Time will stand still at festival

Suzie Harrison

Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters organizers know a bit

about Laguna Beach history having served as the backbone of the art

community for more than 70 years. Festival leaders came up with the

idea of creating a time capsule filled with artifacts that capture

the city’s history.

On Sunday, the time capsule was ceremoniously buried with

instructions for it to be opened Sept. 30, 2041, the date when the

40-year lease with the city is up for renewal. The idea was the

brainchild of pageant director Dee Challis Davy and stage manager

John Tschirgi.

The capsule included DVD interviews, videos of pageant dress

rehearsals, film from the 1950s, programs and photographs both

contemporary and historic, letters, a copy of the current lease and

bylaws.

Bob Henry, who announced earlier that day he was stepping down

from being board president to vice-president, was the emcee. He spoke

about the significance of the festival and introduced key players

pertinent to its history.

Guests were invited to put mementos into the capsule, which was to

be safely secured and stored within the pageant’s main building.

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman read the letter she wrote that addressed

those who would find the hidden treasure.

Kinsman explained that the letter was dated to those reading it in

2044, dating it to the ceremony’s actual date.

“I appreciate the opportunity to write to people living in Laguna

Beach in 2044,” Kinsman said. “You have had the chance to view our

successes and failures in this beautiful place we call Laguna Beach

through the lens of history.”

She talked about the values in Laguna present day, as well as some

of the problems.

“We value art -- we call ourselves the art colony,” Kinsman said.

“We value clean beaches and the beautiful ocean. We value the

environment. Laguna is our refuge from the outside world.”

She said her wish was that the city will sign another 40-year

lease with the pageant and festival.

“To those who read this, my apologies for our mistakes, and my

hope that we did well and that you will do better,” Kinsman said.

Former pageant directors Don Williamson, 1964 to 1978, and Glen

Eytchison, 1979 to 1996, spoke of some of the key moments during the

years they served.

Williamson said that his list of recounting memories of the

pageant was so long that it would take hours to tell his thoughts.

“It was a great part of my life, thousands and thousands have been

involved in the Pageant of the Masters,” Williamson said. “My hope is

those thousands can be replaced by thousands more.” Eytchison said

that of his 17 years of service, the moment that stood out most was

during the fire and following flood of 1993. It emphasized the

community’s love and commitment to the pageant and festival.

Charles Thompson, who has volunteered in the pageant for 35 years

as Jesus in Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” recalled his fond

memories and was followed by board member David Young. Young has been

on the board for five decades and has plenty of recollections.