Coming up roses

The Trojan fight song resonated from the grand piano in Deane

Bottorf’s living room, as his busy fingers played a welcoming tune

for a fellow Trojan.

Bottorf is more than just your average USC fan. His ties to the

Rose Bowl and the parade are stronger than that of the average SC

alumni. The Corona del Mar resident grew up in South Pasadena and

made his debut in the famed Rose Parade when he was just 4 years old.

His home was festive, with a large Christmas tree decorating the

large picture window at the front of the home and a colorful

poinsettia on the table. A black Scottish terrier named “Soda” -- the

only thing the Bottorfs like with their scotch -- scurried about,

happy to entertain guests.

Faded pictures of a smiling toddler, covered his piano, as he

shared his Rose Parade memories -- and others -- with columnist

Lolita Harper.

How did you land your role in the 1930 Rose Parade?

Well the basic idea was that my father worked for Adohr Milk Farms

in Pasadena and I guess I was a cute and tractable little boy and I

would do what I was told. So they dressed me up like a milkman and

put me on a cart. I guess in those days it was casual. Some of the

homes along Orange Grove were still being occupied and the people who

owned them would have the hired help roll out a carriage from the

carriage house and put flowers on it from the garden and they would

be in the parade. Really, it was quite casual, or so I was told

because I really don’t remember much.

Anyway, they dressed me up in the milkman suit and the guy

decorated a little wagon with a milk bottle on top and that was that.

Do you have a favorite memory from that day?

Well most of what I remember is prompted by the pictures. And also

by the fact that we won, I think, third prize in our division because

I remember for many years I had a flannel banner on a pole that said

“Third prize, 1930.” I don’t specifically remember actually doing

what I was told, which was to smile and wave.

Are you a big fan of the Rose Parade? Do you watch it every year?

I wouldn’t call me a big fan but I have had a close association

over the years. I grew up in South Pasadena, so our junior high band

played in the Rose Parade in what, 1939, was it? I played in the

band, of course. And sold programs one year. And later, we lived in

Sierra Madre, and there they build their own float, and somehow I

wound up the commissioner of the committee to build the float. And I

said, “I don’t know anything about building a float.” And they said,

“Don’t worry, Deane, we’ve got a lot of help.” And they did. We had

people coming from San Bernardino to work on that float.

So how did you end up in Newport Beach?

Well, we lived in Sierra Madre and my daughter finished junior

high up there and was about to go to high school. We had a little

duplex on the peninsula that we always went to in the summer. We

decided, if we are going to move, we best move before she started

high school, so we came down here in 1960.

Did you watch the Rose Parade this year?

Yes I did.

Did you have any favorites?

Well, you know, yeah, as an old float-builder, the details on the

lion on the Auto Club float was spectacular. You know, they won one

of those prizes. And that dragon, boy. I couldn’t quite get what that

Disneyland float was all about -- with that tower. It just seemed to

me what they were doing was promoting a ride. I don’t know.

So, you watched the Rose Parade, did you watch the Rose Bowl?

Of course, because I am an old SC grad, you know. I am. Class of

1950. And yes, that was pretty awesome.

I had played in the marching band for awhile at USC but in those

two years, the football team let us down and they never did make it

to the Rose Bowl. So, I never marched in the parade with the USC

band.

What instrument did you play?

Well, I play the piano. But the band thing was just because I

wanted to be in the junior high marching band but I told the director

that I couldn’t afford to buy a horn. He gave me a baritone horn,

which is about the worst thing you can march with. It is this great

big horn that sits in your lap. When you play it sitting down, it

sits right in your lap. But when you play it while marching, you’re

holding it out like this and the mouthpiece is moving around on your

mouth, while you are trying to look down and look out for dog doo and

the horse doo. It is just terrible. But I don’t play that. I couldn’t

say I play.

But I am still a working professional.

Really?

Yes, I have played music my whole life except for a couple of

wars. I have been in bars and clubs all my life, behind the piano.

So where are you playing now?

Well, I don’t play steady, I just play casual. You see at my age,

I just play with a little group of equally senior musicians. On New

Year’s Eve we played at a retirement home in Claremont. And at a

quarter of eight, they let loose the balloons and we played “Auld

Lang Syne” and by 8:15 p.m. it was all over. Everybody went to bed.

But we always play parties and play in our little group.

Any plans for 2004 or resolutions? What are you looking forward

to?

Well, I am planning more reading of books. I do a lot of reading

of magazines but I don’t really get to a lot of books. And I decided

that, I play golf once a week at the NB golf course, so I am going to

play golf more. And I ride my bike. And I don’t have a sailboat

anymore. But I am going to increase my hobby of making records.

See, I record right here in the living room, take them onto the

computer and burn it onto a CD. I’ll remind you that the fidelity is

terrible but the piano playing is great. This is all one track and

you put it on and it just keeps going the whole time and you are

supposed to try to identify the songs. See, you would probably not be

able to, seeing as they are all from World War II. But you might know

one or two.