When they say Chicago is making a bipartisan effort to get the Republican convention here, believe it. Among those attending the reception Wednesday night at the Shedd Aquarium were a number of notable Democrats, including Illinois House leader Mike Madigan. When asked whether having the convention here in 2000 would help Republicans in that year’s election, Madigan joked: “They’ll need all the help they can get.”
Wrong party: When GOP site committee chair Jim Nicholson got off his flight earlier Wednesday at O’Hare he was greeted by a choir, TV crews and VIPs. Those there said Congressman Dick Gephardt, U.S. House Leader for the Dems who, coincidentally, was aboard the same flight, looked for a second as if he thought the reception was for him.
Local color: If GOP site selectors want to sample Chicago politics at its best, they should check the John Stroger vs. Aurie Pucinski battle for the Cook County Board presidency. Not long ago, Pucinski forces complained Stroger’s people were uncooperative in handing over hospital records to her. Now Stroger campaign boss Ken Snyder has filed a Freedom of Information Act to obtain results of audits of Pucinski’s clerk of Circuit Court office that he says should be public record.
More pol: Look for gubernatorial candidate George Ryan’s long-awaited TV ads to begin airing Monday. These are not to be confused with his secretary of state public service announcements.
Bird’s-eye view: Livent’s Garth Drabinsky trotted reporters up scaffolding Wednesday to give them a close look at the intricate restoration work on the ceiling of the Oriental Theatre. New Livent boss Mike Ovitz has yet to check out the former movie palace. “He leaves all those things to me,” says Garth. Ovitz should be pleased by Livent’s Chicago ticket sales. “It’s over $6 million already, and we expect to open north of $10 million before `Ragtime’ opens here this fall,” Drabinsky says.
On the beach: Newlywed Jim Belushi is locked in a hissing match at Martha’s Vineyard, where the actor is upset a local resident walked in the water in front of his beachfront home. Depending on whom you believe, the Boston Herald reports there was a shoving match and charges filed by Belushi with police. There is this good news for Belushi: The case will go in front of a local magistrate who ruled in favor of actor Woody Harrelson several years ago following another altercation at Martha’s.
INC.spot: Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan, D’Arcy Wretzky and James Iha were joined by 100-plus pals for a post-concert celebration Tuesday at Narcisse Champagne Salon & Caviar Bar where bubbly flowed and Corgan stuck to Evian.
Stage left: A new play by Rick Cleveland, “Danny Bouncing,” has been tapped by Victory Gardens Theatre for Jan. 22-Feb. 28, 1999, with Eric Simonson directing the comedy about a struggling playwright. . . . A fire in its building at 2174 N. Leavitt St. has forced Eclipse Theatre to cancel until further notice its production of Jean Cocteau’s “The Infernal Machine.”
Passages: Thursday birthdays: Ed Ames, 71; Barbara Cartland, 97; Brian Dennehy, 60; Tom Hanks, 42; David Hockney, 61; Courtney Love, 34; Kelly McGillis, 41; Fred Savage, 22; O.J. Simpson, 51; Jimmy Smits, 43; John Tesh, 46; Constance Zakarauskas, 102. . . . Janet Reno presented Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph H. Hartzler, an ex-Chicagoan now in Springfield, with the Justice Department’s highest honor, the Exceptional Service award, on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing trial.
EAVESDROPPING
“Jim is worth millions, and his career has never been going better.” James Brolin’s manager on reports the Globe is preparing an article painting Barbra Streisand’s new husband as a golddigger.
