Rose Queens Past and Present Convene for Conversation, Cuisine and Comradery
By Pasadena Independent
Published: Thursday, December 17th, 2009
2010 Rose Queen Natalie Innocenzi came to celebrate the history of the tournament at Tournament House Tuesday morning where she and 35 former Rose Queens attended a luncheon in their honor celebrating the Tournament’s rich and lengthy history.
The oldest-living Rose Queen, 88-year-old Margaret Main, the 1940 Rose Queen, and Sally Rabsaman, the 1941 Rose Queen, were just two of the former Queens giving their advice to the freshman Queen Natalie at the annual event. 100 people attended the luncheon, including 35 former Rose Queens.
1940 Rose Queen Margeret Main
Collages of pictures of former queens were spread throughout the Tournament House, including photos of Hallie Woods, the first Rose Queen in 1905.
Smile!
The ladies posed for photographs before lunch. We asked Margaret Main what was the biggest different between her Reign and the present day parade. She replied “There are a lot more people and cameras now.” Of Course, during 1940, television coverage of the parade was non-existent; the technology having just begun to take hold with the broadcast of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
Photos by Terry Miller
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Posted by Pasadena Independent
on Dec 17th, 2009 and filed under Featured.
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It seems to be many many years ago that Rose Queen’s were ‘beautiful’ and smart. I thought women were becoming more beautiful, but I was wrong. I cannot fathom that these past years are flooded with ‘homely’ Queen’s. Where are the beauties? These girls today are in the category of an actual queen; i.e. Queen Elizabeth of England, who is many cases is lovelier than our Rose Queens.
From past experience, I was confronted with ‘fixed’ selections. One of my best friends knew; told me, that two weeks previous to announcement, she had been chosen as that years Queen. She deserved it, & in fact, may just be the last remaining actual ‘beauty’. Also, one of the judges daughters was in the finals and became a Rose Princess; not a beauty. Is it still the same?
Let’s see more beauties in the future. After all, this event is televised for the world to see and surely they think that CA has beautiful women and are confused as to the selections.
To Samantha: Your comments are a real slap in the face to the many outstanding young women who have served as Rose Queen over the past few years. How insulting. These girls ARE both beautiful and smart, including Queen Natalie. Perhaps it might make sense for you to invest in a new pair of glasses and a new attitude..
I think they are chosen on their accomplishments and community pariticpation. They are also apparently judged on their academic abilities. I think that’s better package than based purely on looks. You don’t want a bunch of airheads representing your Tournament.