New La Scala Stirs Malibu to Celebrate

It’s hard to get Malibu’s resident celebrities to agree on anything. Just look at the controversy surrounding the issues of sewer systems, over-development and Martin Sheen.

But 100 of them nevertheless managed to reach consensus Friday night: that La Scala’s move to new quarters in the beach community was not just one small step for restaurateur Jean Leon, but also one giant leap for Malibu. And they even agreed to celebrate there at a benefit dinner for the Motion Picture and Television Fund that was underwritten entirely by Leon.

After 10 years in the same location on Cross Creek Road in the heart of the beachside community, Leon in January enlisted Design Concepts architect Harvey Rose to supervise construction of a new La Scala at a site alongside Malibu Creek. Though the move itself was physically just a block, it psychologically meant major trauma for Malibuites who on weekends put themselves on automatic pilot and head to La Scala for meals.

“As long as they still do take-out orders on Saturday nights, it’s not a problem,” said Bruce Dern, who has lived in Malibu for 23 years.

“Yes, it’s a change. But I have to tell you, I don’t mind it,” said actor Lee Majors, who has lived in Malibu Colony for 26 years and been a La Scala patron for years. “For one thing, it’s the only excuse I can think of to get Malibuites out to a party.”

Actor Burgess Meredith said he was pleased to see that La Scala’s new digs were that much closer to the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills. “And when I look at myself lately, I should be as close to it as I can get.” he said. “And now that I’ve done this fund-raiser, you think they’re going to turn me away? No way!”

VIP Guest List

As chairman of the event, Meredith had made out the guest list, which included TV syndicator Michael King, film producer Robert Chartoff, composer Henry Mancini, realtor-to-the-stars Stan Herman, actors Michael Landon and Rod Steiger, and actresses Joan Van Ark and Virginia Madsen, who came with director Danny Huston and his mother, Zoe.

A few of the expected VIPs, like Johnny Carson and Jerry Weintraub, didn’t make it because they couldn’t tear themselves away from the Detroit-Chicago basketball game. “Can you believe it?,” marveled Leon. “People were calling up and asking if I had a television set.”