Two Coasts Toast ‘Me and Bogie’

Armand Deutsch has always been the star of dinner conversation, charming his friends with anecdotes. He swears every one of those anecdotes in his new book, “Me and Bogie (And Other Friends and Acquaintances from a Life in Hollywood and Beyond),” is absolutely as it happened.

This book has umpteen wondrous moments--with Humphrey Bogart, Robert Taylor, Walter Annenberg, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, Bennett Cerf, Billy Wilder (with whom Deutsch lunches each week), Joe Louis and three Barrymores. The book is being released today by Putnam.

The New York Times’ Abe and Shirley Rosenthal will give a party for Deutsch Wednesday in New York. Marvin and Barbara Davis will host a sit-down dinner for 30 on May 26 in Los Angeles; Sidney and Joanna Poitier, Kirk and Ann Douglas, the Ronald Reagans and Jimmy and Gloria Stewart are all invited.

What does wife Harriet think of the book? “She’s proud of me,” he said. Deutsch, 78, is the grandson of the Chicago philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, founder of Sears, Roebuck & Co.

TRIO: Diane Disney Miller, Patti Skouras and Felisa Vanoff are honorary chairs of the Joffrey Ballet LA/NY 35th anniversary gala Tuesday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Champagne will flow before the curtain. Dinner and dancing will follow.

DEBUT: Invitations to the international debut of “Russian Graphic Design Before the Revolution--1880-1917,” at the Art Center College of Design, are captivating the Art Center One Hundred, headed by Alyce Williamson. The group will honor donors at a dinner May 10 before the show opens to the public May 11.

MEMORIES: The recent wedding of Melissa Swann Winston, daughter of Melinda and Sam Winston of Pasadena, and Dennis Victor Alfieri, son of Ralph and Nancy Alfieri of Arcadia, will go down in history as one of the most elegant of Southland weddings.

Peach, apricot, quince and apple blossoms were flown in from Oregon to decorate tall tree trunks created by florist Jacob Maarse for the aisles of All-Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena.

The church’s Coventry Choir of 45 and a Los Angeles Philharmonic five-piece brass ensemble played for the ceremony. Later, 12 violinists lined the entry as 500 guests arrived at the California Club for the reception.

There, 550 yards of ivory silk from India were fashioned into swags and tablecloths by Edward Turrentine. Ida Mae’s Cakes of Distinction of Jacksboro, Tex., delivered (by refrigerated truck) a 5-foot ivory wedding cake dripping with porcelain-like flowers and a chocolate groom’s cake drenched with icing in the shapes of grapes and green leaves.

Guests danced on a marbleized and painted dance floor. In the center, the couple’s first initials were spelled out. Wayne Foster’s Orchestra played nonstop. Jim Dunne dedicated an original love song to the couple, while the 18 groomsmen and nine bridesmaids swayed arm-in-arm.

Waiters were nearly crushed under the weight of Jeroboams (the equivalent of four fifths) of Perrier-Jouet champagne. (Don’t ask the price.)

After a honeymoon in Thailand and Hong Kong, the couple are home--to draperies made of that silk yardage from India.

There was only one hitch in the soiree: Two-thirds of the groomsmen were stuck in an elevator at the Biltmore for 45 minutes, and arrived at the church by limo after the first guests.

FIRST NIGHT: Preview first-nighters at the biennial Pasadena Art Alliance Treasure Sale arrived in a swarm to Patina’s fabulous hors d’oeuvres and the first chance at best buys. Planners hope such gusto will raise the proceeds to close to $100,000, say Nancy Burrows and Jill Smith.

Putting on aprons and selling with speed and savoir-faire were Char Vert, Sally Hurt, Polly Wheaton, Kaholyn McKissick, Jeannette McCarty, Carolyn Fox, Nancy Ellington, Jo Ann Taylor and Marsha Bohr.

James McIntyre found an antique Monroe calculator for $3 and beamed the rest of the night. Al Hibbs cradled his antique microscope, and Roger Burschinger was delighted with a 50-cent carved wooden bird for his Christmas tree.

LAS FLORISTAS: At the Beverly Hilton, more than 800 applauded the Floral Headdress Ball, which had a cinema theme. Eight spectacular floral headdresses interpreted such movie classics as “Camelot” and “Gigi.”

That, plus a donation of $100,000 from Kenneth Norris Jr., put a glow on the ball. (Las Floristas proceeds go to clinics for disabled children at Rancho Los Amigos and Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.)

Getting plaudits were Jade Higgins, ball chair, and her co-chair, Beth Lane, as well as Carolyn Stockwell and “Sweepstakes” mannequin Sandy Wessel, wearing floral designer Don Honold’s “Catherine the Great” creation.

HOORAY: $90,000 was netted at Concern II’s “A Toast . . . To Life” featuring Grammy Award winner Al Jarreau in his first acoustic jazz trio performance in 15 years. The event was Saturday at the Armand Hammer Museum. Said Tim Wilson, Concern II president, “We were thrilled to honor Dr. Stuart Siegel, who has been such a strong supporter.”

Concern II gives its funds to children’s cancer immunology research; Dr. Siegel is head of hematology-oncology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

NO KIDDING: Three major forthcoming events point to the significance of fund-raising for the next generation. “Starry Starry Night,” a dinner dance at the home of Ben and Judy Reiling on May 18, brings out a galaxy of luminaries for Hillsides Home for Children. Becky Garnett is chair. Cindy and Kevin Costner, Cindy and Pat Haden, Susan and Merlin Olsen, Doc Severinsen and Ben Vereen have promised support.

It’s “All Aboard” May 11 at Union Station for Kidspace Museum’s auction and dinner headed by Susan Chandler. Carey Lewis McAniff is patron chair.

Mozart’s bicentennial has inspired “Mozart and Jazz,” Performing Tree’s 15th anniversary fund-raiser for arts education May 19 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasdena. Co-chairs Muffy Hunt and Tam Dickerson promise musician Buddy Collette on the jazz side.

PEOPLE WATCH: Georgette Mosbacher, Ann Blyth McNulty and Ted Mann will be honored by Los Angeles Chapter of Childhelp USA at its Woman of the World luncheon May 15 at Century Plaza . . . .

The Cancer Victory League’s Daffodil Ball May 11 will fete Dr. James T. Helsper for his leadership in the fight against cancer . . . .

The YWCA Leader Luncheon will present Silver Achievement awards at the Westin Bonaventure today to Superior Court Judge Candace D. Cooper; entrepreneur Aida Grey; cartoonist Cathy Guisewite (“Cathy”); Antonia Hernandez, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Shirley Hosoi, president of First Interstate Franchise Services; California Supreme Court Associate Justice Joyce Kennard, and Sue Laris-Eastin, editor and publisher of the Downtown News . . . .

Donnie and Joe Smith feted authors Janet Sternburg and Steven Lavine (he’s president of CalArts) on the publication of their new books . . . .

Kudos to newlyweds Shirley Sweet Harahan and Harry Lewis Macy Jr . . . .