Dinosaur Ball Guests Enjoy Party in a Jungle Inspired by Rousseau

French Impressionist Henri Rousseau would have been delighted. For the opening of the exhibition “Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure” at the Natural History Museum, Dinosaur Ball co-chairs Nancy and Ray McCullough got their party inspiration from his wild jungle scene, “Exotic Landscape,” painted in the early 1900s.

Wayne and Evonne Woods (their shop, The Woods, is at the Four Seasons Hotel) designed bears and tigers peering from jungles and bright feathered birds perched on tables. For the dance floor, the quartet decided a rainbow of lights should hover overhead and that jungle sounds of birds and raindrops should provide ambiance.

Said Nancy: “We’ve always held the Dinosaur Ball inside the museum, but this year we wanted to bring the crowd into one room all together. And with Les Brown’s 18-piece band, we needed more room, so we settled on a big tent.”

Honorary co-chairs and longtime museum supporters Otis and Dody Booth gathered prominents at their table--Charles and Nancy Munger, Gerald and Virginia Oppenheimer, Clark and Joni Smith. Invited to sit at Jean Stone’s table was Steven Vogel, winner of the first annual $25,000 Irving and Jean Stone Award for Science Writing. He’s a professor at Duke University.

The generous pledges of George C. Page, May Co. California and Gump’s are expected to raise proceeds higher than last year’s $240,000 net.

ITALIAN STYLE: Director Franco Zeffirelli canceled as honored guest the week before the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Italian Renaissance Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. But the affair, co-chaired by Carolyn Wagner and Lynda Jenner, proceeded with lots of aid from Italian Consul General Alberto Boniver, Italian Cultural Institute Director Gerlando Butti, and Ginny and Henry Mancini.

Donations from Alitalia and Italiatour for round-trip tickets to Rome and hotel fanfare lent pizazz. Buccellati helped underwrite the dinner; D’Aquino Imports donated Italian wines.

Frette has ribboned invitations out for a cocktail party Tuesday at Bice Ristorante for ball supporters, including Deborah Tellefsen, Suzanne Neal, Susana Funsten, Reva and William Tooley, Jennifer and Royce Diener, Suzy and Norman Barker, Stuart Fischler, Cathy Tiner and Doug Brengel.

GLORIOUS: Bicoastal types such as Mario Buatto, Patricia Kennedy Sheinbaum, Iris Cantor and Angela Rich were part of the scene for the cocktail party Vanya Foster and Suzanne Marx hosted at Le Restaurant for Sean Driscoll, president of Glorious Foods, which caters the big parties in New York and Palm Beach. Foster is the owner of Foster-Ingersoll on La Cienega, which sells and rents fine china and crystal. Herbert Ross and his wife, Lee Radziwill, who are renting a Beverly Hills house and building a ranch in Santa Ynez, recently rented china for three consecutive dinner parties.

ON CIRCUIT: Neil and Christina Diver hosted a dinner at the California Club for the new president of Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts, Dean Boal, and his wife, Ellen Boal. . . .

First Interstate Corp.’s new chairman Ed Carson and his wife, Nadine (who have a second home in Phoenix and are devout Sun Devils fans), were among those in the Valley of the Sun attending the dinner George Kokalis hosted at Arizona Country Club to enhance the inauguration of Lattie F. Coor as the 15th president of Arizona State University at Tempe.

HOOPLA: Brentwood School’s new $6-million Performing Arts/Library/Science Complex was the scene of festive hoopla at the cocktail reception arranged by James and Marcie Valeo (he’s board chairman) and headmaster Hunter and Cilla Temple. “Anonymous” will go on the future Wall of Honor for the leadership gift of $1 million. Important but lesser gifts will be right beneath from Michael Milken and Lori Milken, Lowell and Sandy Milken, and Howard and Nancy Marks. . . .

By the sea, at the Loew’s Santa Monica Beach Hotel, ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) celebrated a 25th anniversary saluting the vivacious Betty Morgan, founder, and charter members including Maggie Edwards, Rita Fenaughty, Marlene Hall, Sheila Muller (current president), Margaret Nutt, Merelyn O’Donnell and Audree Penton. . . .

The English tea was tres haute for Los Angeles Orphanage guild, honoring past presidents at the St. James Club and chatting about the upcoming “Spring Rhapsody” benefit April 22 at the Four Seasons.

PARTY LINE: Jacquelin Perry and the philanthropic Las Floristas nabbed the prestigious Amistad Award at the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation dinner-dance at Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach (Betty White was honorary chair). . . .

Trudy Bogert and Marilyn Rudley planned the National Arts Assn. just-for-fun soiree at Bel-Air Country Club. . . .

Shari Nelson, Marjorie Beradino, Madelyn Bailey, Donna Witte and Gloria Arrasmith staged the National Charity League and Junior Charity League fashion show at Filmland. . . .

It was “Eat, Drink and Be Musical” for Friends of the Hollywood Bowl, lunching at the Music Center before a concert. . . .

Lou Ann and Peter McGrath were honored at the Orchid Ball Mary Alice O’Connor chaired for Burbank Community Hospital.

FAVORITE: Anyone who has ever shed a tear over Margery Williams’ book, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” should consider the Nine O’Clock Players’ staging of “The Velveteen Rabbit.” Saturday and Sunday performances continue through April 8 at the Assistance League Playhouse, 1367 N. St. Andrews Place; phone (213) 469-1970. Proceeds from Nine O’Clock Players productions go to the league’s community and charitable services, especially those for children.

KUDOS: To Amie Lu Haake, new president of the Auxiliary of the Hospital of the Good Samaritan. . . .

To Lucy Toberman, honored at a luncheon for her 25 years of service as a member of the Inmate Welfare Commission of Los Angeles. . . .

To Charles and Francine Goldstein, chairing the West Coast Chabad’s fund raising for Chai Circle. . . .

To Arthur Birtcher, reelected president of the Center for the Study of Decorative Arts in San Juan Capistrano. . . .

To the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, breaking ground for St. Anne’s Residential Center. . . .

To Shirley Struble, incoming president of Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital.