Hollywood Studio Magazine (February 1972)

we swim evecy day and entemain often . .. Martha, Jim Jr., and I use the indoor pool and the social room for entertaining all the time. To say nothing of what we save in taxes, pool main¬ tenance and just plain work around the house we just sold. Ours is a spacious 2 bedroom apartment at Villa Sirena and we have our own patio, plenty of closet room, a fully equip¬ ped kitchen including fridge, fireplace and a separate dining area. Enjoy the easy life at Villa Sirena Waterfront Apartments. You’ll be amazed at how little it costs. Phone the manager at 483-3314 viiLcidirenoL WATERFRONT APARTMENTS On the Peninsula • Channel Islands Harbor • Oxnard Man about town / Continued made of the tragedy, using it as his own catharsis. *** If you stop at the Tail O’ the Pup on La Cienega and the woman who serves your hot dog looks familiar, she should. A generation ago she was half of the world’s most famous dance team, Veloz and Yolanda. Director-choreographer Tony Charmoli gave his annual holiday party at his home on Sunset Plaza. Two of his charming sisters, Clair and Albina (there were 9 children) acted as hostesses. Gertrude Niesen told me that after 20 years of voluntary retirement, she is considering an offer to appear in the West Coast company of “Follies” opening the Schubert Theatre here in the spring. Alice Faye and her friend, Wanda Walker, came down from their homes in Palm Desert for the party. Leggy Alice, with those limpid blue eyes and that warm, sultry voice, is as appealing as ever. She was the first to arrive and last to leave explaining, “I don’t get here often.” Escorting the girls was Alice’s brother, Charles Faye. The real name is Leppert, but the family, including their mother, changed it to Faye after Alice adopted the new monicker. Among 200 going and coming: Dorothy and Joe Pasternak, Vivienne Segal and Bob Sydney, Sandy Duncan back up to her normal 100 pounds; Jane and Bob Finkel, Lucille Ball and Gary Morton, Ann Miller with her new manager, Allan Carr, Jane (Powell) and Jim Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Gardiner here from New York for the holidays, and Anne Jeffreys and Bob Sterling, who spent Christmas in the snow at Tahoe. Francine York (a new York with her long hair very short) and I spent a busy evening going from party to party. We started with Marcia and Larry Israel’s Christmas cocktailery. Their estate was beautifully decorated, but the most decorative item was our hostess. The Israels always give warm parties and this one was so much fun, many stayed until two in the morning, (hardly the cocktail hour). Topic for conversation was provided by Christina Onassis, when she arrived without husband, Joe Bolker. A few in the melange: Henny and Jim Backus, Valerie and Nat Dumont, Dorothy and Harry Jameson, Dorothy and Lloyd Bridges (how the ladies enjoyed dancing with him). Edna Earle, glamorous restaurateur, is even more enchanting as a hostess. She floated about in a multi-colored Werle gown of chiffon laced with gold threads. The setting was perfect for a large gathering. Edna lives on a rambling estate in Beverly Hills complete with lanes, streams, bridges, and even a private zoo. The 20-room mansion is decorated with great elegance, reflecting the good taste of its owner. Vickie and Jack Oakie started from their Valley home, got caught in downpour, and never did get to the party. It was a little easier for the hostess’ mother, Mrs. Edna Jenkins, who just came downstairs to join the fun. Others were Morey Amsterdam, Sybil Brand and Cesar Romero, Gertrude (Niesen) and A1 Greenfield, Olavee and Ross Martin with his look-alike daughter, Phyllis, and Edna’s constant companion, dapper Bob Arnold. *** For the past six years, the holidays haven’t ended for me until Edana Romney’s Twelfth Night party. This tradition which the lovely lady has observed all her life continued when she moved here bringing a touch of merry old England with her. Edana invites only close friends whom she wants to see the rest of the year and, after the last guest has gone, Christmas decorations are taken down and bad luck of the past year is swept out. This year, for me the night had a special meaning as Edana bought the Beverly Hills home of the late Cobina Wright. Returning to the house where I worked for 9 years for the first time since Cobina’s death was a little eerie, but wonderful. Edana has done a miraculous job of redecorating in only two months and everyone wished her happiness in the new home which she shares with her mother, “Mims,” and their faithful butler, Freddie, who came over from England with them. Some who enjoyed the warmth and friendship of our gracious hostess were Joan Cohn Harvey in an original Luis Estevez, escorted by the original Luis Estevez; Sylvia and Irving Wallace, Lionel Scott Steinberg who jetted over from London for the party; Ross Hunter, Greer (Garson) and Buddy Fogelson, Ann and Lloyd Hand, Tony Duquette, who decorated the house for Cobina in 1946; Jan and Mel Torme, David Sarfaty, who did the marvelous Twelfth Night decorations, receiving congratulations on the success of his new perfume, “Bagoly”