Tournament of Roses Parade 329619 225895122 2008-07-15T22:17:41Z 72.251.38.22 {{TOCRight}} The '''Tournament of Roses Parade''' was established, and first held, on [[January 1]],[[1890]], in [[Pasadena, California]], eight miles (13 km) northeast of [[Downtown Los Angeles]]. Starting [[January 1]], [[1923]], it is traditionally followed by the Tournament's other event, the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] [[college football]] game. This parade is broadcast on multiple [[television network]]s, watched by upwards of one million spectators on the parade route, and seen by millions more on television. The parade is televised on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (as the official network of the tournament and the Rose Bowl game itself), but coverage in [[California]] is also available on [[NBC]], [[Univision]] (in Spanish), [[HGTV]], [[The Travel Channel]], and [[KTLA]] (the latter three tout commercial-free coverage, although KTLA repeats the parade throughout the day with commercials). Until 2007, the parade was also broadcast on [[CBS]]. ==History== Members of Pasadena's [[Valley Hunt Club]] first staged the parade in [[1890]]. Since then the Parade has been held in Pasadena every [[New Year's Day]], except when January 1 falls on a Sunday. In that case, the Tournament is held on the subsequent Monday, [[January 2]]. This exception was instituted in 1893. According to the Tournament of Roses Association Web site, this "Never on Sunday" policy was instituted in order "to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services." Thus, the Parade has never been held on a Sunday. Incidentally, the Rose Bowl Game is also not held on Sunday, to avoid competing with the [[National Football League|NFL]]. Other bowl games usually held on January 1 also follow this rule. [[Image:USMC 07 Rose Parade.jpg|thumb|left|250px|USMC color guard at the 2007 Rose Parade]] Many of the members of the Valley Hunt Club were former residents of the American [[Eastern United States|East]] and [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]]. They wished to showcase their new California homes' mild winter weather. At a club meeting, Professor Charles F. Holder announced, "In New York, people are buried in the snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise." And so the Club organized Horse-drawn carriages covered in flowers, followed by foot races, polo matches, and a game of tug-of-war on the town lot attracted a crowd of 2000 to the event. Upon seeing the scores of flowers on display, the Professor decided to suggest the name "Tournament of Roses." Over the next few founding years, marching bands and motorized floats were added. By [[1895]], the event was too large for the Valley Hunt Club to handle, hence the [[Pasadena Tournament of Roses]] Association was formed. By the eleventh annual Tournament ([[1900]]), the town lot on which the activities were held was re-named [[Tournament Park]], a large open area directly adjacent to Pasadena's world-famous institution of higher learning, [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]]. Activities soon included [[ostrich]] races, [[bronco]] busting demonstrations, and an odd novelty race between a [[camel]] and an [[elephant]]. (The elephant won the race.) Soon, reviewing stands were built along the parade route, and newspapers in [[East Coast of the United States|Eastern Seaboard]] cities started to take notice of the event. [[Image:Tournament-of-Roses-Chariot-Race-1908.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A Chariot Race during the 1908 Tournament of Roses; later replaced by the Rose Bowl Game]] {{main|Presidents of the Tournament of Roses Association}} [[Tournament House]] is the name given the building where the organization is headquartered. The Tournament House, a stately Italian Renaissance-style mansion, was once owned by [[William Wrigley Jr.]], the chewing gum magnate.<ref>http://www.tournamentofroses.com/aboutus/house.asp</ref> In [[2002]] and [[2006]], when the Rose Bowl Game was the [[BCS National Championship Game]], the "Granddaddy of 'em all" was not held the same day as the parade; the 2006 game was played on January 4. Not all fans were pleased with the change; some thought the atmosphere and tradition of the Rose Bowl were lost. However, since the BCS title game is now separate from the host bowl, it will no longer affect the date of the Rose Bowl Game, even when the title game returns to Pasadena in [[2010]]. ==Parade== [[Image:roseparade.