Our city of Pasadena PIO is resting, recuperating, and relaxing again. Deservedly. Therefore I’ll again keep the very important historical torch lighted until she’s ready to roll again. Take your best guess at this magazine photo.
Where are we? And what’s happening in this photo?
The first person to guess correctly will have the admiration of our local bloggers!
I’ll have the full scoop on Thursday.
Gotta Wake-Up. Stay Thirsty My Friends
Cafe Pasadena today?? Where am I, What famous joint is this?!
Take a Guess. Stay Thirsty My Friends
Here are the reader guesses this week to this photo:
Irina believes it’s Rose Parade related & the car is parked in front of the Wrigley Mansion on Orange Grove.
East of Allen believes the driver is a medical physician – Dr. Sheldon of Huntington Hospital – “showing off” a seat belt he invented.
Justin de Pulled Porker doesn’t say who the driver is but believes East of Allen is right about the seatbelt, or that it’s the first seatbelt on a Pasadena squad car.
And Petrea thinks East of Allen (EoA) sounds like a good guess.
Ok, the envelope please…
Who is the driver? Well, it’s the Pasadena Chief of Police, of course! I believe his name was Clarence Morris.
The year is 1951.
What’s happening? The Chief is seated in a Police Interceptor, or police car, or squad car, black N white, or, whatever they were calling them half-century ago! He is “showing off” safety belts installed for testing purposes on a police vehicle. Presumably the testing went well, since Pasadena police would later install seat belts in their vehicles.
EoA of Allen said the driver was “Dr. Sheldon of Huntington Hosp.” While that is incorrect, Dr. C. Hunter Sheldon was a physician (neurologist) at the Huntington. His medical experience treating vehicle injuries launched his studies into vehicle safety. A few of his safety ideas included retractable seat belts, passive restraints, and reinforced roofs. Congress would later use his findings to write new safety legislation.
Safety belts were first invented in the 19th century by an engineer, aka Sir George Cayley. Since that initial primitive invention several people, including Dr. Sheldon, left their marks on improving the device. But I don’t know if the belt worn by the Chief in this picture is as EoA claims, Dr. Sheldon’s “belt he invented.”
So “the winner” is, imho, a split decision: I’m dividing the fabulous prize between East of Allen & The Pulled Porker. Congratulations!
Btw, Click It or Ticket! Stay Thirsty My Friends
There used to be a local blogger who occasionally would be baffled about a title for one of her blog photos. She would request captions from readers. I haven’t heard from her in a while, but I assume she’s still blogging or writing somewhere. Anyways, just the other day I caught this local image which immediately reminded me of that blogger.
And now I too am a bit perplexed on what to caption the photo above. I thought long & hard on an appropriate caption for this shot but came up empty. So I could really use your help on this one guys. And gals.
Gotta Surf The Web. Stay Thirsty My Friends
