Diabetes Ball Makes Good on Its Promise

The Promise Ball promised, and the Promise Ball delivered at the Beverly Hilton last weekend. Not only did the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation pay a star-filled musical tribute to Lamont Dozier, architect of Motown Sound, it also titillated a crowd of about 700 with the Four Tops. And it piled on a current rage, singer Michael Bolton, to warble “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You.”

The promise of promises: The ball did well. The gross may be as high as $475,000, says Rita Hopkins, Los Angeles chapter director. And the net will approach $325,000.

Dozier’s wife, Barbara, is among the ardent supporters of the foundation. Another is Rob Iverson, president of Nestle Distributing Co., who attended with his wife, Dawn. “We are excited to be a part of an organization wanting to be known as the foundation that cured diabetes,” he said.

The night’s honorary chairwoman, Mary Tyler Moore, was absent. The Promise Ball two years ago that honored her netted $350,000, setting the pace for this year’s benefit. The co-chairwomen were Caryl Golden, Gloria Loring and Georgia Ratzenberger.

In the audience: Brooke and Jim Young, Jeannie and Casey Kasem, and Kevin Iwamato, representing Northwest Airlines, also a supporter.

BLACK-TIE: A sure signal it’s springtime--the Los Angeles Supper Club dinner dance. Friday, at the Beverly Wilshire, ball chairwoman Susan Armistead (she also chaired the Las Madrinas Debutante Ball in December) was greeting guests along with committee members Carol Inman and Joan Riach.

Tamra Dickerson had meticulously tended the seating. Linda Pennell had opted for tangy lemon tarts over humdrum chocolate. A carefree crowd including Betsy and Richard Hotaling, Jim and Nancy Birdwell, Pen and Mary Alice Tudor, and Liz and Thad Up de Graff twirled the night away.

CASBAH!: At the historic Green Hotel in Pasadena, supporters of Kidspace Museum feasted at a sultan’s table, sipped exotic potions and got “tattooed” with rub-offs.

Cassie Harpel and Jennifer Martin, co-chairwomen of the “Circle of Friends” benefit, wanted everyone to “fly on a magic carpet” and they got lots of cooperation. Museum executive director Kristi Williamson greeted Peter Matthiessen and Clay Mitchell, who wore kaffiyehs made from towels, as did Jud Roberts. Marilyn Roberts was regal in a Mongolian silk tunic she had purchased on a train ride from Paris to Beijing.

Judith (she’s Circle president) and Earl Imhoff were sipping what they called a “Cleopatra’s Kiss,” which contained vodka, lime juice, Cointreau, blue curacao, sugar and ice, served with a cherry and a plastic monkey. It looked like something sudsy from under the kitchen sink.

How David Partridge, husband of museum president Cathie Partridge, managed to eat the Greek grapeleaf-wrapped dolmas while wearing a fake beard was a wonder. But the whole night was exotic. Mary Eversole had a tiger tattooed on her midriff and turned to husband Hank, “Do you like the tiger in my tank?”

After the auction bazaar, nearly 250 sat for an “Arabian Nights” feast and belly-dancers.

Proceeds will benefit the hands-on Kidspace Museum. Last year 100,000 toured.

VIEUX CARRE: The ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Auxiliary staged “An Evening in Old New Orleans” at the Olympic Collection ballrooms in West Los Angeles. Gay Macy and Arlene Brownson produced Bourbon Street jazz (and danced to Ron Rubin’s orchestra). At dinner, the Cajun-blackened whitefish was so spicy that some people turned as bright as the Mardi Gras beads around their heads.

Members saluted Norma Bowles, past national president of ARCS, and her husband, John, former president of Rexall Drug Co. Intl.

In sight: Lisa and John Alphson, Betty (auxiliary founder) and Ken Morgan, Callan and Gregory Irvin, Maggie and Earl Russell, Penee Hull, Sally Zamarin, Pamela Gray, Susan Holt, Richard Nutt, and Merrelyn and Malcolm O’Donnell.

SOPHIA: “I think the gift of learning is the greatest gift of all,” said Sophia Loren, acknowledging the scholarship that Town and Gown of USC named in her honor at its spring luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The actress was introduced as “warm, caring--a true humanitarian.” She is the United Nations’ goodwill ambassador. She is also the mother of two USC students, Carlo Jr. and Edurdo Ponti.

USC’s own fashion designer, Mark Eisen (launched by Bergdorf Goodman in 1988), popped in to see luncheon guests before hurrying backstage to prepare for the show of his collection. It previewed in November at the New York Public Library.

His professor, Mack Davis, head of the USC entrepreneurial program that Eisen completed, introduced him. Margaret Morrell and Marta Robb co-chaired the luncheon.

ESCALATION: Robert Wagner and Jill St. John are honorary co-chairs of the Women in Show Business gala honoring Barbara Sinatra on Sunday at the Beverly Hilton. . . .

More than 140 town leaders will play in the Junior League of Los Angeles’ first golf tournament Monday at the Wilshire Country Club.

KUDOS: To Dr. Harper Mills, recipient of the Genesis Award from USC’s Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics at a black-tie dinner at the Biltmore . . . To political cartoonist Paul Conrad, recipient of the League of Women Voters’ “Friend of the League” award.