Rick Thomas
Author Rick Thomas is the former museum curator and vice-chair of education for the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation. He served on the South Pasadena Natural Resources Commission, helping to maintain a strict policy protecting the city’s great old-growth trees. Using touchstone photographs from his own collection—one of the San Gabriel Valley’s largest accumulations of historical images and artifacts—as well as national, state, and local historical archives, Thomas provides a window to his city’s past and an understanding of why its preservation is so important.
Throwback Thursday | Feather Fashion & More!
Rick Thomas Collection | Franchon & Marco’s vaudeville show features the Sunkist Beauties at the Rialto Theater, South Pasadena (1927)
Once upon a time, ostrich feather accessories were an everyday staple in women’s fashion. South...
Throwback Thursday | Pasadena’s Shakespeare Club
Rick Thomas Collection | Shakespeare Club (vintage photo postcard)
In the late 1800s, Women’s Clubs were formed in several burgeoning cities of San Gabriel Valley. Members consisted of highly-influential community leaders. None more so...
Throwback Thursday | In Your Face!
Now that the holidays are over, we have time to reflect and ask ourselves the biggest question of all. Why parade downtown with roses on horse-drawn carriages, and later, dress-up motorized vehicles with incredible...
Throwback Thursday | At the Crossroads of Heaven and Hell
South Pasadena is like no other place on Earth. The weather is perfect, and views of the San Gabriel Mountains are breathtaking.
South Pas is uniquely located at the “crossroads” of Los Angeles and San...
Throwback Thursday | New Home for the Holidays
After visiting South Pasadena during the winter season, guests of The Raymond often purchased land and built homes to plant family roots for a lifetime.
Pictorial: vacationers travel west to sunny South Pasadena (Winter, 1891)
Happy...
Throwback Thursday | Winter Paradise
Walter Raymond claimed his resort hotel is the finest located resort in the world. He was right!
The South Pasadena grand hotel featured cactus gardens on the grounds for their unique aesthetic. Prickly cactus blooms...
Throwback Thursday | Back in My Day…
Storytellers usually begin with “Once upon a time...” And if the one telling the story is recalling how things were, he or she may begin with “Back in my day, gas was only 25...
Throwback Thursday | Oranges Make Better Snowballs
Most of us gaze wistfully at our snowcapped mountains, knowing we can fully appreciate the winter season without having to shovel snow.
Every day is like paradise in the San Gabriel Valley. Plenty of sunshine....
Throwback Thursday | My South Pas “Most Thankful” List
Thanksgiving is a time for personal reflection. The process begins today for most people, lasting through the “holiday season” until late December – ending just after New Year’s Day.
So, let’s reflect together on what...
Throwback Thursday | The Odd Big Bird
It is probably hard to imagine just how popular ostrich feathers were a hundred years ago. Today, women’s fashions come and go with each new season.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the ostrich...
