After the Fires, Big Sisters Bring Out Stars

The show-business community turned out in force for the Big Sisters Guild of Los Angeles tribute to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager on Friday night, but underneath the usual show of glitz, many were still shellshocked over the fires that threatened many of their homes.

Composer David Foster, who arranged a medley of Sager’s songs and accompanied a top-notch marquee of singers on the piano, brought his and his lyricist wife Linda Thompson Foster’s children along, keeping them in a room with the other performers upstairs at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“We all came into town together--the kids are not out of my sight,” explained Linda, who said their Malibu house was one mile from where the fire stopped in Escondido Canyon.

“My house is OK, but the real tragedy are my kids,” said producer Jerry Weintraub of his oceanfront estate. “They’re very worried about their friends and pets and animals. I was mesmerized in front of the TV for two days. I feel like this week didn’t happen.”

The honoree was affected too, even though her Point Dume summer house, which is on the market, wasn’t in serious danger. “I’m glad to say the house is still up, but I watched the fire avidly and I was on the phone offering room and board to those who needed it.”

The event, co-chaired by Barbara and Marvin Davis and Sandy Gallin, raised some $350,000 for local Big Sisters programs, which match young girls with adult women volunteers. Sager said she had not been involved with the organization until Diane Lander-Simon, wife of Neil, called on her. “I decided any organization that bolsters self-esteem for young women I wanted to support,” Sager said. “Also, I’m an only child, and I always wanted a big sister when I was growing up.”

Elizabeth Taylor has assumed that role in her life, those in attendance learned. Before presenting Sager with the obligatory plaque, Taylor explained: “Carole is the sister I always wanted and I love her with all my heart.” Actually, with their matching puffy black hairdos, the two women even looked a bit alike.

The crowd was packed with honchos from music, movies and television, including Johnny Mathis, Harrison Ford, Ivan Reitman, Sidney and Joanna Poitier, Farrah Fawcett, Big Sisters activist Sarah Purcell, Ron Meyer and Sager’s beau, Robert Daly, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Inc.

Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld,” who served as master of ceremonies, made a big point of his discomfort with the job and that nothing he had ever done in his career remotely prepared him for it (“and if God is good, I’ll never have to do it again”). In the end, he proved to be terrific in the role. (Charity chairpeople, are you listening?) Still, even after the tribute book was printed, three stars scheduled to appear didn’t show (Henry Winkler, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Richards). But with Melissa Manchester, James Ingram and newcomers Warren Weibe and Timea Washington performing, they weren’t needed.

The evening’s party favors proved to be odd, though original. Each guest went home with a bag filled with, among other items, a bottle of Louise’s California Caesar salad dressing.