Rose-Colored View - In Focus - Azusa Pacific University

"Often our clients like the Rotary Club and the city of West Covina provide their own volunteers, which is great because it really gives them a sense of ownership in the process and product," Larry said. "I also call on groups such as the Girl Scouts, church choirs, or school bands that can use this as a fundraiser."

The Crains' first experience decorating floats came through a fundraiser for a choir they sponsored at Bethany Baptist Church in West Covina 21 years ago.

"I fell in love with the business right away and wanted to find a way to keep decorating floats," Larry said. This love led to freelance float production while continuing his career in medical sales. In 1991, the Crains purchased Azusa-based Charisma Floats/Design. Their enthusiasm for the business is evidenced by the numerous awards they win for their work, including Most Outstanding City Entry for West Covina and the Most Beautiful 35 feet or under for Rotary International in the 2004 Rose Parade.

But perhaps the greatest reward Charisma received arrived 13 years ago when the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts, and Sciences selected them to provide all floral production and decoration for the Academy Awards and Oscar Week, a production that involves 65 staff and 70,000 stems. The Crains are now in their 11^th year under contract with this prestigious event.

"Working on the Academy Awards is always a great challenge," said Larry. "We are the only floral producer for the show, and we handle the red carpet entrances, all press, VIP, and dressing room areas."

Though Oscar night involves hours of sweating every detail of the arrangement, the Crains say the excitement they feel when everything is successful makes all the hard work worth the effort. "Working on the Academy Awards almost feels like being part of a Broadway show, where you prepare and rehearse until you finally have the big opening on stage for everyone to see," said Larry.

HISTORY
The first Tournament of Roses was held in 1890 by members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. Patterned after a European festival of roses, the spectacle showcased Pasadena's natural beauty and sunny climate while most of the nation lay buried beneath snow.

January 1, 2005 marks the 116^th Tournament of Roses, with its theme: Celebrate Family. Past parade themes include: Fabrics of America, Headlines in Flowers, and Holidays Around the World.

BY THE NUMBERS
2,000: attendance of the very first Rose Parade

100,000: average number of blossoms required for each float - more than an average florist will use in five years

500,000: vials of water used to put the most delicate flowers in, which are then set into the floats one by one

425 million: estimated combined television and live Rose Parade audience each year

$75,000-$250,000: average cost of a finished float, depending on its size and mechanics

PROCESS
While the parade floats are not made exclusively of roses, every inch of every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials. Leaves, seeds, or bark are commonly used to help bring floats to life.

Constructing a float involves a specially built chassis, upon which a framework of steel and chicken wire is assembled. In a process called "cocooning," the frame is sprayed with a polyvinyl material, which is then painted in the colors of the flowers to be applied later.

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