November 21, 2005

• 
  
  
  
  

  Pasadena has two famous parades each year. The New Year, of course, brings the Rose Parade, and a lot of "locals", me included, would never step foot in the city of Pasadena during the Rose Parade. However, the "anti-Rose Parade" is the DooDah Parade, which was held this past Sunday afternoon, on Raymond and Colorado Blvds. in Pasadena, under a hot sun with beautiful weather. Here are just some of the many highlights of the 2005 edition of the Doo Dah Parade.

  
  

  

  
  

  This long legged beauty is probably a guy. You have to watch closely, or just forget about perception and reality when you attend the DooDah Parade. None of these photos are enhanced or modified in any way. I haven't even cropped or trimmed them. I probably could have gone out in the street, like some of the other photographers, but I liked my vantage point standing in front of a building under an awning, because it was quite warm.

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the Claude Rains Memorial 20 Man Invisible Marching Drill Team, which is always a hit. You really can't see most of the participants, because, of course, they are invisible. Some of the "acts" performing at the Doo Dah have been coming out for most of the parade's history. The woman standing next to me was a participant in the parade 15 years ago.

  
  

  

  
  

  The "Ferret Folk" come out (without their ferrets, which are illegal as pets in California) to protest the fact that they can't keep ferrets as pets. In front of the big ferret float here was a female "ferret dancer" and some folks with poodles "dressed up" to resemble ferrets. There are also quite a few "dog groups" including the weiner dogs and basset hounds.

  
  

  

  
  

  Grand marshalls of this years parade were the Barbecue and Hibachi Grill Team, who shoot hot dogs into the crowd with these "bazookas". They grill em and they shoot em, and then "condiment ladies' pass out the mustard and ketchup. Some people eat the hot dogs even when they bounce off the pavement. Between all the candy, tortillas, and hot dogs, the real dogs on the parade route get quite a meal.

  
  

  

  
  

  This is the hearse carrying the body of Lee Marvin, and is the centerpiece of my favorite marching group, The Bastard Sons of Lee Marvin. The sign on the hearse says: "Rent a Marvin Movie Tonight". There weren't as many "bastard sons" this year as in years past.

  
  

  

  
  

  Here one of the bastard sons of Lee Marvin (pulling a little covered wagon which has "Paint Your Wagon" painted on the side) regaling the crowd with Marvin's achievements. I called out "I was born under a wandrin' star" but this bastard didn't understand the reference, to the song Lee sung in the 1969 musical "Paint Your Wagon".

  
  

  

  
  

  The girl to my right couldn't stop laughing at this guy, who is attempting to paint a picture while walking down the parade route. I saw him two years ago, and I swear, he's working on the very same painting.

  
  

  

  
  

  There are actually some marching bands, including the "East L.A. College Marching Band" which knew how to play, but the main draw are the 'drill teams' including the Men Of Leisure drill team, who "nap" on cue along the route. Their drummer follows, seated in his La-Z-Boy.

  
  

  

  
  

  The Doo Dah has inflatables, just like Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Here is a flying saucer symbolizing the "Alien" society, which also included robots and spacemen of many ilks.

  
  

  

  
  

  The unofficial theme of this year's parade must have been alternative fuels, because there weren't as many automobiles as usual, (except for the Edsels, which always begin the parade) and there were lots of bicycles. Two guys are pedalling the "wheel" and the fish is manned by a bunch of guys. You can see the weiners and tortillas on the pavement.

  
  

  

  
  

  Everybody loves the motorized couch, which traversed the route a couple or three times. It actually moves pretty fast, and I'm lucky to have gotten a couple of good shots. There are brake lights on the back of the couch, and at one point, a skateboarder hung on to the back and used it as propulsion.

  
  

  

  
  

  Uncle Fester and his bubble machine works the crowd. During Doo Dah, Hallowe'en,  Thanksgiving, and Christmas all blend together in an amalgam of Holiday Cheer. Santa was even pedalling a bike down the route.

  
  

  

  
  

  This rather intricate float was pulled by a phalanx of Hare Krishnas. I don't know whether or not they were "real" or some joke group, as I wanted to snap a photo of the float itself and missed the banner in front of it. The Doo Dah Parade is an equal opportunity offender.

  
  

  

  
  

  Here is a sweet belly dancer. She's strutting her stuff in almost 90 degree heat. I always watch the parade from the beginning of the route, which snakes down Raymond, and then makes a right on Colorado Blvd. (the street where the more famous "Rose Parade" is held). I'm sure these guys and gals were tired out and sweaty at the end of the route. The parade takes two hours, and starts around 11:30am, although this year, the beginning was more like noon.

  
  

  

  
  

  George Bush made six or seven appearances. Here, he is in jail clothing. He also was seen holding a bottle of motor oil, and was marching with the "big money" guys. I don't think there are many Republicans in attendance at the Doo Dah parade.

  
  

  

  
  

  Our governor also showed up, looking pretty good, even though he lost all of his special initiatives in our special election a few weeks ago. He marched with teachers and firemen.

  
  

  

  
  

  I've got lots more photos, and will be adding them all to a new photo folder either with my Yahoo account or with the PhotoSite on Homestead, which I have but have never used. My Webshots Gallery is filled with 3000 photos, so right now this blog is the only place where you can see my photos of the 2005 Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena. This is the "Well Hung Suspension Team" and they were actually hanging from their backs, or so it looked. A Tattoo and Piercing parlor sponsered this float, and these guys looked like something out of a Clive Barker novel.

  
  

  I also shot video. My camera switches from stills to video quite easily. I will go through the video to cull some stills for another photo post. I admit these photos aren't that great, but at least they give a little bit of the feel of Pasadena's Doo Dah Parade.

  • 8:07 am
  • 45 Comments