News Scrapbook 1984

la Jolla, CA (San Diego Co.) la Jolla Light (Cir. VV. 9,293)

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Coming out for tlie zoo critters; Bl DAVID 'ELSO~ -~ s o2;nc:?r knew just how good he had it.

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out in the foyer the Mike Reidy Trio musically ministered to this massive maelstrom of mankind. Dottie Smith later took over the piano to tc c out a variety of jungle theme . Atlas Hotels hosted lhe event (all proceeds from ticket ales went directly to the Zoo), and provided rows of buffet tables laden w11h such substantial gnoshe~ as steak tartare canape , chile rellenos and lox and bagels. The evening lso included a ilent auction for such items as a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, and winners m the free drawing carried off a numbl·r of enviable prizes. In addition to the two-legged wildlifr that made the scene, the Zoo's Joan Embry brought along some of her favorite four-footed pals, among them an emu and a guanaco. The decor, created by a team headed by Liz and Ned Smith, echoed the Serengeti-based theme in its huge ,ilhoucttcs of various residents of the wild. Rolf Benirschke, for whom the Zoo is a pet charity, was on hand to charm all attendees, and TV ne111 man Hal Clement served as master of ceremomes . The committee included Vicki and Keith Adams, Judy and Chuck Bieler, Karen and Will peidel, Bill Peterson, Claudia Munak, Bar- bara Pratt, Heather Metcalf, Patti Mix, Leslie Simon, Katie Dunahoo, Mac Canty, Ann Farnan, Barbai a Huba and Katherine Kennedy Horsman. * * * The University of San Diego's annual fashion show and luncheon, held earlier the ame day at the Town & Country's :vtission Ballroom, was Revolu- tionary, to say the least. Revolu as in 1776, that is. Chairman

He, after all, only had to arrange accomodation, and cuis10e for two of each species of animal. The committee that organized last Wednesday's "Celebration for the Critters," on the other hand, had to entertain many, many ark-loads of energetic lephants, fun-loving I-oxes, good-time Gorillas and coruscating Condors. This merry menagerie congregated just after sun- down at the Town & Country's Atlas Ballroom for C\eral hours of entertainment and mirth-making. Almo t all the guc ts - and there were 4,000 of hem - belonged to one of the above-named nimal groups (lest we forget, there were also ·uvated Tigers), and each of these groups com- peted to attract the greatest number of participant to the e II ad r ising f or he San D1eg Zoo's Center for Reproduction of En- dangered Species as their common goal. 'ancy Hester. who C\idently ha adopted "the more, the merrier" as her personal motto (remember the ''Off the Wall" street dancers?) chaired the gala, and Ted and Audrey Geisel served a hororar) chairmen. Ted, who as Dr. Seuss has c1eated enough incredible critters to populate a zoo the size of San Diego's, lent the party a hand by takmg up his pen and autographing volume after vol..ime of his own works, while Audrey, decked out in a leopard-print tunic, reigned as Queen of th Jungle. (She can tell you, by the way, how the leopard came by its spot .) ome 4,000 people may not sound like an im- mense crowd (at least it wouldn't to anyone who habitually haunts Times Square), but it did pack the Atla Ballroom nearly to the brim. The sheer pre of humanity seemed to generate a heavy voltage of excitement, and the mood was exactly that which one might expect to encounter in the more jubilant sort of jungle. The entertainment never cea ed; aerobic dancers cranked out some wildly active routmes to the ound of The Wind- jammers and Billy St. John in the ballroom, while

wartwood and Karen Speidel (top photo) turned out for Zoo benefit, along with Liz S ·th iddl row, from left), udrey and Ted Geisel, Barbar-.1 Huba with Ann Foman (bottom row) nd chair.' nc He ·ter.

