SOCIAL CLIMES : A Role She Sank Her Teeth Into

It was a matter of poor planning, we think. The hubbub surrounding the Emmys seems to have eclipsed a celebrity event that occurred the same day. We speak of the picture-signing event at Mondo Video in Los Feliz with “The Cameo Girl of the Fifties,” Gloria Pall.

Gloria who?

For those who didn’t recall, Mondo Video showed the “Cameo Girl” videotape of her performances--such as those few precious frames in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” when she hangs on Kirk Douglas’ arm. OK, not enough time to earn her name a place in the credits, but what about our hearts? And surely you remember her legs, clearly visible in “Jailhouse Rock.”

Pall offered for sale the videotape and autographed photos. Also for sale were books of photocopies of her newspaper clippings and her scrapbook of Elvis memories.

The tabloid clippings reported she had upstaged Marilyn Monroe at a party and that she was poised for stardom in the new 3-D movies.

Asked what her biggest role was, Pall said, “A bagel.”

Madness: We read an announcement that, tying in with the premiere of the “Mad TV” show, Sotheby’s has assembled an exhibition and auction of original Mad magazine artwork to go on view Thursday.

Besides bringing together more than 400 pieces of original art, plus book covers, strips and other Mad-abilia, the auction house announces that “experts” will discuss “the role that Mad magazine played in our national culture.”

We must confess that we didn’t think anyone studied the subject that closely. Of course, back in our school days, when we were hitting the books, there were an awful lot of people sitting around saying, “What? Me worry?”

Songs From the Homeless: Patti LaBelle recorded her most recent song, not among a gang of seasoned studio musicians but with a contingent of homeless men, women and children. She has lent her voice to a project called “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” the second in a series called “Voice of the Homeless.”

This upcoming CD features a collection of Christmas standards sung by homeless people culled from nationwide auditions. Royalties from the sale go directly to the homeless talent.

“Patti LaBelle heard about the project and said that she would like to get involved,” says Rex Neilson of MAG Records, the San Diego company that issues the CDs in association with MCA. Neilson says LaBelle will sing an original song called “Angel Man,” which will also appear on her own upcoming CD, with some of those royalties also going to her needy backup singers.

--COMPILED BY THE SOCIAL CLIMES STAFF