::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

That was Body Beautiful parading in those vintage film clips screened at the Museum of Television & RadioÕs Razzle Dazzle: The Special Years evening previewing Mitzi GaynorÕs collection of sexsational gowns created by designing genius Bob Mackie, who Ð as Mitzi says Ð still looks 10 years old. BobÕs also designed for such sirens as Cher and Ann-Margret. More than several dozen of his 350 priceless gowns for Mitzi and her Body Beautiful from her Õ60s and Õ70s television specials are on view at MT&R, and the entire wardrobe is being auctioned at www.juliensauctions.com, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Professional Dancers Society. Juliens Auctions has represented the Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Debbie Reynolds and the Jerry Seinfeld estates. Oh, how the camera loves Mitzi, as evidenced at the museum in clip after clip from her thirty-some extravaganzas with titles such as Mitzi and Her One Hundred Guys. The shows were helmed and choreographed by the inimitable and indomitable Tony Charmoli, and why arenÕt these shows compiled into DVDs for posterity. Fortunately, Mitzi owns them, thanks to husband Jack BeanÕs foresight, so negotiations would be easy. That gorgeous face radiates love, her waist in these specials is no bigger than a wedding ring, and, ah, those billion dollar gams. Razzle-dazzle, indeed! We thank Lars Stensland of the Keith-McCoy fabric gallery on Melrose Avenue for contacting Rene Reyes, MT&R director of public programs and festivals, who immediately embraced the idea of the exhibition, followed by the opening night screening and Mitzi in conversation with Bob and Tony. Besides a full house in the main theater, another room welcomed the overflow. ÒOne of the best evenings weÕve had,Ó decreed MT&RÕs Gary Browning. An array of chums, blown away by MitziÕs singing, dancing and shaking her dollbaby derriere to the hot rhythm numbers, included Rene, Lars, Lynn von Kersting and Richard Irving, their dancing daughter India with her swimming-champ beau Mario Rivelli, Joni Berry (ÒdidnÕt know Mitzi sang so wellÓ), museum president and CEO Pat Mitchell, Bob MackieÕs partners Ray Aghayan and Rett Turner, CampanileÕs Milan Adam, Steve Kahn, whoÕs arranged the auction details, Gloria and Mike Franks, Roxanne and Jack Carter, Dale Olson, Kip Grimm, Gretchen Fritz, Jeff Becker, Abby Aguirre, Carla Gomez. And, yes, Mitzi can cook, too! During the q-and-a, Mitzi was asked if she had a family. Yes. Husband Jack Bean of 52 years, who she lost this year. ÒMen donÕt grow up,Ó she mused. ÒThey get bigger. Like Jack, who was my 200-pound baby.Ó ÒLook at the luxurious quality of the fabric, IÕd like to reach out and touch it,Ó said SothebyÕs real estate whiz Brooke Knapp, whose mate is television tiger Grant Tinker, at the annual Colleagues luncheon sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue at the Beverly Wilshire. Brooke was commenting on the Oscar de la Renta fall fashions gracing the runway. We were seated with Brooke and Marcia Hobbs, our Design Magazine editor who informs that the handsome monthly, published by Clif SmithÕs Beverly Hills Courier empire, is growing with each issue (20 additional pages in the May edition, available in our hotels and selected newsstands). It was MarciaÕs late mother, Betty Wilson, who launched the luncheon in 1989 with Betsy Bloomingdale, Marion Jorgenson, Erlenne Sprague to raise monies for the ChildrenÕs Institute, founded in 1906, to help children affected by violence in their homes or communities. The Colleagues is a nonprofit corporation composed of women dedicated to ending child abuse and neglect, with funds amassed through weekly sales at The Colleagues Shop and the spring luncheon. A supporter through the years, Nancy Reagan presented honorees Brooke Shields and husband Chris Henchy with their Champions of Children award. Brooke and Chris, who have two daughters, Rowan Francis, born in 2003, and Grier Hammond born last year, visited the facility on North New Hampshire Avenue (another facility is in Torrance) and were moved by the dedicated efforts made in behalf of neglected children and their families. Screenwriter-producer Chris heads Will FerrellÕs production company, and superstar Brooke, Òthe Calvin Klein jeans girl,Ó made her first film at age 12 and has never stopped working, in addition to appearing on magazine covers (between 1980 and 1985 she graced 300 of them). A Princeton graduate, she majored in French literature with a minor in Italian and her college sweetheart was Dean Cain (Princeton Õ88). For those interested in trivia, BrookeÕs great-grandmother Mary Elsie Moore was the sister of Glenn CloseÕs grandfather. Marcia Hobbs noted that her mother planned the spring luncheon menu years ago, and the menu remains a tradition, beginning with the delicious tomato soup, followed by breast of chicken with wild rice, and the dessert of peppermint ice cream. Boaz Mazor, representing Oscar de la Renta as the sales director for 30 years (whose sister is the popular Judy Taubman), flew in from New York to orchestrate the fashion show that ended with what we described as Òthe diva gown,Ó which was roundly applauded.. Saks Fifth AvenueÕs v-p Larry Bruce, Colleagues president Ginny Sydorick and luncheon co-chairperson Anne Johnson greeted a quartet of Bloomingdales (Betsy, Justine, Hailey, Samar), and at our table we visited with Eunice (Mrs. Hal) David, whose book, High Rise, Low Down, with Denise LeFrak about New YorkÕs luxury real estate market is expertly written by co-author Kathryn Livingston and not to be missed. ÒFifteen years ago the doctors told me IÕd never walk again, and this summer IÕll be dancing at my son AlexanderÕs wedding,Ó offered Nancy Davis, who was diagnosed with MS, and has raised megamillions for cutting-edge research with her Race to Erase MS events over these 14 years. Undeterred and defiant and determined to lick MS, she created her annual star-studded dance party, co-hosted with Tommy Hilfiger, whose fashion show ramps up the night, and this year, as always, brought forth slews of teen throbs, from Drew and Nick Lachey to the Goo Goo Dolls at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Headlined by Earth, Wind & Fire, the evening raised a staggering $2.5 million. Nancy revealed that a new drug will be approved shortly that will make life easier and manageable for fellow MS sufferers. Hats off to her for additionally hosting a weekend roundtable of doctors and scientists who share their knowledge, with event guests invited to participate. Scene stealers at NancyÕs Òdress to dance your shoes off Ó night were her two-and-a-half-year-old ÒmiracleÓ twins, Isabella and Mariella, whose dadÕs the popular Kenny Rickel, a born gentleman from Manhattan who could teach a few of our rich local yokels some manners. www.bhcourier.com.