Wining and Dining Patrons of the Arts

The gallery setting was exhilarating--cocktails amid the Art Center College of Design’s display of student-designed futuristic cars, student drawings of nudes and an exhibition of clever advertising projects.

But the tempo only intensified at the Art Center One-Hundred’s 10th anniversary dinner-dance hosted by Alyce and Spud Williamson. As 90 guests ambled over to another setting for dinner and dancing, they found themselves crossing a black-and-white-checkered dance floor to a semicircle of tables covered in black lame with silver overlays and centerpieces of tall silver pedestals brimming with white calla lilies and magnolia leaves. Place cards were in silver frames. Gifts at each place--silver key chains.

“Prettiest party I’ve ever been to,” said Frank Jameson, as his black satin napkin slid off his lap.

Then the crowd picked up the beat of Rob Rio and the Revolvers, a rhythm and blues band.

The affair was the Williamsons’ gift to the Art Center One-Hundred women who have raised several million dollars for scholarships.

David Brown thanked Alyce Williamson for “10 years of leadership and unswerving generosity.” She responded, “Spud and I are doing this to thank all of you. I love you all, and I love to see the results of your support.”

In the crowd were Kelsey Hall, Isabel Arnett, Sis and Lou Jones, Beverly Fitzgerald and David Cunningham, Harry and Betsy Hathaway, Francis and Patricia McComb, Leisa Bukovitz, Laura-Lee and Robert Woods, Henry and Robin Williamson, Art Center Executive Vice President Ron Jernigan and Sally and Ken Dulin.

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Inaugural: Dick Poladian chaired the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce ball at Century Plaza to honor 1997 board chairman Dennis C. Poulsen, president and CEO of Rose Hills Co. With Roger Barkley as master of ceremonies and Gregory Hines entertaining, the affair saluted Los Angeles’ entrepreneurial spirit at six companies--Davidson & Associates Inc., MRV Communications Inc., PDQ Personnel, Store of Knowledge, Ultra Violet Devices Inc., and Xylan Corp.

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Unveiling: Tuesday at Chasen’s, Barbara Sinatra is scheduled to be on hand for the premiere of the limited edition Frank Sinatra Korbel Champagne. The affair will be a fund-raiser for the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Medical Center. Up for silent auction bids will be celebrity-autographed champagne flutes.

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Arcadia: Performing Tree, “in the spirit of art and intellect,” hosts a benefit performance of “Arcadia” at the Mark Taper Forum on Thursday. Heading the committee are Steve Knipstein, Hilary Crahan, Connie Butler, Frances Carrillo, Evelyn Chumo, Kathleen Hadfield and Victoria Lavina.

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Las Nin~as: Each member of Las Nin~as, the junior auxiliary of Las Madrecitas and Las Amigas, the auxiliaries of the Crippled Children’s Guild of Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital, has given 100 volunteer hours at the hospital and an additional 200 hours of community service. Members were presented at the Regent Beverly Wilshire at the 40th annual Evergreen Ball. Presentees: Melanie Argo, Stephanie Baars, Jessica Bennett, Kristina Carey, Season Hawkins, Vanessa Herzog, Quinn Honeycutt, Jacquelyn Irvine, Shayna Kennedy, Genie Park, Tracy Popeney, Teresa Sabatasso, Celeste Sattelmeier, Tevia Schriebman, Elizabeth Schuricht, Marisa Spencer, Melissa Stewart, Jennifer Trujillo, Julie Walton and Mauri Warren.

Elsewhere on the Social Circuit

The Bob Chandler Courage Award will honor baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew on Feb. 7 at the Ritz Carlton Huntington in Pasadena. The Bob Chandler Foundation benefit headed by Patti Smith will provide funds for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and the Bob Chandler Athletic Scholarship at USC.

Anaheim Angels coach Carew inspired the prayers of a nation and raised consciousness about the limitations of the organ donor system last year when he appealed for aid for his daughter Michelle, who subsequently died of leukemia. Bob Chandler died of cancer in January 1995. He was a leading wide receiver and scorer when the Oakland Raiders won the American Football Conference championship in 1980.

James F. Childs Jr. and his Friends of the USC Libraries dinner committee--Sue Femino, Cathy Goldsmith, Elaine Leventhal, Joe Noble, Robert Sattler, Marjorie Lord Volk and Jean Louise Webster--will co-host cocktails before the Scripter Award Dinner on Feb. 8 honoring novelist Michael Ondaatje for “The English Patient” and screenwriter Anthony Minghella for his screen adaptation.