They Partied ‘for Kicks’ and a Museum

Nobody exactly saw Big Al. No one spotted “Legs” Diamond either.

But that might have been Al’s ’32 Ford parked out front, and there was certainly no shortage of “legs” Monday night at the grand reopening of the newly renovated Hotel Laguna: In fact, the Laguna Beach Museum of Art FunRaisers called their first party “Just for Kicks!”

Tap-dancers in hot pink flanked 250 museum supporters as they made their way through the hotel lobby. (Cute as Bugsy’s buttons were two 6-year-old hoofing hopefuls, Molly Jahraus and Jillian Longnecker, both of Laguna Beach, in feathered boas, red silk fringe and opera hose.)

Dancers in white, with gold spangled anklets and silver shoes, danced the Charleston in the bar while, on the beach below the hotel balcony, others formed a chorus line in authentic-design ‘30s bathing suits. The sun was setting behind palm trees up the coast.

(Brenda Kalatzes of Laguna Beach was the choreographer; Margie Webb Clothing provided the bathing suits. In 1980, Kalatzes made TV history--and an ABC television show--by mounting the largest tap-dance production number in history: 550 costumed dancers tapped to the tune “Crazy Rhythm.”)

Bathing beauties and muscle men, sponsored by local businesses, mingled with the guests and sold votes for Miss Laguna Boardwalk and Mr. Main Beach, helping to raise more than $6,000 for the museum.

The talent portion of the bathing beauty contest never really got under way. But event chairman Bunny Pero, sipping her Chardonnay, gave an impromptu preview nevertheless: “And now, our next contestant. From Mississippi State Teachers College, she’s majoring in baton-twirling and brain surgery. She wants to continue in both of these and do something for mankind. . . .”

In the Capone vernacular, ‘30s attire was “encouraged --unnerstand?” The men were decked out in their Mafioso best; the women were sassy and sultry . . . .

Michael Castelli of San Clemente (representing Andreino’s) seemed a real crowd favorite for Mr. Main Beach. But Castelli got back into his street clothes, gave Alan Abraham of Dana Point (from PST Men’s Sportswear) all his vote tickets and left early. “I got this girl, see, just waitin’ for me,” Castelli confided. “I mean, what am I gonna do?” Abraham won.

Twelve-year-old Shannon Straight (from Laguna Gander) felt she had a good chance for Miss Laguna Boardwalk. “I started doing this for fun, see, but now that I’ve gotten pretty many votes, I’m getting kind of serious. Not totally serious, but I could win. . . .”

Miss Cole California and Miss Hobie Sports were a mother-daughter team, Patty and Laurel Truman. “She’s 20,” explained Patty. “I’m 42 and holding.”

Lisa Murray, representing I.C. London, a lingerie shop in Laguna Beach, said she wasn’t sure who designed her rather, er, provocative bathing suit. “But I do know it’s wool and it’s really hot and it’s itching and it’s bugging me!” (If it’s any consolation, Lisa, it was definitely bugging the guys, too.)

Miss Monarch Bay Bank, Caresse Henry, was named Miss Laguna Boardwalk.

The lovely buffet featured smoked salmon and halibut flown in from Denmark, brochette of seafood, rack of lamb, assorted cheeses, petits fours and chocolate cups with rum mousse.

The first Hotel Laguna opened in 1887. The second Hotel Laguna opened at its present location in August, 1930. Claes Andersen took over the operation March 1 of this year.

“So far we’ve done a $1-million renovation,” Andersen said. “Response from the public has been tremendous. It’s an old-time hotel, and people seem to enjoy it. In fact, you might say I had 22,000 interior decorators. The whole town told me what to do.”

Andersen summed up the style of the hotel. “California. Mediterranean. Laguna Beach. Sunshine. The colors are peach, sand and blue. Peach as the sky, sand as the sand, blue as the ocean.”

Peach as the sky notwithstanding, guests seemed pleased that the hotel was being upgraded.

The as-yet-unrenovated ladies’ room proved a favorite topic. “My daughter, who was pregnant, was sick one day,” recalled one guest, “and she refused to be sick in there.”

Andersen said the bathrooms will be done by the first of October. “That’s a major thing to do,” he explained, “and we cannot do it in the summertime because we’re so busy.”

A raffle and dancing (this time, the guests did the dancing) wound down the evening.

Ivy Santley, who moments before was seen doing the Charleston--”I lived in that time,” she explained--won bikinis from Cole of California. (Santley attended with her son-in-law, museum member Otis Healy.)

Jack Boyle won a bag of money donated by Monarch Bay Bank (represented at the party by Carolyn Beytia, who confided that the bag contained $300.) “Well, if Jack won, at least we know where the money is going,” said Pero with a smile. Boyle is chairman of the LBMA capital campaign fund.

Boyle felt so good about his win that he took the microphone, and requests, and crooned such favorites as “Red Sails in the Sunset” and “Blue Moon.” FunRaisers president Cheryl Duryea and Laguna Beach Mayor Bobbie Minkin were among those enjoying Boyle’s renditions.

Due to a party committee oversight, several guests were outraged to find parking charges as high as $9 waiting in the lot. But Tuesday, the museum staff tracked down those who’d not gotten validations, and cheerfully sent refunds.