RSVP / THE SOCIAL CITY : A Season Worth Celebrating

On the last Sunday in June, Hollywood Bowl Patronesses traditionally party to celebrate the official opening of the Bowl--this year on July 11. Last week, they honored John Mauceri, conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra that performs the Bowl’s pop concerts.

He thanked them for their support: “The Hollywood Bowl is an ameliorating thing to have in the city.”

Flowered summer frocks--chiffons and laces--were de rigueur. In a setting of pepper trees and hibiscus, a crowd of 250 dined on Somerset Catering’s tenderloin of beef and danced with abandon to Ray Moshay’s Orchestra.

Ragnar and Mollie Qvale who have hosted the party for eight years at their home (once owned by Mary Pickford) revealed they are selling. That may mean a new location next year, said chairwoman Julie Prewitt. President Mary Frances Cox noted next year also is the Bowl’s 75th anniversary.

Party-goers included Jeanne and Stan Johnson, Ginger and David Ludwick (back from France and Israel), Susan (she sings in the Angeles Chorale, performing at the Bowl) and John Shumway, Martha and Glen Mitchel, Anne and Romus Soucek, Marge and Max Kolliner, Elizabeth Warde, Anne Parsons (general manager of the Bowl) and her photographer husband Donald Dietz, Mary Morton and Dick Wells, Merelyn and Malcolm O’Donnell, Virginia and Clifford Lord, Heather Shuemaker and Sherry Shelley with fiance Craig Nason.

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Taking aim: In memory of William A. Moffett, Huntington Library director for the past five years, Diane and Trevor Morris sponsored the forum, “Taking Aim: The Art of the Editorial Cartoon,” at the library recently. It was in conjunction with the exhibition, “Drawing Fire: Paul Conrad and the American Editorial Cartoon,” drawn from a collection of 10,000 cartoons donated to the library by Paul Conrad and his wife, Kay.

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Farewells: In honor of Richard J. Stegemeier, retiring as chairman of the board of Unocal Corp., Roger C. Beach, chief executive officer, hosted an alfresco dinner at the Huntington Library.

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Kudos: To Mount St. Mary’s College, celebrating its 70th anniversary year.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

Stanley Marcus was at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills autographing his new book, “The Viewpoints of Stanley Marcus.” Speaking to a chic luncheon group, he said he shared in the sadness of the loss of I. Magnin, and then he called Bullocks Wilshire (also deceased) the most beautiful store in this century.

In tribute to Neiman’s Beverly Hills President John Martens, he said, “If I had the ability to clone, I would clone John Martens and put him in every Neiman Marcus in the country.” Hanging on to every word were a traveling coterie--Mary Lou Hicks (moving to a farm in Middleburg, Va.), Mary Martin (back from Singapore and Beijing), Donnie Smith (leaving for England). Advised Marcus, “Never deviate from quality; never pander to bad taste.”

* Plaudits to Togo Tanaka, whose memory book for the Wellness Community’s tribute is rare and beautiful, filled with sentimental pictures. Said one friend, “Everything you ever needed to know about integrity you can learn from Togo. . . . Tell the truth; Serve others; Take responsibility for your choices; Imagine, define and go after your goals; Capture each day with a photograph. Enthusiasm will enhance your life. Devotion will exhilarate your life. Joy, commitment and integrity will empower you. When you are surrounded by barbed wire--look at the mountains.”

* And plaudits to Paramount Pictures’ Barry London, feted at the Retinitis Pigmentosa International’s Vision Awards at the Beverly Hilton. . . . To Sharon Stone, Alfre Woodard, Kathleen Kennedy and Meg Ryan, saluted at the 19th annual Women in Film Crystal Awards luncheon at the Century Plaza. . . . To co-chairwomen Christine Avizenis and Carla Stewart, heading John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Chapter II casino party. Chapter II was founded two years ago by a group that includes four grandchildren of the legendary actor. The fund-raiser netted $40,000 . . . . To Frances Morehart, honored with an Angel Award at the Hand-in-Hand Luncheon by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart at St. Anne’s.

* A record $270,000 was raised for 250 college students at the TELACU Scholarship Awards Dinner. Honorees on hand included former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and Mexico Secretary of Commerce Herminio Blanco.

* In celebration of the opening of the new $75-million, seven-building John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management Education complex at UCLA, major donors gathered at the Regency Club for the dinner hosted by UCLA Chancellor Charles E. Young and Anderson School Dean William P. Pierskalla.

* More than 300 of the new Five Star Families--a support group (including kids) for the Natural History Museum--were guests of One Colorado Associates in Pasadena for the movie “Pocahontas.” Later they picnicked on the theater plaza where the Eagle Spirit Dancers performed.

Children made headbands and were taught face-painting--all masterminded by Lynn Brengel. Among those Five Star Families--Susan and Stephen Ascher, Christy and Charles Bakaly, Debbe and Spike Booth, Vicky and David Rogers, and Debbie and Terry Lanni.