First Things First: Leading Ladies’ Matinee for Donors

Los Angeles is a fountain of youth with all kinds of new firsts on the social scene.

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s First Chair Society entertained at its first Leading Ladies’ Matinee on Wednesday morning. Said co-president Jennifer Diener: “In Salzburg, they have matinees in the morning. I thought it would be different.” The morning Matinee, planned by Carol Henry, feted the big donors, and among the Ladies were Susie Barker, Peggy Parker, Rosalind Millstone, Barbara Reilly, Debbie Tellefsen, Judith Rosen, Kay Duke Ingalls, Dorothy Woods and Jane Arnault.

Then, at a sit-down at the Hilton, Jack and Elaine Lerman, Marty and Marjorie Roth, Dr. Stan and Jackie Furer, and Hal and Cynthia Gershman decided to form a new charitable foundation--Associates for Breast Cancer Studies. They’ve pledged 75% of all monies raised to the John Wayne Cancer Clinic. The Furers have donated their guest house for an office, the Gershmans provided phones and office equipment, the Lermans a computer, the Marty Greenbergs a 3-M Copier, and the Norman Ripps gave office supplies. They plan a membership affair Dec. 21 at Jimmy’s.

And those spectacular examples of eternal youth--Bob Hope and Dick Clark--celebrate inauguration of the National Parkinson Foundation California Research Laboratories at USC’s Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center on Wednesday.

AMERICANA: Lee Atwater, chairman of the Republican National Committee and the honoree at the Americana Associates’ Americana Ball, couldn’t resist. He picked up a guitar and sang with Jimmy and Jeannie Cheatham’s Sweet Baby Blues Band at the Regent Beverly Wilshire the other evening.

That’s the black-tie affair Lydia Webb chaired to raise funds for Project Americana of the Fine Arts Committee at the State Department. In the spotlight were former Ambassador to Australia William (Bill)Lane, Ginie and Henry Braun, Glen and Gloria Holden, Chuck and Diane Norris, Roy and Pauline Naftzger and Lydia’s daughter Mary Ann Hunt (one of the Texas Hunts) and her escort, Andrew Reisini of New York.

Now Lydia and her husband, Dr. Roscoe C. Webb Jr., will attend Canadian Consul Gen. Joan Winser’s welcoming reception Wednesday at the Canadian residence for Canada’s prime minister, the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney and Mrs. Mulroney, and then they and Mary Beth and Robert Van Dine are off to Washington, invited for dinner with President George and Barbara Bush on Thursday and luncheon at the home of Vice president Dan and Marilyn Quayle on Friday.

ENCORE: The American Horse Show Assn.’s New York tradition--Champagne at Cartier--was brought to Cartier on Rodeo Drive last year with such success that it was a repeat the other evening with Marion Scharffenberger and Mrs. Allan M. Cartter co-chairing the reception to raise funds for young rider programs of the National Equestrian Federation of the United States.

Joining in was honorary chair Stefanie Powers (who had just returned from the Polish Arabian national sales). More there to support future Olympic efforts were Bettina Bancroft Klink and her daughter Elisabeth Goth Clark, Montgomery and Jo Fisher, Robin Parsky, jockey Chris and Judy McCarron, Chris Shoemaker and Olympic rider Lisa Jacquin. Flying in for the party were the association president, James C. Wofford, and his wife, Gail, of Uppervillle, Va., and Jane Forbes Clark of New York.

THE TOPS: Alison and Joseph Winter host an intimate reception for Count and Countess Giuseppe Panza di Biumo (foremost private collectors of post-World War II American Art) on Oct. 18 at their Pasadena home. . . .

Jenny Rutt and her co-chair, Mary Milner, are raving about the combined glamour of Bob Mackie (he just costumed for the San Francis Opera), Neiman Marcus and Luminaires Juniors for their extravaganza to benefit Estelle Doheny Eye Clinic Nov. 30 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. . . .

Marilyn McCoo will dazzle for Northridge Hospital Foundation’s elegant black-tie night Oct. 20 at the Beverly Hilton. . . .

Roy Anderson heads the Center for Excellence (originally the Admiral H. R. Rickover Foundation) dinner Tuesday at Century Plaza Towers, giving Gayle Wilson (wife of U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson) its Excellence in Education Award. . . .

Longtime supporter Roberta Rinehart chairs the Olive Crest benefit Friday at Long Beach Petroleum Club to aid abused children.

50TH: “Viva VNA” means “50 and forward” for the Visiting Nurse Assn.’s 50th anniversary tribute Wednesday at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Phyllis Diller will make it fun as Betsy Palmer gets the caring and compassion award, Don Mullane the corporate-caring accolade and Roger Barkley a Silver Apple.

KUDOS: To Simon Ramo, saluted with the fourth Vision Award at a dinner-dance hosted at the Regent Beverly Wilshire by the Doheny Eye Institute. . . .

To Jane Wyatt, for the Valley Knudsen Award Friday at the Los Angeles Beautiful awards lunch at Los Angeles Hilton. . . .

To Claremont McKenna College’s President Jack and Jil Stark, hosting dinner in Claremont to celebrate the Leaders in the Making Campaign. . . .

To Val Toms, chairing the Music Center Opera League garden supper for 300. . . .

To Mr. and Mrs. Cary S. Brokaw, donating their Cliff May home for the Westside Guild of Childrens Hospital kick-off of the guild’s holiday boutique this past week chaired by Deborah Brown. . . .

To Mrs. Lee Youngren, chairing the 75th anniversary luncheon of the South Bay Auxiliary of Childrens Hospital at the Palos Verdes Country Club.