New Orleans Connection for the Fire & Ice Ball

How do you pull together a $500-a-person, celebrity-stuffed black-tie benefit from 1,600 miles away?

“By phone and by fax,” said the ultimate authority, Lilly Tartikoff.

The event was Tartikoff’s third annual Fire & Ice ball to raise money for the Revlon/UCLA Women’s Cancer Research Program. About $1.1 million was raised from the event at the Beverly Hilton Wednesday night, $800,000 of which came from Revlon Inc. Chairman Ronald O. Perelman.

But having to plan such a bash from half a continent away in Louisiana didn’t seem to be a hindrance.

“I did my dress by fax, too,” Tartikoff said, making her way through throngs of well-wishers.

New Orleans is where the Tartikoffs live now, having moved there so daughter Calla could complete physical therapy after a car accident two years ago that injured her and her father, Brandon. He resigned his post as chairman of Paramount Pictures in October to be with his family.

Joked Lilly of their new residence: “It’s the cholesterol capital of the world.

“I must say,” she told the crowd of about 950, “it’s nice to be home.”

Of their move to Louisiana, Tartikoff said, “This has become a gift, a gift from Brandon to Calla and me. I realized this more than ever a few days ago when I listened from the second floor of our new home to their voices and laughter in the hallway below. . . . It is together that I know we will reach this road to recovery.”

As for the research program, she lauded the women involved in clinical trials for new treatment methods for breast and ovarian cancer.

Those new clinical trials are one of this past year’s accomplishments that Dr. Dennis Slamon, director for clinical research at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, is most proud of.

Another point of pride was hiring Dr. Susan Love, founding director of the UCLA Breast Center. Love was among the guests, who also included Dr. Sidney Golub, interim dean of the UCLA school of medicine; actors Patrick Duffy, Joe Montegna, Michael Richards, Connie Stevens, Pierce Brosnan, Nicolette Sheridan, Suzanne Pleshette, Sharon Stone, Susan Ruttan, Harry Hamlin, Jay Leno and Brendan Fraser; musician Kenny G., and entertainment industry execs, including Sherry Lansing, Warren Littlefield, Jeff Sagansky, Mike Medavoy and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Candace Bergen emceed the show.