2014 Rose Parade Floats - Art & Artistry

The 125th Rose Parade featured over 40 amazing floats. This year's grand marshal was Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully. The theme - "Dreams Come True."

Following the parade, the floats are put on display for public viewing along Sierra Madre and Washington Boulevard in Pasadena. It's a great chance to see the art and artistry of the floral designs.

2013 Holiday Lights - Los Angeles

A few photos of holiday lights around Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Hollywood, Burbank and Glendale.

 

2013 Hollywood Christmas Parade




Astronaut float at the
2013 Hollywood Christmas Parade

Thousands of people lined the streets in Hollywood tonight to watch the 82nd Hollywood Christmas Parade. Former American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, was this year’s Grand Marshal.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade got its start in 1928, when businessman Harry Blaine originated the idea of turning the one mile section of Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and La Brea into “Santa Claus Lane.” Blaine and other local merchants hoped the event would draw more holiday season shoppers to the area, which was being promoted as the “world’s largest department store.” 

Santa Claus Lane became known for its decorated Christmas trees and daily parades featuring a reindeer-drawn sleigh, Santa and a celebrity.

Past parade Grand Marshals have included Bob Hope (1978& 1993), Gene Autry (1980), Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1981), James Stewart (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger (1990), Charlton Heston (1991) and Magic Johnson (2004).

Gene Autry rode his horse in the 1946 parade. After hearing the crowd yelling "Here Comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus," he wrote the song “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)." Oakley Haldeman added the music. Released in 1947, it became both a country and pop hit. In 1949, Autry performed the song in his movie "The Cowboy and the Indians."

Since then, Here Comes Santa Claus has been recorded by numerous artists, including Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, Mariah Carey and Chicago. Even the cast of Glee has covered the song.

Here Comes Santa Claus - Lyrics

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin' on the reins
Bells are ringin', children singin'
All is merry and bright
Hang your stockings and say your prayers
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
He's got a bag that's filled with toys
For boys and girls again
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
Oh what a beautiful sight
So jump in bed and cover your head
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
He doesn't care if you're rich or poor
He loves you just the same
Santa Claus knows we're all Gods children
That makes everything right
So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus lane
He'll come around when the chimes ring out
That it's Christmas morn again
Peace on earth will come to all
If we just follow the light
So lets give thanks to the lord above
That Santa Claus comes tonight!

 

 

 

 

 

Take a Ride on the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round

Los Angeles Magazine calls the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round "a time machine, an art lesson, and a thrill ride all in one." 

The merry-go-round has entertained and enthralled park visitors for over 75 years, thanks to the Davis family.

In the early 1900s, Oliver Funk Davis, a master carpenter, took merry-go-rounds to carnivals and fairs throughout California.

The family also became the operators of large carousels in Tilden Park (Berkeley), Long Beach and Lincoln Park (Los Angeles). The machines were built by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, New York.

The Tilden Park merry-go-round was constructed in 1911, and operated in San Bernardino County, San Diego and Griffith Park before it was permanently placed in Berkeley.

The Griffith Park merry-go-round was originally built in 1926. It was brought to the park from San Diego in 1937 by Ross R. Davis. The “Davis Merry-Go-Round Shop” was located at 5210 Alhambra Ave. in Los Angeles.

“Spillman designers took highly detailed horses that had been destined for a two-row machine and carved larger detailed horses for the out rows, then added huge jeweled horses from about 1885 that had probably been taken in trade. Most of these were from carousels built by master carver Charles Looff and others from one of the Looff’s head carvers, Charles Carmel. Looff had a factory in Long Beach during the 1960s.”

Charles I.D. Looff was born in Denmark in 1852 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1870. During his lifetime he manufactured more than 50 carousels, and numerous amusement parks, roller coasters and Ferris wheels, as well as the Santa Monica Pier.

J.O. Davis supervised the operation of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round and snack stand from June 1968 to August 1972, calling it "a great family business."

Nonprofit Spotlight: Goals for Life

Goals for Life is an educational program that teaches at-risk youth in underserved communities the skills and strategies needed to succeed in life.  Founded by former NFL player Reggie Berry, Goals for Life sends former professional football players into schools to teach students goal setting and provide them with the tools needed to achieve their full potential. The thirty week program has been implemented in numerous schools throughout Southern California.  To date, over 100 players have impacted and helped change the lives of more than 20,000 youth.



Goals for Life mentors and kids

Reggie Berry played with the San Diego Charges and World Football League before launching Goals for Life.  The group’s mission is to reach students “before they have fallen through the cracks and end up dropping out, in prison, on drugs, parenting prematurely, or worse, dead.”  The program’s curriculum has been designed to help students "understand, embrace and practice success principles."

Dia de Los Muertos Festival Comes Alive

San Pedro's Dia de Los Muertos Festival on November 1^st was a lively event that overflowed with Latin American entertainment, including mariachis, folklorico and Aztec dancers; great cuisine and creative costumes.  Presented by the San Pedro HistoricWaterfront Business Improvement District, the 6^th street activities also included an alter of rememberance, art exhibition and Artists’ Village with handmade crafts.

The festival took place during the city’s First Thursday ArtWalk, which is held every month between 4th and 8th streets.  During FTAW, San Pedro art galleries and studios remain open late into the evening, and the streets are filled with music and some of the finest gourmet food trucks in the area, including  the Grilled Cheese Truck, Asian Fusion, Slummin’ Gourmet, Lobsta Truck and Waffles del Liego.

The Spirit of Old Hollywood: Hollywood Arts Council

"The Spirit of Old Hollywood"

“The Spirit of Old Hollywood” was the theme of the Hollywood Arts Council membership salon on October 21st. The event, which was held at the Hollywood Post 43 American Legion, included ghost tours and live jazz by the Hollywood Rhythm Kings.

The American Legion is a registered historical landmark with decades of Hollywood history.  Built in 1929, the three story building has a ballroom, dining room, auditorium, museum, library and basement art deco bar with original light fixtures and mirrors.  You can read about the building’s colorful past here.

Hollywood American Legion: Basement Art Deco Bar

The Hollywood Arts Council promotes and supports the arts through advocacy, events and local school programs such as Project S.O.A.R. (Students Overcoming All Risks).  S.O.A.R. workshops encompass a broad range of arts, including painting, dance, photography and ceramics. The group also sponsors the annual Charlie Awards, a celebration of the arts and culture of Hollywood.