Beverly CohnEditor-at-LargeIt’s Oscar countdown and final preparations are underway for “The 16th Annual Night of 100 Stars Black Tie Dinner Gala” on March 5 at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. Celebrating the 78th annual Academy Awards ceremony, 150 to 200 stars, including past Oscar winners and nominees, will attend. Norby Walters, well-known super-agent, is once again producer and dinner chairman. Just for the sheer number of celebrities attending, this formal sit-down dinner viewing party is rated the Number 1 bash.Edward Lozzi, public relations director of Night of 100 Stars says, “This year’s party is more spectacular than ever with a celebrity guest list that includes Ken Watanabe, Mimi Rogers, Martin Landau, Amber Tamblyn, Dennis Hopper, Jermaine Jackson, Nicolette Sheridan, Cedric the Entertainer, Cindy Margolis, David Hasselhoff, Daryl Hannah, Bridgette Fonda, Bo Derek, Richard Dreyfuss and over 150 more.” Lozzi continued, “Of all the events with which I’ve been involved, this is certainly one of the most outstanding, and it’s been a pleasure working with Norby Walters to help make this night a night to remember.” For ticket information: (310) 446-5416. (There are a limited number of $1,000 seats still available) “OSCAR LORE”In case you’ve ever wondered how the “golden statuette” got the name Oscar, research reveals three possibilities: The most widely-accepted credit goes to Harmon Oscar Nelson, father of WESTSIDE WOMAN and SENIOR SCENE astrologer, Gaye Nelson. A brilliant musician, handsome tenor crooner, bandleader, and advertising executive, he was married to his prep school sweetheart, Bette Davis. Hollywood legend has it that Miss Davis named the Academy Award “Oscar” in honor of her husband’s adorable derriere, which she thought bore a striking resemblance to the “golden statuette.”Now, as the legend goes, the Academy was not thrilled about their “golden statuette” being named after some guy’s butt, so they claimed that Margaret Herrick, their librarian, said it looked like her uncle Oscar Pierce. The third version is that New York Post columnist Sidney Skolsky claimed that he came up with the name “Oscar.”So, these three versions have all been floating around Hollywood for years, but it seems that the one about Harmon Oscar Nelson is the most interesting and widely accepted.
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