Protesters Drop By During Governor’s Awards for the Arts

Said Leonard Goldberg to his dinner partners: “This is not a political evening. This is a night for raising arts scholarships for needy children who are deserving of them. I don’t see why they would deprive people from staging the only event that provides these summer art scholarships. It’s a shame this has to mar an otherwise marvelous evening.”

He was referring to the high-decibel ruckus at the entrance to the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom Friday night where the Governor’s Awards for the Arts gala attracted gay rights demonstrators opposing Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto of AB 101. About 200 blocked the valet parking entrance and harassed arriving benefit-goers with whistles and screams.

“My ears are still ringing,” Linda Docter said, adding that she and her husband, Ken, had been followed by protesters blowing whistles in their ears from the Robinson’s parking lot to the hotel. Pat Kennedy said her car was pounded. Joni and Clark Smith said they made two attempts to enter the hotel parking area and finally parked on a Beverly Hills side street.

Inside, the 10 honorees--actor James Stewart, composer John Adams, author Wallace Stegner, artist Wayne Thiebaud, San Diego Old Globe Theatre founder Craig Noel, producer Carmen Zapata, San Francisco philanthropists Doris and Donald Fisher, Harold Williams of the J. Paul Getty Trust and Dennis Collins of the James Irvine Foundation--were saluted by presenters including Carol Channing, Harry Hamlin and Nicolette Sheridan, Roger Moore and Jane Seymour.

California First Lady Gayle Wilson changed from a blue silk dress to red silk before going onstage, where she sang “If I Had to Choose,” looking romantically at her husband. She also gave the First Lady Award to Donald Livingston, 18, a video producer-director and graduate of Chatsworth High School.

Elegant in Givenchy feathers, Kitty Carlisle Hart, chairperson of the New York State Council on the Arts, joined California Council on the Arts executive chairperson Joanne Kozberg in the festivities. The evening was planned by Susan Dolgen, Wendy Goldberg, Anne Johnson and Joyce Pollock, as well as gala corporate chairperson John Bryson, CEO of Southern California Edison. Said Carlisle, “I view the arts as kind of a social glue--in which people of all conditions and colors come together.”

In the crowd of 720 (raising $100,000) were U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rockwell and Marna Schnabel, Lee and Darrien Iacocca, Iris Dart, Mary and Reese Milner, Whitey Littlefield, Eli and Edie Broad, David Brown, Spud and Alyce Williamson, Ed and Yvonne Cazier, Jeannie and Michael Sheller, Madeleine and Allen Paulson.

ESCALATION: “The best ever,” supporters were saying to Liz Hirsch at the Victorian Romance Ball at the Biltmore for Los Angeles Master Chorale. Hirsch says the evening should gross $250,000. Crowning the night was superstar soprano Marilyn Horne, honoring her mentor, Maestro Paul Salamunovich, the chorale’s new music director. . . .

USC’s president, Steven B. Sample, is a talented drummer. He gave the microphone a few collegiate taps to get the attention of fans at the Town and Gown “pre-victory” luncheon he and his wife, Kathryn, hosted before the USC-UCLA crosstown rivalry. (The latter won). Gung-ho trustees included George and Mary Lou Boone, George and Marion Scharffenberger, Fred and Millie Green, as well as former USC president James Zumberge and his wife, Marilyn. . . .

To save time, Joelle and Guy Juillard, Mary and Kurt Hiete and Mary Beth and Donald Woods wore black-tie and ball gowns to the Marlborough/Marymount volleyball finals in Cerritos (Marlborough won), then headed back in full dress to the Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary Candlelight Ball at the Sheraton Grande.

Another Candlelight Ball contingent hit the USC/UCLA football game before checking into hotel rooms for quick changes. Ball chairperson Janie Crane says the party will net $140,000, $15,000 more than last year because decorations co-chairpersons Melinda Casey and Sharon Hayes made party decor that could be sold. Three huge ivy trees went for $400 each and the wall hangings for $65. . . .

It was just one of the many celebrations taking place over a span of weeks for Hal Roach’s 100th birthday on Jan. 14. And nearly $300,000 was raised at this year’s Hal Roach Entertainment Award dinner in honor of Henry Mancini. Pam Mullin chaired the affair for the Loyola Marymount University communication arts department. The audience of 575 got musical treats from honoree Mancini and Grammy-nominated singer Sue Raney. . . .

Sisters-in-law Callan Irvin and Robi Morgan were the glittery duo staging the Mannequins of the Assistance League of Southern California “thank you” for holiday patrons at the Rodeo Drive Polo Ralph Lauren salons. . . .

SHOOT STRAIGHT: The generous purchaser of the Colt revolver at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum gala was James Hathaway, not Frank.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Alyce Williamson hosted Art Center One Hundred members for views of the center’s Los Angeles Times Media Center in the new wing of Art Center College of Design. At lunch, school president David Brown led the surprise champagne birthday toast to the hostess.

KUDOS: To “L.A. Law” executive producer David E. Kelley, honored at the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation’s Harvest Dinner at the Beverly Hilton; to Judy and Donald Tallarico, opening their new precious jewels store on Rodeo Drive in the Frank Lloyd Wright building; to the Guild of the Pasadena Day Nursery, hosting a tremendously lively Christmas boutique in every room of Martha and Leroy Tolles’ San Marino home; to Bruce McNall, receiving the Award of Hope at a black-tie dinner sponsored by Professions & Finance Associates for City of Hope at the Beverly Hilton; to Adele Morse Platt, general partner in the California Mart, honored at a brunch celebrating the new $4-million conference center named for her at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte; to Laurence Luckinbill, Humanitarian of the Year for the Los Angeles chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.