When Nicky Blair, Hugh O'Brian, Bill Brown Jr., Milton Cohen, Gary Crosby, Kem Dibbs, Jack Haley, Jr., Mac Krim, Bob Petersen and Margaret Whiting got together to change the image of the entertainment industry in May, 1955, little did they know their legacy would eventually raise over $28 million dollars and literally build a wing of one of the nation's most reputable hospitals and training ground for mental health professional around the world. Over a table at Jayne Mansfield's Pink Palace, this group of young and talented complained bitterly that their public lives read as nothing but a succession of hasty marriages, publicly touted infidelities and nasty divorces. Before "image management" became the machine it is today and celebrity carried universal weight for social change, this group decided to show the world the substance and heart behind the public persona that they could not control. The fruits of the discussion was a decision to gather their fellow thespians to raise money for children that suffered from mental illness by naming an organization after the Greek Goddess of Comedy, Thalia. Although future meetings were held at Ciro's and various other Los Angeles landmarks, one of the premier entertainment charities was created on that day.

Forty five years later, the Thalians has attracted literally EVERY mega-star of Hollywood. Unlike any organization of it's kind, The Thalians serves as a star-fraternity. The organization boasts an incredibly rich archive documenting spur-of-the-moment acts; tributes and commentary. President Debbie Reynolds tells of the time that "Chuck Heston drank champagne from Betty Davis' slipper and Natalie Wood won the pie-eating contest at a beach shin-dig. Walt Disney himself, designed the Oscar of the Thalians, the Ms. And Mr. Wonderful Award.

Past presidents included, Hugh O'Brien, Margaret Whiting and Donald O'Connor. David Wolper asked Debbie Reynolds to take over the presidency in 1956 "for just a year," he said - that was 44 years ago. Ruta Lee, a Lithuanian starlet who landed an MGM contract as one of the brides in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," joined Debbie in 1969. Throughout the years, Debbie and Ruta have exchanged titles between President and Chairperson, but always remain the guiding light at the head of the organization. Together this dynamic duo have culled their resources, relationships and talents to create arguably the first celebrity charity. A tight knit membership, the Thalian members represent some of the most prolific fundraisers in the non-profit world. The Thalians does not market itself, but its reputation continues to grow throughout the world.

Among the many, many legends that have worked with the Thalians are: Steve Allen, June Allyson, Eve Arden, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Bea Arthur, Fred Astaire, Kaye Ballard, Billy Barty, Milton Berle, Sony Bono, Lloyd Bridges, Charles Bronson, George Burns, Ruth Buzzi, Rory Calhoun, Cab Calloway, Jack carter,Nell Carter, Cyd Charisse, Petula Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Gary Collins, Francis Ford Coppola, Joan Crawford, Tony Curtis, Doris Day, Gloria DeHaven, Kirk Douglas, Richard Dreyfus, Nancy Dussault, Clint Eastwood, Mama Cass Elliott, Peter Falk, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, The Four Freshman, Zsa Zas Gabor, Kathryn Grayson, Shecky Greene, Marvin Hamlisch, Hugh Hefner, Florence Henderson, Jerry Herman, Angelica Huston, Tom Jones, Lainie Kazan, Howard Keel, Michael Landon, Carol Lawrence, Peggy Lee, Janet Leigh, Jerry Lewis, Sophia Loren, Allen Ludden, Michael MacDonald, Penny Marshall, Peter Marshall, Dean Martin, Jayne Meadows, Mary Ann Mobley, Jim Nabors, Paul Newman, David Niven, Dick Powell, Anthony Quinn, John Raitt, Edward G. Robinson, Mickey Rooney, Rowan & Martin, Tom Selleck, Sylvester Stallone, Connie Stevens, Rip Taylor, Lily Tomlin, John Travolta, Leslie Uggams, Robert Vaughn, Raquel Welch, Andy Williams, Esther Williams, Robin Williams and Franco Zefferelli.

Unlike many of the non-profits that now are a popular business with large staff and paid endorsees, the Thalians remains lean, with over 95% of it's proceeds going directly into the coffers of the Mental Health Center. Although The Thalians produce over a dozen events annually, only two secretaries hold down the fort full-time, while the organization's top flight fundraisers contribute to over an annual $500,000 in proceeds.

The largest event of the year, the organization's Thalians Ball names Mr. or Ms. Wonderful for their contributions to entertainment and philanthropic efforts. But, best of all, The Thalians has created a community of long-time friends, who travel the world together, and raise cash while throwing Christmas parties at the Bel Air Country Club, summer night soirees at the Playboy Mansion; Mexican hat dances at seaside resorts and field trips to the Getty Museum.

In 1998, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the organization, the Walk of Stars was dedicated to 12 supporters who have each contributed more than $100,000. Commemorative stars were installed into the sidewalks of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center compound with names: Paula Kent Meehan, creator of Redken Laboratories; Bob & Margie Petersen of Petersen Publishing, Aviation and the Auto Museum; Debbie Reynolds;, LA philanthropists, Robert Lorsch, Harold & Cynthia Gershman; John & Donna Crean; Kem Dibbs; Gloria & John Gebbia; Mitzi Hughes; Sandy Krause; David Paul Kane and Linda Tallen and actress, Ruta Lee.

The Thalians continues to grow, attracting the stars of today, such as Billy Baldwin, Carrie Fisher, Goldie Hawn, Courtney Love and Elizabeth Perkins, but most importantly has made a lasting mark as one of the first organizations that utilized the fame of Hollywood to do good.

Since the building of The Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedar-Sinai, over a million patients have received the world's best care for mental health problems for teens to adults to seniors. The Thalians Mental Health Center provides services for adult chemical dependency detoxification, eating disorders, psychological trauma, pre-school and infant parenting, electro convulsive therapy, psychiatric home care and much more.

Thalians History Courtesy of Brown & Dutch