Pasadena Showcase Cloaked in Secrecy

Secrecy and suspense so surround the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee’s 25th Anniversary Premiere Night Party of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design that only party chairman Shirley Goldsmith, president Christina Varner and Brenda Owen, the anniversary benefit chairman, know the intricacies of the gala on Saturday.

We can tell you it’s on a monumental scale with dancing planned until the wee hours. This year, says Linda Seiter, the committee goes to a reservation system for the Showcase public days next Sunday through May 21. That’s because they couldn’t control the flow of sometimes 53,000 people a year who come to the event in La Canada Flintridge. The phone number for reservations and tickets is (818) 792-4661, though reservations also are available through members, Ticketmaster outlets and the Music Center, P.O Box 1951, L.A. 90078.

CELEBRATION WEEKEND: Marlborough School’s festivities for its many-faceted Centennial Celebration Weekend on April 28-30 are moving right along, said Centennial chairman Terry Von Hagen Bucher and co-chair Louise Trotti. Aileen Adams and Mary Adams Reinisch co-chair the weekend.

That includes the Alumnae Luncheon, co-chaired by Nancy McCullough; a Marlborough “Then and Now” musical revue with a cast of students, alumnae, parents and friends; a day of seminars headed by Daryn Horton and Chris Westwater, and alumnae brunches co-chaired by Suzanne Crowell and Bonnie McClure.

A highlight will be the Gala Celebration planned by Pamela Mullin and Barbara Myerson. It’s April 29, black-tie, at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum. More involved are Carole Terry, Corki Clark, Joan Graves, Patti Doheny and Kacey McCoy (co-chairing a “Generations Tea”), Jane Warner, Laurie Stoneman, Susan Brant, Paulette Katzenbach, Cece Baise, Kay Gates, Michele Crahan, Carol King, Maggie Russell, Mary Morgan and Leah Coulter.

EVER ONWARD: In 1983, opera diva Dorothy Kirsten French created the French Foundation for Alzheimer Research to seek advances in scientific and medical research and provide model methods for caring for America’s 3 million Alzheimer’s patients. The result, in five years: $2 million.

Dorothy’s husband, Dr. John Douglas French, the brain surgeon who founded the UCLA Brain Research Institute, died recently of Alzheimer’s. His spirit emboldens efforts on the foundation’s fifth anniversary gala May 7 at the Beverly Hilton. Pia Zadora, Dudley Moore, Norm Crosby and composer Bill Conti will entertain. Alex Trebek, “Jeopardy!” host, will emcee. First Lady Barbara Bush, a member of the foundation’s honorary board, has accepted to be honorary chairman.

This year, Roy Anderson, former chairman of Lockheed, serves as dinner chairman; Bonnie Green is Founding Associates chairman.

In 1987, the foundation joined with Richard K. Eamer, chairman and CEO of National Medical Enterprises, Inc., to open the John Douglas French Center for Alzheimer’s Disease in Los Alamitos--the first free-standing center devoted exclusively to the care of Alzheimer’s patients.

VIPS: Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling hosted the Blue Ribbon 200 Presidents Club of United Way at a Clippers game at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. (The prominent CEOs give to the United Way through the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, composed of donors who give more than $10,000.) Joining Sterling were United Way chairman Irwin S. Field, president Leo P. Cornelium, James P. Miscoll (1989-90 United Way campaign chairman) and Mayor Tom Bradley.

PRIME TIME: The Las Floristas Ball is set for Friday for its 51st Floral Headdress Ball at the Beverly Hilton. The ball, one of the first “specials” ever televised by early TV in Los Angeles (repeated for 25 years), becomes a salute to modern television.

That calls for Michael King, head of King World, a TV syndication firm, to serve as honorary chairman. The evening begins with the guest headdress competition during the reception in the Grand Ballroom. Then Barbara Gershon, Las Floristas president, and Ball co-chairwomen Susanne Hall and Julie Lee will welcome guests including representatives of the Las Floristas Clinics for Handicapped Children, recipient of ball funds.

Las Floristas models Cynthia Caswell, Jade Higgins, Carolyn Johnson, Madeline Viole, Mary Richardson, Jean Arnett, Barbara Robinson and Maggie Simms will wear the huge headdresses.

PAST PERFECT: Old friendships were rekindled at the third annual Mums of Alums Tea at Harvard School’s Seeley G. Mudd Library. Chairman was Ricki O’Leary . . .

