The Valley Line: San Marino League holds gala at Huntington Library

This past weekend we were basking in summer-like weather. Adding to a heavenly ambience were the flowering fruit trees dotting the landscapes of many La Cañada gardens — all so beautiful with their pink and white blossoms.

I took a stroll, along with my fluffy white dog, Lola, last week in the village of Montrose. We window shopped and Lola loved meeting new canine friends. We even stopped for lunch at an outside table where passersby would stop and say hello to my pooch. It was a delightful way to happily while away a balmy afternoon.

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Now on to things about what our community members are up to these days.

Rex Reed, writer, movie critic, novelist and sometime actor, recently held court in Rothenberg Hall at Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Kathryn Fauble, program chair for the San Marino League, who attended classes with Reed at Louisiana State University, introduced him with great affection.

Reed, who has made headlines with his acerbic reviews, spun scintillating tales of celebs for 160 guests at the league’s gala fundraiser. His talk was themed “A Constellation of Stars: The Legends I have Known.”

Reed, who once said, “Hollywood is where if you don’t have happiness, you send out for it,” held the audience in the palm of his hand, as he shared stories of his personal meetings and lengthy relationships he has had with Hollywood luminaries such as Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Greta Garbo, Carol Channing and so many more. He delivered his memoirs in anecdotal style, punctuated by him mimicking the voices of the stars he was talking about.

Afterward, guests gathered in the courtyard for cocktails and the opportunity to bid on silent auction items that ranged from beautiful jewelry, original paintings, trip packages to exotic locations such as Myanmar and Burma and Sri Lanka.

The evening concluded with a multicourse sit-down dinner where arrays of white orchids centered each table.

Among the local residents attending the event were Michael and Cynthia Malone, Mary Pinola and Charlie Kenny, Jean Osher, Elza Gross, Robert Farkas and Jeri Jones, and Ellen and Brendan Turner.

Thanking guests for attending the fundraiser, which raised nearly $55,000, was Gaelen Burgess, president of the League and Beverly Marksbury, benefit chair.

The league financially supports the Japanese Garden at the Huntington and funds annual fine arts scholarships for students at Art Center College of Design. The league members lead docent tours and volunteer in the library and archives.

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Members of the Starduster Alaroma dance club enjoyed their event, “Dancing in Chicago,” held at a private club in downtown Los Angeles.

Gigi and Jim Schlueter, co-presidents of the club, greeted the arriving guests. Gloria De Olarte and Art Rothberg co-chaired the dance.

The dining tables were adorned with tall white tapered candles surrounded by white votive candles.

When the Park Avenue West band began to play, more than 80 dancers took to the dance floor to bust their own special moves.

Among those who enjoyed the festive evening along with the Schlueters, De Olarte and Rothberg were Polly and Brent Allen, Kathleen and John Barrett, Malea and Michael Bell, Lisa and Thomas Campbell, Grace and Dave Cashion, Liz and Bob Craven, Francie and Jerry Crichton, Ginny and Bob Doyle, Margaret and Tom Dunn, Heather and Carl Emge, Marlene Evans, Sue Franzen and Jim Nigra, Janis and Riccardo Gallo, Deena and Melvin Gerstner, Marion and Paul Greene, and Kitty and Jack Gurash.

More people having a good time were Pat and Dennis Hetherington, Susan and Jim Holland, Jeanne and Robert Jenkins, Virginia and Michael Karsch, George Kunkel and Cora Miller, Kathy and Rocco Liberio, Penny and Jay Lusche, Jim Mramor and Edie Askew, Ginger and Ed O’Hara, Lillian and Roy Olofson, Etta and Ed Ovsenny, Joanne Stebenne and Frank Osmon, Barbara and Tony Phillips, Rosemary and Bob Risley, Margaret and John Schock, Margot and Ed Simpson, Judy and Bob Snyder, Alice and Marco Spagnoletto, Lynne and Joe Thompson, Caroline and Craig Watson, Michelle and Keith Wien, Ruth and Jim Wong, and Maren and John Wynton.

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JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Cañada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.