David, Disney discuss disappearing dinners

GOOD MORNING: The King of Magic is coming to the Magic Kingdom. David Copperfield lunched with Michael Eisner in Burbank to talk plans for Copperfield to launch a magical eatery in Orlando. It would follow his restaurant bow with "Copperfield's Magic Underground," below Times Square, in Feb. Magical acts will perform while you (try to) eat. He debuts above ground on B'way at the Martin Beck with his live show and museum, Dec. 5-29. ... The beat goes on and on for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which has been a bestselling book, will soon be a Clint Eastwood-helmed pic for WB and is currently a series of SRO concerts, which played over the weekend at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton and Westwood's Wadsworth Theater. The concert includes two of the book's principals "the Lady Chablis" and Emma Kelly, "The Lady of 6,000 Songs." Eastwood wasn't on hand: he's in Carmel with pre-production (his very expectant wife Dina) and post-production (with "Absolute Power"). But Eastwood's agent, Wm. Morris' Lenny Hirshan, joined the West L.A. standing ovation for the concert. Anita Zuckerman, exec producer of the pic, was at Fullerton and Arnold Stiefel who is exec producer of the Joel Silver "Midnight" movie are also readying a pic version of Chablis' "Hiding My Candy," to follow "Midnight." The moviemakers were so impressed by Chablis' appearance on the concert tour, they are seriously proposing her for a talkshow host(ess). "I loved being able to talk (on stage)," she admitted to me. "I even talked to them (in Orange County) about my abortion!" You, of course, know the Lady Chablis' real name is Benjamin Edward Knox. She soon opens her own club, the Chablis Cabaret, in Savannah. Chablis flew back there first class while the bestseller's author John Berendt was in coach! By the way, he's not involved with the movie, although helpful whenever asked for research by the principals, including scripter John Lee Hancock whose screenplay is described as "fantastic" by Zuckerman. It's of course hoped Eastwood will play the role of Jim Williams, but don't hold your breath. And Chablis says she doesn't know if she's in the movie. However, she spent four hours visiting Clint on the set of his "Absolute Power." "I even sat on his lap," she gurgled, "and he called me 'his new lady.'" The concertour was so successful, a CD may evolve, well as a PBS taping. I saw its embryonic kickoff at Lincoln Center last year, and it was a smash even in that form.

THE LEGIT WEEKEND FOUND "Show Boat" sailing off with a dual celebration: Saturday evening's 30th anni gala of the Center Theater Group with its posh dinner party in the Music Center Plaza. CTG stalwarts Nancy Olson (Mrs. Alan) Livingston, Garry and Barbara Marshall, Charles and Audrey Skirball-Kenis and Larry Ramer were honored. Jennifer Jones Simon made the presentation to Nancy Livingston, Gordon Davidson presented to the Marshalls and August Wilson to the Skirball-Kenises. The menu was created by Michel Richard, Piero Selvaggio, Patrick Healy and Wolfgang Puck. The 700 guests proceeded from the early dinner to the theater for the performance. On Sunday, the official launching of "Show Boat" also brought out a terrif list of celebs ranging from legit veterans like Tom Poston, Marion Ross, Brock Peters, Betty Garrett, Hal Linden, Keene Curtis to young players like Tori Spelling. ... Meanwhile over at the Pantages, "Riverdance" (sold out for its four-week stand) brought out an opening-night crowd of Hollywood dance lovers including Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley, Bob Daly and Carole Bayer Sager, Jane Seymour and James Keach, Florence Henderson, Onna White, Anne Jeffreys, Ivan Reitman and Ireland's (and "Star Trek's") Colm Meaney.

WHEN PATRICK STEWART LEARNED makeup artist Monty Westmore was celebrating his 50th anni in the biz, he decided something should be done. Stewart and his brother were film buffs when they were kids in northern England, and would watch pix to the final credits. "So when I came here 10 years ago and found a Westmore was doing my makeup, I felt I was part of Hollywood history." He thought Monty's anni should be noted. And so, a party for Monty was held at the Paramount commissary with congrats given by Stewart, Paul Newman (for whom Monty has done all his makeup, including the current pic "The Magic Hour") and Dustin Hoffman (for whom Monty did "Outbreak," "Hook" and "Hero"). Among the hundreds on hand to well-wish Monty were 25 members of the Westmore family, including his wife June, who does makeup on the "Star Trek" pix and series as well. Also there to congrat Monty (who has undergone major surgery but continues to work) were Morgan Freeman, Beverly D'Angelo and "Star Trek: First Contact" cast members. Yes, Stewart wants to continue making "Star Trek" movies. He's now co-starring in "Conspiracy Theory" with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. Is Patrick a hero or villain? He'll keep you guessing.