Evening star., 1939-12-27
BY SAM JACKSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

PASADENA, CaE1., Lee. Zl.-
Imagine a million people swarming
into city that normally holds only
$4,000 and you have the hilarious
state of affairs which is Pasadena'S
every New Year Day.
To the sports minded country as
a whole this mob scene is associated
with the annual Rose Bowl football
game, in which-with certain quail
fications-the best team in the East
meets the best team in the West.
Actually the game accounts for
only a small fraction of the people.
The number of football seats Oh
tainable is exactly 86,311. The thing
that gets the crowd is the Tourna-
ment of Roses, a gorgeous parade
nearly five miles long consisting of
floats decorated entirely with fresh,
living blossoms.
Newspaper observers said the
parade last New Year Day was wit
messed by 1,250000 persons. The
post parade, where you can wander
about on foot and inspect the floats
at leisure, is enjoyed by about 300,-
900.
Game Pays the Way.
But the game pays for the parade.
The gross is more than $500 900
and after $4,000 expense is taken
out the profit is split three ways
roughly 26 per cent to the Tourna-
ment of Roses Association and 81
per cent to each of the participating
universities.
The Tournament of Roses Asso-
citation allows the Pacific Coast Con-
ference to select the Western repre-
sentative Promptly after the last
conference game the faculty repre-
sentatives of each member school
cast telegraphic votes. This team
then is allowed to choose any East
ern team it prefers as its rival.
Some colleges, such as certain
Eastern schools and Western Con-
ference members, may scott at. a
100000 Windfall, but most OF them
value a bid to the Rose Bowl for
more than the thrill and glory.
No Pacific Conference manager
has been known to swoon during
crucial late games, but each one
realizes there is often big money at
stake. If Kenny Washington had
completed his pass to Jackie Robin
son over Southern CALIFORNIA; goal
a few days ago it doubtless would
have meant U. C. L. A. in the Rose
Bowl and 100000 in the U. c. L. A.
treasury. More than one tumble or
erratic place kick in conference play
has meant: There goes 100000"
Southern California. unbeaten IN
five previous Rose Bowl engage
ments, tackles Tennessee, an un-
beaten Southeastern team, next New
Year day.
William Dunkerley. manager OF
the association, says it is impossible
to estimate how much money the
big event brings into town.
"All business houses close up," he
explains. The only things open
are hotels, cafes and other busi-
nesses necessary to handle the
crowds.
"The hotels, of course, are filled
to capacity. We send hundreds OF
persons to private homes.
Trouble? No, we've had mighty
little of 1t. It's hardly the type OF
event to attract criminals. And
police handle the traffic well.
Regarding weather, the records
of 49 years of rose tournaments
shows we've averaged mighty we'll"
"You understand" he continued,
reaching for a Chamber OF Com
merce folder entitled, Pasadena
California at It's Best" that the
winter season is warm and balmy
here, with flowers in full bloom"
What was the worst weather you
ever had?"
"Well in 1888 we were practically
rained out. But it was an unusually
beautiful parade. The moisture
made the flowers look magnificent.
Hold Parade in Morning.
The big social event of the occa-
sion is the Tournament of Roses ball
on some weekday before New Year.
There the queen of the tournament,
selected from Pasadena junior col
leRe CO-cOS, Is C1OWIlCu. AAAC CNCAo
is formal, strictly invitational, and
the bids are much sought after.
Most of them go to leaders in the
cities and corporations that enter
floats in the parade.
The parade moves on New Year
morning and the Rose Bowl game is
played New Year afternoon. The
hilarity before and after, however,
has little to do with either.
Pasadena is part of the sprawling
city of 100000 known as the Los
Angeles metropolitan area" and
the partying is done at each indi-
vidual's favorite spot, be 1t in Holly
wood, at the beaches or elsewhere.
The Tournament of Roses, first
staged in 1890 by the Valley Hunt
Club, now is put on by the Tourna-
ment of Roses Association, closely
knit little organization of 125 active
and 300 associate members, who
work hard and pay dues for the
nrivyi1aOo