A Smashing 60th for a Surprised Spud

What Warren B. Williamson doesn’t like is a fuss. For entertainment, the socially active Pasadena resident prefers a day of watching thoroughbreds race, followed by a dash to the market for fresh veggies and an evening in the kitchen making his own homemade pasta.

That’s why wife Alyce, daughters Sandra Fallet and Ruthie and Lisa Williamson, and son Henry went undercover. For days, they plotted “Spud’s 60th birthday,” a secret bash at St. Malo Beach at Oceanside.

Artist Lisa drew the clever invitations with Spud’s image in his perpetual smile. Henry transferred the film of Alyce and Spud’s 1954 wedding reception at the California Club onto videotape for guests to watch. And Alyce put together an evening as stupendous as those she has executed for myriad benefits for the Art Center College of Design, the Pasadena Symphony, Loyola Marymount University, Americana Associates, et al.

It was fellow St. Malo summer resident Henry Tenaglia’s task to keep Spud unaware for the day.

He whisked him off to the races at Del Mar. That gave florist Stanley Kersten time to drive down with a crew and string balloons worthy of a Hollywood Bowl opening over the Pacific shore oceanfront home, which some refer to as Ft. Williamson and Martha Kilroe labels The Breakers.

Peaches and the Cream

For every birthday he can remember, Spud has had fresh peach ice cream made by his mother, the late Mrs. Ruth von Platen, who usually cranked it out at her Sandyland beach home near Carpinteria.

Ray Henderson’s Rococo figured out how to churn it for about 100 guests, along with other Spud favorites--huge Guaymas shrimp, iced carrot cake, lemon bars, chicken curry, steak with hot horseradish sauce--no fancy stuff, just the yummies of all time.

The Williamsons also piped in Igor Glenn’s Cowboy Jazz Band from Tempe, Ariz. Igor is on the Arizona arts commission and is an authority on historic American music.

Santa Anita’s Jimmy Kilroe was the first to arrive--with a driver. Hollywood Park’s Marj Everett buzzed down and back. Guests began to wonder when Spud would pop in.

Friends From All Over

When he did, he fussed about so many chums making such a to-do--like most of his wedding party in from everywhere--Fred Brossy and his wife Frannie from Honolulu; Ben Shattuck from Pasadena, with Ann; Bob Kroger, with Jo, from Los Angeles; Howard Cunningham with Peggy from Newport Beach; Stan Grier with Jane from Costa Mesa.

Best-man-brother Tad Williamson was fishing in Colorado (but his handsome son Chandler was among the young crowd, which included Peter Jelliffe, Robin Ferrante, Sarah and Bob Preston, Susan Talbot, Joey Miller, Roy Reeves, Brooks Potter).

Sister Sue Dulin from Bayfield, Colo., had a last-minute bout with flu. But old Polytechnic and Midland classmates by the droves appeared: Byron Erkenbrecher from Oregon, Bailey Potter with Mary Frances from Durango, Colo., Bill (who brought Spud a photo enlargement of their Poly graduation class) and Jane Taverner from Pasadena.

Many in the crowd made a weekend of it.

Martha Chandler and her daughter Judy Webb and granddaughter Eliza Haskins were on their way to a stint at health salon Cal-A-Vie in Vista. Sis (she was a bridesmaid) and Lou Jones and Jean and Boyd Higgins were among the over-nighters.

Cousin Gwen Babcock and Guil had the pleasure of watching her mother and father, the late Helen and Jack Garland, on the wedding film. Claire and Dan Stuart, Janice and Bob Carpenter, Bobbie and Ken Galpin joined the Oceanside summer residents: Noorna and Henry Eversole, Marvel and Bob Kirby, Toni and Bob Niven, Beverly and Ed Fitzgerald, Winnie and Lynn Reitnouer, Sally Colmery (Harry was at the Bohemian Grove) and Corinne and Tom Werdel (double cousins who arrived with their Alyce and Mary Ann), and Bill and Polly Goodan (who recently bought at the St. Malo enclave).

At first, one pal wagged, “Spud looks as if he wished we’d all go home.” But by 4 a.m., he was playing his new six-string guitar (a gift from Kelsey and Brad Hall) and was the most content man at the party.

PERIPATETIC: Kellogg and Emilie Spear also were among those at St. Malo for the Williamson party. A few days later, they were hosting friends for the Braille Institute Auxiliary of Santa Barbara Robert Kene Invitational Polo Match and benefit luncheon at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in Carpinteria.

UPCOMING: Stephen J. Cannell Productions Inc. and the Hollywood Arts Council will co-sponsor the fourth annual Children’s Festival of the Arts on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Barnsdall Art Park. Mario Van Peebles (“Sonny Spoon”) and Jonathan Banks (“Wiseguy”) will be there to focus on providing a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment arts. Hanna-Barbera and Disney characters will join the festival. Makeup, costuming and stunt demonstrations, steel drums, food and drink will make it all jump. . . .

The Natural History Museum hosts an opening reception of national touring exhibition, “Treasures of the Tar Pits” next Thursday evening at Exposition Park. We hear the Mediterranean hors d’oeuvres were exotic and wonderful for the distinguished guests at the Natural History Museum’s recent opening of “King Herod’s Dream: Caesarea on the Sea.” Attending: Audrey Skirball Kenis, Lowell Milken, Victor and Adrea Carter, Alex Deutsch, Israel’s Consul General Eytan Bentsur, Tom and Betty Reddin, Ireland’s Consul General Brian Mason, and Eddie Albert. . . .