Lana ... worth the wait

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 10

Lana ... worth the wait

David Hartnell's

HOU.WWOD

I’m not one to gossip, but . . . recently I was a guest at the “Ms Wonderful” ball here in Los Angeles in honour of Lana Turner. Well, she turned up three hours late and I would say she had gathered a few drinks on the way — no I shouldn’t say that, I should say she had gathered a number of drinks on the way. She kept 1000 guests waiting, wondering and grumbling, but when she showed up she looked great. She was dined at a table full of elegant men — Robert Preston, Jackie Cooper, Marvin Hamlisch, George Hamilton, Red Buttons, Hal Lindon and Anthony Newley. The former first lady, Betty Ford has been given an advance from her New York publishers for a book she will write about her battle back from alcoholism. She hopes that the book will be on the market by June.

Tatum O’Neal and John McEnroe have had a $50,000 nursery and playroom built onto their home in Malibu. Their baby is due in May.

It looks like the next person to join “Dynasty” will be Tony Curtis. Mind

you he says he will only do guest spots on the show, but I think he will join the show full time if he gets the chance. Phyllis Diller has really flipped her wig. She is showing some of her 175 colourful wigs at a collection in Beverly Hills. She feels that her wig collection is art and all the money raised will go to her favourite cause — animal shelters in Los Angeles. “Who’s the Boss” star Tony Danza has opened his own exclusive menswear store in New

York. He will only be stocking the very best. . . and, I might add, for the very best prices too (the cheapest men’s shirt in stock is $900). Are you old enough to remember Mitzi Gaynor? Well, two days ago she gave a party in Atlantic City for herself and her husband, Jack Bean. They were celebrating 31 years of marriage.

The former “Lou Grant” star, Ed Asner, is writing a new sitcom which he will star in. N.B.C. thinks the idea is

great and a winner, so time will tell, I guess. A few days ago I passed the house where Marilyn Monroe died some 20 years ago. It is a little Spanish-style house tucked away up a side street in Brentwood. It is as if Marilyn still lived there. Outside there must have been 10 sightseers all taking pictures. Body beautiful Joan Collins has signed a $2 million deal to be the front person for Holiday Spas Health Clubs throughout the United States. She has now knocked Cher out of the way after she promoted the club for three years. Joan has contracted Bob Mackie the top Hollywood fashion designer, to come up with a range of high fashion leotards. She will wear them in the promotions and then launch them on the market at a starting price of $4OO. Stephanie Powers has brought out her own exercise book and is about to undertake a 46-state tour to promote it. She says it is a life-enhancing programme which will

transform the whole body, L spirit and sense of well- - being ... well, it’s a good’. line anyway! •(•' Talking about books, x when the late Ethel Mer- « man wrote her autobiography and got to the section where she c married Ernest Borgnine.j back on June 27, 1964, the c heading at the top of the page read “My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine” and the page was left blank. You see, nobody really knows what happened, ex- ><■ cept Borgnine, and he’s e not telling they were i. married for just 10 days! £ John Forsythe has just signed a new deal to star - in “Dynasty” until 1987 ? for which he will receive i a take home pay of ,J $87,000 an episode. Now i that will make him $2.5 ? million richer at the end •« of the series in 1987. J