FAMILY : ‘Eloise’ of the Plaza Turns 40, but Remains 6; Party Set

“Eloise,” the book, may be 40 years old this month, but its endearing heroine is still only 6 and living at the Plaza Hotel in New York, pleasing readers young and old with her hyperkinetic shenanigans and wickedly astute observations of the hapless adults who populate her domain.

To celebrate the 1955 publication of Kay Thompson’s original “Eloise” and the remarkable work of its prolific illustrator, Hilary Knight, the Every Picture Tells a Story gallery in Hollywood is kicking off a six-week exhibit of Knight’s work with an “Eloise 40th Birthday Party,” open to the public, on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Knight will be on hand for the event which, in addition to “Eloise” art, lithographs and memorabilia, will feature guest readings by actress Julie Warner (“Doc Hollywood”) and others, birthday cake and music, including the “Eloise” theme song written and recorded by Thompson in 1956.

Knight, almost 69, has written and/or illustrated more than 50 books, designed posters for Broadway shows and illustrated magazines, greeting cards and record albums. But he “feels just fine” about being so closely identified with a spiky-haired pen-and-ink 6-year-old.

“It’s wonderful to be identified with as strong a character and personality as she is,” he said from his Manhattan apartment, adding that Eloise isn’t a total anarchist. She may “sklonk” the barber in the kneecap, order two raisins from room service and comb her hair with a fork, “but I don’t think she would really have poured water down the mail chute. . . .”

Eloise began life as a telephone voice Thompson adopted to amuse her friends. A fortuitous meeting between Thompson and Knight led to the collaboration that produced a book intended for adults, which later became a children’s classic.

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“It’s a true crossover book,” Knight said, “about a very powerful, appealing, touching character, and that’s what interested me in the first place. That and working with a person like Kay Thompson, an extraordinary person.” Besides, he joked, “Eloise, Kay and I are all Scorpios.” (The reclusive Thompson is now in her 90s.)

The book was an almost instant success, particularly after Life Magazine that year described Eloise as “the most controversial literary heroine of the year. She charms and terrifies like a snake.”

That success led to three more “Eloise” adventures (no longer in publication), a record and a 1956 “Playhouse 90” production with Evelyn Rudie, now Santa Monica Playhouse co-artistic director, in the title role. Rudie will also appear on Saturday.

An “Eloise” portrait Knight did as “a kind of joke for Kay,” was stolen from the Plaza lobby; he replaced it in 1964 with a “proper oil painting.”Photos of both will be on display, as will a video Knight created and new “Eloise” drawings: The book’s original artwork disappeared over the years.

Knight, son of artist-writers Clayton Knight and Katherine Sturges, based his quirky, fine-lined “Eloise” drawings on “a painting my mother had done” and on a friend of his mother that he “imagined as a little girl.” His influences were English magazine illustrators of the ‘50s and “my parents, both exceptional artists.”

Knight, who said he is currently at work on “CD covers for Gilbert & Sullivan musicals,” finds it hard to imagine that 40 years have gone by since “Eloise” made her debut.

“All this seems like yesterday,” he said.

“Someone asked me how old I am and I said I think I’m about 10. Well, maybe 33 might be more accurate. I’ve worked from the very beginning and I expect to keep doing that.”

* Every Picture Tells a Story . . ., 7525 Beverly Blvd., “Eloise” party, Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m.; exhibit, Saturday-Nov. 3 . Free. (213) 932-6070.