Where are we? And what's happening?
The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!
I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.
Fair warning: This one's not as obvious as it looks in the photo, so think way outside the box! I promise I'll make it easier next week.
It is 1946. Pasadena honors its returning war veterans in front of City Hall. Everyone is happy the boys are back from the front. Included in the welcomers was an adolescent Bill Bogaard, who welcomed the troops with a rousing rendition of Reveille on his bugle. Without missing a note, his piercing tones left not a dry eye in the crowd.
ReplyDeleteMake that a trumpet, not a bugle. All the bugles had been collected for the war effort and Bogaard was forced to play Reveille on a trumpet.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to point out that Bill Bogaard already was Mayor of Pasadena when this picture was taken.
ReplyDelete...in keeping with the theme:
ReplyDelete"Say Mister, I'm going for a walk around the Rose Bowl, wanna come?"
"Another time, Mr. Mayor. I can barely breathe in this belt."
Are you sure this isn't the first Dooh Dah parade?
ReplyDeleteIt's weird, but that soldier on the left looks just like my stepfather, who was in the British Army and wore a similar uniform. Surprised to find he was living a double life in Pasadena.
ReplyDeleteBell is partially correct. As usual.
ReplyDeleteThis is the ceremony handing over control of Pasadena from the military to civilian control after the 2nd World War.
I think it has something to do with the Salvation Army
ReplyDeleteWild guess: William Holden coming back from WWII? He went to Pasadena Junior College. Maybe that's his son wearing one of his jackets and hat.
ReplyDeleteBut if it was indeed he, wouldn't there be lots of young women around?
Keep guessing, everybody! You're keeping me entertained.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to next week, Ann. But I forgot to say, it's outside City Hall. Do I get half a prize for that?
ReplyDeleteBellis, you get my undying respect and admiration.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the welcome home Dave Hettema received outside City Hall in 1944.
ReplyDelete"After 35 successful missions, Dave had finished his job in the war effort and returned home to Pasadena, California, where he has lived most of his life. What did he do next? “I married Norma, Phil’s mother!” Dave said with a grin. It was February of 1945.
And he got a job as a photo engraver with the local daily newspaper, the Pasadena Star News."
::: http://www.hettemadesign.com/news/beyond_all_boundaries_facts_glance
These Brits are so pushy. Look at that, four guesses and the day's still young.
ReplyDeleteIt's a party for the first marching band in the Rose Parade.
ReplyDeleteVeterans Day, 1945 in front of City Hall. Is that a young Sid Tyler with the horn?
ReplyDeleteSo you didn't accept my first answer, eh PIO? LOL Well I may have been wrong about the kid but here is what this really is: The year is still 1946 and this is a photo shot during a break in the filming for the 1946 film "Till The End of Time," about the problems encountered by returning war veterarns. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk, who just a few years later was caught up in the McCarthy Hearings and was blackballed as being a communist. The film starred Robert Mitchum, seen in the foreground with an child actor (played by the budding young star William Bogaard.) Mitchum plays a returning Marine sergeant who has troubles adjusting to his home life and loses all his money. To his left in the photograph, playing the Air Force returnee, is actor Larry Hagman who went on to fame as J.R. in the TV nighttime soap "Dallas" Hagman is talking to fellow actor Gene Hackman (holding the topcoat) about the similarities in their surnames. Between the two is visiting dignitary, Senator Stuart Symington. That is Dmytryk looking on just to the left of Mitchum's head. This scene was shot in front of Pasadena's City Hall cleverly redecorated to be New York's 5th Avenue. Hundreds of extras were used, some of whom can be seen in the background ogling the stars. In the upper left of the picture you can see the old style outdoor loudspeaker erected to give directions to the mob of extras. Mitchum's response to a reporter asking him how he liked Pasadena, was to ask the reporter directions on how to get to the Colorado Bar.
ReplyDeleteKevin, if only that were right, I'd love it!
ReplyDelete