Friends Act Up at the Doheny Library

Munching potato chips in USC’s Doheny Library would be a no-no for students, quipped Robin Williams.

But, he noted, Friends of the USC Libraries, in black-tie, were being allowed latitude for partying and cutting up at their fund-raising Scriptor Award Dinner.

Before Williams, who stars in the film “Awakenings,” split to catch a plane, he put on his funny hat and delivered lines such as, “We shot this in a mental hospital in Brooklyn--which is almost redundant.”

On the serious side, Williams called Dr. Oliver Sacks, whose book of clinical essays is the basis for the film, “a man of conscience.” The Friends honored Sacks, the author, and Steven Zaillian, the screenwriter, for best realization of a book as a film.

Nearly 300 dined amid books under the library’s vaulted ceilings and period chandeliers.

University trustee Virginia Ramo was honorary chair, Sue Femino dinner chair. It was a night “to eat one’s words” inasmuch as dessert concocted by Rococo Caterers was delivered as a book made of chocolate and filled with berries and creme Chantilly.

As a surprise to him, Charles R. Ritcheson, former dean and university librarian, now living in Washington, was saluted for his devotion to establishing the teaching library “to merge the book with technology.” A room has been named in his honor.

Prominent Southlanders having fun included Doug and Mary Ann Pardee, Alice Davis and Ray Winterhalter, Marjorie and Harry Volk, James and Marty Childs, Herbert and Jane Boeckmann and USC President James and Marilyn Zumberge.

YOUNG AND FUN: The New York fashion designer Christian Francis Roth is 21 and whimsical. Thus, fashion and fragrance innovator Fred Hayman chose the exuberant, chic and youthful CHIPS (Colleagues Helpers in Philanthropic Service) to honor Roth (a Perry Ellis Award winner) at a cocktail party at Fred Hayman Beverly Hills, 273 N. Rodeo Drive.

The CHIPS and their husbands and dates included Jenny and Loring Rutt, Marcia Hobbs, Reese and Mary Milner, Ellis and Lisa Jones, Georgia Dahl, Alison and Jim Luckman, Fritzie and Richard Roeder, Jane Gosden (Craig was in Japan) and John and Cindy Hall.

Honey Bear (Justine) Bloomingdale showed off her new provisional members: Pam Feinberg, Betsy Gill and Maria Vergotti. She said she was taking them to the Children’s Institute the next day to show them the child-abuse facility the group supports.

Roth designs expensive silk printed as dollar bills, copper pennies blown up on cotton, clothespins and bottle caps attached to short skirts.

Events of the war inevitably cast a shadow at the event. Cindy and Bob Ryan, Lyn Vandergrift, Isabel Leahey, Carol Gregory and Bonnie Baker were all in the room when Roth, appearing near tears, said he thought the oil released in the Persian Gulf was “the most terrible thing I have ever seen in my life. But you have to keep going.”

PLAUDITS: British-born painter David Hockney has said yes to being honored at the National Arts Assn. Orchid Ball May 3 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Co-chairs Arlette Crandall and Elizabeth Warde and president Marilyn Rudley are thrilled.

ALL HEART: February will be American Heart Month. Throughout the country, heart balls, heart luncheons and Valentine heart parties will prevail. Angeleno Pam Mullin heads perhaps the largest--the Valentine Heart Ball for the American Heart Assn./Greater Los Angeles Affiliate--on Friday at the Beverly Wilshire. Hoping to raise $400,000, Leonard Straus of Beverly Hills and Avedick Poladian of Woodland Hills head the dinner committee.

In Newport Beach the same evening the Associates of Hoag Heart Institute will stage their first Sweetheart Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel. That black-tie night promises the music of Wayne Foster and a heart-healthy gourmet dinner with Four Seasons Chef James Cassidy cutting calories.

ALL ART: The Decorative Arts Study Center (Libros y Artes) at San Juan Capistrano, under the dynamic leadership of Gep Durenberger, has carved a special niche in the fabric of Southern California. Thursday, Friday and Saturday it hosts the Capistrano Antiques and Decorative Arts Show and Sale with 20 selected antiques dealers. Tickets are $75 . . . .

Friends of French Art headed by Elin Vanderlip take over the California Club Feb. 13 when Francoise Gilot lectures on “Matisse and Picasso, a Friendship in Art.” Tickets also are $75.

UNE FETE CHAMPETRE: You wouldn’t believe the research on France--especially its art history--that is going on for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra benefit ball March 1. Co-chairs Jennifer Diener and Susan Barker refreshed their high-school French and spoke it with trepidation at the fun luncheon Suzanne Rheinstein hosted in Hancock Park to fete French consular dignitaries and bring the committee up-to-date on the soigne affair.

Barker has researched Louis XIV’s court; she reported it was filled with 1,000 nobles and 4,000 servants. The ballroom will be a sort of “charming petit trianon” with Peggy Parker planning animal topiaries, Debra Rutter the French music, Joy Fein the silent auction and Shelby Kirsch the menu.

As for the luncheon, the ladies dined rather royally on Jean-Pierre Boilly’s cheese souffle and duck with a modicum of French Champagne followed by coffee in the library. Prominent arts patrons--the W. M. Keck Foundation and David K. Ingalls--will be saluted at the ball.

KUDOS: Frank Ellsworth, president of Pitzer College, was given the Tree of Life Award by the Jewish National Fund, Council of Los Angeles . . . .

Friends of Childhelp have announced Ginger Rogers will be the honoree at its Spring Gala March 1 at the Beverly Hilton . . . .

Dr. Norman Sprague III has been named to the board of Crane School in Montecito . . . .

East Los Angeles Hollenbeck Youth Center names Arnold Schwarzenegger Man of the Year at its luncheon Tuesday at the Bonaventure.