The Crowd

If you favor an event calling for a costume, then the California

Heritage Ball was your event. Actually, most of the party-goers donning

period wear were authentic to the theme of the ball, which focused on

early California lifestyle.

It was a wonderful visual treat. The imagination ran wild. Did people

really dress in this fashion in the late 18th and 19th centuries when the

Mission at San Juan was the center of life in what would become Orange

County?

“You bet they did,” responded Capistrano Pageant executive director and

California Heritage Ball chair Peggy Goldwater-Clay of Newport Beach. “In

fact, most of the period costumes worn here tonight for the ball were

made or supervised by two designers named Kim Frassett and Mela

Haydon-Hoyt, who are historical experts of the period.”

Goldwater-Clay showed off her own gown, fashioned of purple satin, edged

in gold and lace.

“You know, I really favor the large bustle at the waist. I can have two

desserts and who will know?” mused Goldwater-Clay, looking both devilish

and angelic swooshing around in her costume.

“What really concerns me is the cleaning problem. I mean, these women

dragged these major skirts on dirt walkways and dusty floors. One-hour

[cleaning] came in the next century,”she joked, remembering that there

was no shortage of labor, time and flowing water to the sea to handle the

cleaning task.

Goldwater-Clay was one of a group of ladies and gents who chose to dress

the part for the ball held at the tony Pelican Hill Clubhouse at the

Newport Coast.

Some 200 historically devoted locals rose to the occasion of honoring our

past in support of the Capistrano Pageant set for July 28 at the old

Mission San Juan. The Saturday evening soiree was a fund-raiser and a

public relations spectacle created to spread the word about the pageant

and its purpose.

Dining on Maryland crab cakes and grilled veal prepared by the Four

Seasons culinary staff at Pelican Hill, Newport-Mesa society including

James and Catherine Emmi, Bill and Darlene Manclark, Jerry and Whitney

Mandel, Joan Irvine Smith, Anita Ziebe, Catherine Thyen, Mel Rogers,

Betty Moss, Aissa Wayne, James and Madeline Swinden, Michele Roberge,

R.J. and Gloria Brandes, Blaine and Donna Collett, Clint Hoose, Rita

Gibby and Barbara Palermo did their very best to create the old

California feeling.

Of course, beating the natives, and pouring hot water over them to

influence cooperation and religious conversion was unacceptable at the

event. (Father Junipero Serra is historically thought of as a

taskmaster.)

Also in the crowd were Joe Kemp, Gloria Fluor, Lisa Flour, Eric Mueller,

Dwayne-Day, Mayor Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana, Dorothea Boughdadly, Terry

Jones, Deborah White, Bruce Goodrich, and the indomitable Billur

Wallerich representing the civilization known as South Coast Plaza.

Harvey Smith, president of the board of directors for the Capistrano

Pageant Foundation, came in an elegant soldier costume of the period.

Actually, it was the general’s outfit. Smith is married to Linda Irvine,

who serves as board treasurer.

“This is a wonderful way to learn about our heritage and to participate

in an event that is rich in colorful local history,” said Goldwater-Clay.

For more information on the foundation and the summer pageant, call the

Costa Mesa-based offices of the group at (714) 979-1190.