There were concerns that a low-cost float might be entered, breaking the string of continuous awards since 1920. But Glendale’s citizens and civic organizations responded to the crisis, contributing some $3,000 to the cause; thus the city had $5,000 for the float. The float’s “victory” theme, with a giant “V” for victory topped by a globe and the dove of peace, won first prize in Class A. The float was constructed by Lewis Stanley of Balboa Island.
Lewis continued to build the city’s floats for many years. For the 1949 parade, the City Council allocated $5,500 for “Alice in Wonderland,” which brought in a theme prize. That New Year’s Day, News-Press staff writer Betty Preston described a “cold and foggy dawn which gave way to sunshine almost instantaneously with the signal for the famed floral spectacle.”
Art student Paul R. Davis was the winner of the 1955 float design of “Say it With Flowers.” Judging took place at the Verdugo Club in October. His design depicted a boy and girl sitting in a flower bed at the front of the float. On the next level, a flower-covered fountain poured real water. A bridal couple were positioned at the upper level at the rear of the float, which won a first prize.
The 1956 “Easter Parade” brought home a first place in the A-7 division for cities with a population of between 90,000 and 200,000. Betty Walker, queen of the 1955 Days of the Verdugos and a princess, Kathy Reynolds, both in white bunny costumes, rode on the float, again constructed by Stanley.
The design was a composite of several entries submitted by Glendale High School students.
