Seeing Stars On Oscar Night

If you can’t make it to the Academy Awards, there are two black tie galas that offer up lots of stars from the past and present: Norby Walters' Night of 100 Stars and The Roger Neal Style Oscar Viewing Dinner

Joseph Bologna

When the Academy Awards are handed out on Sunday evening, February 26, those who can’t be in the Dolby Theater in the Hollywood & Highland Center for the show and Governor’s Ball afterward can still put on the Ritz and celebrate into the night.

While many stars will be found at parties put on by Vanity Fair, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and even Madonna, many of the stars who the fans know best will be attending one of two events that cater to stars of the past as well as the present.

Norby Walters Night of 100 Stars Viewing Gala

The granddaddy of these celebrations of Oscars and past Oscar winners and nominees is Norby Walters Annual Night of 100 Stars Academy Awards Viewing Gala.

The black-tie event, now in its 27nd year, is being held in the Beverly Hilton Ballroom. It will include presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Joe Bologna by comedian Richard Lewis, Bologna’s wife and partner Renee Taylor and Dinner Chairman and founder, Norby Walters.

Norby Walters

Bologna was an Oscar nominee for writing the screenplay for Lovers and Other Strangers with his wife and David Zelag Goodman; and also won a Prime-Time Emmy, among other awards.

Growing Pains star Alan Thicke, who passed away last December, had been a regular at the Night of 100 Stars. In a profile of Walters last year in the New York Times, he explained why: “There are so many promoters, as you know, in Hollywood, people who round up celebrities for one purpose or another...And you come to know who the good ones are and who the fly-by-night ones are. And you put the good ones on your calendar every year. You know…it’s going to be done first class, and it’s going to be what they promised, and no surprises. Norby delivers that way.”

The title Sponsor once again this year is Finnish billionaire clothing designer/manufacturer Peter Nygard, Chairman of Nygard International, who usually brings along a bevy of beautiful models.

The impressive lineup of stars who have attended in recent years includes Richard Dreyfuss, Martin Landau, Chevy Chase, Fred Willard, James Cromwell, Ron Perlman, Jon Voight, and more.

Burt Ward in his days as Batman's sidekick Robin

The Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Dinner

For the second year in a row, another event featuring contemporary and vintage stars will be The Roger Neal Style Hollywood Oscar Viewing Dinner, at the Hollywood Museum only blocks from where the Academy Awards take place.

This year The Icon Award will be presented to Burt Ward (Robin on the Batman TV series), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) and movie industry legend Tippi Hedren (The Birds, Marnie)

Neal promises at least 80 stars will be on hand inside the Max Factor Building, where the museum houses floors of entertainment memorabilia. “Stars will be coming together to celebrate the Academy Awards,” said Neal, “including a special Academy Awards Exhibit.”

Stars expected to attend include Kelly Lange, Don Most (Happy Days), Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island), Ed Asner (Mary Tyler Moore), Charlene Tilton (Dallas) and George Chakiris, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in West Side Story.

This year the official charities are The Thalians, Generosity.org, and Sheryl Lee Ralphs The Diva Foundation.

For the 21st year, Neal will also be presenting a gifting suite during the day before the Oscars. Neal, who has a public relations firm based in Orange County, has promised each star will once again get thousands of dollars in complimentary gifts, services and trips.