TINSEL IN TINSELTOWN GLITCHES CAN'T DIM PARADE.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Forget frigid Macy's parades. For Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, the 71st Hollywood Christmas parade Sunday was the place to party.

``I'm looking forward to my first Christmas in California,'' said the former New York police chief, after posing with celebrities prior to the glitzy Hollywood spectacular. ``Christmas with palm trees, Santa Claus wearing a bathing suit.''

An estimated 1 million fans lined up for the Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular - formerly known as the Hollywood Christmas Parade - to gawk at nearly 100 Tinseltown stars and a whole new fanfare of Hollywood magic, pyrotechnics and stunts.

Grand Marshal Mickey Rooney led a holiday cavalcade of marching bands, parade floats, city leaders and Hollywood celebrities from Hollywood Boulevard to the Sunset Strip.

``Christmas means everything,'' said the 88-year-old actor from Westwood Village, wearing a green wool cap and crimson Christmas sweater. ``It should mean everything in the world - peace on Earth, goodwill to man.

``So have yourself a merry little Christmas night,'' sang Rooney and his wife, Jan, before climbing into their parade car.

Audiences who arrived more than three hours before the 2 1/2-hour parade for curbside perches were forced to wait more than an hour while Los Angeles police investigated two suspicious packages.

A bomb squad was brought in after an abandoned backpack was discovered in front of a Gap clothing store at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The pack, however, contained harmless duds, Capt. Mike Downing said.

A second package found a block away also turned out to be harmless.

A power outage at 7 p.m. left part of the parade route dark at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.

For millions of TV viewers accustomed to watching Santa live, the theme of this year's parade also meant delay. A one-hour segment won't be broadcast until Dec. 8 on KNBC (Channel 4). The full version won't air until Christmas morning on KCOP (Channel 13).

But for those who stood along the Walk of Fame to ogle such stars as ``Star Trek's'' William Shatner, Bryan Cranston of ``Malcolm in the Middle'' and Elvira, aka Cassandra Peterson, the parade was a glorious day for Hollywood.

``It's the glory,'' said ``Dollywood'' Boyd, 45, of Van Nuys, dressed in a full mink coat, who paid $75 to watch magician David Copperfield and other entertainers perform on a stage in front of the Kodak Theatre. ``I love it; I feel like a star.''

Prior to the parade, Bratton, Mayor James Hahn and many parade celebrities hobnobbed at an exclusive soiree at the historic Roosevelt Hotel.

``Merry Christmas to the Valley,'' said Hahn, his 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son in tow. ``It's a great time of year for people to stop the hustle and bustle, and a fine time to be with family.''

Elvira, sprouting a towering bouffant, ample cleavage and gothic black gown, struggled with the spirit of Christmas present.

``I'm just trying to break into Christmas,'' she said. ``Why limit yourself to Halloween?''

For Art Clokey, 81, a resident of San Luis Obispo and the creator of Gumby, Christmas meant counting drinks.

``He's a little drunk,'' he joked, clutching a life-size Gumby, who debuted on TV in 1957 as a wholesome children's alternative.

But for Harlem Globetrotter Roy ``Zazzoo'' Byrd, Christmas meant thinking of others.

``It's all about giving,'' he said, ``and that's what we do all around the world.''

As dusk descended on a balmy Hollywood cleansed by rain, spectators marveled at glittering Grauman's and El Capitan theaters flooded by sweeping parade lights.

``No rain, no nothin,' the clear blue sky,'' said Danny Jacques, 41, of Huntington Beach. ``Kinda cool; Christmas in Hollywood.''

``It's fabulous, it's incredible,'' said Steve Wilson, 37, of Seaside, Ore., stranded in Los Angeles with his girlfriend on a Thanksgiving layover from Phoenix.

``Warm enough? This is like a heat wave for us.''

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Elvira (aka actress Cassandra Peterson) waves to crowds.

(2 -- color) A balloon of PBS' Jay Jay the Jet Plane takes flight at the Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular.

(3) Chloe Ledesma proudly wears her Santa hat and waves the flag from the sidewalk along the parade route.

(4) A stuntman jumps from a 10-story building along Hollywood Boulevard onto an awaiting airbag during the parade.

(5) A goateed William Shatner waves to fans at the Blockbuster Hollywood Spectacular Sunday night.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer