On August 24, the red carpet rolled at Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. It is the most star-studded night of the summer at the pageant. At 5:30 celebrities started walking the red carpet. Upon arrival, celebs were interviewed by media. Some attendees of POM (Pageant of the Masters) also participated in photo-ops. The memorable one-night affair offered guests an evening of fine art, dining and of course the show. This year’s theme was “The Time Machine“.
Julie Ann Emery was among the earliest who walked the red carpet. She is best known from her breakout recurring role in Better Call Saul. Her upcoming film is “Life Support” with Tom Arnold. It was the first time for Emery to witness POM but not first time in Laguna Beach. “It’s my first time at Pageant of the Masters but not Laguna Beach. I love Laguna Beach there are tons of galleries. It feels like a village with a beautiful beach on it. The Pageant of the Masters is one of those things you see in movies that feels like something magical. It doesn’t exist in real life, so I’m excited to be here tonight and watch it altogether. We wanted to see it for a long time.”
Jerry Mathers best known for his role in the classic television sitcom “Leave It to Beaver” has been a regular at Pageant of the Masters. He says, “People are so nice. I know I’ll be shocked again because I’ve never seen like that before.”
Popular among Pageant of the Masters fans was Christopher Knight best known as Peter Brady in the popular TV show “The Brady Bunch“. What he says about POM: “You can’t say much about. You gotta come and experience it because it’s crazy and really creative. It’s a presentation piece unlike any other. It’s extraordinary. It’s the art of staying still.”
John O’Hurley known for the role of J. Peterman on the sitcom “Seinfeld” and the fifth host of the game show “Family Feud” was the host for the evening. O’Hurley attended the event two years ago but says he’s excited every time he watches the show. “I’m excited here’s why… I’m always been kinda of a spectator of this incredible evening… this wonderful singular experience of performance art is unlike anything anywhere in the country. It is indefinable ….. it’s indescribable. What I love is everybody walks out of here with a private secret tonight… They got to try and explain it to somebody else and they’ll say ‘It’s the greatest thing you have to see it.”
Other attendees included Donna Mills known as Abby Ewing Sumner in the hit drama “Knots Landing“. Mills who has been supportive of the arts and a regular of POM describes, “It’s such a unique and beautiful show. Every year the paintings are different so the show is different. And you know you can’t see it anywhere else in the world. It’s the show…. its the art… its the way everything is done. It’s a wonderful outing and I look forward it. I’m always hoping that I’m gonna be here when it’s happening.”
Ginger Chan is KTLA’s traffic anchor and news reporter from the helicopter, Sky 5. You will hear Chan every weekday morning as part of “On-Air with Ryan Seacrest” on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. The event was special for Ginger and husband as it was their 10-year anniversary. As a regular of POM, Ginger said, “I can’t believe the Pageant of the Masters has been here for so many years. It feels like a long time ago when I was here. And I’m really excited to just see art masterpieces coming to life …. and to let my husband see something that every person who is from Southern California should experience …. that’s what I believe.”
After the red carpet, the Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester and the Citrus College Blue Note Orchestra serenaded the audience with her classic hits such as “Don’t Cry Out Loud”, “Whenever I Call you Friend” “If this is Love” and many more.
Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach. We will see you next year for another celebrity benefit show at Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters.
Going at Brangle
2019 Celebrity Benefit Show at Pageant of the Master