in the holiday mood and would like to dance to the Music Connection and hear “Tuxedo Junction.” Proceeds will go to the Patty and George Hoag Cancer Center, scheduled to be completed in spring, 1990.

AND PARTIES: Descanso Gardens in La Canada will be open Friday night when supporters will party and see the Christmas Show Preview sponsored by the Descanso Gardens Guild. The show, “A Country Christmas,” will run for nine days. Expected to attend are James and Mary Ann Arnett (she’s guild president), Frances Ching (she’s head of the Los Angeles Arboretum), Ruth and William Hooker and Barbara and Frank Jameson. . . .

Smith College of Pasadena plans its annual greenery and gifts show with a sumptuous buffet Friday. Ginger Boyda is chairman, assisted by Martha Williams.

AND LUNCHEONS: Tenita Christensen and Marge Kolliner are the duo arranging the “Expectations” Christmas luncheon Thursday for the Braille Institute Auxiliary at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Billy Burdin, a blind pianist, and recipient of one of the auxiliary’s music scholarships, will entertain. . . .

Former President Gerald and Betty Ford have agreed again to be honorary chairmen of the Anne Banning Auxiliary of Assistance League of Southern California’s benefit luncheon, “Miracle of Christmas,” Sunday at the Beverly Hilton. Pamela Bowers and Marla Engel are the co-chairs; they’re hoping to help put the auxiliary over the top of its $100,000 plans this year for Operation School Bell, the project that provides new clothing for 3,000 needy school-age children.

AND TREASURE-TROVES: Wondrous donated antiques, jewels and treasures (each item is valued at more than $100) will be offered at “One Wonderful Thing ‘88” on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and next Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Huntington Collection Annex, 766 S. Fair Oaks Ave. The sale is a benefit for Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network. The opening night is Thursday, with reserved tickets $25. . . .

The Assistance League (1370 N. St. Andrews Place) is involved with its 26th annual Christmas Faire, a gift bazaar that runs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sue Masania heads the gift shop auxiliary.