The A-List Dazzled by Loren

“I’ve never seen our waiters so excited,” said Merv Griffin, who hosted a dinner for Sophia Loren at the Beverly Hilton’s newly redecorated L’Escoffier restaurant Wednesday night.

It wasn’t her birthday or her anniversary, nor was she picking up another award. The host-cum-hotelier said he learned a few weeks ago that Loren never had a party given in her honor. “It was shocking,” he recalls. “I said, ‘You’re going to have a party.’ ”

Griffin, with Eva Gabor at his side, lived up to his promise, gathering 80-plus friends, from Ronald and Nancy Reagan to Sylvester Stallone, for a five-course dinner and a round of Dom Perignon toasts. There was also an orchestra so that Griffin could sing a few songs.

“This really is unique party,” said Loren, after she greeted each and every person there.

A Hollywood crowd never looked less jaded. Hardly anyone was beyond admitting their secret awe for Loren.

“It’s like falling in love,” said RKO Pictures chairman Ted Hartley. “When you watch her, you’re drawn to her even in a room with a former President of the United States and a number of highly paid American actors.”

“It isn’t just that physical beauty,” said Wendy Goldberg. “She has a great sense of authority and security when she walks in a room.”

“She has sensational knees,” said Selma Archerd.

“She’s easy on the eyes,” offered Marvin Davis.

In the crowd were Kirk Kerkorian and Barbara Grant, Earle and Marion Jorgensen, Jimmy and Gloria Stewart, Roger and Luisa Moore, Betsy Bloomingdale, Vanna White and George Santa Pietro, Marvin and Barbara Davis, Marje Everett, Sidney and Joanna Poitier, Rosemary Clooney, William and Betty Wilson, Waldo Fernandez, Ann and Gary Lieberthal, Pat and Leslie Sajak, Dina Merrill and Loren’s sons Edoardo and Carlo Ponti Jr.

Along with paeans to Loren, there was a fair amount of reminiscing from the Hilton alumni: Rodeo Drive retailer Fred Hayman was once the hotel’s food, beverage and catering manager; designer Nolan Miller (who made Loren’s emerald-green short taffeta pouf) once arranged the hotel’s flowers; and Zsa Zsa von Anhalt was once Zsa Zsa Hilton. “I remember when I and (Conrad) Hilton opened this little hotel. I think it’s wonderful it stayed in the family,” she said, referring to her sister’s relationship with Griffin.