The following report is from the Chicago Tribune, Thursday, May 16, 1996.
Star Power
By Amanda Barrett
Celebrities provide entertainment for Alzheimer's benefit
Special to the TribuneSyndicated advice columnists Abigail (Dear Abby) Van Buren and Ann Landers made a rare appearance together at the Fairmont Hotel Saturday night for the 1996 Rita Hayworth Gala, benefitting the Alzheimer's Association.
The sisters laughed and chatted while guests strained to get a glimpse of them. Later, they were honored for thir longtime support of the association.
From the podium, Van Buren spoke of living in Beverly Hills, Calif., during the 1970s. Across the street lived a beautiful redhead who each day took a walk with a nurse to a nearby beauty shop.
That beauty was Rita Hayworth. The screen star died of the disease in 1987.
Also honored was Gerald D. Schellenberg, whose lab helped identify the second genetic factor responsible for Alzheimer's.
Hayworth's daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, was on hand to introduce the honorees.
The ball was dubbed "You Were Never Lovelier," after the 1942 film starring Hayworth and Fred Astaire. Musical scenes from that movie were re-created by guest entertainers Susan Anton, Nell Carter and Rita Moreno.
Ben E. King ("Stand By Me") sang during dinner. Other faces in the crowd: former Bears coach Mike Ditka and private investigator Ernie Rizzo.
About 850 guests paid $350 a ticket and the association earned more than $700,000 on the night.
Return to: Rita Hayworth home page
