An apt symbol for Politics ‘96:Julian Pallack,...

An apt symbol for Politics ‘96:

Julian Pallack, who cast his ballot at a residence in Pasadena on Tuesday, says the owners of the house inadvertently made a statement about the field of candidates. The owners gave out lemons to the voters.

CLEAN SWEEP OF SORTS: Beverly Hills High grad Steve Herbert points out that his school’s alumni scored big in two motion picture awards contests--Nicolas Cage won the Oscar for best actor for “Leaving Las Vegas” and Pauly Shore won the nod from the Golden Raspberry Foundation for his lead performance in “Jury Duty.” Shore’s Razzie was for worst actor.

HE NEVER MET AN OSCAR NOMINEE HE DIDN’T LIKE: Did you catch the snafu at the Oscars? Presenters Sharon Stone and Quincy Jones were about to name the winner of the best dramatic score award when they discovered they didn’t have the envelope. So Stone put her fingers on her temples and joked about the audience having “a psychic moment.” Jones walked offstage and returned to whisper the winner’s name--”The Postman (Il Postino)”--in her ear.

Still, the incident didn’t measure up to the confusion engendered at the 1934 Oscars by emcee Will Rogers.

First, when Rogers was supposed to reveal the winner of the best director award, he spoke at length about “my good friend Frank.” Nominee Frank Capra began walking to the podium when he realized that another Frank--Frank Lloyd--had won for “Cavalcade.”

Then, before making the best actress announcement, Rogers invited up nominees May Robson and Diana Wynyard, leading many to believe there had been a tie. Rogers congratulated them for their performances, kissed both and then told them the winner was Katharine Hepburn (“Morning Glory”), who was absent.

WE’VE HEARD OF DOG PARKS BUT. . . . Craig Lawson of West L.A. sent us a ticket stub from a movie house that seems to cater to animals. We hope the ushers have flashlights.

ON SECOND THOUGHT: Maybe the “dogs” reference on Lawson’s ticket referred to movies like “Judge Dredd.”

MESSAGE TO PAT BUCHANAN? The marquee at the Rita Flora flower shop on La Brea Avenue said:

PRIMARY ELECTION

CON DOLE ENCES

Or perhaps the shop was sympathizing with voters about all the lemons who were running.

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Simpson case prosecutor Chris Darden speculated in an TV interview with Larry King that O.J. Simpson and driver Al Cowlings executed a U-turn and headed back to West L.A. during the chase because they realized they couldn’t escape. Maybe, Darden said, “they listened to the radio, KFWB or something. . . .” Now KFWB is airing the Darden blurb in a promo, reminding listeners to tune in “whether you’re trying to get across the border or across town.”