(Donna Summer portion of article only)
FROM CHER'S ROLLER-SKATING NIGHTS IN THE VALLEY TO WET-AND-WILD BASHES AT THE PLAYBOY MANSION, NOBODY THROWS A PARTY LIKE HOLLYWOOD DOES. SEVEN MCDONALD TALKS TO CELEBRITIES AND REVELERS WHO RECALL THEIR MOST MEMORABLE PARTY MOMENTS.
I think Hollywood parties are a breed of their own. There is so much going on and so many people. There are people who are Hollywood, and then there are the people who want to be Hollywood. And then there are the people who want to be wannabes. And then there are the onlookers. There are those who work the parties, and then there are the actors, who are working the parties in every sense. One of the things that I think is amazing is the amount of money spent on parties in Hollywood. When I first came to America, my record label threw some big parties for me. They had a cake made from Hansen's [the L. A. bakery] with my figure on it, from the album cover. And they flew the cake to New York. Hollywood parties don't lack any aspect of human hedonism--the music, the food, the aromas, the people, the visuals, you know? Every element of what makes you feel good is available somewhere, in some little cabin or space. It is pretty decadent most of the time, but that's Hollywood." --Donna Summer, singer