Tim Willert
PASADENA -- Eleven-year-old Katie Cox, Bob's Big Boy earrings dangling
from her lobes, prepared to board the '57 Chevy Bel Air convertible that
would accompany Glendale's float down Colorado Boulevard in Tuesday's
Tournament of Roses Parade.
"I'm a little nervous because I told all my friends to watch for me,"
said the 11-year-old, wearing a cheerleader's outfit her mom borrowed
from Glendale High School. "But I'm ready."
Minutes later, "Rock Around the Clock," a re-creation of the landmark
Bob's Big Boy drive-in restaurant that was a popular hangout for
Glendale-area teens in the 1950s, was on the move.
"It's exciting," said Crescenta Valley High Football Coach Alan
Eberhart, a passenger in one of the four cars. "But I think the real
excitement is when you turn the corner [from Orange Grove Boulevard to
Colorado] and see all those people."
Four classic cars, two roller-skating car hops and four Glendale High
dancers complemented the city's 88th Rose Parade entry.
The 113th Tournament of Roses Parade, dubbed "Salute to America" and
themed "Good Times," lived up to its patriotic billing, entertaining an
estimated 1 million parade-goers and a television audience of 200
million-plus worldwide.
The skies were gray, but Colorado Boulevard was drenched in red, white
and blue Tuesday.
Dozens of vibrant floats, marching bands and equestrian teams
captivated the crowd, which was treated to a flyover by a B-2 bomber and
an appearance by "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" host Regis Philbin, the
parade's grand marshal.
Spectators cheered Glendale's float, but judges weren't as impressed,
and passed over the entry for a trophy.
"You don't enter the Tournament of Roses Parade to win," said
Councilman Dave Weaver, who helped decorate the float, and rode in one of
the four cars. "If you do win, it's frosting on the cake. You do it for
pride in the community."
"Gone Fishin'," the Glendale-based IHOP Corp. float entry that
depicted a boy and his father sharing an afternoon of fishing, was also
passed over by judges.
Under tight security in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
the parade featured dozens of brilliantly-colored floats, most carrying
some American symbol in recognition of the attacks.
A float titled "Through the Years," with its giant Rubik's Cube and
computer symbolizing recent decades, also carried an American eagle
flying out of a red, white and blue box.
Some of the floats were all-out tributes.
Honda Motors' entry, "Born in the USA," was a 50-foot robot wearing a
massive red, white and blue helmet.
Home Depot's float, "Building Better Communities," depicted a house
under construction with an American flag hanging on it.
Six heroes who helped with rescue efforts following the attacks rode
down Colorado Boulevard in a giant pink Cadillac sponsored by the L.A.
Department of Water and Power.
The U.S. Marine Corps marching band kicked off the parade about 8 a.m.
with a rousing rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the U.S.
bomber flew over the parade route while recording artist Martina McBride
sang "God Bless America."
More than 1,000 law enforcement personnel were involved in the
security effort, including Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, FBI
agents and California Highway Patrol officers.
Authorities arrested 59 people, most of them for public intoxication,
a Pasadena police official said.
