Hats in Hand, Guests Do a Little Dance for Alzheimer’s Research

Sometimes bigwigs about town kick up their heels, but keep it quiet. Last week it was different. At the French Foundation for Alzheimer Research benefit at the Beverly Hilton, Carol Lawrence went into the audience during her show and selected six masculine candidates for onstage instruction.

Before some 550, she taught them a routine, gave them top hats and canes and, in a cancan finale, told them how to hoist her aloft and carry her offstage. Among the lineup were Dr. Robert Collins, head of UCLA’s neurology department, Alan Smith, Ray Mathiason and Roy MacNair. Said Lawrence to one, “You’ve got a good grip on that thigh.”

The result of it all, says Elaine Smoots, Founding Associates president, is that $210,000 was raised for research into the possible causes and ultimate cure of the disease.

Center stage, too, were Richard K. Eamer, chairman and CEO of National Medical Enterprises, who was dinner chair, and Hannah Carter, Associates gala chair. Their spouses, Eileen Eamer and Edward Carter, were in the crowd, listening to baritone Robert Merrill join Art Linkletter in the night’s fun.

ILLUSIONS: There was more audience participation at the St. Vincent Medical Center “Night of Illusions” affair at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Benefit chair Ryvanne Susser and St. Vincent Auxiliary president Mary Winsor collected eight master magicians to perform. The affair grossed more than $250,000 for the Seton Guest Center. That’s where family members may live while patients receive hospital treatment.

STARS: And at the Huntington Library over the weekend, Pasadena Garden Club members staged their biennial Flower and Horticulture Show with a Preview Party Friday night for 300.

This year, the inspiration came from famous art at the Huntington. Bitsy Hotaling won her first blue ribbon for her flower arrangement inspired by Sir Thomas Lawrence’s “Pinkie.” Victoria Williamson won a first prize for her flowers linked to “The View on the River Stour” by John Constable. Dana Howes Anderson’s miniature floral arrangement also won a first place. Jan Clayton took home a carved wooden bench--the door prize.

Flower show chairwoman Doris Ann Williams and club president Susan Seidel took the planning honors.

KUDOS: To Nancy Munger, elected a trustee at Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, the second woman to join the institution’s five-member board, and the 31st trustee since the Huntington founding in 1919. . . .

To Mireya Jones, new president of the Auxiliary of the Almanson Center, South Pasadena . . . .

To actor Cesare Danova, appointed Director of Croquet for the Sherwood Tennis Club & Spa. . . .

To Lawrence Solomon, new chairman of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. . . .

To Phyllis Diller, to be feted as Safety Ambassador Extraordinaire by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Safety Council April 13.

KEEPING UP: Lucy and Homer Toberman, Margaret and Clifton Capps, Vi Nason, Margaret Mosely, Donald and Betty Becker and Martha Behymer, escorted by Walter Coombs (president of the Emphysema Foundation), were among those attending the Sunday Night Supper Club party last Thursday at the Wilshire Country Club. The group was founded by Lucy Toberman 24 years ago. Funds have been used to finance videos on the harmful effects of smoking and asthma as well as on camps for children and breathing machines for lung patients. . . .

As their honorary chairman, designer James Galanos joined members of the newly formed Southern California Auxiliary to support the Library of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute at Berkeley. Last week, members, headed by Sophie Mastor, brought Galanos along to tour the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Galanos designed the 1981 and 1985 inaugural ball gowns for Nancy Reagan.

SPOTLIGHT: David C. Lizarraga and Diana Abramson accepted the Spirit of Life awards at the 500 Club City of Hope 38th annual black-tie gala at the Regent Beverly Wilshire . . . .

The UCLA Center for the Performing Arts honored dancer-choreographer Bella Lewitzky at a black-tie dinner at the Bel Age Hotel. . . .

Tichi Wilkerson Kassel and Howard W. Koch headed the tribute luncheon for columnist Liz Smith at the Beverly Hills Hotel Wednesday, giving her the Silver Screen Award for excellence in entertainment journalism. Funds will go to the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the Wilkerson Foundation.

ESCALATION: UC Berkeley Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien and Vice Chancellor C. D. Mote Jr. were in Southern California for the Robert Gordon Sproul Associates dinner at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Berkeley Foundation trustees in attendance included Sally and Steve Keller, Lynda and Phil Levin and Ruth and Miles Turpin. . . .

Encore (a group composed of past presidents of Los Angeles Philharmonic committees) and its president, Mirella Ventress, spotlighted Ernest Fleischmann at a luncheon at the Empress Pavilion. . . .

Las Donas staged their “Morning at UCLA” with music of Bali, Uganda, China and Persia. Sherryl Brachman planned it all. . . .

In the desert, events have been numerous: Alibaba and Eveleen Farzaneh headed the Americana Ball XI at the Riviera Resort for the Mizell Senior Center, and Palm Springs Pathfinders raised funds for the local Boys’ & Girls’ Club with a Saks Fifth Avenue fashion show planned by Vyonne Stevning at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort.