EDITOR's Note: Bob Thomas has been covering the Oscars for AP for nearly six decades. This year, he reports on the post-Oscar Governors Ball.
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LOS ANGELES -- The winner at the Academy Awards and at the post-telecast Board of Governors Ball: Charlize Theron.
The South African actress, with her charming accent and fresh blonde beauty, was a hit with the ball guests and especially the press photographers.
"It's a great story: the ugly duckling becomes the belle of the ball," proclaimed noted Hollywood columnist Army Archerd, who interviewed red carpet arrivals for the 36th year. In her Oscar win for "Monster," Theron played a plain-faced murderer.
Sixteen hundred guests poured into the ballroom a few floors above the Kodak Theatre, site of the awards. Tickets cost $750 a pop, no great sacrifice for most attendees, who could put it on their expense accounts.
The price afforded them a Wolfgang Puck supper in lavish surroundings, including seven choices of antipasto, a mini-potato topped with creme fraiche and caviar, an entree of filet mignon and Maine lobster, and a dessert of chocolate tort and espresso ice cream.
Some didn't stay for dinner. Roy Disney, who lost out on an Oscar as co-producer of the Salvador Dali animated short, "Destino," remained a while, but his mind seemed on faraway Philadelphia where his battle to oust Disney boss Michael Eisner was to continue Tuesday at the company's annual shareholder's meeting. "We're going to In-and-Out Burger," declared Patty Disney, Roy's wife., as they left.
At the ball, a 25-piece orchestra, much amplified and on a revolving stage, played mostly vintage tunes like "Cheek to Cheek" and "And All the Things You Are," which seemed to fit the predominantly geriatric crowd.
Film industry cheerleader Jack Valenti, retiring head of the Motion Picture Association of America, commented, "It's a good party where picture people can meet and talk. There are no speeches, thank heaven, and you can leave whenever you want."
And leave they did. By 11 p.m. the ballroom was about half-empty, many departing for private parties on the Westside, others facing an early call heading for home.
Keeping a careful eye on all proceedings was slim, cool Cheryl Cecchetto whose Sequoia Productions has staged 15 Governors Balls as well as other show biz gatherings. She was in charge of the 800 personnel working the event.
Planning began months ago with special attention to the ceiling, a cloth covering of periwinkle blue accented with paintings and plastic chandeliers.
"I wanted to create a modern-day palace, which is very fitting for the Governors' Ball," said Cecchetto.
