It Was a Hot Time at the IMAX Theater

There was ample popcorn to soothe viewers when “Fires of Kuwait” previewed on the gigantic screen at the party Gordon and Liz Anderson and Ed and Ruth Shannon hosted with Santa Fe International Corp. last week at IMAX Theater at Exposition Park. But that didn’t stop guests, such as Linda and Don Pennell, from lurching away from the flames that almost seemed to envelope the audience during filmmaker David Douglas’ documentary.

The film tells the story of how skilled workers snuffed out more than 630 oil well fires in Kuwait.

Chief firefighter Joe Bowden of Wild Well Control Inc. flew in from Texas to tell real-life tales of the work in Kuwait, and Neal Parry, who oversaw Santa Fe International’s role in the efforts, spoke.

Ultimately, Boy and Girl Scouts stand to reap $650,000 from the IMAX showings.

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MOCA ON TOUR: Founded in 1986, the Projects Council of the Museum of Contemporary Art has already become the museum’s preeminent support group--$3 million raised to date.

The council’s annual tour of outstanding Los Angeles homes has become a to-die-for ticket, every year a sellout. We count this year’s recent tour as one of the prettiest days ever--four Malibu homes and art collections, those of Audrey and Sidney Irmas, Max Palevsky and Ellen Hemming, Renny and Bernard Shapiro and Eric Cotsen.

Co-chairs Lois Reinis and Diane Rosenthal loaded 300 lookers on buses for the tour, then delivered them back to the Bel-Air Bay Club for luncheon and a fashion show presented by Elle magazine, featuring the designs of Laurel. Then, it seemed just about everyone was hopping a plane to catch the Matisse, Magritte and Jean-Michel Basquiat art shows in New York. That included Susan Gersh, Judy Henning and Barbara Jacobson.

On the tour, homeowners gave their all: Max Palevsky came downstairs with a fever to wave to guests, and Eric Cotsen demonstrated his fingerprint-identification entry system, his infrared faucets (they turn on the water when you put your hand under the tap) and the surprise dragon in his study that pops up and spits water at the unsuspecting.

Having a lot of fun were: council president Judy Scholosberg, collector Betye Burton, Ellie Goldman, Polly Gooden, Polly Foley, Aviva Covitz, Maybelle Wolfe, Jane Rascoff, Sherri Geldin and Mandy Einstein.

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BIGGER, BETTER: Elizabeth Hirsch has chaired the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s benefit for five years.

This year’s ball at the Biltmore hit the top financially--$175,000 net--and everyone’s elated at this result in the down economy. Top kudos went to guest of honor Ronald J. Arnault, chairman of the Music Center the past two years. His wife Nancy set the pace of the party with her elegance. Waltzers set the mood for the “Viennese Romance” theme.

Dining on smoked trout and veal in wild mushroom sauce on beds of spaetzle was a crowd of major donors: Beverly and Larry Thrall, Judith and Cliff Miller, Master Chorale board president Edward and Jane McAniff, Eleanor and Ted Congdon, Dona and David Schultz, Cathi and Bill Ruddy and Mary Kay and Boyd Hight. Soprano Carol Neblett soloed with the chorale, led by Paul Salamunovich.

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‘TIS THE SEASON: Walter Matthau has conducted Mozart, Dudley Moore played a piano parody on Beethoven and Herb Alpert trumpeted Christmas classics for editions past of the USC Friends of Music annual Charles Dickens Dinner.

At this year’s event on Dec. 4 at the Biltmore, Entertainment Tonight host John Tesh will be saluted for his composing. Connie Selleca is honorary chair. Mary Hart will introduce Tesh, says Joyce Sprafka, benefit chair.

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DECK THE HALLS: This week, Robert L. Mettler, president and CEO of Robinson’s, invited 14 representatives of Los Angeles children’s charities to the Beverly Hills store to launch a 21-store promotion asking customers for donations and toys. The effort is expected to raise $50,000. . . .

The Assistance League of Pasadena benefited from the One Colorado Associates holiday preview Sunday . . . The seventh annual Beverly Hills Lighting Ceremony salutes Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles Friday evening, as 100,000 lights flare up on Rodeo Drive and Wilshire during a VIP reception at Tiffany & Co. A rooftop reception at the Regent Beverly Wilshire follows. Guests have been asked to bring a gift for a child at the hospital. . . .

Angel’s Attic in Santa Monica is stocking its galleries with tiny treasures and dollhouses, books and dolls and hosting its ninth Victorian Christmas Wednesday. Donation is $15.

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TREE FANTASIES: Susan Chandler, Sharon Pelton and Cynthia Perucca lighted up this week over the launching of their Five Acres Festival of Trees and Holiday Mart at the Pasadena Center. Tuesday evening three trees were auctioned for at least $1,000 each and the Arco-sponsored tree decorated by Shirley Farris with dried sunflowers, hydrangeas and pheasant feathers took best of show.

The public may view the trees and attend special events such as teddy bear teas, brunches and Santa signings through Sunday. On hand for the opening: 1993 Rose Queen Liana Yamasaki, Gordon Pashgian, Charles and Christy Bakaly, Roseann Anderson, Lisa Smith, Pam Scott, Judy Brown, Heidrun Mumper-Drumm, Five Acres executive director Bob Ketch, Lois and Chris Madison and Laurie and David Turner. Proceeds will help make up the United Way’s cut of $80,000 in its funding this year to Five Acres, which aids abused children.

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WITH THANKS: More than 100 families of the Children’s Bureau of Southern California are receiving Thanksgiving dinners today from the University Club downtown.

And this week, the newly formed Employees Group of the Rodeo Drive Committee sponsored a street-wide Thanksgiving food drive to benefit the Westside Food Bank for the needy. They called it “Rodeo Drive Cares.”

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ADDITION: At the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA, to be completed in 1994, a major building in the complex will be named for the late Leon and Toby Gold. Mr. Gold donated $5 million in the name of himself and his wife Toby, who predeceased him. Joan Gold, his wife at the time of his death, attended the dinner at the Beverly Hilton celebrating the groundbreaking for the school.