Museum Gets an Early Start on Show

Just when the world is thinking holiday poinsettias, Banning Residence Museum is kicking off its Floriade II. That’s the major competitive flower show May 5-7 at the picturesque museum Stagecoach Barn in Wilmington. And that amazing lady of flowers, Fleur Cowles, the creator and editor of Flair magazine (and the author of “The Flower Game” and “Flower Decorations” as well as biographies of Juan and Eva Peron and Salvador Dali), buzzed into town for a leisurely luncheon at Banning. That’s the 19th-Century Greek Revival home built in 1864 by Gen. Phineas Banning, founder of the Port of Los Angeles and a moving force behind the development of the pueblo of Los Angeles.

Of course, Nancy Banning Call, granddaughter of the general, was the hostess, with special introductions for each person at the intimate luncheon. That included Cowles’ husband, Tom Montague Meyer of London; Banning House devotees Betty Field and Bett McLaughlin; and Jane Dart Campbell and her mother, Jane Dart, who had hosted the Meyers at her home in Pebble Beach, the trio arriving at Banning with a ton of suitcases.

It was Nancy Call’s chance to introduce Donna Gibbs and her architect husband, Donald. Donna, a former Long Beach Junior League president, will be at the helm of Floriade as chairman, working closely with Banning’s executive head Zoe Bergquist and Phoebe Vaccaro, president of Friends of Banning House. Caroline Singleton, Cowles’ friend, also joined the group and led a contingent to Saks the next day to see Cowles’ new porcelain wild animals and flowers.

Brig. Gen. Charles Yeager wasn’t at the luncheon, but he has been chosen--as a 20th-Century pioneer in transportation--to be Cowles’ honorary co-chairman. That ties in because Phineas Banning was a 19th-Century pioneer in transportation, finagling for railroad routes and shipping ways.

QUALITY: Quality, quality, quality is what chairman Gwendolyn Hatten Baker is stressing about the Junior League of Los Angeles’ ninth annual Antiques Show, open to the public Friday through next Sunday at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. She says the 55 internationally known dealers participating will show an “extraordinary selection of superior quality antiques.” A sidelight will be the Laura Ashley lecture series and exhibit (it’s sold out) presented by Sarah Callander. UCLA School of Design’s William Ezelle Jones will lead a panel appearance Friday.

Show chairman Baker and her black-tie preview party committee, co-chaired by Linda Wessen and Daisy Albertson, have decided to bring the preview dinner (Thursday at $125 per person) inside the auditorium this year rather than raising a tent, giving guests more time to peruse antiques while they dine. Also helping plan the event are Carole Gascou and Suzanne Neal.

CUT THE RIBBON: Having just finished raising major funds at the Otis Art Institute Group auction, Kathy Offenhauser now puts on her hat as Patron chairman of the Costume Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Patrons join I. Magnin Beverly Hills on Wednesday at a special event to premiere the American showing of the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Spring Collection (direct from Paris) and celebrate the opening of the new Rive Gauche Boutique.

The well-dressed Costume Council has 225 patron members; they will be treated to a cocktail buffet after the show to cut the ribbon of the new YSL Salon, says Shirley Wilson. Ann Johnson, Costume Council chairman, is involved; an Yves Saint Laurent original signed sketch, reproduced for the cover of the invitation, will be auctioned after the fashion show.

BACCHUS BANQUET: Words can hardly describe the California Wine Patrons 12th annual Bacchus Banquet at the California Club. There were six elegant courses, each with its own wine, beginning with hors d’oeuvres and Shadowcreek Brut, duck terrine with Murphy-Goode Fume Blanc, lobster salad with Trefethen Vineyards 1982 Chardonnay, Beef Wellington with Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon, hot brie with Joseph Phelps Scheurebe, crepe suzettes with Louis Martini Moscato Amabile.

That’s what the Wine Patrons, support group for the California Museum Foundation, California Museum of Science and Industry, ate and drank when Philip J. and Betty Ann Koen, Roy E. Nelson, Elizabeth Bain and Jerold L. Miles hosted the party with superb cooperation from California Club staff general manager Harry G. Richter, maitre d’ hotel Daniel Dietrick and chef de cuisine Maurice Pequet.

It was an evening to honor this year’s recipients of the California Wine Patrons Medallion of Excellence Award--Piero Selvaggio, chef-owner of Valentino and Primi and known for his 1,300-label wine collection, and John H. Hadley, prominent epicurean and member of the Beverly Hills Wine and Food Society, the Chevaliers du Tastevin, the California Vintage Wine Society and European societies.

Jack P. Hennessy, Patrons chairman, with Raymond A. Rodeno, president, and Raoul F. Balcaen III, ball chairman, were sharing honors in the announcement that fund-raising is almost completed for the Wine Patrons’ major new wine exhibit at the museum, to be known as the Hernando Courtright Wine Exhibit in honor of the Beverly Wilshire’s late, great proponent of dining.

40th ANNUAL: It’s been, now, a tradition of 40 years for the Coronet Debutante Ball. The International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton was aglow for the promenade and deep court bows. Parties in Hilton suites were the rage before the ball. Charlotte Meier chaired the largest for the Coronet Debutante Ball board, patronesses and Coronet post debutantes. At the ball Hugh and Peggy Snow (she’s ball director) hosted a table including their daughter, Kristina Snow.

Members of the ball board were grouped at another table--Frances and Joseph Remmes, Nadine and George Acker, Alice Jean and Terrence White, and Merelyn and Malcolm O’Donnell.

Deb Lisa Kern was the center of attention at a party hosted by her grandfather, John C. E. Williams of Pebble Beach, including guests hosted by her parents, Lynn and William Kern of Los Feliz. The ball brought debutantes from colleges across the country: Maribeth and Elmo Legg’s daughter, Lesli, came home from Mt. Holyoke; Gerry and Dickran Tevrizian’s daughter, Allyson, came from Duke University.