With honorary board members including Jennifer Aniston, George
Clooney, Nicky Hilton, Alyssa Milano, Lisa Kudrow, and Courtney
Cox-Arquette among more, The Life Through Art Foundation not only
helps raise money for a great cause, to help underserved children get an
education and training in the arts throughout Los Angeles, but it also knows how to throw one
great party.
The annual Red Party, which was attended by stars galore, was
held at the magnificant Peterson Automotive Museum in Los
Angeles, which is a secret treasure unto itself, hidden among the
corporate rows of buildings along the strip of Wilshire's vast
Miracle Mile. Upon entering the back entrance of the museum, with
ushers whisking VIP's up and through the museums many levels,
stairs, and escelators, passing table after table of check in's,
we arrived at a large tent filled with beautiful patrons of the
arts, stars, child prodigy's and their parents, endless free food
and wine, and some truly first rate entertainment.
I spent some time seated with T.V. star DORIS ROBERTS. Ms.
Roberts, who has been a working professional actor since 1960,
and has starred in a massive 200 plus episodes of the hit show
Everybody Loves Raymond, has two feature films coming out she
stars in later this year. Doris Roberts, her friends and I take
in the entertainment.
DORIS ROBERTS: Wow! Look at that! (She points over my head. I
look over my shoulder and up in the air above us are two spandex
bikini clad young women, doing the splits, in mid air, spinning
from a rope, and dangling high up from the ceiling, with not even
a net beneath them.
THE HOLLYWOOD SENTINEL (Bruce Edwin): Wow! (Doris, her friends
and I proceed to watch the acrobat show, which turns quite sexy
very quickly. Doris seems to enjoy it as much as I do, with the
girls doing flips and acrobatic tricks high above. Between the
performances, I ask Doris what she is working on). Are you
looking to do film now Doris, or just T.V.?
DORIS ROBERTS: Yes! Definitely film! That is exactly what I want
to do. No more T.V. I mean, T.V. has been very good to me, but I
want a break from that now. I really want to do more film. In
fact, I have two coming out later this year
BRUCE EDWIN: That's great! I would love to hear about them.
DORIS ROBERTS: Well, I can tell you, the names of them are 'They
Came from Upstairs,' and 'Another Harvest Moon.' I am very
pleased about them.
BRUCE EDWIN: That's great! Congratulations on that. What other
type of films are you intending to do?
DORIS ROBERTS: Anything good, but I would like to do some drama.
I've done comedy a lot. Drama would be nice. But any thing if the
story is good. (A kid comes up to Ms. Roberts who had performed
earlier, and gives her one of his CD's).
DORIS ROBERTS: Thank you. Thank you very much. You were very
good. You are very talented. I will listen to this. You should
give Bruce here one too. He might be able to help you, he's a
manager.
BRUCE EDWIN: Thank you. I will listen to this. Thank you
Doris.
I left feeling like Doris Roberts was a long lost friend. Not
only does she not have any overblown ego, she reaches out to
bring people together, and to help. Her friendliness and warmth
is a testament to the success that has followed her throughout
her incredible journey as a great actor in Hollywood. She is one
class act.
We both again later glance up at the girls swinging over our
heads.One of the acrobats doing the splits hanging from her toes
drops a few feet and pounds the air in a free fall, centimeters
away from the other girl doing the splits facing her in the
opposite direction, as if wild lovers defying gravity in mid air.
I glance back at Doris. She nods with a tough sign of appoval,
taking a small sip of her red wine. Now THAT is one cool
lady.
The Life Through Art Foundation is a rare organization that helps
provide educational opportunities for young student and artists
who would otherwise not be able to finance such endeavors. The
foundation supports students pursuing various forms of education
in most all areas of the arts. To donate, mail check to The Life
Through Art Foundation, 118 S. Cordova St., 3rd Floor, Burbank,
CA, 91505.
© 2009, The Hollywood Sentinel