The Irving Walker Auxiliary plays bridge with passion, but it also lunched this week over the wisdom of Alfred Sheinwold at the Wilshire Country Club, raising funds for runaway youth in the process, say co-chairs Twila Bratcher and Roslyn Steinbach.

WELCOME: To Gerard Coste, taking the post of consul general of France in Los Angeles. He is a chevalier of both the French National Order of Merit and the Legion of Honor. His most recent post: director of the information services for the prime minister. His wife, Naomi, an American by birth and a former model, arrives in about two weeks from Paris.

RED LETTER DATES: Architect Albert C. Martin will receive the Good Scout Award at the Boy Scouts of America luncheon Wednesday at the Los Angeles Hilton. John C. Cushman is keynoter . . .

Michael Novarese premieres his fall collection for Operation Children on May 11 at the Beverly Hilton.

AWARDS: The H.E.L.P. Group, aiding children with special needs, honors the Michael Milken family for its contributions at its 12th annual luncheon at the Beverly Hilton on May 3. Steve Wynn and Vidal Sassoon co-host . . .

Betty Johnson, whose family is a legend in the California horse breeding industry, receives the “Spirit of Life” Award from the Medical Center Aides for the City of Hope Monday at Santa Anita Park. The Johnson name is synonymous with Old English Rancho, the breeding farm. Elliot Rosman is dinner chairman, assisting president Gilda Spiegl and super-volunteer Jane Kleinrock.

PLAUDITS: To Dr. J. Willis Hurst, recipient of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Theodore E. Cummings Prize for Outstanding Contributions in Cardiovascular Disease . . . To Joseph A. Wapner, speaker at the Vista Del Mar Associates membership luncheon . . . To Richard D. Farman, chairman of the board and CEO of Southern California Gas Company, receiving the Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award from the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. at the Registry Hotel . . . To Richard G. Reinis, new president of the Los Angeles Children’s Museum . . . To the Amie Karen Cancer Fund’s new president Michael Minson and chairman Estherly Reifman.

KUDOS: To the 900 supporting the Love Is Feeding Everyone celebrity fashion show at the Beverly Hilton with proceeds to help feed 44,000 hungry each week in Los Angeles . . . .

To the four recipients of Humanitarian Awards from the Santa Monica Bay Area Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews: Virginia Zamboni, Jon Douglas, Mary Solow and Richard D. Farman.

ESCALATION: The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem hosted a dinner concert with pianist Roger Williams and the Beverly Hills Pops Orchestra at the Beverly Wilshire to honor the Marquis de Brissac, its grand master, and Ernesto Cardinal Corripio Ahumada, the archbishop primate of Mexico . . . .

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley joins the Premiere Night audience at South Coast Repertory on Friday for the world premiere of her latest play, “Abundance” . . . . India’s ambassador to Washington, P. K. Kaul, will be honored by Los Angeles Bombay Sister City president Joe Houser and Mira Advani at a dinner at the home of Gilbert and Mary Cutler today . . . .

Hollywood Heritage and its affiliate, the Silent Society, commemorate the 100th anniversary of film legend Charlie Chaplin’s birthday today with a rare film screening and reception at the Chaplin Stage at A & M Records . . . .

Rita Moreno and Richard Dreyfuss will be among Center Theatre Group Volunteers this evening, raising funds for the Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisional Theatre Project . . . .

Members of Bel-Air Guild of Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles are off this weekend on their annual sojourn to Palm Desert. They’ll be at Chaparal Country Club on Friday evening as the guests of Homer and Marilyn Fuller. Saturday they’ll gather at Marrakesh Country Club to be greeted by hosts Bill and Jackie Williams and Ted and Eve Sterling, before dinner at Desert Horizons with Dr. Raymond and Cecelia Foxgord.

HEIGHT OF SEASON: Architect Charles Luckman will be the distinguished honoree at the National Arts Assn. Orchid Ball on April 28 in the Ballroom of the Beverly Wilshire . . . .

Proceeds from “An Enchanted Evening” Saturday at the Warner Center Mariott in Woodland Hills will go to the Saint Joseph Medical Center Guild’s $2-million pledge to the medical center’s comprehensive cancer center. Comedian Tom Dreesen will headline entertainment . . . . It must be spring because the traditional spring luncheon and children’s fashion show benefit for Childrens Hospital is set for Saturday at the Beach Club in Santa Monica. Tink Cheney, Jane Gosden, Joan Graves, Laurie Griff, Bonnie McClure, Nancy McCullough, Susan Miller and Tally Mingst are hostesses.