.png)
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.
A World Less Certain | The Purge
Since the recent riots and mass protests, there is a reexamination of our country’s past. The shift of public sentiment is inevitable. The rush to purge the distasteful elements of our ongoing racism is...
A World Less Certain | Magic Bus
Since my stroke last month, I’ve been thinking about the world and our power to change lives.
Whether it is the unseen killer of our current pandemic, or the untimely killer I survived a few...
A World Less Certain | On Thin Ice
During the pandemic, we are all walking on thin ice, some more than others. In my case, I didn't know until...THE STROKE.
A couple of weeks ago, I was putting the finishing touches on my...
A World Less Certain | Rats on Parade
My brain is viewed by many as tainted because of my upbringing. I am white, male, and elderly - I lean liberal but vote conservative. My party preference does not exist. Some people think...
A World Less Certain | The Perfect Storm
Spring is ending with an early sweet summer breeze – only to be set ablaze at the end of May.
After weathering months of stay-at-home orders, Los Angeles residents are now adapting to the new-new...
A World Less Certain | Whiplash Flashback
In the song "Yesterday" by the Beatles substitute love with the word life.
Yesterday, life was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Like all ridiculous love songs,...
A World Less Certain | Human Sacrifice
Wouldn’t it be awesome to rev up our engines and lay a patch of smoldering rubber on the road to economic recovery? Everyone busy working and playing again. Hell yeah!
If we do that, though,...
A World Less Certain | Pandemic Politics
Our hardship, at the moment, feels like forever. It’s been two months since the state’s closure orders, and many of us have had enough.
When the economy was humming three months ago, the United States...
A World Less Certain | A New Civil War
There is a great divide in our country. And it’s not the chasm between rich and poor, conservative and liberal, meat-eaters and vegans, or even atheists and people of faith.
Until recently, a vast majority...
A World Less Certain | Mask Etiquette
The Dark Side of the Force is stronger than the Light Side, but it is corrupt and will weaken over time. The Jedi are leaders and peacekeepers. Help them destroy the fallen Jedi, Darth...
A World Less Certain | Connie Corona Meets Stu “The Spanish Flu”
S: Busy girl.
C: I’m hardly a girl you sexiest pig!
S: I came of age during the teens in the 19th century. I mean no disrespect. Quite the opposite. My compliments to you in your...
A World Less Certain | Joshua Tree
L.A. County officials have extended the stay-at-home order until mid-May.
Cabin fever is real. As real as the silent, invisible killer COVID-19.
I feel like I’m being waterboarded, ready to confess where I buried the ants...
A World Less Certain | Sukie Says
Have you noticed how many people practice self-awareness in public these days? Nothing sharpens one’s acuity more for community spirit and fair play (toilet paper hoarders excluded) when faced with the possibility of getting...
A World Less Certain | The Power of Routines
Two factors will help us manage our lives during the COVID-19 “lockdown” period: state of mind and personal routines. Maintaining daily/weekly rituals and routines improve efficiency and expand our available time for creative endeavor....
A World Less Certain | Coffeehouse Blues
Coping. We all must learn to cope at some point in our lives. Typically, after suffering trauma or loss of a loved one. The greater the personal loss, the more difficult the recovery.
Suffering...
A World Less Certain | TP is the Word!
Dear reader: I am a firm believer that sharing during a time of crisis is an act of love. It is with this “sharing is caring” spirit, a series of weekly articles about dealing...
Throwback Thursday | First Passenger Air Service in America
Roy Knabenshue established the first passenger air service in America by taking guests of the Raymond Hotel in his “Knabenshue Airship” on regular flights over parts of the San Gabriel Valley and downtown Los...
Throwback Thursday | Feathers, Thrills & Spills!
Back in the day, ostriches were raised for their feathers. Not to eat. Instead, women flaunted feather plumes on their hats, boas, and hand-held fans.
South Pasadena’s Cawston Ostrich Farm was the largest producer of...
Throwback Thursday | Oranges and Motorcycles
During the late 1800s, the scent of orange blossoms fills San Gabriel Valley – until Southern California’s first real estate boom. Shortly thereafter, original storefronts are setback and dusty main streets are paved. As...
Throwback Thursday | Colorado Street Bridge: A Cultural Icon
Today’s date is 2-20-2020. Not a historically-relevant date, but an interesting number pattern of twos, zeros, and twenties. So, for no particular reason, I chose to celebrate my favorite regional historic landmark – the...
Throwback Thursday | The Cawston Girls
The widely anticipated 1906 spring catalog is out – revealing fancy hats adorned with beautiful Cawston ostrich feathers. This season’s fashion spectacular features none other than The Cawston Girls!
Throwback Thursday is written and produced...
Throwback Thursday | South Pasadena Photo Essay 2007
In this week’s Throwback Thursday, we visit a few local sites photographed by my daughter Lauren back in 2007. The images were taken as preparation for my first history book, South Pasadena.
Remember the used...
Throwback Thursday | Arroyo Seco Photo Essay 2007
In this week’s Throwback Thursday, we visit six sites along the Arroyo Seco taken by my daughter, Lauren Thomas, around twelve years ago (2007).
Only one structure no longer exists. Can you guess which one?
Answer:...
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...
