“The day we had all been waiting for and working so hard for arrived,” wrote Ann (Schlesinger) Stevens said in describing feelings leading up to the Jan. 1, 1970 Tournament of Roses parade. “I’m wondering if Mr. (Jerry) Ellingson and Mr. Adams were able to sleep at all on New Years Eve night, and if they were as worried about us ‘behaving’ and performing on national television. Ellingson had just turned 28 when he took us on this trip …big responsibility and a very belated and enthusiastic, thank you.”

Schlesinger also said the day began with an early breakfast and a long bus ride to Pasadena.

“The theme for the 81st annual Tournament of Roses parade was ‘Holidays Around the World.’ There were 124 units in the parade. MHS Band was number 85. The parade program listed us as ‘Marshalltown High School Bobcat Marching Band – Marshalltown, Iowa’ – In brilliant uniforms of Yale blue and Cardinal red, 160 bandsmen comprise the Bobcat Marching Band. Block red ‘M’s’ adorn the front of the uniform and Bobcat emblems in blue on the back. We marched between the Continental Airlines ‘Holiday in Hawaii’ float and the Pasadena School Districts’ ‘Independence Days Around the World” float.

“The parade Grand Marshalls were the Apollo 12 astronauts ‘America’s newest space heroes’ – Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr. and Alan Bean. Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the Apollo program and the second to land on the moon. It was launched Nov. 14, 1969.

CONTRIBUTED MATERIALS Pictured are Ann - (Schlesinger) Stephens’ personal Tournament of Roses Parade item of photo badge medallion and name tag. All band members received other souvenirs as well.

Pamela Dee Tedesco, 19, was crowned Queen of the 1970 Tournament of Roses. While we were lining up and waiting to march, our families were home watching the band competition (taped earlier in the week) airing on NBC-TV at 9:45 a.m., and continued until the parade started at 10:30 a.m.

“My memory was how hungry and tired we were after marching in the parade, wrote band member Ann Francis in an email. “Getting a box lunch and then another bus ride to the game. For some reason the seats gave static electric shocks that kept us awake during the game … like a cattle prod. It was a very long day … but not one to be forgotten.”

From the parade, they went to Rose Bowl Stadium to watch the 56th annual Rose Bowl game. University of Southern California vs. University of Michigan. (USC, champions of the Pac-8 Conference, defeated Michigan, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 10-3).

The 50-yard line seats were in front of the grand marshalls, the queen and her court.

“Ann, thank you for the trip down memory lane,” wrote Diane Gallantine in an email. “I just wanted to comment not all of us had seats on the 50-yard line. A few of us sat in the nosebleed section and didn’t see any of the celebrities.”

Official Jan. 1 Schedule

Breakfast – 5 a.m.

Depart for Pasadena – 6 a.m.

Arrive Parade Route – 7:30 a.m.

Rose Bowl Game – 2 p.m.

Dinner – 7 p.m.

“Thank you for continuing to post comments and memories on the Band’s Facebook page – MHS 1970 Rose Bowl Band Reunion,” Stephens wrote. She has encouraged others to share their personal memories and memorabilia on the band’s Facebook page: MHS 1970 Rose Bowl Band Reunion. More than 60 band members have said they will be in Marshalltown for a reunion during the 2019 Oktemberfest, Sept. 26-29. Contact her at ann-stephens@sbcglobal.net.