Looking at Fountain in a Whole New Light

If it had been within their, well, power, Beverly Hills officials certainly wouldn’t have picked the ninth straight day of the state’s energy emergency to relight their Electric Fountain.

But renovation of the elaborate 69-year-old landmark at Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards took longer than expected. Installation of new water jets and light fixtures wasn’t finished before the current electricity shortage began.

So city officials plunged ahead Tuesday evening with a scheduled ceremony to mark the restoration of what they say is the nation’s first electric water fountain. After all, some parts of the fountain have not been working right for decades.

Built in 1931 as part of a park project headed by the mother of actor Harold Lloyd, the Electric Fountain boasted a constantly changing cascade of water illuminated with 60 light combinations.

Its 35-foot-wide pond is topped by a 15-foot statue of a Gabrielino Indian praying for rain. A frieze of Malibu tile around the statue depicts the history of early California.

The pulsating fountain’s intricate hydraulic system called it quits about 25 years ago, however, leaving only a static spray of water over the pond. The lighting conked out about 10 years ago.

Because a renovation attempt in the 1980s was only partially successful, officials say they decided to rebuild both the water and power components.

“It’s just coincidence that we’re relighting it now,” said Steve Miller, city parks director. But it’s no coincidence that the fountain is more conservation-friendly than the old one, he said. The pumps and lights are 25% more efficient, and a computerized sensor turns down the spray if it’s too breezy.

City officials called on Beverly Hills old-timers for advice on authentically restoring the fountain. Although color photographs of the early Electric Fountain existed, movies of its pulsating spray were black and white.

Mayor Vicki Reynolds and others ceremoniously flipped the Electric Fountain switch at 6 p.m.--the moment the peak of Tuesday’s Stage 1 emergency demand was predicted.

City officials said they expect to keep the fountain flowing even if a Stage 2 emergency is called. And they said it does not use enough power to be considered a target if voluntary brownouts are ordered.