Hollywood Beat
Beastly Ball & Songs of Our Lives
Beastly Ball & Songs of Our Lives
It was a given that Hollywood’s new “It Girl” Betty White would be honored at the annual Beastly Ball at the Los Angeles Zoo. Her tireless work on behalf of animals is legendary, and she has served as a Director of the Zoo for 35 years. As GLAZA President stated, “Her heart and advocacy for the animals that share our earth, help drive us to excellence.”
More than 1,000 safari clad guests were on hand at the zoo, to greet their inhabitants, and view their feedings, and fill their own tummies, feasting on goodies from such restaurant as El Cholo, Il Fornaio, Pinks Hot Dogs (Betty’s favorite), and Yamashiro to name a few.
NCIS star Pauley Perrette served as MC for the evening's program, which included video tributes to White by Alex Trebek, Craig Ferguson and Jane Goodall, as well as in-person honors from City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Celebrity auctioneers Fritz Coleman, the popular KNBC TV weathercaster, and comedian Jimmy Pardo, conducted a successful live auction. Among the most popular items was a pre-opening tour of the Zoo’s new Pachyderm Forest with Betty White, The best news of the evening was that over $1 million was raised to support the various programs and projects of our world famous Zoo.
White is a GLAZA Trustee and was named "Ambassador to the Animals of the City of Los Angeles" by Mayor Villaraigosa in 2006. In a March 2010 CNN interview, White mentioned "her 46-year partnership with the Los Angeles Zoo, calling it one of her two loves in life alongside show business."
Another worthwhile event, The Songs of Our Lives Concert, took place at the Wadsworth Theatre in Westwood. More than 700 guests attended the star-studded event, which included performances by Tony Orlando, Paul Reiser, and Steve Tyrell, who performed with show creator, Charles Fox. More than $155,000 was raised at this concert to benefit the Fulfillment Fund, which supports education for at risk students.
And to add to the mix, Academy Award winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley was honored at Beverly Hills famous Indian eatery Nirvana, by Ashok Amritraj, chairman of Hyde Park Entertainment for his astonishing career. Sir Ben was thrilled to have received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Could we ever forget his performance as Ghandi,or his current flick, Shutter Island?
And while on the subject of fine films, don’t miss The Girl Who Played with Fire, which will open shortly in L.A. This second film adaptation from the Millennium trilogy written by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson, is pure screen magic. Noomi Rapace, the punk, tattooed, damaged heroine is simply marvelous. She succeeds in making Lisabeth authentic, believable and deeply human.
Betty White – Ambassador for the Animals
Actress Stefanie Powers & Friend at Beastly Ball
Mr. & Mrs Ben Kingsley at Nirvana
Songs of Our Lives Performers
Noomi Rapace – "The Girl Who Played With Fire"
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