Gala and pancakes mark end of summer

BARBARA DIAMOND

Local folks know the tourist season has ended when the city’s three

art festivals close up and the Exchange Club of Laguna Beach serves

pancakes on Labor Day.

Steven Brezzo’s swan song as the Festival of Arts executive

director was a paean to actress Jane Seymour, host of the gala finale

to the 2003 season.

Seymour’s tiny celebrity guest booth on the festival grounds

struck a sour note with some exhibitors, which may have been one of

the reasons for Brezzo’s resignation, which wasn’t made public until

after the gala.

“I heard the scuttlebutt on the grounds that night that he had

resigned,” festival board candidate and perennial volunteer John

Hoover said.

However, no ruffled feathers marred the gala fund-raiser. Seymour,

glamorous in red silk, thanked the audience for its support of the

arts and lauded the Pageant of the Masters volunteers for their

contributions.

Seymour was not the only celebrity at the gala.

“I have been star struck by Elliot Gould ever since he starred in

‘Mash’ [the movie],” Mayor Toni Iseman said. “It was great party.”

Festival board member John Campbell and his wife, Lu, an

exhibitor, were seated with Gould. Despite a 32-mile bicycle ride

that afternoon, the Campbells energetically explained the pageant to

Gould and his guest, Susan Palmer, who had never seen the “living

pictures.”

Campbell praised the more than 500 volunteers who make the pageant

possible. They donate more than 60,000 hours a season. Their pay is a

trip to Disneyland.

“The only reason the pageant exists is because of the volunteers,”

Charli Andreasen, volunteer events coordinator and casting assistant,

said backstage earlier in the season.

Planning Commissioner Linda Dietrich has been a volunteer in

makeup for three years.

“I love it,” she said.

Jenna Garlock, who appeared in the South Bay Bathers vignette,

proudly said her dad, Jerry, was the show’s “No. 1 sub.” Her mom, Eileen, supervised the isolated Woman’s Sculpt Room, where gold

makeup is applied to the nudes in the show.

Paul Goldie has been a volunteer for eight years. In 2002, he had

four parts.

“But the casting this year didn’t need that many men my size, so I

volunteered to help in costuming,” Goldie said.

“Seasons” was the theme of the 2003 pageant. Director Dee Challis

Davy said Saturday that she has already chosen the theme for next

season: “Portrait of the Artist.”

“We’ll be taking a look at the psychology of the creative genius,”

said Davy.

Other celebrities that attended the gala included Florence

Henderson, cast members of the TV show “The O.C.,” and Hal Linden,

star of “Barney Miller.” He hasn’t lost a bit of the warm charm he

exuded in what many think was one of the all-time best cop shows.

Linden is working on a new series and is doing his one-man stage

show next in Florida. He and his wife, Frances, were seated with

festival board member Bob Henry and his wife, Annette.

Festival board members at the dinner also included Bruce Rasner,

Diane Reardon, Bob Dietrich, Anne Webster, David Young and Scott

Moore.

“This was a wonderful culmination for the best season for the

festival or pageant ever,” festival board member Kathleen Blackburn

said.

Among the guests at the $300-per-plate, black-tie optional dinner:

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson escorted by Ernie Schneider,

artists Summer McGee and Olivia Batchelder, City Councilman Wayne

Baglin and wife Faye, Planning Commissioners Norm Grossman, Bob

Chapman and Anne Johnson, and Arts Commissioners Mike Tauber and Les

Thomas, the last two clad in Hawaiian shirts.

“This is Laguna’s tuxedo,” Thomas said.

More than 2,600 attended the gala.

“We sold out,” said Sharbie Higuchi, director of marketing, public

relations and merchandising.

Higuchi co-chaired the gala with Susan Davis, director of

membership and special events, assisted by Tracy Fleming.

Gala hostesses included Director of Administration Fran Hudzinki,

volunteers Sue Anderson, Janice Seele, Nancy Locke, Katie Purdue,

Lorie Shimani, Trudie Smith and ticket office employee Carole Hirsch.

Also helping to make the evening a success were: volunteers

Jennifer Hernandez, Pam Peterson, Randy Petersen, Caryn and John

Werfelmann, Chris Clinger, Daria Auerswald, Monica Daebritz,

Georgelean Olviera, Lucia McLeod, Emy Devoe and Sharbie’s personal

favorite, Darren Higuchi.

FLIPPING OUT

Folks bade a happy farewell to tourists on Monday at the

traditional Labor Day Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Exchange

Club of Laguna Beach.

But something new was added, and the break with tradition was

enough to give you the heebie-jeebies.

“This is the first year we have ever had entertainment,” said

Sande St. John, who arranged the entertainment and invited Santa

Claus, who happened to be vacationing here with Ken Schrieber.

Planning Commissioner Robert Zur Schmiede said the appearance of

television performers Heebie and Jeebie brought him and his family to

the breakfast.

Even Fairy Godmother Linda Frank’s magic dust couldn’t deter the

flock of pesky insects that made a beeline for the syrup-soaked

pancakes. Kimberly Stuart kept one eye on husband Ernest, who is

allergic to stings, and the other on. Son, Salen, 3, rejected a

pre-cut pancake in favor of one he could cut himself.

Hey, Diane and Dave Connell’s dog, Ginger, insisted on her own

plate for a helping of sausage.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Macey and firefighters John

Luna, Alex Landa, Justin Kasper, Michael Holloway and Thomas Padden

cooked the pancake mix donated by Jolly Roger and the sausages

donated by Las Brisas.

Other volunteers were Sandy Thornton, Bill Morris, Carolyn Miller,

Richard Moore, Ann Woods, Rock Martin, Duane Bickel, Ed Hatfield and

Dewar Scott.

Richard and Lupe Blanton donated ceramic mushrooms and flowers

from their separate booths at the Sawdust Festival for opportunity

prizes. Dennis Junka donated a “Tiger” print, and Las Brisas and

Jolly Roger added gift certificates to the booty.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.