Diamond Ball on March 8 to Benefit United Jewish Fund

Academy award-winning composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch and a 13-piece orchestra will entertain at the United Jewish Fund Inaugural Diamond Ball on March 8 at the Century Plaza Tower.

The evening will play a key role in raising the $47-million financial goal, about half to be used locally.

Chairing the dinner, which celebrates the Jewish Federation Council’s 75th anniversary, will be Shirley and Irwin H. Goldenberg. A $10,000 gift is required of couples attending. Bruce I. Hochman is council president.

Lee Minnelli is hosting an 83rd birthday party for Vincente Minnelli tonight in their Beverly Hills home. The occasion is extra special because the Hollywood director has learned he later will be decorated with the French government’s highest award, the Legion of Honor. He will be bestowed with the top rank of commander in recognition of his artistic contribution and international cultural influence.

Among those invited for cocktails and dinner are Kenny and Marianne Rogers, Chase and Beverly Morsey, Robert and Rosemarie Stack, Corwin and Nancy Denny, Cubby and Dana Broccoli, Henry and Ginny Mancini, Jerry and Ginny Oppenheimer, Virginia Milner, Greer Garson, Alan Carr and Howard and Ruth Koch.

The board of directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. hosts a sherry tea Sunday honoring the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee and saluting its upcoming Pasadena Showcase House of Design.

Conductor Andre Previn will be the special guest at the backstage party.

Supporters of Crippled Children’s Guild of Orthopaedic Hospital are immersed in “Marathon Magic.” It’s a combination of champagne reception, feast, dancing and entertainment next Friday evening at the Biltmore.

The party is among pre-race festivities for the Los Angeles Marathon run March 9 and a fund-raiser for the physically handicapped at the hospital.

Sleight-of-hand champion Michael Ammar will perform and Rafer Johnson has agreed to act as honorary chairman.

Mrs. Kurt A. Grey is guild president. Coordinating the party are Mrs. Douglas L. Allen, chairman, and Mmes. Rodney W. Rood and Norman P. Zemel.

USC’s Trojan Guild celebrates its 25th year Thursday by honoring the 40th anniversary of the university’s division of drama at Trojan Guild Day. It will be a morning chronicling the past 40 years of drama at USC, while raising scholarship funds. Ronald Wayne Manuel will produce the retrospective.

Guild president Nancy Hoffman of San Marino and Trojan Guild Day chairman Naomi Cummings of Burbank are arranging details for the luncheon themed “Savor the Season.”

At the Chevaliers du Tastevin (the international wine society) annual white-tie dinner earlier this month at the Beverly Wilshire Ballroom, Bob Burns, president of Regent International Hotels, was inducted into the illustrious Los Angeles chapter. The late Hernando Courtright, owner of the Beverly Wilshire, was devoted to the group as grand officer and founder of the chapter. For the occasion, florist Stanley Kirsten filled the ballroom with forsythia, pepper flowers, tulips and bunches of grapes.