People: Sep. 22, 1986

The stars are always out in the Los Angeles firmament, but last week it was political, not professional pull that ruled who was in what constellation. Giving her first public singing performance in six years, Barbra Streisand opened her Malibu ranch to the wallets of Jack Nicholson, Bette Midler, Jane Fonda and some 500 others who shelled out an astronomical $2,500 apiece for veal from Spago (very haute) and a backyard concert (very hot). Organized by the Hollywood Women's Political Committee to support six Democratic senatorial candidates, the affair was taped by HBO. Streisand crooned old favorites (People, The Way We Were) as well as new variations (Throw Out the Clowns), explaining that she felt she "must sing again to raise money so that we send people to Washington who will solve problems, not create them." The following evening, the Gipper struck back with a $1,000-a-head dinner for 1,500. Joining President Reagan to back California's Republican Senatorial Nominee Ed Zschau were such grand old partyers as Cary Grant, Charlton Heston and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The out-of-this-world events wound up in a draw, each raising a dazzling $1.5 million.