I wish I could remember the name of that movie...I think van johnson was in it and it isn't shown very often.
bishop, california might have worked...if reno was zero fuel, its 200 miles closer...pretty high up too.
but you did the right thing...I guess the guy who called in the bomb threat lived in palmdale and knew the elevation (2543) and had seen the movie...maybe made a bet with a girl that he could make an air cal 737 land at palmdale.
all the best