1seated at a p1a110 play10g "Men.:y Melodics") ex- ecuted by famed animator Chuck Jones. This last was purchased by the Ed Andrades, who promptly donated it to the hospital; it probably will be hung in the pediatric unit. Even the menu payed a whimsical tribute to music; each place setting was decorated with a musical note molded in bittersweet chocolate, and it must be remarked that some of the chocaholics in the crowd consumed theirs before the arrival of the lobster bisque. The meal continued with tounedos Rossini and concluded with yet more chocolate, this time used as a covering for succulent poached pears. A green leaf.in each of the soaring center- pieces had been turned inwards to mimic a treble clef, and glittering musical notes hung from the ceiling as well. The ball largely avoided seriousness (and what party doesn't?), but Mercy administrator Richard Keyser did borrow one moment lo draw the crowd's attention to the real reason for their atten- dance. "Mercy cares about people, and that's our nspiration tonight," he said to the audience. "It's ecause of friends like you that we are able to con- inue to provide health care to the poor and to the seriously ill." The dancing continued until 2 a.m., and among the many who stayed until that festively late hour were numerous members of the committee. Among those working on this year's ball were Maria Bat- taglia, Ann Hobbs, Mary-Em Howard, Alice Saunders, Molly Karlsgodt, Marsha Ingersoll, Maggie Bradley, Dolly Ragan, Sondra LaBerge, Nancy Copeland, Rae Cabral, Rickie Sevadjian, :vlarilyn Ott, Betsy Dmgman, Anne Brown, Patty Glynn, and Mary Gilmore.

The sparkling laughter that filled the Sheraton [as1's Champagne Ballroom Saturday night \\ere music to Sharon Balfour's ears. And so should the) ha\·e heen, since Sharon chaired •'A Mercy \1elody." the 15th annual ~lercy Ball, which attracted more than 400 guests for the ultimate benefit of 'vlercy Hospital's hyperbaric ox- ygen therapy program. 1 he guests found themselves scaling a musical mounta10 note by note as the evening progressed from the quiet, cocktail hour strains of" Interlude" tu the li,elier dance-time rhythms of the Walt Tolle~on Orchestra and the Duck tail Revie,\. Tht: musi<.:al highlight of the part} arrived just before dinner, however, when Roberta Drake sang "Those Angels of \1ercy," a special tribute to the evening composed by songwriter Jerry \,1elnik (who also writes for such pop recording artists as Julio I lesias.) Musi-: pro\lded the part~s theme, but the even- mg's excitement was fueled by other sources as well. Chief among these wa the pair of auc- tlOns - one silent, one live - that offered the re, elers myriad opportunities to acquire fine pieces of art. Even the bulkiest (a 1985 Cadillac Cimar- ron) were set up for inspection, and bid cards soon flied as guest discovered prize trophies to carry home. Auction impressio Bob Arnhym conducted the live bidd·ng, during which were offered such choice item, as an 01:if \\'ieghorst ori!!inal oil. and a very special painting of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck tinklmg con,ersations and

pre~ence assists the yo,rng people of tomorrow." Robinson's presented the fashion show with its typical panache, and spiced the apparel segments \I ith entertaining interludes that included a phalanx of butlers bearing silver trays laden with hoes, a trio o Peter Pan-type flying above the stage. and a grand finale of astronaut\ conquering some fabulous ne11 world. But there were lots of clothes to look at too .- Sonia Rykiel made a dramatic night time tatement with a collection of black, floor-length fantasies, Giorgio Armani teased the aud11:nce 11ith playful mixe of gray that hinted at color, and St. John Knits offered se\eral glamorous suggestions for after six. The luncheon conch.ded with a raffle of numerou prizes, of which the most coveted were a trip to \\'a hington, D.C. and Williamsburg (won b} Patricia Davis), and a portrait done by artist Tw) la Cecil, whicn \I as captured by Vick} Miller. Everyone took home a copy of "Yankee Doodle," an illustrated children' book that electronically squirted out the tune every time the cover was open- ed. (This was done en masse at the commencement of the meal, to the general amusement.) The commmee included Michele Battaglia, Jane Pentelei-Molnar, Lesley Allen, Rae Cabral, Pat Keating, Alhson Tibbitt,, Dorie Limpus, Lee :\1aturo, Sandra Vecchione and Christiane Guitlard. Among the hundreds m attendance from La Jolla were Janie Pendleton Susie Armstrong, Carol Reilly, Jane Murphy, Dottle Kok, Mar) Rutherford, Happy Redfearn, '.\1arian Scott, Agnes Posner, Alice Rider. Belle Wiegle, Barbara Funl.enstein, Annyce Sherman, Ann Brown and Dolly Ragan. Still others attending were Aileen O'Brien, Claire Tavares, Marian Trevor, Betty Bass, Shirley Rubel, Diana Farr, Reba Brophy, Jacque Powell, Virginia 1onday, :vtarge Palmer, Marion elson, Regina Schmidt, Dudley Beckett, Jim .\1adden, Dorene \\ himey, Ph)llis Parrish, Monica Teyssier, Maureen Ghio and Shirle} Gillespie.