A Big Fanfare for Italy’s Prime Minister

There’s a lot of fortissimo in the welcoming of His Excellency Ciriaco De Mita, Prime Minister of Italy. Mayor Tom Bradley and the Los Angeles City Council host an invitational luncheon in his honor Monday in the Blue Ribbon Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center. Earlier, at 10 a.m., the mayor officially will greet the visitor in fanfare ceremonies in the City Council chambers. Guests are reminded to stand as the mayor and prime minister enter the council chamber and to be seated when they are seated.

His Excellency is visiting Los Angeles to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Italy after World War II. In gratitude to Americans, the Alcide de Gasperi Foundation has donated “Colpo d’ala: a Boccioni,” a major sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro. It will be placed in the reflection pool of the Department of Water and Power, on Hope Street across the street from the Music Center, at a dedication ceremony just before the luncheon.

The next evening, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council has dibs on the prime minister for a black-tie-optional dinner at the Beverly Wilshire. He’s agreed to deliver a major foreign policy address.

MERRY MERRY: First the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation of Los Angeles gave a million, and then it gave another million. Merry Christmas, children at St. John’s Child Study Center! Vahe H. Simonian, executive vice president/development for St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Foundation, has revealed that the latest $1 million is an early Christmas present for the Child Study Center Endowment Fund to serve children with developmental disabilities and emotional disorders. Because the center often works with people with limited financial resources, it has operated at a sizable deficit for years. The Hilton foundation gave its first $1 million grant in 1982.

DOWNPOUR: “Rain Man” with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise premieres on the West Coast with a gala for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times Wednesday evening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Pepper Edmiston reports 800 supporters will pay $250 each to attend, and that means a downpour of pennies from heaven for young cancer patients who attend Good Times summer camp at no cost. It’s all very holiday--both attire and the dessert party that follows.

WASHINGTON FUN: More than 140 Southlanders who have supported Phoenix House, the to-be Nancy Reagan Center for Drug Abuse, were in Washington for a two-day whirlwind organized by Phoenix House national campaign chairman Suzanne Marx of Encino. The highlight was Mrs. Reagan’s reception at the White House. That evening the crowd, mixing with donors from around the country, dined at the Organization of American States building. The next day there were private tours of Blair House and the Department of State before luncheon at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., and a speech by columnist George F. Will and later tea at Villa Firenze hosted by the Ambassador to the U.S. from Italy and Mrs. Rinaldo Petrignani.

Among Angelenos: Kay Brown, Father Maurice Chase, Sara and Dennis Chernoff, Terri and Timothy Childs, Robert Cohn, Patricia Fox, Grace and George Fritzinger, Peggy and Bob Funkhauser, Billie Ruth Galef, Rick and Fabienne Guerin, Nina Hartwell, Phyllis and Michael Hennigan, Stephanie Hibler, Betty and Maurice Leonard, Carolyn and Bruce Ludwig, Carol and Douglas Mancino, Joan and Tom Riach, Judy and David Ruderman, Joan and Carl Terzian, Ray and JoAnn Klauer.

More were Pasadenan Dennis Alfieri; from Beverly Hills, Tina and Donald Brackenbush, Sandra and William Capps, Nourit and Joseph Chowaiki, Shirley and Charles Colby, Karen and Michael Gould, Geoff Miller, Shelley and Peter Orgell; from San Gabriel, Kenneth Feher; from Agoura Hills, Richard Flint; from Bradbury, Marion and Kent Hackman; from Tarzana, Carole Harmon; from Granada Hills, Tanna and Joseph Havlick; from Newport Beach, Ruth and William Hood; from Whittier, Andrew Hopwood; from Encino, Robert and Sally Hunt; from Pacific Palisades, Eric and Elizabeth Johnson; from Woodland Hills, Liz and Arthur Lewis; from Santa Barbara, Ronald Macleod; from Northridge, Susan and Patrick McDonough; from Rolling Hills, Ingrid and Paul Mitchell; from Marina del Rey, Larraine Mohr; from Calabasas Park, Maria and John Moriarity, from Palos Verdes Estates, Susan Thurston and Sherrie Tossell; from Hidden Hills, Rebecca and Dean Willard.

Joining them were Washington society including Washington Post owner Katharine Graham, former Ambassador to Iran Richard and Cynthia Helms, deputy assistant to the President for drug abuse policy Dr. Ian McDonald, and President Reagan’s chief of staff Kenneth and Sydney Duberstein.

HOLIDAY FANFARE: Tony Rose and his orchestra will be playing for The Poinsettia Ball at Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage Saturday evening for the Childhelp USA black tie party to aid abused children. . . .

The latchkey children of Para Los Ninos were brought to the Virginia Robinson estate in Beverly Hills this week for a holiday party replete with songs, clowns and fun. Putting their hearts into the program were Friends of Robinson Gardens president Barbara Reilly and Helen Lambros, Joan Selwyn, Ginny Lew, Darrelle Hirsch, Sophie Mastor, Eileen Rayden and Patty Turrentine. . . .

The ground will be covered with real snow and tall white bare branches with snow flakes will be washed in pink lighting for “Christmas Through Rose-Colored Glasses” that special event designer John J. Daly Jr. of Santa Monica plans for Daniel Freeman Hospital Auxiliary and Guild’s 36th annual Christmas Tree Ball at Filmland Saturday evening. Icicle centerpieces will tower 6 feet above each table for the party concocted by ball co-chairwomen Ronit Weintraub (a former Miss Israel) and Debra Colbert (her husband, Jeffrey, is associate team physician for the Los Angeles Clippers).

PLAUDITS: The Friends of Tel Hashomer honored Eduard Sarlui and Moshe Diamant, founders and co-chairmen of Trans World Entertainment, Hollywood’s largest independent motion picture production-distribution company, with the Sheba Humanitarian Award at the 18th annual tribute dinner at the Beverly Hilton. Charlton Heston presented the award.

The world premiere of Oliver Stone’s new film, “Talk Radio,” Dec. 16 at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinemas, is an invitational benefit for the American Cinematheque, says Peter Dekom, Cinematheque president.

HOLIDAY CHEER: Trustees of Viewpoint School in Calabasas host donors at a reception Friday at the home of Dale and Cindy Francescon in Westlake Village. . . .

Mary Jane and George F. Moody hosted UCLA Chancellor Charles and Sue Young and sustaining members of the UCLA Chancellor’s Associates at a black-tie party on the 54th floor of Security Pacific Bank headquarters. . . .

The Westside Arts Center stages an afternoon buffet Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the new DC3 Restaurant, 28th Street at Santa Monica Airport. More than 20 pieces of art will be raffled.