Queen Erica Valentine, Guitarist Extraordinaire, selected at 33rd Doo Dah Queen – 33rd Occasional Doo Dah Parade hits Colorado Boulevard May First……..but this time in East Pasadena
By Terry Miller
Published: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Doo Dah Queens Kavita, Naughty Mickie, Skittles and Sierra Madre Sue flank 33rd Queen Erica Valentine
Queen Erica Valentine, Guitarist Extraordinaire, selected at 33rd Doo Dah Queen – 33rd Occasional Doo Dah Parade hits Colorado Boulevard May First……..but this time in East Pasadena
A New Era for Doo Dah
By Terry Miller
A visibly elated Erica Valentine, strutting his ever-faithful sweet Stratocaster, was selected from over 20 Doo Dah Queen hopefuls Saturday afternoon at the American Legion Post 280 during the annual Queen tryouts.
The judges, a delightful motley crew of professionals and those wishing they were (plus a host of previous and delicious Doo Dah celebs) made up a standing room only party the likes of which the Legion doesn’t usually see.
There was the ever-present Count Smokula; the world’s most famous belly dancer; Uncle Fester illuminating us all; the Naked Opera Singer (aka Voodoo Princess Christina Linhardt who is best known for her Theatre Therapy and Ethnic Dance as well as he astounding voice; Pasadena’s PIO Ann Erdman and Tom Coston ( Lightbringer Guru) were on hand as judges; and a host of formers Queens including Queen Naughty Mickie and this year’s queen Skittles as well as wanna be Kinks, musicians, police officers….you might say the gathering was a sort of melting pot in the manner of New York’s Ellis Island of yesteryear with a dash of Studio 54 thrown in for good measure.
This year’s selection of Erica Valentine delighted everyone as he ( Erica) has been a perennial Queen candidate and now the first-ever male queen. The guitar work of this uncommonly tall, talented diva is well-respected by all bands with whom he’s worked. For his 2010 stab at the coveted title, Snotty Scotty and Horses on Astroturf backed up the axe Queen’s exceptionally fast fingers as he made love to the Strat’s fretboard.
The wild and wonderful party atmosphere, emceed by Dr. Demento this year, has been a rite of passage for the eclectic Doo Dah crew and devotees for centuries ( well, okay, r- a few decades )
Daring to go where no parade has gone before, this year’s May 1 – Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will venture east for the first time in its extremely colorful history.
While the alternative event has enjoyed much popular success in the Old Pasadena retail and entertainment district, organizers are excited to bring the eclectic parade to the town-like setting of East Pasadena.
“Old Pasadena has been a terrific backdrop and host for the Doo Dah Parade,” says organizer Tom Coston. “But with Doo Dah we see an opportunity to keep it fresh and interesting. We fondly leave Old Pasadena on the cusp of predictability. We look upon East Pasadena as an exciting frontier with its own local character and possibilities.”
The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade originated in Old Pasadena, then “Old Town,” in 1978 as a spontaneous grassroots event. Known as the “Other Parade,” it soon gained national attention as the eccentric alter-ego to the Tournament of Roses. East Pasadena, which boasts many small businesses and shops, is part of the Lamada Park District. Lamanda has a unique niche in Pasadena as it attracts more of a pioneer type of business. These businesses are what created the modern identity of the creative industrial arts that are located here. And who knew that at one time, this area had the largest winery in Southern California!
Pasadena resident Joe Colletti, Executive Director of the nonprofit, Mama’s Small Business Kitchen Incubator in the area says, “What we like to see is people venturing to a different part of Pasadena. There’s no doubt Doo Dah will bring more people to our neighborhood and that’s only going to be good for us.” Poo Bah Records, which started in Old Pasadena on Fair Oaks in 1971, is now settled on Colorado Blvd. in East Pasadena. Owner Ron Stivers says he is thrilled with the news, “I’ve been here for 6 years now, and have enjoyed plenty of parking, twice the space and have quadrupled my collection of music. It’s great to have Guitar Center next door, and the Colorado Bar after work. Doo Dah Parade moving here, with the mom and pop stores feels right, it’s like the Old, Old Town.”
The MayDay Doo Dah Parade will take place on Colorado Boulevard between Sierra Madre and San Gabriel. The exact route will be revealed in due course, we are told. So, stay tuned to Pasadena Independent for the latest.
Over 1000 revelers will be led by Snotty Scotty and the Hankies at this year’s Doo Dah, featuring entries like the Electric Squirrels, Martinis in the Morning, Howdy Krishna, Stupidiotic Evolution, Mystik Krewe d’Dieux Dah, Zombies of Debt, Flying Baby Street Racing and Stroller Cross, LA Derby Dolls, Dead Robert Palmer Girls, Drunk in the Garage, and classics like the Benzedrine Monks, BBQ & Hibachi Marching Grill Team, Amnesty International, Raelian Religion, Doo Dah Random Dancers, Wicked Tinkers, Bastard Sons of Lee Marvin, Caesar’s Circus, Fabulous Sons of Ed Wood, Horses on Astroturf, and AND MANY, MANY MORE!!!
For public information and to sign up for the Parade call (626) 590-1134 or visit their event website at www.pasadenadoodahparade.info
Photo by Terry Miller
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