HOME MOVIES: THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE 1949

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1949

Format: 16mm

Description: This beautiful amateur silent film in color presents the 1949 Rose Parade for viewers. The Tournament of Roses; also known as the Rose Parade, first began in 1890 with members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club. A quote from one of the founders is "In New York, people are buried under snow. Here our flowers are blooming…let us hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise." The parade is held on New Year’s Day or January 2nd. The Rose Bowl follows the parade. It is produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of the Rose Association. The parade moves down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena annually, California and is comprised of colorful floats, marching bands and horses. The film opens with spectators lining the green (:11) watching western style riders atop white horses. The marching band stamps onto the green (:18). The blowing brass band follows (:28). Baton twirlers trot with white boots (:44). Dark Clydesdale draft horses pull a float (1:01). Another float appears from Culver City (1:21). A radio stand for KFWR appears in the back corner (1:36). Close shots display festive costumes (1:52). The butt of a float reads ‘Olvera Street’ (2:03). The Salvation Army’s float moves down the line (2:17). Pinocchio and a merry go round sit atop another covered float (2:23). The baton girls appear in western gear (3:11). ‘The Ice Cream Store’ has a float (3:33). Horse’s side step with western riders holding the American flag (4:32). A motorcycle passes in front of a 1948 light blue Chrysler Windsor Convertible (4:49). The brass band plays again (5:16). The convertible is pictured with ‘Grand Marshal’ on it (5:42). Two entertainers walk with a banner reading ‘Childhood Memories’ (5:55). Women in white lounge on a pink float (6:08). The mayor’s float arrives (6:19). A cowboy on a palomino (6:45) waves to spectators. A female rider joins him (6:51). The rolling snares of Northwestern University Marching band pass in front of the crowd (7:24). The Illinois college football team’s float follows (7:39). Long Beach, California has a float covered in pink and white roses (8:17). The 20-30 International float (8:42) signifies the international service club which works on helping children and developing leadership skills in adults from the ages of 20 to 39. A stand for the television program CBS appears in the top right (8:52). Pedestrians appear dressed for the occasion in trim suits (9:06). A man in Native American attire skips across screen (9:15). A massive bunny in white and pink (9:43) rests atop the See’s Candy float. Baton twirlers for Antelope Valley march on the green (10:03). Two riders wave atop the Antelope Valley High school (10:43). A massive jack-o-lantern follows (10:56). Santa rides atop the Alhambra float (11:23). Two cowgirls ride after (11:32). The arts and crafts brand; Treasure Tone Paints (11:48) feature their own float. A snow man stands atop the Portland, Oregon float (12:06). A press photographer walks by the marching brass band (12:48). A woman waves from the front of an Inglewood float (13:12). Huntington Hotel’s float (13:22) features a barber delivering a child their first haircut. Another float advertises Los Angeles’ County fair to be run September 15th to October 2nd (13:31). Baton twirlers arrive again in gold (13:41). Allendale California’s Police Force plays brass and snare instruments (13:57). Glendale’s float is in Alice in wonderland theme (14:33). Livestock stand atop the Union Oil and Co. float (14:41). The Boy Scouts of America float (14:58) features a typical scene of Boy Scout life. Western riders (15:09), baton girls (15:13) and a final marching band in red wrap up the film (15:18).

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