– Making nice: Mayor Gene Sawyer and Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson have realized that it`s mutually beneficial to make like pals-at least in public. So Sawyer will introduce the Jetster at Vince Demuzio`s big state party fundraiser Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
– Popping off: Super Tuesday was bad enough for Republican presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole, but how about these Dolester difficulties in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico? Junior Cruz, the mayor of Guaynabo who headed Dole`s island efforts, just quit and-to twist the knife a mite more-he is urging all Dole supporters to vote in the Democratic primary.
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU . . .
– An echo? Gary Hart quietly canceled his Thursday speech at the University of Chicago and his appearance Thursday night at the state Democratic Party fundraiser. Think that means he`s out-again? Bet on it. By Tuesday.
– The squeeze: U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp`s campaign goes belly up Thursday, and that means his Illinois co-chairmen, Cook County GOP chief Don Totten and U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde, have been taking a lot of calls in the last 24 hours. Hyde reportedly is leaning toward Dole, but things aren`t that simple for Totten. Gov. Jim Thompson, Vice President George Bush`s Illinois campaign chairman, could promise to help Totten`s bid to keep his county party office to woo him to the Bush league. But then Dole`s state chairman, House Minority Leader Lee Daniels (R., Elmhurst) will be real miffed about all the money he`s thrown into county party coffers.
BOUGHT AND PAID FOR . . .
Tom Fuller, the Metropolitan Sanitary District commissioner who`s on the Dem ballot for Circuit Court clerk, has a challenge for all the folks laying claim these days to the political legacy of Mayor Harold Washington: Put your money where your mouth is. In the most interesting press release INC. has seen during this campaign, Fuller sent out copies of canceled checks and vouchers showing that he gave more than $50,000 to Washington`s campaign in 1983. Following that line of logic, Richard Dennis-who wrote checks at $150,000 a crack-must be the real heir apparent. And, no, Fuller didn`t say where he got all that money.
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD . . .
– A few years and about three tucks ago, when Michael Jackson was becoming re-famous, he dumped Norman Winter as his publicist and signed on with one of the PR mega-agencies in Los Angeles. But now Michael has signed Winter on again to handle publicity duties . . . for Bubbles the Chimp.
– A publicist from the previously mentioned mega-agency probably wore out his running shoes Monday trying to catch up with the mail truck that picked up a release he`d just mailed out. The release, which arrived Wednesday at INC.`s offices, informed us that Divine was in L.A. to film his appearance on
”Married . . . With Children.” Divine`s body was discovered late Monday.
MUSIC NOTES . . .
Whitney Houston is still just a sweet little regular kind of gal who doesn`t consider herself anything special. (And Sylvester Stallone is a good actor.) Case in point: At a recent record industry gathering, where other stars from Arista were meeting, munching and mixing with broadcasters, promoters and members of the press, Whitney held her audiences in a separate room. INC. sources report she remained seated, even when shaking hands, so anyone who wanted to talk with her or have their picture taken with her found themselves having to come down to her level by squatting or-a position that firmly establishes who`s the superior-kneeling.
THAT`S ENTERTAINMENT . . .
Second City alum Betty ”Hill Street Blues” Thomas is temporarily taking over as SC`s director, conducting workshops and helping SC start preparing its next revue, scheduled for late spring. That frees up artistic director Bernie Sahlins to focus his attention on the April opening of the International Theater Festival of Chicago. . . . In the
It`s-Never-Too-Early-To-Start-Planning-Your-Holidays department, please note that the Moscow Circus` first U.S. tour in 10 years will include Nov. 21-27 shows at the UIC Pavilion.
INC.LINGS . . .
Tickets for Michael Jackson`s April 19 Rosemont Horizon show will go on sale Monday at Ticketmaster ticket centers only (no box office sales). There`ll be an eight-ticket limit (at $25 per), and fans won`t be allowed to line up before 7 a.m. Monday. . . . Watch for Whoopi Goldberg to appear here in mid-May, and for AC-DC to play the Horizon before summer`s end.
. . . Tickets go on sale Friday for Dolly Parton`s June 17 and 18 shows at Holiday Star Theatre. . . . Republican pollster Robert Teeter has ended his 21-year relationship with Market Opinion Research to set up his own firm, Coldwater Corp. He handles George Bush and has worked for Gov. Thompson and Secretary of State Jim Edgar. . . . Don Johnson`s salary for ”Sweetheart`s Dance:” $1.5 million.
