Burbank Tournament of Roses Association presents the 69th entry for the
City of Burbank.
"The All American Barbershop Quartet"Šthe epitome of musical Americana.
Four animated symbols of America: the Bald Eagle, the American Grizzly
Bear, a good old American Mutt and your Thanksgiving Turkey sing our most
cherished barbershop quartet songs. Adding to the harmony are stars, patriotic
ribbons and spinning barber poles.
FLOWERING:
The All American Barbershop Quartet is comprised of a majestic American
Bald Eagle adorned in feathers of Magnolia leaves, white Anthuriums, lentil,
Hyacinth root and white "angel feathers." The legs are popcorn.
The American Grizzly Bear is cocoa palm fiber and pampas grass. The eyes
are lentil; ears are bougainvillea.
The fun loving All American Mutt is beige, white and tan pampas grass.
His eyes are blue iris petals. Mahogany ti leaves form the shiny nose and
paw pads.
The festive Thanksgiving Turkey sports a bold feather display of palm fronds,
iris petals, button mums, statice, cinnamon, saffron and strawflower. Saffron,
blue and purple statice with Kai Chi accents form the head. The beak is
red lentil. His legs are fava beans, yellow peas and popcorn.
The characters wear matching vests of striking purple mums, green Kermit
mums and yellow button mums. Their "straw" hats of corn husk have purple
and green striped trim as do their bow ties. Each holds a bamboo cane.
The characters perform on faceted star stages of yellow and orange roses,
marigolds and strawflower. Light bulb accents are lettuce seed and lunaria.
The characters stand between two barber poles with spinning stripes of
red and white carnations topped by glowing lights of white Virginia roses.
Floral arrangements around the base of the lights are sprengeri, green Anthuriums
and 500 purple dendrobium orchids.
Over 100 floral arrangements surround the stage in an amazing "fireworks"
display of red, yellow, white, pink and orange roses, orchids, gerberas
and gladiolas. Ribbons of blue statice, red carnation petals and white rice
edged in gold strawflower frame the sides of the stage.
ANIMATION:
Two cleaner burning propane engines power the float. One engine is used
to drive the float, the other to drive both a hydraulic pump and to run
an 8000 watt A/C generator. The hydraulic pump is used to deliver oil to
each animated mechanism and the A/C generator is used to provide electricity
for the sound system and strobe lights.
The float requires up to 7 on board operators to drive and operate the
floatıs systems, including animation, hydraulics, communications, sound
and strobe lights.
The charactersı heads are carved from sheet foam to create a natural appearance.
INNOVATIONS USED IN BUILDING THIS FLOAT:
Both the drive and animation engines have been converted to use cleaner
burning propane fuel.
A time lapse video recorder to record the float's perspective of the parade
is on board. The video will be used as part of the Association's promotion.
The dog's head and birds' heads are sculpted from sheet foam.
HUMAN INTEREST ITEMS:
One of only 6 self-built floats*, the float is designed, built and decorated
entirely by volunteers working year round. The Association relies on donations,
discounts and sales of float memorabilia to help build the float.
Members select the float design after an open design contest in January.
This yearıs design contest winner, Clark Jellison, is a Burbank resident
and Association member. He also designed last yearıs (2000) City of Burbank
Mayorıs Trophy award winning float, "To The FutureŠAt Full Throttle!" This
is his 6th design for Burbank; the previous in the 1970ıs included the 1977
Founderıs Trophy award winner, "High Adventure". Clark is also a headdress
designer and former sweepstakes winner for Las Floristas Headdress Ball.
The floatıs Construction Committee Chair is Burbank resident and Association
member, Jennifer Edward. Jennifer has held many positions within the Association
and was designer of the City of Burbank 1995 Founderıs Trophy award winning
float, "Reach For The Wind". Her husband, Steve Edward, is the Associationıs
Vice-President Float.
Burbank resident and Association member, Tamara Carlson-Woodard, is the
Decoration Committee Chair. Tamara is a specialty costumer for the film
and television industry, fabricating puppets, monsters and specialty costumes
for major motion pictures and television shows. She is married to Scott
Woodard, a writer/producer of childrenıs programming.
The "Backyards of Burbank" program, started in 1993, is active again this
year. Members and residents of Burbank and surrounding communities contributed
home-grown bougainvillea and hyacinth root.
Burbank Tournament of Roses Association operates its own web site. Visit
us at www.burbankrosefloat.com.
(*Cal-Poly, Downey, La Canada-Flintridge, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena
are the other self-builts.)
FLOAT RIDERS:
There are no float riders on this float.
