Gov. Jim Thompson and Vice President George Bush finally had their tete-a-tete Wednesday over breakfast at the Veep`s official residence in Washington, D.C. The topic: The guv`s role as general chairman of Bush`s presidential campaign in Illinois and some national campaign duties. INC. hears Bush will make his candidacy official Oct. 12 in Houston and then jet to Chicago for his big fundraiser at the Chicago Hilton, where the guv will officially hop on the Bush bandwagon.
THAT`S THE TICKET . . .
City Hall workers who`ve been complaining that their bosses are putting the arm on them for $100 tickets to Mayor Harold Washington`s Oct. 13 fundraiser have to get in line behind workers at Cook County Hospital. Laborers there got handed their paychecks this week along with ”invitations” to the $100-a-pop Cook County Democratic Party`s Oct. 12 cocktail party at the Bismarck thrown by their big boss, County Board President (and party Chairman) George Dunne. Their immediate boss, Bill Huffman, the hospital`s associate director, told INC. that he was just making ”order forms” available because ”a lot of the tradesmen had requested tickets.” Right.
RAISING THE STAKES . . .
Gov. Thompson`s loyalists in the legislature are trying to tangle up plans for a new Chicago Bears stadium in Chicago with the impasse between Mayor Harold Washington and Thompson over the top jobs at McCormick Place and appointments to the White Sox Stadium Authority. But the threat to sideline that funding lacks punch since the General Assembly isn`t expected to take up financing for a Bears stadium until next spring. Next issue, please.
OPPORTUNISM KNOCKS . . .
So now State Rep. Sam Panayotovich of Chicago is a true-blue Republican instead of a Democrat. Amazing how philosophical changes can be prompted by the realization that a primary challenge from a candidate backed by Mayor Washington (perhaps former State Sen. Glenn Dawson?) could leave him very vulnerable now that his political sponsor, Ed Vrdolyak, is trying to lure Panayotovich`s faithful to the GOP ballot. At least some savvy GOPers are privately conceding that Panayotovich`s switch means little to them (other than a one-day media show) because he`ll be a Republican in name only, and only to ensure his own political survival.
DUNN DEALS . . .
Less than a week after moving to Los Angeles, Chicago actor Kevin Dunn landed the roll of dentist Dr. Mel Schrom in ”Day By Day,” an NBC series that will be a midseason replacement. . . . Nora Dunn of ”Saturday Night Live” was married last weekend to playwright Ray Hutcherson.
REEL NEWS . . .
Since two of the original ”Bonanza” cast members have died and the other two aren`t interested in a reunion movie, the closest ”Bonanza: The Next Generation” will come to an original cast member is Michael Landon Jr. . . . News that 23-year old Ramon Sheen will costar with Michael Pollard in
”Young Werewolves in Love” prompted an INC. source to consider the formation of an ”S.O.S. Club.” That stands for ”Sick of the Sheens.” . . . The Heat is on: Since two movies now in production have such similar titles and are scheduled for release at the same time (mid-1988), don`t be surprised if one of them undergoes a title change before its release. The two are ”Red Heat,” a suspense drama with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Belushi, now filming in Chicago; and ”Dead Heat,” a comedy thriller with Treat Williams and comic-turned-body builder Joe Piscopo, who insisted that the producers provide a complete set of weights so that he can work out on the set. . . . Speaking of ”Red Heat,” Robyn Davis and Kim Gadlin, members of the Joseph Holmes Dance Theater, landed roles in the film as dancers.
STAR TRACKS . . .
Tuesday night`s local celebration of USA Today`s fifth birthday attracted major players like former Gov. William Stratton, Commonwealth Edison President Jim O`Connor, former White House chief of staff Don Rumsfeld and Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault. INC. sources say that Gault was really enjoying the affair at Freedom Center, where both USA Today and The Chicago Tribune are printed, until someone pointed out to him that-on the first day of the NFL players` strike-Gault had crossed a picket line of striking Tribune workers on his way into the party. Gault demonstrated his lightning speed in reaching the exit. . . . Sources close to 80-year-old Barbara Stanwyck say she has been in extremely poor health since her recent back problems.
INC.LINGS . . .
Ribfest Update: Those of you competing for the coveted Pig Pen Trophy at Sunday`s event in Grant Park, beware. The team that`s won the last two years for the most creatively decorated workspace will be there again this year. . . . Thursday birthdays: Jim Henson, 51; Linda McCartney, 46; Anthony Newley, 56. . . . Dionne Warwick hits Carson Pirie Scott`s State Street and Evergreen Park stores Oct. 15 to promote her fragrance line called (what else?)
”Dionne.”
