R.S.V.P. : Candlelight Ball Turns Into a Family Affair

Sentiment is everything. Ball Chairwoman Susan Baggott influenced Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary to hold the Candlelight Ball at the Biltmore because her husband proposed to her in the hotel’s Rendezvous Court. Orchestra leader Jerry Bruno got the nod because he played for her wedding reception. Colleen Casey, who usually sings with Michael Carney’s Orchestra, was honored vocalist because she was Susan’s Kappa Kappa Gamma sister at USC. Susan’s uncle Msgr. William Barry, recently honored by the Vatican, gave the invocation. Even baby Lorna Baggott, 16 months, was in the arms of her mother during the reception line with dad Bob and Juniors president Donna Melone and her husband Martin.

Everyone’s joyous. It looks as though the ball, a salute to philanthropist Dorothy Leavey, will net more than $125,000 (up from $92,000 last year) for Regis House community centers. And because of that Susan’s parents, Lorna and Jack Barry; Sister Petra Keller, director of the Sisters of Social Service, and a committee including Linda Breen, Bridget Loftus, Sally Frawley, Mary McGraw and Theresa Dunn are ecstatic.

TABLOID: Mix costumed carolers and Dickens’ characters Fagin and Mr. Micawber with garlands of greenery and bedecked trees. Spread mistletoe and holly on the tables. Place the 75-voice USC Concert Choir with Rodney Eichenberger on the balconies of the Crystal Room of the Biltmore.

Bring in the organ grinder and the vintage harmonium for 19th-Century parlor readings. And position the grand piano on stage with Dudley Moore. That was the rare fun of the USC Friends of Music, Dudley Moore and Dickens evening.

Decking the halls for music scholarships were Joyce Sprafka and Friends president Lucy Hubbard and School of Music dean Larry Livingston. Honorary chairwoman Flora Thornton gathered around Marion and George Scharffenberger and Eric Small. More in the audience of 400 were former U. S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith and his wife Jean; Lorna Reed; George and Mary Lou Boone and Virginia and Simon Ramo.

PREVIEW: Jewels and 18th-Century tables will be under Christmas trees after the Junior League of Los Angeles’ preview of its 10th annual Antiques Show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. President Robin Nenninger and show chairwoman Carole Gascou invited the first chairwoman Connie Lynch and her husband Terence as well as past chairmen to attend the black-tie affair. And co-chairwomen Gwendolyn Hatten Baker and Doris Lebo staged dining midst the antiques--the better to buy. The net is a hefty $100,000 for AIDS and cancer counseling hot lines and guides for the handicapped.

FOOTLOOSE: Big news at The Bachelors of Los Angeles stag night was that New York’s Lester Lanin has been signed to fly in his orchestra for the 85th anniversary Bachelors Ball next year. He played the party hosted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to honor Prince Edward on his birthday.

THE SEASON: Red poinsettias flourished with the Pepperdine University Showcase Singers for National Charity League Los Angeles chapter’s Christmas luncheon planned by Susan Howell, Gloria Arrasmith and Marilyn Dornan at the Beverly Hills’ Crystal Room . . .

Over at the Beverly Hilton, the acclaimed Citrus College Singers brought emotion for the Delta Delta Delta Sleighbell luncheon, with president Judy Jenkins and Suzanne Dillard hosting tables for the glittery Saks Fifth Avenue fashion show to benefit cancer research at Childrens Hospital . . .

Angels Attic in Santa Monica celebrated its sixth Victorian Christmas with a tea and the nostalgic opening of the popular Lauren’s Santa’s Workshop exhibit, on display through January . . .

The CHIPS (Colleague Helpers in Philanthropic Service) chic crowd took over Bice on Canon to host an Italian holiday party chaired by Nevada Cook, Victoria Mouradian, Deborah Tellefsen and Nancy Wibbelsman . . .

Claire Shea, president of Loyola High School Mothers’ Guild, was at the front with Father Patrick Cahalan, president of Loyola, and Father Eugene Growney, principal, for a Williamsburg-themed gala with Della Robbia wreaths. In the crowd were Jane and Stephen Ackerman, Susan and William Armistead, Marcia and Stanley Hayden and Joanne and Robert Smith.

MERRIMENT: Dolores Milhous’ vantage-point abode on Linda Isle will be aglow Wednesday for the fund-raiser the Laguna Art Museum hosts to toast the holidays and watch the pretty Newport Harbor Parade of Lights pass by . . .

The Regent Beverly Wilshire’s general manager Alain Longatte invited Rodeo Drive merchants to join him for cheers . . .

Palm Springs Pathfinders including Ann Correa and her husband Glenn and chairwoman Jane Kayser and husband Paul decked the halls at the Eldorado Country Club benefit for Boys’ Club of Palm Springs and Pathfinder Ranch . . . With Meredith MacRae in concert at the home of Dr. David Sibley, Hancock Park Concerts Helping Children put the shine on fund raising for needy children . . . The Pasadena Historical Society’s Fenyes Mansion, 470 W. Walnut St., is swathed in the folk art of Rita Schroeder and the scents and sounds of a turn-of-the-century Christmas for public viewing.

SOCIAL SCENE: Indian musicians and elaborate curries, kebabs and chutneys created ambience for the black-tie opening of “Romance of the Taj Mahal” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art . . .

Leonard and Wendy Goldberg were honorary hosts for the United Liver Assn.’s benefit preview dinner for “Enemies, A Love Story” at Twentieth Century Fox Studios . . .

Nancy Powell, president of Community Counseling Service (CCS) brought in a Philharmonic Institute trio for her event honoring members of The President’s Club (major donors) . . .

About 180 saluted Hathaway Children’s Services this week at the Regency Club breakfast planned by Carl Terzian with Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) discussing news events . . . French Consul General Gerard and Naomi Coste honored star Isabelle Adjani and director Bruno Nuytten at a cocktail party before their opening of “Camille Claudel” at the Fine Arts Theatre.

YULE: President Joanne George oversaw 28 different holiday table settings at luncheon for USC Town and Gown; 450 brought toys to be given to USC County Medical Center patients on Christmas Day . . .

Friends of Vieilles Maisons Francaises including chairman Edie Frere spread the holly and tempted fashion frolickers at I. Magnin Beverly Hills. Lurabelle and Harry Laughlin, Roz and Bob Marston and Audree and Stan Penton were among the Friends.