diff --git a/direct/src/directtools/DirectUtil.py b/direct/src/directtools/DirectUtil.py
index 228ade7810..b4b14374ff 100644
--- a/direct/src/directtools/DirectUtil.py
+++ b/direct/src/directtools/DirectUtil.py
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@ def getTkColorString(color):
     return "#" + r + g + b
 
 ## Background Color ##
-def setBackgroundColor(r,g,b):
-    """ Wrapper function to set background color """
-    base.win.getGsg().setColorClearValue(VBase4(r, g, b, 1.0))
-
 def lerpBackgroundColor(r,g,b,duration):
     """ Function to lerp background color to a new value """
     def lerpColor(state):
@@ -42,13 +38,13 @@ def lerpBackgroundColor(r,g,b,duration):
         state.time += dt
         sf = state.time / state.duration
         if sf >= 1.0:
-            setBackgroundColor(state.ec[0], state.ec[1], state.ec[2])
+            base.setBackgroundColor(state.ec[0], state.ec[1], state.ec[2])
             return Task.done
         else:
             r = sf * state.ec[0] + (1 - sf) * state.sc[0]
             g = sf * state.ec[1] + (1 - sf) * state.sc[1]
             b = sf * state.ec[2] + (1 - sf) * state.sc[2]
-            setBackgroundColor(r,g,b)
+            base.setBackgroundColor(r,g,b)
             return Task.cont
     taskMgr.remove('lerpBackgroundColor')
     t = taskMgr.add(lerpColor, 'lerpBackgroundColor')
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index 0d1a6b0f01..179d9ad375 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -563,6 +563,41 @@ class ShowBase:
         self.taskMgr.remove('dataloop')
         self.eventMgr.shutdown()
 
+    def getBackgroundColor(self):
+        """ Returns the current window background color.  This assumes
+        the window is set up to clear the color each frame (this is
+        the normal setting). """
+        # Temporary try .. except for old Pandas.
+        try:
+            return VBase4(self.win.getClearColor())
+        except:
+            return VBase4(self.win.getGsg().getColorClearValue())
+
+    def setBackgroundColor(self, *args):
+        """ Sets the window background color to the indicated value.
+        This assumes the window is set up to clear the color each
+        frame (this is the normal setting).
+
+        The color may be either a VBase3 or a VBase4, or a 3-component
+        tuple, or the individual r, g, b parameters.
+        """
+
+        numArgs = len(args)
+        if numArgs == 3 or numArgs == 4:
+            color = VBase4(args[0], args[1], args[2], 1.0)
+        elif numArgs == 1:
+            arg = args[0]
+            color = VBase4(arg[0], arg[1], arg[2], 1.0)
+        else:
+            raise TypeError, ('Invalid number of arguments: %d, expected 1, 3, or 4.' % numArgs)
+            
+            
+        # Temporary try .. except for old Pandas.
+        try:
+            self.win.setClearColor(color)
+        except:
+            self.win.getGsg().setColorClearValue(color)
+                
     def toggleBackface(self):
         if self.backfaceCullingEnabled:
             self.backfaceCullingOff()
diff --git a/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py b/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
index 05422cecab..57f0a5c1bd 100644
--- a/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
+++ b/direct/src/tkpanels/DirectSessionPanel.py
@@ -706,14 +706,12 @@ class DirectSessionPanel(AppShell):
 
     ## ENVIRONMENT CONTROLS ##
     # Background # 
-    def setBackgroundColor(self, r,g,b):
-        self.setBackgroundColor(Vec3(r,g,b))
+    def setBackgroundColor(self, r, g, b):
+        self.setBackgroundColorVec((r, g, b))
     def setBackgroundColorVec(self, color):
-        base.win.getGsg().setColorClearValue(
-            VBase4(color[0]/255.0,
-                   color[1]/255.0,
-                   color[2]/255.0,
-                   1.0))
+        base.setBackgroundColor(color[0]/255.0,
+                                color[1]/255.0,
+                                color[2]/255.0)
 
     def selectDisplayRegionNamed(self, name):
         if (string.find(name, 'Display Region ') >= 0):