Hollywood Beat, Feb 24, 2010
Renee Taylor & Motion Picture Home Renee Taylor & Motion Picture Home Remember those old MGM Musicals, when Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney decided on a moments notice to “put on a show”? They must have influenced actress/writer Renee Taylor to put on a fundraiser to assist the residents of the Motion Picture Home, and within two weeks, she hosted a luncheon/fundraiser right in her own backyard! It seems that the Long Term Care Unit of the legendary Home for Retired Actors is in dire need of funds (largely due to mismanagement), and that their Long Term Care Unit will be closing. That would leave the remaining 61 residents left to be moved out or die. Irrepressible Renee and her hubby, actor Joe Bologna opened their Beverly Hills home for an auction/luncheon at the nominal contribution of $25.00, and attracted more than 200 guests, who bid generously on the items offered. These included scripts, books and posters signed by Stanley Kramer, Diane Ladd and Hugh Hefner (to name a few) and costumes and gowns worn by such luminaries as Jayne Meadows and Esther Williams. I even purchased a retro red sequined jacket, for less than $300.00! Paintings, prints and Hurrell classic celebrity photographs were offered by David Streets, who owns a fabulous art gallery in Beverly Hills – and Barbara Lazaroff (co-owner of Spago) purchased several for her vast collection. One of the most popular items was a director’s chair, once owned by Bill Clinton that came with a pre-intern photo of Monica Lewinsky - and the magic lamp from I Dream of Jeanie, donated by Barbara Eden herself, which brought in $1600.00. Some of the celebs feasting on mac & cheese and chicken chili, included Oscar winner Shirley Jones & Marty Ingels, and Elliott Gould, who said that the fundraiser was a case of “our taking care of our own” Edward Lozzi, powerful PR Wiz was pleased to announce that over $30,000 was raised at this mini-fundraiser. And Renee, who portrayed Fran Drescher’s mom in the hit series The Nanny, said she and her husband were motivated to help because “we may be one of those people one day”. 
Academy Award winning actress Shirley Jones & husband, Marty Ingels. (Photos courtesy of Maxine Picard)
Renee Taylor & husband, Joe Bologna, who hosted Fundraiser
Actor Elliott Gould (he's Barbara Streisand's ex)
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