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A float from the 2004 Rose Parade]] The Tournament of Roses Parade has followed the same route for many decades. The day before the Parade, the entire environs of the neighborhood streets are sealed off and reserved for the massive parade marshalling of the dozens of floats and other elements. The marshalling area is referred to as the Formation Area and managed by the Formation Area Committee. [[Image:roseparade1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A close up of roses used to create a rose parade float.]] On parade morning, the parade elements are merged and dispatched. It starts by going north on [[South Orange Grove Boulevard (Pasadena, California)|South Orange Grove Boulevard]], beginning at Ellis Street. At [[Colorado Boulevard (Pasadena, California)|Colorado Boulevard]] it passes the main Television and Media stands and proceeds east. (Colorado Boulevard is Pasadena's main thoroughfare and a segment of the former [[U.S. Route 66 (California)|US 66]]). The Parade turns north on Sierra Madre Boulevard. On going North, the floats must travel under the Sierra Madre Boulevard./ [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]] freeway overpass, requiring over height floats to collapse to prevent crashing into the overpass. The Parade ends at the Post Parade Area when it crosses Paloma Street. In total, this route is 5½ miles (9 km) long; the assembled bands, horse units, and floats take approximately 2.5 hours to pass by. After the Parade an exhibition of the floats is conducted. ==Floats== [[Image:TOR volunteers prepping flowers.jpg|thumb|left|volunteers]] {{main|Tournament of Roses floats}} Originally flower decorated horse carriages were entered in the parade. Floats, built by volunteers from sponsoring communities, supplanted most of the carriages over time. Currently, most are built by professional float building companies, and take nearly a year to construct. Some communities and organizational sponsors still rely on volunteers. The [[Valley Hunt Club]] still enters a flower decorated carriage. Typically 48 to 72 hours prior to parade day one can view several of the floats being decorated with flowery mantles, in the various 'float barns' that dot the [[Arroyo Seco]] / Rose Bowl area in West Pasadena, not far from the start of the parade. Last-minute volunteering opportunities are usually available; If you are willing to volunteer, you just might find a crew willing to hand you a box of flowers and put you right to work!{{Fact|date=February 2007}} After the parade, all the floats are 'parked' at the end of the parade route on Sierra Madre Blvd. and Washington Blvd., by Victory Park, and are on display for at least one and half days after the parade. Of course, none of the float riders and dignitaries / stars who rode on them are present. Admittance to the viewing used to be free, but a fee has been instituted in recent years. ==Equestrians== [[Image:First Calv US Army 07 Rose Parade.jpg|thumb|left|250px|First Cavalry Division Equestrian Unit, US Army, Ft. Hood TX, at the 2007 Rose Parade]] Since the beginning, horses have played a part in the Rose Parade. Thousands of riders have made the trek down Colorado Boulevard. "The Tournment equestrian family grows bigger and stronger every year as it welcomes the new equestrians who come to share the magic of New Year's day and appreciate the commitment to excellence and professionalism exhibited by the returning equestrian units to the parade," according to the Tournament of Roses. Prior to the parade, an "Equestfest" is held at the [[Equidome|Los Angeles Equestrian Center]] to showcase the performances by the amazing and talented riding teams. Equestrian units taking part in "Equestfest" have included [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|First Cavalry Division]] U.S. Army Fort Hood, Clydesdales, [[Traveler (mascot)|"Traveler"-USC mascot]], Sons and Daughters of the Reel West and the California State Fire Fighters Association. [[Bob Eubanks]] and Shawn Parr have served as announcers at "Equestfest". ==Bands== [[Image:Bandtournamentrosesparade.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Londonderry High School Marching Lancer Band, from New Hampshire during the 2004 parade]] Top marching bands from all over the world are invited. Many of the nations top high school marching bands, along with college and organizational marching bands participate. The bands participating in the parade have also developed traditions. For example, [[Pasadena City College]]'s Lancer Marching Band always marches in the Rose Parade, along with high school band and color guard students from all over [[Southern California]], who are selected by audition the previous autumn. The Tournament of Roses Honor Band is a coveted position, and those selected are among the best student musicians in [[California]]. Nine of the high school trumpet players, selected by performance on their