Star Attraction at ‘Gala 1992’ Was 1950s Theme, Decor

The awful inference to be drawn from Friday’s smashingly successful “Gala 1992,” given at the Hyatt Regency as a benefit for Children’s Hospital and Health Center, was that at fund-raisers in the not-too-distant future, bell bottoms, Day-Glo decor, Iron Butterfly recordings and other ‘60s iconography will be the lures used to attract the generation in power.

Currently, San Diego’s Establishment affairs still are conducted primarily to the sounds of Glenn Miller and other 1940s Big Bands that set the tone when the current crop of civic leaders was coming of age. The group now set to take over the reins--the entrepreneurs and other movers and shakers who made up the attendance of 650 at “Gala 1992”--matured a decade or so later and owes allegiance instead to the Drifters and the Coasters, which, joined by the Crystals, entertained Friday. By logical extension, it thus seems fair to infer that galas given a decade from now will proceed to strobe lighting and the recorded wails of Janis Joplin; whether guests will be able to reconcile black tie to the scene is impossible to predict.

Be that as it may, after-dinner chitchat hovered just a decibel above “Yakkety Yak” at the gala, a corporate affair chaired by builder Bill Davidson that bucked the current down-trend among fund-raisers and earned a healthy $185,000. The key to the net figure was, quite simply, the involvement of large portions of the business community that do not generally participate in such events.

“Children’s Hospital has various kinds of support, throughout the city and on all different levels,” said Davidson. “Tonight, we’ve targeted North County. We didn’t limit ourselves to that area, certainly, but we wanted to tap some people who haven’t been involved before. We have some nice business leaders who stepped forward to give us their full support, and, given the times, I’m truly encouraged. And next year, we’ll have 1,000 people here.”

After the dinner of gingered opaka paka and chocolate torte, the Drifters lifted the audience from “Under the Boardwalk” to “Up on the Roof” in a ballroom decorated with perhaps as much ‘50s kitsch as the average eye could bear. Table arrangements included scatterings of bubble gum, and carnations set in soda glasses, while a non-functioning malt shop reproduction occupied a corner of the room. Most amusing of all, a beauty shop set up in the foyer--staffed by professional beauticians and very much open for serious business--kept its two chairs occupied during much of the evening. Anything for a theme, evidently; the crowd loved every moment of it, not the least the special ballroom entry set up through an immense juke box.

But the major attraction, of course, was the music, and while any one of the groups might have been sufficient, the three together amounted to blockbuster entertainment. The program of classic rock ‘n’ roll included such Crystals anthems as “He’s a Rebel” and “Da Doo Ron Ron,” and The Coasters glided along with “Charley Brown” and “Young Blood.”

“You couldn’t ask for anything more,” sighed one guest--and that was before the program opened.

Davidson’s committee included John Baldwin, Don Wroe, Dawn Kearney, Michael Perry, Marla Blom, Phil Blair, Elizabeth Jaeschke, Sol Nagorner, Thomas Turner, Scott Wolfe, Ben Goodwin, Lynn Dolby and Pam Engelbretson.

SAN DIEGO--The annual Salvation Army “Tradition of Caring” dinner, given April 22 at the San Diego Marriott, honored long-time Army supporters Elsie and Frank Weston, the chairs of three previous editions of the fund-raiser.

Entertainer Amy Weston, daughter of band leader Paul Weston and singer Jo Stafford, entertained her aunt and uncle--and an audience of more than 200--as part of a program that also included a musical presentation by the Salvation Army Brass Ensemble. Formal moments included expressions of appreciation by Michael Teitelman, headmaster of another Weston beneficiary, the Bishop’s School, and a presentation of the “Tradition of Caring” award by Salvation Army Lt. Col. David P. Riley, Southern California Divisional Commander.

The attendance included representatives of many of the cultural and charitable organizations for which the Westons have served as board members or fund-raising agents. Elsie Weston, one of the county’s busier chairwomen, has headed three Candlelight Balls for Scripps Memorial Hospital-La Jolla, five annual Christmas Musicales for the combined benefit of the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Opera, the annual dinner for San Diego Mission de Alcala and assorted other galas, balls and fashion shows.

Marion Bateson chaired the testimonial; among guests were Irene Allis, Barbara and Donald Hunsaker, Sally and John Thornton, Betty Hubbard, Lee and Frank Goldberg, Mary and Robert Fadem, Pat and Ed Keating, Barbara and Bill McColl, Mary DeBrunner, Ingrid and Joe Hibben, Emma Lee and Jack Powell, Ann and Ian Campbell, Martha Mary Meade, Georgette and Jack McGregor, Denise and Mitchell Lathrop and Margaret Gooding.

The social calendar, paced a bit languidly for the past few months, will heat up considerably in May. Every Saturday in the month features a host of competing fund-raisers; the variety of the options is perhaps no more intense than on May 9, which offers a Cajun frolic hosted by the San Diego Repertory Theatre, the seventh annual Carousel Ball for the Children’s Museum, and the annual San Diego State University alumni gala.

Guests at the Rep benefit, “Let the Good Times Roll,” will have the opportunity to learn the Cajun Shuffle and the Cajun Waltz to the accompaniment of the Zydeco Party Band; the theme borrows from the theater’s production of “Ruby’s Bucket of Blood.” Other features will include a Louisiana-style buffet and Las Vegas casino games; invitations direct guests to “dress for fun.”

To be given at Diego’s, 860 Garnet Ave. in Pacific Beach, the event will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $100 per person, or $1,000 for a table of 12. For further information, call the San Diego Repertory Theatre.

Sharon Thomas and Madeleine Daigneault will co-chair the Carousel Ball, a black-tie optional event to be given in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel. The evening will open at 7 p.m. with a silent auction and cocktail hour entertainment by Pieces, and will continue with a formal dinner and dancing to Hot Pursuit.

Tickets to the event, the only major annual fund-raiser hosted by the museum, cost $75 per person for regular admission and $125 per person for patrons’ level seating. For further information, call the Children’s Museum.

Bob White, chief of staff and long-time aide to Gov. Pete Wilson, will be honored as SDSU Alumnus of the Year at “Those Were the Days,” the 1992 version of the university’s annual alumni awards gala. A total of nine alumni, including Time-Warner International chairman Arthur Barron and PacTel Cellular CEO Sue Swenson, will be recognized.

Nikki Clay and Cheryl Kendrick will co-chair the event, which will be given at the San Diego Marriott. Tickets to the black-tie optional event cost $125 per person; for further information, call the SDSU Alumni office.