RSVP / THE SOCIAL CITY : The Royal Treatment

Pool Circle subscribers were in the spotlight Tuesday night at the opening of the Hollywood Bowl. They’re the new category of patrons paying dearly to sit in the first three rows, close enough to see the underpinnings of the Steinway.

Seats are expensive there. But the boxes, constructed of steel and cedar, are spacious. The seats are padded. The floor is carpeted. There’s a concierge. Dinner is served. Still, Bowl aficionados have a low-priced option--sit in the top rows closer to the stars for $1 a seat on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tuesday evening almost all the Pool Circle subscribers--who pay $92 a ticket, but actually $184 a seat with extras--said it would be easy to get accustomed to such luxury. This is the way it works. Say you buy a box in Row A, B, or C for six people for the Tuesday and Thursday Bowl series. The total cost is $8,650. A box for four would cost $5,840 for the same series. A Friday box for 10 concerts would be $10,450. The 10-concert Saturday night series works out to $11,050 ($4,628 of that is a donation).

Almost all of the 32 special boxes were filled for the season opening, but not without a lot of persuasion, said one longtime supporter, who reported she was called several times about buying a box. Some of those in the forefront: Steve and Ruth Loeb and Barbara and Steve Allen, who have shared a Bowl box for 20 years. Passing the shrimp-filled artichoke, they toasted with champagne and said they would resell some of their nights to friends, but that the higher expense “was for a good cause.”

A few boxes away, Suzanne and Fred Rheinstein arrived with Michael and Phyllis Hennigan, and jovially poured the wine: “Here’s to us all, opening night and a great season.” In the front row Alan and Georgina Rothenberg sat with Barry (he’s on the board of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) and Nancy Sanders and poured Fontodi Chianti classico .

San Francisco Symphony President Nancy Bechtle, a guest of Ernest Fleischmann, director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Bowl orchestras, walked down front from Fleischmann’s Terrace box to meet Alan (Philharmonic treasurer) and Nancy Wayte, feasting on chicken salads and yummy desserts served by the Bowl waiters. The Waytes were leaving next morning for the Santa Fe Opera.

Near them, Elwin and Polly Svenson of Sherman Oaks entertained a UCLA crowd and celebrated their 13th Bowl season. “We love it,” said Polly. “There is always a very special feeling about the first night.”

Many of the Pool boxes have been purchased by corporations. Donna Hansen, with husband Steve, hosted the Peat Marwick box. ABC, NBC and CBS have all taken boxes, not to mention Lehman Brothers, and law firms like Latham and Watkins and Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro.

In Row B, Timi and Gordon Freshman and Bruce and Raylene Meyer, shared a Pool Circle box. “It’s pretty neat not having to drag in the flowers and the big baskets,” said Bruce Meyer, as the waiters doted on them for every need.

Dr. Chadwick and Corina Smith of Rolling Hills and their guests, Michael Novarese and Robert Nelson, stood for the brisk National Anthem, admiring the banks of sunflowers on stage. Close by, Alyce Williamson chatted with Mary Marshall and Bob and Janice Carpenter dined with David and Norma McIntyre. Listening to Beethoven as the breeze rustled the pines were Joanne and Roger Kozberg, and down the row, Bob and Maria Hummer. Postscript: As the crowd left the Pool Circle, waiters were attentive. “Let me move the chair for you. Was everything all right?”

Indeed.

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Elsewhere on the Social Circuit: Like the jury, writer Dominick Dunne has watched the entire O.J. Simpson trial. Unlike the jury, he can discuss the case. And, unlike the jury, he’s not prohibited from forming opinions before all the evidence is heard.

Last Monday he gave his opinions to 160 guests at the Downtown Library Foundation Council “Meet and Dine with Dominick” alfresco dinner.

To say the crowd was mesmerized is understatement. Dunne believes Simpson is guilty. Referring to “the dazzle” of Simpson’s personality, Dunne predicted, “If he wants an acquittal, he will have to take the stand; if he does not, he will almost for certain have a hung jury.”

Dunne professed great sympathy for the jury. “They can’t speak about the trial--can you imagine how crazed that must make them.” He predicted a jury would not be sequestered again.

He also professed sympathy for police officers. “Every officer has been mocked and humiliated on the stand.” And he commented, “First thing is, television in the courtroom is going to end--and I am for that.”

It was Nancy Vreeland, a longtime Dunne friend, who invited him to speak. Council founder Flora Thornton and council President Joni Smith, organized the affair.

Dunne, who has covered the Lyle and Erik Menendez and Simpson trials for Vanity Fair, plans to write a book about the two trials.

George and Marion Scharffenberger drove in from Rolling Hills for the affair. John and Joan Hotchkis brought Dick and Judith Bressler from Pasadena. Gene and Patricia Prindle, and Bob and Janice Carpenter of Hancock Park were together. Caroline Ahmanson and Frances Brody sat with Flora Thornton and Eric Small (back from a French library tour and luncheon at Versailles). Also at that table was library foundation Vice President Tom Decker and his wife, Denise, talking about plans to attend the Mothers’ Club Community Center full-moon benefit two nights later at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.

Dickinson Ross, there with wife Gaby, was accepting kudos for the $150,000 Fletcher Jones Foundation gift to the library. He’s on the foundation’s board.

Others seen: Norman and Sue Barker, Richard and Susie Gordinier, John and Pam King, Nancy and Alan Livingston, Diane and Leon Morton, Michael and Susan Niven, Gloria and Ed Renwick, William and Deborah Richards, and Frani and Dan Ridder.

* Mary Lou Loper’s column is published Sundays.