Vista Del Mar’s Dream Comes True as Gala Supports Its Optimism

Optimism was gushing from Elaine Wolf’s lips as she spoke at Vista Del Mar’s dinner benefit Sunday at the Century Plaza and a showing of the Tony Award-winning “The Secret Garden” at the Shubert Theatre.

“As you know, this year all the charities have been down. But you can’t think negatively. If you think optimistically, your dreams will come true. And our dreams did come true. I had to send back $10,000 in ticket money because we didn’t have seats.”

She continued, “Everybody’s got to have a vision, and that is what ‘The Secret Garden’ is all about, and that is what we do at Vista. Where else can you take an abused child, give him attention and at the end--college.”

She and Gayle Rodgers, co-chairs of the Vista Del Mar Associates party, expect to net $300,000. Added Wolf, “And with the cuts from the state, this money will go for the essentials, not the extras.”

Nearly 900 dined on veal chops or salmon. (The waiters kept track of this by putting spoons in the coffee cups of those who had salmon; it took a scientist, Gerald Picus, husband of Councilwoman Joy Picus, to figure it out.)

Supporters sat at tables with tin water cans filled with flowers. Each table was different--some had yellows roses, others with red carnations, white lilies or white shasta daisies.

Bustling around as attentive hostesses were committee members Betty Sigoloff, Murial Cohn, Pamela Schuman, Margot Bamberger and Tobia Mintz. Major supporters George and Eve Konheim were in the crowd. So was Terry Bell, new president of the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles.

ADORABLE: Cutest party we’ve been to in ages. That’s the tea honoring 3-week-old Morgan Eberle Myers and given by Vicky Rogers at her newly, and magnificently, decorated home in Pasadena. Young Morgan, bedecked in blue, alternately slept and received the cooing guests in the arms of his mother, Jeanine Myers. Admirers included grandmother Eileen Zimmerman and friends Nancy Baxter, Joan Malloy, Brooke Rasmussen, Victoria Howe, Debbie Hoffman and Tink Cheney.

UNIQUE: What was to have been a Picnic on the Lawn at the Greene & Greene home of Marilyn Brumder in Pasadena turned into a Picnic in the Living Room when the thunder, lightning and rain hit. Unfortunately, too, Marilyn Brumder, co-hostess, was absent because of the recent death of her father, but Julie Masterson carried on to fete Las Madrinas debutante Carolyn Barrett.

Guests had been advised to wear their “most telling T-shirt--foreign, collegiate, comic or rock, political, personal, sentimental or to shock.” The college crowd easily complied and other guests such as Ann Barrett (Carolyn’s mother), Amytis Barrett (Carolyn’s grandmother) and Hannah Kully dug into cupboards for treasured paraphernalia. Only Ginna Halsted refused. She wore a sign: “Grandmothers don’t wear T-shirts.”

NEW TREND?: Newlyweds Chandler Williamson and his bride Julia Pesek of Wayzata, Minn., were royally welcomed back to the Southland (after their Caribbean honeymoon) at the dinner dance his parents, Cici and Tad Williamson, hosted on their tennis court in San Marino recently. Last weekend, before the young pair, at home in Newport Beach, took off for the Newport Harbor Art Museum Black and White Bash under the stars at Fashion Island, Chandler found himself without one gold stud for his tuxedo. Improvising, he substituted with an American flag pin. Could this be a new trend?

SUMMER SCENE: This month Van and Connie Foster celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking their family on a cruise to Nassau and the Epcot Center. Gathering in New York for the trip were daughter Vanya and her husband Frank Rohner with grandson Boyden; daughter Valerie Rigby with daughter Vanessa; and, from Washington, daughter Vickie Spence and husband Craig with granddaughters Shannon, Nicole and Lauren. Three of the youngsters--Boyden, Vanessa and Shannon--reached their 15th birthdays on the cruise. . . .

Art Linkletter has spent a lifetime providing memorable toasts for friends at their birthdays. The tables were turned when 150 friends and family surprised the legendary entertainer on his big 80th. Said Linkletter: “I’m not growing older; rather I’m growing better. Attitude is everything!” Enjoying: Art’s wife, Lois; his daughter, Sharon Melcher, and her husband, Gordon, and the Melchers’ two daughters, Kelly and Stacy; Richard and Eileen Eamer; former California Gov. Pat Brown and his wife, Bernice, and Bill Banowsky.

KUDOS: Caroline Ahmanson will receive the Golda Meir Fellowship Award from the Scopus Woman’s Committee of the American Friends of the Hebrew University at a luncheon Aug. 24 at the Beverly Wilshire. As part of the program, Adolfo will present his fashions. Last week, chairman Della Koenig hosted a tea at her Beverly Hills home to fete her planning committee--Barbara Davis, Nancy Livingston, Marcia Hobbs, Francie Brody, Lee Minnelli, Mary Marshall and Anna Carter.

SPECTACULAR: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s president and general manager Joseph W. Harper has flair in mind for the seaside track’s opening Wednesday. Before the first race, the U.S. Navy Parachute Team (also known as the “Leapfrogs”) will land in the infield. The same day, three who have made lasting contributions to the Del Mar scene--former DMTC director Ken Schiffer (member of The Jockey Club), the track’s all-time leading trainer, Farrell Jones, and champion rider, Bill Shoemaker--will receive the first annual awards for leading owner, trainer and jockey. Hundreds of charities plan infield benefits during the 43-day summer meeting. Highlight of the season is the second running of the $1-million Pacific Classic, Aug. 30.