A Chain Reaction Under the Stars
Guests had so much fun touring the art at Susie and Rob Maguire’s home in Brentwood and cocktailing in their gardens--even if the ladies were wedged two on a step to keep their heels from sinking into the dew-laden grass--that dinner was way late for Childrens Chain of Childrens Hospital’s dinner-dance.
Even when guests moved to the other side of the garden for starlit dining and dancing, they still wanted to talk. Into the night, they settled by the gigantic sunflowers the florist, Silver Birches, used to flank J. Sterling’s Orchestra. The party that Pat Rauth chaired finally moved into its second momentum with a dinner from Rococco Catering that Clare Webb and Raylene Meyer concocted with Ray Henderson.
Childrens Chain President Brooke Young, there with husband James, welcomed the crowd, noting that this was the 33rd year for the Chain’s black-tie dinner-dance. As always, it was a handsome and handsomely styled crowd: Some things never change.
Funds this year will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Helping out volunteer auctioneers Bruce Meyer and Peter McCoy with generous bids were Cheryl and Robert Baker, Daisy and William Spurgin, and Margaret and Tom Larkin. More in the smart crowd: Sue Peck, Cheryl and Peter Ziegler, Ray and Nancy McCulloch, Melinda and Donn Conner, Nancy Birdwell (Jim was hunting in Mexico), Connie and Terence Lynch, Kate and Blair Westlake, Anne and John Bookout, David and Mimi O’Keefe, and Bonnie and Arthur McClure.
ZOORIFIC: Within a day or so, says chairman Susan Keck, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. will know if this year’s ball was the biggest financially ever. “It could be our biggest year. In any event, the gross of $425,000 was the second biggest.”
She’s waiting on pins and needles for the net proceeds, delighted that in this economy, it all went so well.
EXCEEDS GOAL: Spirits were so high at Festival of the Autumn Moon, the Pacific Asia Museum’s fund-raiser at the Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Ballroom, that chairman Nancy Arnault announced before the auction was half over that the festival committee anticipated exceeding its goal.
In the end, the auction of continental and Asian art raised $113,000, exceeding the $105,000 goal. For that, museum Executive Director David Kamansky gave grateful thanks. Funds will be used to educate youngsters about arts, culture and the people of Asia and the Pacific.
Says Kamansky: “I can think of no better way of bringing the races together than through the arts.”
The glitter was prolific. An award-winning collection of diamond jewelry was, for the evening, at the throats, arms and fingers of some notable supporters of the cause. The designs, from the 1992 Diamonds-International Awards, were displayed at the museum a few days before the benefit.
Chairman Arnault--on the arm of her husband, Ron--wore a gold necklace with 225 square-cut diamonds weighing 31.5 carats, designed by Lauren Pipkorn and sponsored by Hammerman Bros. Gisele Beugelmans wore a yellow and white gold and titanium brooch with 76 triangular diamonds totaling 15.98 carats, designed by Stephanie Rhys and sponsored by Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Causing the rest to reach for sunglasses were Marilyn Brumder, Georgie Erskine, Anna Bresnahan, Lisa Hubbard (Sotheby’s auctioneer wore lapis lazuli and 317 diamonds weighing 23 carats, designed by Jean Mouclier of France and sponsored by the George Lenfant Co.), Peg Palmer, Carol Ross, Kathy Offenhauser and Dolores Kroop.
KUDOS: Still in the clouds after winning first place at Pebble Beach in this year’s Concours d’Elegance for their rare and exotic V-12 Delahaye are Pam and Peter Mullin and Penny and Jim Hull. The car has undergone almost eight years of restoration. Originally, it was shown in the New York World’s Fair in 1939.
PAST PERFECT: The Los Angeles High School World War II class of 1942 held its 50th reunion over the weekend at the Manhattan Beach Radisson. About 380 graduates--L.A. High Romans--and their friends chatted over photos, posters and memories.
In the crowd: Leonard Pennario, concert pianist; Robert Horton, actor; Charles D. Young, television executive, and his wife, Joan; John Melvin Goddard, travel lecturer.
Marian Hope and Lorraine Loge Pfirrmann seated the crowd; Michael Marienthal chaired the event. When the Romans became Romans 90 years ago, says Hope, the Latin class dressed in togas for a parade.
SORRY TO MISS: The September tea given by Andrea Van de Kamp, Susy Niven and Maria Hummer; the Junior League of Los Angeles Sustainers’ “An Enchanted Day” at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks; the CARES (of LAC/USC Medical Center) Hawaiian party at Jeanne and Bob DeKruif’s home in San Marino; the celebration of Pasadena Mental Health Assn.’s restoration of its 1914 craftsman-style house at 1495 N. Lake in Pasadena; the Fellows of Contemporary Art party at the home of Eileen and Peter Norton, and the kickoff for the Assistance League of Southern California and International Society of Interior Designers, San Fernando Valley Chapter Design House. The home, at 4657 Encino Ave., Encino, is open to the public through Nov. 1.
