9 photos of celebrity cars in the 2013 Rose Parade

Dame Jane Goodall was the Grand Marshal for the 2013 Rose Parade, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”  The monkey in her lap, Mr. H, was a gift from blind magician.  Goodall was surrounded by brilliant roses in shades of orange and other florals to create the impression of a luxurious tropical garden, chosen by floral designer J. Keith White.  For more articles on Jane Goodall, read “Jane Goodall, 2013 Rose Parade Grand Marshal: All the news at TOR Examiner.”The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring car set the pace for the 2013 Rose Parade.  Emblazoned with Tournament of Roses logos, the silver sedan sported a “spoiler” of long-stemmed red roses.   Four white suiters—Tournament of Roses volunteers—rode in the car.  One is snapping shots with his cell phone, and the driver looks like he’s consulting a map. Don’t get lost!Honda provided an electric blue 2013 Accord EX-L V6 Coupe to serve as the sound car for the 2013 Rose Parade.  Floral designer J. Keith White of FTD tricked it out with floral racing stripes of red anthurium, green ti leaves, and other red, white and green flowers.  This car was first in line in the Rose Parade.View the list »
Jane Goodall rode in a reproduction of a late 19th-century carriage as Grand Marshal of the 2013 Rose Parade.

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The Tournament of Roses Parade is all about floral floats, but floats are not the only modes of transportation covered in flowers at the Rose Parade. Horses have garlands and nosegays, too. And then there are the celebrity conveyances—cars and carriages all decked out with roses, colorful blooms, and greenery.

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The Rose Parade does not have a long list of celebrity guests like the Hollywood Christmas Parade. There are only four: the Grand Marshal, the Tournament of Roses President and her family, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame inductees, and the Mayor of Pasadena. The mayor has received this honor more than once; Bill Bogaard has ridden in the parade with his family some 16 times.

FTD floral designer J. Keith White, AIFD CFD, designed the presentation on the seven cars and one carriage that appeared in the 2013 Rose Parade. Photos and descriptions are in the list attached to this article.

As the final touches are put on the vehicles, the celebrities try them on for size. “Jane Goodall, Sally Bixby try out their Rose Parade rides” has the story and photos of the Grand Marshal and 2013 President, Sally M. Bixby.

Since the vehicles are often antique, classic, or rare automobiles, parade-goers often wonder about how mounting huge bouquets affects the paint jobs. There is a special—and secret—process that White uses to ensure that the cars return to their owners in pristine condition.

Prior to White taking over the decoration of vehicles for the Tournament of Roses, Els Hazenberg flew in from her family’s flower farm in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands to design and prepare the cars for the Rose Parade. She and her husband, George, worked on the parade from 1978 until their retirement in 2007. She handpicked White as her successor, and he worked with her for three years before she turned over the reins.

Like All Things Rose Parade on Facebook or subscribe to Tournament of Roses Examiner by clicking the "Subscribe" link. Read more articles about the Pasadena area at Altadena Headlines Examiner and San Gabriel Foothills Examiner. If you have a question or would like a reply to your comment, please post on All Things Rose Parade or email me at lbmonteros@yahoo.com

View the list
  • Honda provided an electric blue 2013 Accord EX-L V6 Coupe to serve as the sound car for the 2013 Rose Parade.  Floral designer J. Keith White of FTD tricked it out with floral racing stripes of red anthurium, green ti leaves, and other red, white and green flowers.  This car was first in line in the Rose Parade.
  • The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring car set the pace for the 2013 Rose Parade.  Emblazoned with Tournament of Roses logos, the silver sedan sported a “spoiler” of long-stemmed red roses.   Four white suiters—Tournament of Roses volunteers—rode in the car.  One is snapping shots with his cell phone, and the driver looks like he’s consulting a map. Don’t get lost!
  • Dame Jane Goodall was the Grand Marshal for the 2013 Rose Parade, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”  The monkey in her lap, Mr. H, was a gift from blind magician.  Goodall was surrounded by brilliant roses in shades of orange and other florals to create the impression of a luxurious tropical garden, chosen by floral designer J. Keith White.  For more articles on Jane Goodall, read “Jane Goodall, 2013 Rose Parade Grand Marshal: All the news at TOR Examiner.”
  • When she was announced as Grand Marshal, Jane Goodall said she would bring along a dog from a local shelter to raise awareness.  The 5 ½-mile route might be a bit much for a dog, so he and his handler only walked the short distance from the formation area, around the corner on Orange Grove and Colorado, and past the television cameras.
  • Children from Roots and Shoots, a conservation organization founded by Dame Jane Goodall, ride along with the Grand Marshall of the 2013 Rose Parade in an elegant 19th-centure reproduction carriage provided by Frank and Adriana Leyendekker.  “It’s the first topiary on a car that I’m aware of,” FTD floral designer J. Keith White told Examiner.  He created four chimpanzees to sit and hang from the carriage.
  • Sally M. Bixby, the second woman to serve as Tournament of Roses President, rode with husband Harlan in a cherry red 1940 Packard Darrin One-Eighty Victoria Convertible in the 2013 Rose Parade.  When she tried out her ride the day before the parade, floral designer J. Keith White questioned her about her wardrobe choice.  He wanted to make sure she would neither clash with nor disappear into the luxurious mounds of roses, tulips and hydrangeas in shades of pink, purple, red, and white.  The car was provided by the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo.
  • “Why two such large vehicles?” we asked Tournament of Roses white suiter Vatche Kelartinian in the decorating tent.  The answer: President Sally Bixby would have 16 family members riding along the parade route with her.  The red buses originally took tourists around Glacier National Park in Montana.  No. 39 had appeared in the Rose Parade before, and owner Bruce Austin knew the owner of No. 64, Sage Olsen.  The owners are part of the Jammer Trust, and Montana Public Service Corporation dedicated to the preservation and exposition of historic touring vehicles.  The buses were simply draped in leafy green garlands.
  • The three men inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, Class of 2012, rode the Rose Parade route in a silver 1938 Packard Standard Eight.  The number of these cars produced is estimated to be between five and 10.  This particular car was sent to Russia by the U.S. government to be used by Joseph Stalin. It is now  in the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo.  Variegated red and white roses are tucked into sprays of yellow and red flowers and red roses.
  • Mayor Bill Bogaard, in the rear passenger seat,  has represented the City of Pasadena in some 16 Rose Parades.  His wife, Claire, and Vice-Mayor Margaret McAustin and her husband, John, accompanied him.  They rode in a 1930 Lincoln Sport Touring car that had served as a taxi for a Kingston, Jamaica hotel in its first 30 years.  It is now owned by Pasadenan Loren Burch.  White roses and calla lilies and green Bells of Ireland peek from cascades of yellow flowers and ivy.
View the list
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, Tournament of Roses Examiner

With 30 years of Rose Parade viewing under her belt, Laura Monteros knows the ropes when it comes to the Tournament of Roses. She's gone to the Rose Bowl game, decorated Rose Parade floats, stood on the street to watch, and organized grandstand seating for 635 people. And that's just the start....

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