auditions, and the best snare drummer, are selected as the Herald Trumpets, who march directly before the Rose Queen's float and play fanfares. [[Image:Nuestros Angeles de El Salvador.jpg|thumb|Nuestros Angeles de El Salvador dancers from San Salvador, El Salvador The dancers followed the marching band<ref>http://www.esroseparade.com/</ref>]] University Marching bands from the two schools participating in the Rose Bowl are invited to march in the parade. They typically accompany the float that represents the school. Bands that have a long standing arrangement to be in the parade include: *The Tournament of Roses Honor Band *The [[Los Angeles Unified School District]] all city marching band *The [[Salvation Army]] marching band *The [[United States Marine Corps]] marching band In 1998, the [[Washington Township High School]] Minutemen Marching Band from [[Sewell, New Jersey]] became the first band in the history of the Rose Parade to decorate its entire ranks with live flowers, in keeping with the practice of decorating the parade floats. Designed by Todd Marcocci, this unique concept and design approach received tremendous support from all major media around the world. Since then, several bands have followed suit.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Also, the Tournament sponsors BandFest, where the selected bands perform field shows at the City College Stadium over two days. In 2008, the [[Missouri State University]] band performed in the opening show, immediately followed by the [[Needham B. Broughton High School]] Band from Raleigh, NC. The [[Alexis I. duPont High School]] Tiger Marching Band from [[Wilmington, Delaware]] made their 5th appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade, only accomplished by three high school bands from outside of the state of California. Also in 2008, the [[Arcadia High School (Arcadia, California)|Arcadia High School]] marching band made their 14th appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} ==Tournament of Roses Parade themes== [[Image:Rose-2.jpg‎|thumb|left|230px|Oklahoma Rising Float at the 2007 Rose Parade]] {{main|Tournament of Roses Parade themes}} The newly elected President of the Tournament of Roses has the duty of picking a theme for the forthcoming festivities. Most of the floral floats in the parade are inspired by this theme. On January 18, 2008, Ronald H. Conzonire (Corky) was confirmed as President of the [[Pasadena Tournament of Roses]] Association. He chose "Hats Off to Entertainment" as the theme for the 2009 120th Rose Parade and 95th Rose Bowl Game. ==Grand Marshal== {{main|Grand Marshals of the Tournament of Roses Parade}} The Grand Marshal of the Parade is an honorary position selected by the President of the Tournament. Many are picked for a relationship to the theme that is also picked by the President. :'''Repeat Marshals of the Tournament of Roses Parade''' * [[Shirley Temple]], 1939, 1989, 1999 * [[Charles Daggett]], 1900, 1901, 1914 * [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] 1951, 1964 (note that Cpl. [[Robert S. Gray]] filled in for him in 1951) * [[Bob Hope]], 1947, 1969 * [[Richard M. Nixon]], 1953, 1960 * [[C. C. Reynolds]], 1902, 1903 * Dr. [[Francis F. Rowland]], 1890, 1892, 1894, 1904, 1905, 1910, 1916 * Dr. [[Ralph Skillen]], 1907, 1908, 1911 * [[Edwin Stearns]], 1896, 1897 * [[Martin H. Weight]], 1898, 1899 * [[Earl Warren]], 1943, 1955 ==Queen and Royal Court== [[Image:Dusty Gibbs.jpg|thumb|left|Dusty Gibbs, 2008 Queen|170px]] {{main|Queens of the Tournament of Roses}} Each year, a selection process is held in late September and early October to find out which Pasadena-area girls (ages 17 to 21) will have the honor of being crowned Queen of the Tournament, or in substitution, one of the members of her "Royal Court". Each year over 1000 girls try out. Six princesses and one queen are chosen. The winners then ride on a float in the parade, and carry out duties in promotion of the Tournament, mainly during its duration and prelude. Their duties include attending over one hundred events in the Pasadena area. They usually receive scholarship money and a 30 piece wardrobe; the 2005 Court also received a Mikimoto pearl necklace. During the time that they attend Tournament events, usually from October to January, each girl usually attends school a few times a week for only a few hours at a time. Future [[One Tree Hill]] actress Sophia Bush was Queen in 2000. ==Attendance== More recent attendance figure are followed by the predicted attendances in parenthesis. Most predictions are conducted by The Tournament of Roses and the [[Pasadena Police Department]]. Actual figures are by the [[Anderson School of Management]] at [[UCLA]]. The Los Angeles Times ran a study in 1980 that said the actual attendance at the parade was actually about 60% of what is claimed each year. * 1890- 2,000 * 2002- 800,000 (1,000,000; drop blamed on [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]]) * 2004- (1,000,000) ==Volunteers== [[Image:TOR float volunteers.