The Greatest Role of a Wonderful Pool

Now it can be told: Beverly Hills High School has many claims to fame, but probably none bigger than that its Swim-Gym was used in a key scene in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

We learned last week that the scene was not in the original script, but was a late alteration made by director Frank Capra.

According to Jimmy Hawkins, who portrayed Tommy Bailey and is the author of a trivia book on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the original plan was to have Jimmy Stewart’s and Donna Reed’s characters meet at a generic high school graduation dance.

“They were getting ready to go (and shoot elsewhere), then Capra found out about this and said, ‘I’ll have the pool open and them take a dunk in it,’ ” he said. Hawkins, along with the three other actors who played the Bailey children, participated in a ceremony Monday at the Swim-Gym unveiling a plaque commemorating the filming of the scene on April 15, 1946.

A quick recap for those few who may have somehow missed all of “It’s a Wonderful Life’s” many TV showings: Early in the tale, which brings a guardian angel into the life of a suicidal George Bailey (Stewart), Bailey spots Mary Hatch (Reed) for the first time as a grown-up at a dance honoring the Class of 1928 from fictional Bedford Falls (N.Y) High School.

While the two are participating in a Charleston contest, Mary’s disgruntled suitor is prodded by a friend to turn the key that opens the basketball court, thus revealing the swimming pool.

“That’s why (Capra) was a great director, because he thought on his feet and was willing to try things not in the script,” Hawkins said.

The Swim-Gym, built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration project, remains in use for swimming classes and as the home venue for the school’s basketball, swimming, volleyball and water polo teams.

But at age 54, it could use a guardian angel of its own. Last year, for example, a basketball game was, in effect, rained out; it had to be moved to a smaller practice gym because of condensation from new skylights.

A reunion last June commemorating the school’s 65th anniversary raised $20,000 for Swim-Gym repairs.

The recently passed Proposition S school bond measure should help, too.

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Big spender: In the category of most lobbying fees spent by a developer or other entity in Los Angeles for the third quarter of 1993, the hands-down winner is: Maguire Thomas Partners.

Maguire Thomas paid nine lobbyists a total of $93,265 during the three months leading up to the City Council’s approval in September of the first stage of the massive Playa Vista development, city Ethics Commission records show.

Other big spenders weren’t even close.

The L.A. Cable Operators Assn. spent $48,262, and Pac-Tel Cellular coughed up $46,051 for lobbyists during July, August and September. Lobbyists registered with the commission reported receiving fees totaling more than $1.6 million for the quarter.

Although not exactly chump change, the latest Maguire Thomas lobbying tab is hardly a big-ticket item compared to Playa Vista’s projected price tag: $7 billion. Yes, billion.

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What about mileage reimbursements?They’re not everyday events by any means, but over the years many Los Angeles City Council members have convened retreats with their staffs to set goals and develop strategies for running a better office--usually in an atmosphere far, far away from the bustle of City Hall.

Sometimes the retreats are held at a mountain cabin, other times at desert hotels.

But leave it to Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg to try something different.

Today, Goldberg has scheduled her first staff retreat since taking office July 1. At her home.

Beginning this morning, the 13th District lawmaker will hold a two-day retreat at her Echo Park residence for about 20 staff members.

“One of the things we will be discussing is long-term planning goals for the office,” said Goldberg chief of staff Sharon Delugach.

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, there will be at least one staffer answering calls at Goldberg’s office Monday.

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Sign of the season: The Malibu City Council made some changes last week in the city’s campaign spending. That must mean there’s an election coming up.

The 11-page ordinance, which is up for final approval Dec. 13, will replace a law approved in January, 1992--three months before the last election.

The first ordinance, in fact, was enacted with some haste because Malibu was a new city facing its first election. This revised law should have a longer life, Assistant City Atty. Christi Hogin predicted.

The revised law stiffens procedures for gathering donations by requiring candidates to file a declaration of intent to solicit funds for a specific office in a specific election before they can actually ask for or accept donations. It also requires losing candidates to donate funds left over after the election to charity or otherwise dispose of them legally, and it prevents winners from hoarding any remaining money in a war chest for future elections. They have to use up the money for newsletters, travel or such.

Councilman Walt Keller, who has not yet said whether he will seek reelection, reluctantly voted with his colleagues to approve the revised law, although there’s “not much left to vote on,” he said.

Keller had tried to get the council to adopt more stringent reporting and donating rules for the last week before the election. Keller said the provisions were needed because “we have major developers who have spent a major sum of money in Malibu and may be willing to spend money in the election (up to the last minute) to get their way.”

Not to worry, Councilwoman Joan House said. “I don’t think there are any secrets in this community. . . . People know (what’s going on), even before it hits the paper.”

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Council meetings this week:

* Beverly Hills: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 450 Crescent Drive (310) 285-2400.

* Culver City: 7 p.m. Monday, Interim City Hall, 4095 Overland Ave. (310) 202-5851.

* Los Angeles: 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. 200 N. Spring St. (213) 485-3126.

* Malibu: No meeting (310) 456-2489.

* Santa Monica: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1685 Main St. (310) 393-9975.

* West Hollywood: 7 p.m. Monday, West Hollywood Park Auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. (310) 854-7460.

Contributing to this week’s report were staff writers Steven Herbert, Ron Russell and Greg Krikorian, and correspondent G. Jeanette Avent.