Music Center Gala Nets $80,000 for YMCA

Supporters of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, founded in 1886 (and the oldest youth-service organization in the city), gathered in black-tie in the Music Center’s Grand Hall to pay tribute to the group’s living past chairmen. The night pinpointed the match of Los Angeles corporate leaders with illustrious causes.

Honored were Warren H. Crowell (senior partner Crowell Weedon & Co.), chairman 1958-’67; Clair L. Peck Jr. (chairman C. L. Peck/Jones Bros. Construction Corp.), 1967-’70; Waller Taylor (partner Adams, Duque & Hazeltine), 1970-’81; Stephen F. Hinchliffe Jr. (CEO the Leisure Group), 1981-’86, and James A. Collins (chairman Collins Foods International Inc.), 1986-present.

Co-chairs Joni and Danford Baker, Lorna and Charles Reed and Dianne and John Quellet say the party netted more than $80,000 to support the YMCA as the largest private child-care service provider in the state. (In Los Angeles County more than 6,000 are served each day.)

Partying were Ruth and Morgan Adams, Robin and Peter Barker, Nancy and Charles Munger, Roy and Beth Stevens, Ruth and Peter Harbor, Cherry and David Bianchi, as well as Dorothy Crowell, Margo Peck, Sheila Bullock, Ann Hinchliffe and Carol Collins.

REGAL: Lots of Angelenos were in London for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Academy Awards in the Great Room at the Grosvenor House.

Princess Anne, president of the Academy, wearing a pink embroidered gown, was at the center elongated table, looking feminine and regal. There too and appearing extraordinarily regal herself with her dignified posture was best actor presenter Angela Lansbury.

Presenters William Hurt and Jodie Foster were among those invited for the post-awards reception. With the princess, greeting guests, were the Academy’s chairman Kevin Billington and his wife, Lady Rachel, and Academy director Tony Byrne.

Spotted at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane another night were Angelenos Lew and Edie Wasserman, taking in the musical “Miss Saigon” and having an ice cream at intermission just like Britishers.

FINE FORM: We hear that Jimmy Stewart (honored guest), Bob Hope (master of ceremonies) and Phyllis Diller (entertainer) were in fine fettle at the House Ear Institute benefit at the Beverly Hilton staged by support groups--the Associates and Sonance.

All three have hearing problems and are patients at the institute. So is Nanette Fabray, who attended on the arm of Dr. Howard House of the institute.

Due to the efforts of co-chairs Pat Moller and Penny Ryan, $300,000 was grossed. Among those making it--Lynn and Clement Hirsch, Dr. Armand Hammer, Dr. John House and Lou and Carla Ferrigno.

WALLED IN: First Hadrian’s Wall, then the Great Wall, now the UCLA Campaign Honor Wall in the James West Alumni Center on campus.

It names the 407 individuals, corporations and foundations who each contributed a cumulative total of at least $100,000 during the UCLA Campaign, which garnered $373 million.

Chancellor Charles E. Young unveiled the wall at a reception hosted by his wife, Sue. Topping the off-centered zinc pyramid are Marin and John E. Anderson, the late Dr. Jules and Doris Stein, the Ahmanson Foundation and IBM Corporation: Their collective gifts total over $60 million, says campaign national chairman James C. Collins.

PARTY CIRCUIT: Carolbeth and Lester Korn loaned their Beverly Hills home, and Sue Cummings, Linda and Mike Curb and Joyce and Ray Watt joined in to fete Pete and Gayle Wilson at a cocktail buffet . . .

Martha Chandler’s home was the setting for the champagne reception to welcome new members of the Art Center One Hundred headed by Alyce Williamson. Art Center president David Brown updated the crowd on the center.

OUR TOWN: The Weingart Center Partners to strengthen ties between business and the city’s social needs was launched at a dinner party at the Biltmore. Tim Alders of Price Waterhouse and Mike McRoskey of Coldwell Banker, are co-chairs . . .

Ellen Mohun and Mary Keach hosted the annual League for Crippled Children luncheon at Wilshire Country Club . . .

Catherine Passarelli and Mary Dumont headed Children’s Service League’s annual Rainbow Luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire . . .

Rum and rumbas, a casino and congas led “The Road to Rio” for the Assistance League of Pasadena benefit at Doubletree Hotel planned by Cathi Borneld and Fran Chiarella . . .

Guests lingered long after the Mozart chamber music at Gladys Jones’ Tuscan villa in San Marino, a salute to the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

OSCAR GLOW: Parties surround the Academy of Motion Pictures’ Oscar Awards Monday night. French Consul Gen. Gerard Coste hosts a reception today feting Isabelle Adjani and Bruno Nuytten (nominated for “Camille Claudel”).

Also today, Canadian Consul Gen. Joan Winser will be at the forefront feting Canadian nominees and honorees.

Italian Consul Gen. Alberto Boniver (with First Los Angeles Bank and RAI Corp.) honored Giuseppe Tornatore and Franco Cristaldi (nominated for “Cinema Paradiso”).

On Oscar night, Alain M. Longatte, general manager of the Regent Beverly Wilshire, turns on the lights, cameras, action with a party in Le Grand Trianon, and the Mondrian Hotel will host its third annual celebration and viewing of the awards to benefit El Rescate (the Central American refugee agency). Reebok International Ltd. is the sponsor.

And Rainbow II, fund-raising arm for Cedars-Sinai pediatric cancer unit, will watch big-screen coverage at At My Place in Santa Monica, charging $45 at the door.

FUN TODAY: The Ballroom of the Regent Beverly Wilshire turns into a “Big Top Bonanza” today for Wings of Childhelp USA. Wings founder Cordella Owens, Mary Ann Mobley, Gary Collins and Ron Masak) will star. Saks does the fashions . . .

Concurrently, in Le Grande Trianon room at the same hotel, blossoms and bunnies will proliferate at the Pinafores 41st annual Easter Egg Roll luncheon.