Pasadena Armory Glows for Arts

There was a real glow around the opening of the Armory Center for the Arts in Old Town Pasadena the other evening and around the preview of the “Pasadena Armory Show 1989” curated by Noel Korten and planned by Ann Barrett for the Fellows of Contemporary Art. The Fellows is the group founded in 1975 to underwrite exhibitions by contemporary artists after the demise of the Pasadena Art Museum.

Major Armory fund-raiser Peggy Phelps (she directed the $1-million capital campaign for endowment/renovation of the historic building) and Gordon Hampton were literally beaming. They joined Fellows President Russel Kully and his wife, Hannah, and Susan Caldwell, president of the Armory board, and her husband, Charles, at the brightly lighted exhibition on shiny maple floors that once were support for badminton tournaments.

Many of the 13 artists in the show--Michael Davis, James Doolin, Scott Grieger, Raul Guerrero, Margit Omar--joined the party conversation before art lovers crossed the street for Mexican cuisine at Tecolate.

Collectors raving included Eaton and Beverly Ballard, Craig and Carolyn Watson, Lulu and George Epstein, Cathie and David Partridge, Suzanne and Ted Paulson (who had just led Fellows through private collections in Amsterdam), and Ginny and Dick Stever.

Armory executive director Lisa Crystal explained Armory space also will be used to house the 40-year-old Pasadena Art Workshops, known for innovative children’s art classes.

TREATS: While trick-or-treaters bobbed about outdoors, members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the Greater Los Angeles Area were celebrating a first anniversary with a dinner-dance at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

They’re the ones who give individual donations of $10,000 or more to the United Way. United Way campaign chairman James Miscoll and president Dr. James Carter are digging for diamonds--$100 million year, though the published goal is $95 million. Said Miscoll: “We live in a community that is the most multiethnic in the history of the world. With that comes the good and the bad.” He spoke of the people who live in “quiet despair because of their own hurricanes, their own typhoons every day--their own psychological disasters.”

Among those hearing Miscoll challenge Chicago for the No. 1 spot in United Way giving were dinner chairman George F. Moody, Byron and Ronnie Allumbaugh, Richard and Mary Alice Frank, James and Doreen McElvany, Stanley and Shirlene Wainer, Manuel Caldero, David and Marilyn Anderson, Keith Renken, Erhard and Rowena Schaber, Harriet and Robert Bonn, and Dick (new president of Southern California Gas) and Suzanne Farman. Newest members--Ronald and Nancy Reagan--weren’t there.

GEMS: Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles had its 85th birthday last week at the Music Center. Howard Keck of the W.M. Keck Foundation was recovering from surgery, but he was honored in absentia for Keck gifts in the million-dollar category to the bureau, which is recognized for child abuse prevention and treatment programs.

Then master of ceremonies Art Linkletter revealed that Aleen Leslie, the widow of a friend, called the other day and wanted to give $1 million somewhere, did he have ideas? Art was abandoned 77 years ago and then adopted by a Baptist minister, and he and his wife, Lois, have been loyal devotees. They suggested Children’s Bureau.

On the podium, board members Betty Williams and Constance Gavin exuded warmth. Prominent in the crowd were Walter Gerken, Howard Edgerton, Judy Nelson, Judge David Thomas, James Lower, James Miscoll, Joan DuBois, Ross and Betty Blakely, Mary Jones and Stuart and Mary Davis (the latter three had just flown in from San Francisco after the High Mass and huge partying for socialite Ann Miller before she joined the Carmelite order of nuns) and A. Redmond Doms Jr., incoming bureau president.

PAST PERFECT: Kevin and Susan Dobson, hosting the John Wayne Cancer Clinic Auxiliary luncheon at the Century Plaza attended by 800. . . .

Teren Davis’ party for Bill’s 50th birthday and their “stir up some mischief” ghoulish Count Dracula Ball. . . .

Randy Stockwell’s 40th birthday party for wife, Carolyn, at the Palm. . . .

The 1990 rollout of the Rolls-Royce motor cars at the Regent Beverly Wilshire with president and CEO Howard Mosher demonstrating a triple white Corniche III. . . .

Some 300 dazzling at the CLARE Foundation black-tie gala at the new Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. The foundation assists low-income alcoholics. . . .

Robert A. Houghton, president Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation saluting Brig. Gen. Charles E. Yeager at the Beverly Hilton. . . .

Patriot awards received by Robert O. Anderson, Robert R. Dockson, Irene Dunne and Richard J. Riordan--at the American Spirit Foundation dinner at the Century Plaza. “We the People” recipients were Howard Finster, William J. Johnston, Stan Lee, John Mack and Suzanne Marx on the same night.

DREAMY: Los Angeles Master Chorale leaders say dress blues and black tie will be what guests will be wearing on Veterans Day Saturday at their “American Dream Ball.” Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch lunched at Checkers and says she’s featuring a White House menu, flag bearers and a 60-voice salute for plenty of patriotism, pomp and circumstance at the Biltmore.

She’s been in touch with Rene Verdon, head White House chef for the Kennedys. Buzz and Lois Aldrin and Charlton Heston are honorary chairs. Eaton Ballard, former chairman of the Music Center Operating Co., will be guest of honor.