D.C. Throws a Hollywood Party With the Reagans

WASHINGTON — Maybe the best Hollywood party of the year happened Saturday night--only it happened here.

What a cast for the first-ever American Film Institute Film Preservation Ball, that mix of politics and society that sets off a significant social spark.

First, there was President Ronald Reagan. He appeared at the Grand Hyatt Hotel both in person (in what Washington social watchdogs said was a rare stay-through-the-entire-evening role) and via a surprise film clip, as a young officer in “This Is the Army.” The pleasure he obviously took from the event gave credence to the oft-reported story in Los Angeles that he still cares deeply about “the industry” and loves his shared history with film.

Add in Bonita Granville Wrather, AFI chairman, whose friendship with Reagan and with “pretty, lovely Nancy” accounted for their involvement in the black-tie evening.

And there were rarely (if ever) viewed film clips of Fred Astaire, selected and edited by director Jack Haley Jr. The clips were introduced by personal tributes from a quartet of his former leading ladies--Cyd Charisse, Barrie Chase, Joan Leslie and Nanette Fabray. A former co-star, Betty Furness, pointed out that in “1936 I was engaged to Fred, but Ginger got him again.”

The evening’s supporting cast included Astaire’s daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, who managed to capsulize the evening’s meaning, the importance of film preservation. “As a daughter, not only do I have my memories, but I also have years and years of my father’s film and television work,” McKenzie said, pointing out that several of the evening’s clips were in the preservation process, but many more were “in danger.”

AFI Director Jean Firstenberg said the evening was a “thrilling success,” not only a wonderful honor for AFI, but also a great personal tribute to Wrather, “a real statement of affection, a thank you for her tremendous contribution of time and energy,” first as a board member and now as chairman.

During the program, AFI co-chairman George Stevens Jr., whose father was the legendary film director, stressed that “these films are in our national memory.” Stevens was part of Wrather’s table, which also included her escort, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the Reagans, U.S. Information Agency Director Charles and Mary Jane Wick, and Stevens’ wife, Liz. Asked about his animated table talk with Reagan, longtime Democrat Stevens said the President was “trying out some of his Russian jokes” on the table, apparently getting ready for his summit meeting later this week.

Reagan Film Clip

Reagan unwound at Camp David on weekends watching “golden oldies” with staff and Secret Service, Stevens had told the audience earlier. But even a film buff like the President seemed surprised at the clip that introduced him. It showed a 1940-vintage Ronald Reagan, telling his troupe of actors that they were going to Washington, and “wouldn’t it be funny if the President came to see us.” The short clip ended with a backstage shot, and Reagan telling the troupe that “our boss, the President of the United States” was out front that night.

The current President looked delighted, but not as much as First Lady Nancy Reagan, who reached over and squeezed his arm.

There was a great deal of squeezing throughout the evening, as hundreds of couples moved to the sounds of Lester Lanin and his orchestra (yes, at one point they really did do “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in fox-trot time). By dancing toward the northwest corner of the dance floor, a couple could be within 10 feet of the President of the United States.

Roger Stevens, the just-retired chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and a former holder of just about every cultural post that D.C. has to offer, was clear that “you just don’t get to eat with the President of the United States every night,” even though the Reagans had done a similar stint at a dinner honoring Stevens several weeks ago. Or, as one Washington wag put it, “I’ve never seen them eat dinner before.”

A Tentative Box-Step

Nor is it every day that one can dance beside Baryshnikov, who did a rather tentative box-step for about five minutes.

Washington, it turns out, is a place of many dance steps, perhaps none so interesting as the waltz past the First Couple during a pre-dinner private reception in a small room near the ballroom. About three dozen VIPs, even those who might have seen the Reagans earlier in the day or who are old friends, still give their names to an aide, are announced to the couple and say a few words. Finishing her handshaking stint, actress Carol Lynley turned to a friend and said, “It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it.” Now just how long the Reagans spend in conversation is a measure of the greetee’s importance--chalk up points for Charisse and her husband, Tony Martin, who spent more than the usual few seconds.

But mark down Washington audiences for managing to make such a ruckus during the performance of society pianist Bobby Short that his special sound was almost drowned out, even at the nearby tables, prompting several “shushes” from USIA Director Wick.

It was a socially-significant turnout for the first-time event, with guests including AFI trustee and philanthropist Jill Sackler, there with attorney-about-town Steve Martindale; now-D.C. resident (and new mom) Lynda Carter with her husband, Robert Altman; and choreographer Marge Champion, who told the group “I do tremble because many of our dancers are not recorded.”

Also there--D.C.’s most eligible single man, CIA Director William Webster; dinner chair Michael Luftglass of William Grant and Sons; Garfinckels Chairman Neil J. Fox, who hosted a massive reception before the dinner at his department store. The party included Carolyn Roehm’s presentation of her fall evening collection, and the Jefferson Hotel’s Rose Narva with husband, William, who is the physician to the Congress.

And, for any of you who don’t know how Washington works, here’s the description from Nanette Fabray, who is “Honorable” because of serving on the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped and on the National Council on the Handicapped:

“After the FBI checks you out and the Congress approves you, you are honorable.”