First I'll toss a grenade: In my opinion all of the big televised parades have been ruined by the dominance of special interests, and the boring inclusion of choreography specifically intended for the camera. Imagine my delight then in seeing 1950 Oldsmobile 88 and 98 convertibles leading the parade in co-starring roles.

rosebowlparade20147.jpg
rosebowlparade20142.jpg
rosebowlparade20141.jpg
rosebowlparade20146.jpg
rosebowlparade20143.jpg

The Past....

rose-parade-1927.jpg


Stumbled on to this image from a Lansing parade in 1972:

"....Here's a Flickr photo by Hugo90 that takes a little explanation. Shot at a parade in Lansing, Mich., in 1972, this Oldsmobile special started as a Toronado that was shortened and given a wood face like a hockey mask. Its purpose? To help push the cars of employees at the Lansing factory through the mid-Michigan winter snows -- possible because the Olds would have been one of the few front-wheel-drive machines available...."

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/archive/143.html

snowpusherlansing.jpg

 

I couldn't agree more, but I think it happened quite some time ago. I haven't watched the Rose parade or the Macy's parade in many years.

 

Special interests like the 2 guys that got married on a float? On the plus side, those 2 cars are a part of our So Cal OCA group which is the only reason I turned it on. 69062_3304651635290_1497398311_n.jpg

 

Wow, ON the float in the parade? So much for "we just want tolerance."

 

Yes, ON TOP OF a float and plastered across every news network here for several days prior and after as well. More like "WE WANT EVERYBODYS ATTENTION!!"