TV Station Setup at End of Parade

For the local residents and annual visitors who traditionally line the last few blocks of the Tournament of Roses Parade along Sierra Madre Boulevard in east Pasadena, there are certain benefits which are always anticipated.

The narrowness of the southbound lanes which the parade traverses permit close inspection of floats, conversations with dignitaries and enjoyment of bands, if they are still playing. Parade viewers in this area are happily accustomed to exhausted musicians, haggard band formations, broken-down float animation and huge gaps in the line of march.

Fox Television, Channel 11, has taken it upon itself this year to pirate a half block of prime viewing grass on the median strip between Lambert Drive and Hermanos Street to set up an elaborate, seven-camera production facility, including video truck, uplink truck, generators, boom platform and production staff recreational vehicles to broadcast the beginning of the parade at the end of the route.

Residents of the area had not been notified by the city of Pasadena, Fox TV or the Tournament Committee until the deal was consummated. This attempt to gain more commercial revenue will be at the expense of hundreds of parade-goers who will be deprived of convenient access.

We sincerely hope Fox can join the rest of the media with intelligent broadcasting from areas which do not disrupt space and sight lines in residential neighborhoods.

MICHAEL KRAKOWER

Pasadena