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Float volunteers]] The Tournament of Roses has become such a large event that it requires 80,000 hours of combined [[manpower]] each year, or the equivalent of roughly 7.42 years of combined manpower. Fortunately for the Association, the group has 935 members and 38 student ambassadors, each whom is assigned to one of 34 committees. Responsibilities include: * selecting Parade participants * directing visitors on New Year's Day * serving hamburgers to band members at the end of the Parade route * giving presentations about the Tournament to community groups During the Parade, tournament members are required to wear distinct white suits, with red ties, name tags, membership pins and official ribbons. Because of this, the volunteers are commonly referred to as "white suiters." In December each year, a fleet of white vehicles with special "ToR" [[license plates]] are seen throughout the [[San Gabriel Valley]]. These cars are currently donated by American Honda for use in conducting the official business of the parade. [[Image:Tournament of Roses Parade scouts.jpg|left|250px|Eagle Scouts carrying banner|thumb]] Each year, an honor troop of [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scouts]] from the [[San Gabriel Valley Council]], and [[Gold Award (Girl Scouts of the USA)|Gold Award recipients]] of the [[Scouting in California#Girl Scouting in California|Mount Wilson Vista Council Girl Scouts]] is selected to carry the parade banners down the route. The ''Tournament of Roses Radio Amateurs'' (TORRA) have provided audio and video co-ordination for the parade officials through the use of [[Amateur radio]] since 1968. With over 300 [[Amateur radio operator|ham radio operators ]] in TORRA there were several [[Amateur radio station|ham radio sites]] along the parade route equipped with amateur (ham) TV as well as 2-way ham radios. Several mobile units - including motorcycles and pedestrian units (creepie-peepies) provided the video coverage. With modern technology and cell phone service, the TORRA relationship with the Tournament of Roses Association has since ended. Thousands more volunteers help cover the floats in those beautiful flower and seed mixes during "Deco week," Dec 26- parade day. Many of these come back year after year, some even camp nearby to help all week long. ==Weather== [[Image:PreRoseParade-010104.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Spectators gather before the [[2004]] Rose Parade: some pay for seats in stands, others spend the night to "reserve" a free spot on the sidewalks]] Since 1955, the parade has avoided being rained on with several close calls. For the [[2006]] Tournament of Roses parade on [[January 2]], winds with gusts up to 45 [[mph]] (72 [[km/h]]) and five [[inch]]es (130 [[millimeter|mm]]) of rain in the Pasadena area were predicted. Unfortunately, the forecast proved accurate; despite the parade's good luck for 51 years, it rained continuously and heavily throughout the entire 2006 parade. As a result, low television ratings and poor attendance plagued the ceremony. Some floats showed signs of water damage by the end. ==See also== *[[Portland Rose Festival]] *[[Doo Dah Parade]] *[[Rose Bowl (game)]] *[[Rose Bowl (stadium)]] *[[Cavalcade]] *[[Procession]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== {{commonscat}} *[http://www.tournamentofroses.com/ Tournament of Roses Parade official site] ===Float construction companies=== * [http://www.phxdeco.com Phoenix Decorating Co.] * [http://www.festivalartists.org Festival Artists Worldwide] * [http://www.fiestaparadefloats.com Fiesta Parade Floats] * [http://www.charismafloats.com Charisma Floats] * [http://www.studioconcepts.com Studio Concepts] ===Self-Built float organizations=== * [http://www.burbankrosefloat.com Burbank Tournament of Roses Association] * [http://www.downeyrose.org Downey Rose Float Association] * [http://www.lcftra.org/home.php La Canada Flintridge Rose Float Association] * [http://www.sierramadrerosefloat.com/ Sierra Madre Rose Float Association] * [http://www.sptor.com/ South Pasadena Rose Float Association] * [http://www.cpprosefloat.org Cal Poly Pomona Rose Float] * [http://www.asi.calpoly.edu/rosefloat/ Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Rose Float] {{Tournament of Roses}} [[Category:Tournament of Roses|*]] [[de:Rose Parade]] [[es:Desfile del Torneo de las Rosas]] [[fr:Tournoi de la parade des roses]]