Dating to 1929, this silent 16mm home movie contains footage of the Portland Rose Festival around 3:36. (It’s not certain, but this might represent some of the earliest extant moving picture footage of the event.) The film begins with images of some people at a rural location, playing games sawing wood, drinking milk or cider from a bucket, and having fun. At :58, brief shots during the winter, with someone tasting an icicle. The area around 1:03 may be at or near the Timberline Lodge. At 1:21, a girl practices with a golf club, and shows off her new dress. At 1:47 she shows off a costume, probably for the Rose Parade. At 2:06, what appears to be a small botanical garden (possibly part of the Portland Botanical Garden) is shown, covered in funny signs. Portland International Rose Test Garden or the Lambert Gardens (opened in 1930) as they had a Rose Festival Court Garden. At 2:47, a swan is shown in a duck pond. The Rose Parade starts at the 3:36 mark with various floats on display. According to an Internet post, 1929 was a difficult year on the finances of the parade, with public interest somewhat limited. First appearance of Royal Rosarians, upper right corner, 03:47. Float: Horse drawn Carnation second word appears to be either City or Co. followed by fresh milk, 5:36. (According to Oregon Geographic Names, there was a town named Carnation in Washington County, less than 30 miles from Portland, because of the Carnation Milk Products Company had a condensery near the town.) Float: Blue Lake Park-Originally a private park later acquired by the City of Portland Parks Department, 6:14. Float: Northwestern Electric Company labeled on the float as Northwestern Electric Co., 6:50. Company was later acquired by Portland General Electric (PGE). Float: Wonder Bread, 6:56. Float no ID but probably Jantzen Swimwear, 7:04.
The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region. The Portland Rose Society, founded by Georgiana Pittock and friends in 1888, began with a backyard rose show in Pittock’s garden. In 1905, Portland Mayor Harry Lane is remembered for his rousing speech at the Lewis and Clark Exposition, telling the large crowd that Portland needed a “festival of roses”. In 1907, the first official Portland Rose Festival took place.
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