Pete Wilson and Supporters Having a Ball : Inaugural: The main party was sedate until a band that specializes in pop music of the ‘60s took the stage. It was then that Republicans showed they can rock.

Just past 10 o’clock on inauguration night Monday, Vice President Dan Quayle lifted a flute of champagne--”With pride, with prayer and with best wishes to Pete and Gayle Wilson. May God bless you.” The inaugural ball crowd of 5,000 roared its approval.

Their man officially in office, it was time for the Wilson supporters, campaigners and contributors to have a ball. This one, held in the gigantic barn-like pavilion at the California Exposition, was staged by the Walt Disney Co.

Ice sculptures of California bears and Republican elephants decorated the buffet tables, where guests (who had paid $125 apiece) sampled finger foods--chicken wings, egg rolls, riblets, small sandwiches, poached fish and petits fours.

As the Wilsons made their way through the crowd, Les Brown and His Band of Renown struck up “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.” The song seemed to express the sense of guarded optimism that has prevailed during three days of celebration, despite constant reminders from speakers that California has problems in abundance.

For the couple’s first dance as governor-and-wife, Gayle Wilson chose the tune--”It Had to Be You.” As they danced, a woman in a black beaded gown watched closely, then whispered, “I think she’s leading.”

Gayle Wilson’s gown was pink, with a pale pink beaded bodice and a full floor-length skirt in deep pink satin. The designer? She wasn’t saying. “She didn’t feel that it was one of the most important things of the weekend,” explained a spokesman for the inaugural committee.

Ball guests included 100 members of the Legislature, but conspicuously absent was Speaker Willie Brown, who regretted, explaining that he had other plans for the evening.

Ball guests also included the San Diego Chicken, a six-footer with orange and yellow feathers who has pecked out a niche as a sports comic. Over the weekend, he showed up just about everywhere short of the dais at the inauguration. Once, the governor introduced him as “California’s first chicken.” For the record, the chicken (in real life, Ted Giannoulas, 36) swears he is a registered Republican.

The chicken had made a stop earlier at the Young Californians Ball, being held in a nearby building on the state fairgrounds for the 25-and-under set. Compared with the main event, this was like a dance in the gym--linoleum floor and a few pink and black balloons. But the price was right ($25) and, if decibel level was any indication, it was a smash hit.

Skirts were short, spirits high. Comedian Fred Travalena, who had performed at Sunday night’s inaugural gala, drew a big cheer as he told the young Republicans, “We just dropped Roseanne Barr on Saddam Hussein’s headquarters.”

Four young band singers gyrating onstage in glittery dresses segued into a rock ‘n’ roll version of “California, Here I Come,” signaling the arrival of Quayle and the Wilsons, who dropped by on their way to the main event. With the Wilsons were her sons, Todd Graham, 25, and Philip Graham, 22.

Over at the grown-ups’ party, things were sedate until the Brown band relinquished the stage to Papa Doo Run Run, a group known for its revival of California pop music of the ‘60s a la the Beach Boys. It was then that Republicans showed they can rock.

San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor, a Democrat, stood out in black pants and a black velvet baseball jacket with colorful jeweled appliques. She seemed bemused as she surveyed the scene--”It’s not my definition of a ball. This is a cross between a happening and a ball.”

Nick Lee of Irvine, a contractor, and his wife, Julie, brought their three children, Leah, 10, Jado, a student at Irvine High, and Nick Jr., a uniformed Marine Corps lance corporal. “He’ll be going to Saudi Arabia in about two weeks,” his mother said. She has accepted it--”I feel our job is to elect public officials and put it in their hands.”

Four-week-old Lauren Thakar, who had come to Friday night’s inaugural fiesta with her parents, Todd and Karen, didn’t make the ball. “She’s partied out,” explained dad, an attorney in Newport Beach who was on Wilson’s Senate staff.

Tonight, Wilson will host a dinner for members of the Legislature in the Capitol annex. Spokesman Dan Schnur described it as strictly a social event, “a nonpolitical, non-substantive evening.”

On Friday the Wilsons will be in San Diego for an invitational inaugural celebration at the Convention Center.