Close but . . . one cigar?The...

Close but . . . one cigar?The city of West Hollywood’s decision to outlaw smoking in restaurants has Chasen’s worried about one of its most famous customers, a 97-year-old cigar fancier.

“I would like to get permission for George Burns to come in and smoke,� said general manager Ralph Woodworth. “He puffs on them. He’s not a big smoker.�

City Councilman Paul Koretz said a compromise is possible.

“Certainly if we made a variance excepting smokers 97 and over, it wouldn’t affect very many people,� he said. “Long lives and smoking don’t usually go together.�

Koretz said the matter will be discussed by the City Council. Chasen’s just hopes it doesn’t get bogged down in politics, delaying passage until Burns is 100.

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L.A. on $10,000 a day: Actress Kim Basinger has been given another month to submit a new plan for paying off her debts after a few questions were raised in court about the actress’s financial health.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Geraldine Mund wondered why Basinger’s Woodland Hills residence, purchased for $1.2 million, is listed at $600,000 in her papers. Mund noted that the actress, who owes Main Line Pictures $8.1 million for backing out of “Boxing Helena,� claims to be living in a “modest home� in “a middle-class neighborhood.�

Yet during the first five months of the year, Basinger’s expenditures included--but were not limited to--$20,000 for clothes, $2,400 for gardening, $16,500 in domestic salaries and $23,000 for personal expenses.

Then there was Basinger’s $8,500 tab for pet care, which prompted Mund to inquire whether the actress has a kennel.

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A penny for AT&T;’s thoughts: While we’re on the subject of indebtedness, Mid-Wilshire accountant Don Manning sent along a recent bill that one of his clients received--in fact, the second notice from the phone company. Manning’s client naturally wishes to remain anonymous so as not to sully his good name.

Perhaps AT&T; would permit payment on an installment plan.

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A museum with a peel: Browsing through our favorite magazine, Mondo L.A., we were heartened to see that Altadena’s Banana Museum is hanging in there.

Proprietor Ken Bannister--he prefers Bananister--told writer Laurie Jacobson that he has more than 15,000 banana-related items in his 21-year-old shrine, which is intended to keep “spirits up and morale high in a world going bananas.�

Even the cheery Bannister might feel a frown coming on if he reads Jacobson’s review. She termed the museum, whose treasures range form a banana purse and a banana umbrella to a movie poster of “Herbie Goes Bananas,� as “filled to the brim with bananality.�

Watch your step, Jacobson.

miscelLAny:

Author William Manchester writes that when Winston Churchill visited Hollywood in 1929, Charlie Chaplin mentioned that he intended to play Jesus Christ in a movie. Asked Churchill: “Have you cleared the rights?