Jack Kemp Lined Up as Speaker

Pepperdine Associates, the university’s most prestigious support group, scored a coup for its annual black-tie dinner March 22 at the Biltmore. Jack F. Kemp, U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, will speak. Lodwrick M. Cook is dinner chairman.

CHEERS: Partisan supporters of the Spotlight Awards at the Music Center were anything but reserved. Not only did Doc Severinsen and his “Tonight Show” band raise decibels, but the youthful audience unabashedly cheered favorite competitors. The Spotlight Awards, presented through a grant from Pacific Telesis, honor Southern California’s finest young performers.

Actor Gregory Harrison kept a cute commentary going as awards went to singer Lynette Tapia, pianists Anders Martinson and Wendy Chen, violinist Michelle Kim, dancer Arthur Leroy Sabb and the drama teams of Jeff DiFranco and Angela Randall Hoover and Chris DuVal and Jeremy Johnson. Winners received $40,000 in scholarships, then attended the gala dinner in the Grand Hall planned by Peggy Parker, Fred Roberts and Joni Smith.

Joni Smith had special toasts for Spotlight’s executive producers, Walter E. Grauman and Peggy Parker, now Mr. and Mrs. The couple, Smith noted, were married by Judge Matt Byrne “somewhere between revising the program and doing the seating for this party--between 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m.”

Everyone wanted to speak to John Frohnmayer, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was widely feted, breakfast to dinner, last week. The festivities included a California Arts Council breakfast at City Club for heads of arts organizations, the same day Frohnmayer spoke to Town Hall.

NICEST KUDOS: To the Weingart Foundation, donating $3 million to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles to help construct the Weingart Center for Imaging and Diagnosis (single largest gift in the hospital’s history). . . .

To Fred L. Hartley, chairman emeritus of Unocal, receiving the California Museum of Science and Industry Award of Excellence from the Advisory Board. . . .

To retired Gen. William Lyon, receiving the Asa V. Call Achievement Award at the USC General Alumni Assn. salute. . . .

To Richard Fiedler, new chairman of California Music Theatre . . . .

To the Merchant’s Club for City of Hope, announcing at the Regal Ball that it has raised $2.2 million in 57 years.

ON TOES: Beautiful, blond June Haver MacMurray was so elated she was in the clouds on stage with star Andy Williams (in his silver shoes and sparkling shirt) and celebrity host Robert Wagner.

That’s because the Friends of Childhelp announced at its “Evening of Elegance” at the Beverly Hilton net proceeds of $500,000 for Childhelp National Toll-Free Hotline (800) 4-A-CHILD. Thanks go to angels: Wearing halos were Billie Ruth Galef, who donated $100,000 for new roofs for Childhelp USA Village in Beaumont; Hal and Cynthia Gershman, who gave $50,000 to underwrite the party; Gerber baby food, a $75,000 donation; and co-chairman Frances Franklin.

In the surprise of the night, Jimmy Stewart announced the winners of the donated classic BMW--Bob and Dolores Hope. They had bought five tickets for $1,000 each. When Andy Williams sang “Dear Heart,” Childhelp founders Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O’Meara Sigholtz beamed.

THE TOWN: Distinguished donors--those who have pledged $100,000 to $1 million to the Music Center United Fund during the past year--drew praise at a Music Center party. Bert and Corina Greynald’s $1-million gift makes them grand patrons. Other patrons in attendance included Ted and Rhonda Fleming Mann and Michael and Suzanne Tennenbaum. . . .

Barbara Nyden Rodstein, who parlayed in six years a $5,000 investment into annual sales of $25 million (she’s owner of Harden Industries), will be named Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Assn. of Women Business Owners on Tuesday at the Beverly Wilshire. . . .

Stephen D. Gavin was in the spotlight when Skid Row Development Corp. hosted its reception gala to benefit Transition House for the homeless at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

CIRCLE RED: The Hollywood Charity Horse Show at the Equestrian Center of Los Angeles Tuesday through Saturday will benefit a different charity each night. Charities include Make-A-Wish Foundation, California Special Olympics, Ahead With Horses, the Jeffrey Foundation, Oralingua School and Friends of Child Advocates. American Saddlebred and hackney riders will compete for $85,000. . . .

The Irene Dunne Guild of Saint John’s Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica hosts “An Evening at Butterfield & Butterfield” Thursday at the gallery, 7601 Sunset Blvd. Carolyn M. Mullaney and Colleen O’Beirne Brydon are co-chairs. . . .

Harvard School headmaster Tom Hudnut, who is known to have a silver tongue, presides over the parent association’s Spring Roundup dinner-dance Saturday. Co-chairs are Pat Rauth and Caryn Tebbe. Last year’s event raised $135,000.

DESERT: Washington’s Rose Narva (who has managed the Jefferson and Hay Adams hotels) is negotiating to buy the Gene Autry Hotel in Palm Springs, and it was she who whirled the red-haired Georgette Mossbacher around the grounds on a golf cart while Georgette’s husband, Secretary of Commerce Robert Mossbacher, was being interviewed by media. . . .

Don and Judy Tallarico showcased their jewels for the Vintage Chrysler Invitational Ladies Luncheon and fashion show headed by Lois Horvitz and Carol Carr.