Despite Mayor Harold Washington`s complaints about the press, INC. hears that he has a reporter to thank for the official greeting he received when he visited the British Museum last week. Just before Washington arrived, museum director Sir David Wolfson strode past the museum`s private entrance and announced in a loud voice: ”I am not going to meet the mayor of Chicago!”
But as Washington`s rented Rolls-Royce pulled up to the museum and Wolfson did a quick step to get out of sight, a museum employee told him that his remarks had been overheard by a reporter. Wolfson did a quick about-face. How do you do, Mr. Mayor? . . . Transplanted Chicagoan Bob Payton, who was host of a late-night fete for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in his London restaurant, had a reason for wearing a 14th Ward jacket emblazoned with the name of Ald. Ed Burke, Hizzoner`s nemesis. It was a retaliatory measure because the last time Payton hit Chicago, his request to have a picture taken with Washington was denied. ”His staff said the mayor didn`t do shots with individuals, just groups,” an INC. source said. So Washington`s face is the only mayoral portrait not hanging on Payton`s wall of Chicago political celebs.
POLITICAL PATTER . . .
Isn`t Gov. James Thompson`s ”Build Illinois” program, which will be the focus of his State of the State address Tuesday, an election vehicle to secure support of the building trade unions, who would do most of the building, and secure thousands of public service jobs? Isn`t it a warmed-over version of former Gov. Dan Walker`s 1974 ”Accelerated Building” program that died in infancy? And how serious is the Guv when he places a 25-year-old (at an annual salary of $48,000) in charge of the project? The joke Downstate: ”The bonds to fund the project will mature before the project director does.” P.S. Watch for House Speaker Mike Madigan (D., Chicago) to present an alternative to the ”Build Illinois” project that would use federal grant money instead of increasing the state`s bond indebtedness.
— State Sen. Vince Demuzio (D., Carlinville), who recently came out against an increase in the state income tax, is demanding that the state increase its share of funding for education to 51 percent of the total. That would take about $900 million in new taxes, wouldn`t it, Vince?
DADDY DEX . . .
Art does not always imitate life. On ”Dynasty,” Michael Nader is Dex Dexter, Mr. Cool, slinking around in a tuxedo, throwing smoldering glances at Joan Collins and batting his lovely lashes at her daughter, Amanda. But in real life, Nader is suffering from a damaged sciatic nerve and ”limping around with a back brace like a 104-year-old man, walking my 6-month-old daughter, Lindsay Michelle, all night.” . . . ”Dynasty” Dish from Dex:
”Joan and I will stay married. Amanda won`t break us up. She`s going to move on to a younger man, a prince, (not the Prince) who makes his debut this week.” And are there any plans for Collins to have a change-of-life baby? ”I don`t think so. We`re just going to stay the emotionally charged couple we`ve always been. There`s a lot of rivalry and a lot of tension between our characters. Neither of us gives in on any level, although occasionally she makes me back down.”
THAT`S ENTERTAINMENT . . .
When filming on the movie version of the award-winning novel ”The Color Purple” begins this year in Atlanta, Steven Spielberg will be in the director`s chair, INC. hears. . . . Maybe we just weren`t paying attention, but when did preachers start hiring publicists? Terry Cole-Whittaker, preacher to the stars, has hired one of the top entertainment public relations firms to make hers a household name. The Lord (and Solters/Roskin/Friedman Inc.) works in strange ways.
STAR TRICKS AND TREKS . . .
Catya Sassoon, the 16-year-old daughter of Vidal and Beverly, who expressed her need to be independent last year when she up and got married, hasn`t cut those old apron strings altogether. In town last week to promote her film debut in ”Tuff Turf,” Sassoon became so enamored of a particular little frock she wore for a Chicago Tribune fashion layout that she just rushed right to a telephone and called mommy`s accountant to see if she could buy it. . . . Attention Trekkies: ”Star Trek IV” is on the way. Paramount Pictures has just cut a deal with William Shatner to star again. Leonard Nimoy will direct.
INC.LINGS . . .
A memorial service for Tribune reporter Patricia Leeds will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Chicago Police Academy, 1300 W. Jackson Blvd.
. . . Tuesday birthdays: Red Buttons, 66; John Carradine, 79; Roger Staubach, 43; Nigel Olson, 36; Paul Little, 70; Charlotte Rampling, 40. . . . If you bought first balcony tickets for ”Cats” before last Thursday, you saved $5. The prices went up when it was determined that the view from those seats is as good as from the mezzanine. Gov. Thompson and wife, Jayne, spotted toasting with champagne glasses in Spiaggia restaurant Monday celebrating his latest feat: serving as Illinois governor longer than anyone.
