1957 PAGEANT GUEST STAR & VOLUNTEER BETTE DAVIS “ALMOST” APPEARS IN PAGEANT

In 1957, Pageant director Howard “Hap” Graham decided to inject a little extra excitement by inviting his friend and neighbor, film star Bette Davis, to appear in an opening night tableau of Sir Joshua Reynolds’ “The Tragic Muse” (featured again in this summer’s Pageant). Director Graham decided to test Ms. Davis’ spirit of volunteerism one afternoon by handing her a cup of white paint and a brush to repaint the numbers on the Irvine Bowl seats. Like the trouper that she was, Ms. Davis set to work. And with word getting out that she was to appear in the Pageant on opening night that summer, the press had a field day. Unfortunately, a last-minute injury forced Bette to cancel her appearance.