NORMAN BROKAW-CHAIRMAN EMERITUS OF WME

Norman Brokaw, a true gentleman and one of my favorite people ever, has moved his office out of the William Morris building to one across the street in yet another building that had been owned by WM. Norman was the last WM employee to move out of that building. He started at WM in 1943 when he was 18, and made $25 a week (take home $17.50). He lived with a Murphy bed in a place for $65 a week. He's now chairman emeritus and WM sold three buildings in Bev Hills for $43 million. Congratulations Norman. He also just received the Governors Award from the TV Academy, the first agent to ever do so. Because of Danny Thomas and Bill Cosby, Norman packaged legendary TV shows. He has also represented three US presidents, Barbara Walters, Nancy Pelosi, Susan Hayward, Barbara Stanwyck, Clint Eastwood, Natalie Wood, and his long-time client (46 years) Kim Novak. Note her self-portrait on the wall.

His new office is just gorgeous, with big windows overlooking trees, his own conference room, and plenty of room for his signed photos. Now 83, Norman is still a dapper, brilliant gentleman. For cufflinks, he alternates between the gold William Morris cufflinks he got on his 30th anniversary of being an agent, and the sapphire presidential seal cufflinks that he was given by President Ford.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DANIELLE DEL !!!!!

The private room and bar at Soho House were the site of a sensational Girls' Night Out birthday for our friend Danielle Del. Danielle is a talent manager, and is married to the adorable "Ernie the Attorney" Ernie Del. The martinis and Manolos were flowing freely as we partied into the night. Off the top of my head.......Dagny Dubelko, Dede Binder Goldsmith, Donna Antebi, Julie Araskog, Alexandra Dwek, Lisa Franchot (whose photographs you see here), Anne Kopelson, Carrie Wiatt, Joyce Arad, Tracy Danza.....and the beat goes on. The food was terrific, by the way.

KIM NOVAK HONORED AT AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE

Over 700 people showed up at the Egyptian Theatre for a sold out "Platinum Tribute" to Kim Novak celebrating Sony's release of "The Kim Novak Boxed Collection" DVD set. There was a private reception for Kim earlier at the Essex Public House on Hollywood Blvd., and then we hid in the balcony to watch "Bell, Book & Candle." Kim's husband, Dr. Robert Malloy and Stephen Rebello, the moderator for the night joined us (of course). Poor Cinematheque had to turn away so many people.....

When Kim was introduced she received a two-minute standing ovation, and her Q&A, also moderated by Mary Melton of Los Angeles Magazine, was an emotional, moving, revealing and funny event. It was truly a love fest from both sides. After the event we went to Cut at the Beverly Wilshire, where the martinis flowed along with the lobster, steak, and extra appetizers from Wolfgang. Everyone at CUT was amazing to us. It DOES have the best food in the city. Thanks to Sony, American Cinematheque, Los Angeles Magazine, and mPRm. This event was one for the record books. Finally people got to see the real Kim, the warm, funny, intelligent, luminous legend.

SANDY AND SUE'S 50'S DINNER

If you were born in LA, you remember Chasen's Banana Shortcake, the Brown Derby's Grapefruit Cake, Hillcrest's Coconut Cake, Blum's Crunch Cake, and the Bullock's Wilshire Mile High Coconut Pie. You also remember your parents' parties with their appetizers of spinach-artichoke dip, crab and creamcheese dip, baked brie with fruit and nuts! Well......Sandy Pressman and I recreated it. Our guests were Nancy Sanders, Kris Postil, Terre Thomas, Cathy Siegel, sundry friends, Seanna Biggs, Marisa Levin Frankel and Nathalie Kunin. We cooked all the apps, but the cakes came from:

VALERIE'S CONFECTIONS

213-739-8149 3360 W. First St. Los Angeles 90004

Go on their website to see the cakes of our childhood, that we never thought we'd ever taste again.

KIM NOVAK TO MAKE SPECIAL LA APPEARANCE--SOLD OUT

My favorite movie star of all time, Kim Novak, will be at the American Cinematheque's celebration honoring her and Sony's release of "The Kim Novak Collection" boxed set on July 30th at Egyptian Theatre. They will be screening her movies for four days, but opening night is "Bell, Book & Candle," followed by a Q&A with Kim. She loves that movie. After the Q&A they will show "Pal Joey." (She didn't enjoy playing dumb blonde Linda English and will readily tell you.) Her Vanity Fair story will be in the October magazine. It's VERY rare for her to leave her ranch, but she's proud of her work and the recognition it continues to get, and is pleased with the "Collection."

JOAN RIVERS IN LA

Joan is here for five weeks shooting her new reality series for WE. Over this weekend she has been doing stand-up shows at Catalina Bar & Grill, which were also shot for WE. All I can tell you is that her new material featuring Anne Frank, Mother Teresa, and Mel Gibson---is unbelievably hilarious. Look for her to continue to do her act around LA. When she's in NY she does a show in a club every Wednesday to try out new material and "keep fresh."

PROJECT SAVE OUT SURF BENEFIT

Actress Tanna Frederick, founder of Save Our Surf, along with co-chairs PT Townend and Shaun Thomson hosted a wonderful benefit honoring the first anniversary of the charity. Project Save Our Surf benefits our oceans and preserving the marine eco-systems, and many well-known surfers and celebrities are members. The benefit was held on the Santa Monica Pier, and everyone has a blast.

Photos by John Heller