Tournament of Roses float preparation

“Saturday Matinee” is the theme of the Trader Joe’s float, which highlights a variety of cinema genres. The green monster’s body is made of several kinds of leaves and its face is made of summer squash, Brussel sprouts, yellow button mums, large lima beans, yellow split peas, nori and corn husks. The cowboy is wearing a 10-gallon hat of paper bark.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Sophie Basalone, 12, left, and Hannah Basalone, 16, of Brea work on the Trader Joe’s float in Pasadena. The entry, themed “Saturday Matinee,” is a tribute to science fiction, monster movies, Westerns and other genres that have entertained film fans going back to the 1920s.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Kim Cass of Laguna Hills works on the Trader Joe’s float, “Saturday Matinee,” the seventh Rose Parade entry from the locally based grocery chain.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The “Saturday Matinee” theme of the Trader Joe’s float wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the concession stand. Look for spewing popcorn on parade day.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The creatures on the Trader Joe’s Rose Parade float, “Saturday Matinee,” sport 3-D glasses covered with fine cut red strawflower and blue statice. The frames are made of ground white rice.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Sandy Caldera works on the tail feather of an eagle on a float.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

David Semones works on the float for Donate Life, an organ-donation education group. The entry, themed “Stars of Life,” is billed as the first abstract float design in the modern era of the parade, highlighted by a shower of stars representing donors and their families, transplant patients and healthcare professionals.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

At this stage, it’s all in the details: Courtney VanderKlomp, 13, top, and Robbie Seal, also 13, cut red strawflower while performing float duty in Pasadena.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Tellerday tends to -- what else? -- some really big rose decorations that will eventually grace a Rose Parade float in Pasadena.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Morales, 17, works in Pasadena on the float from Roseville, “Entertaining Dreams for a Century.” The Northern California city is turning 100 in April 2009.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Volunteer Rachel Lofthouse, 12, of Arcadia works on the Rose Parade entry from Roseville, Calif., “Entertaining Dreams for a Century.”  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Winnie Joe, 29, of Temple City says, “I like seeing everything come togther,” as she works on a float in Pasadena.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Alex Larsen, 13, works on the city of Roseville’s float in Pasadena. The entry includes a nearly life-size replica of the 1909 Union Pacific engine that ran between Sacramento and the city, which will celebrate its centennial in April 2009.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)