When I first settled my family in South Pasadena about 20 years ago, I got excited about its colorful history and small-town charm. I soon became an eBay addict – always the top bidder of photographs and artifacts related to South Pasadena. Today, I have one of the largest private collections of regional history in the San Gabriel Valley.
Did you know that South Pasadena is one of the most photographed and filmed small cities in America? I authored four history books: South Pasadena, The Arroyo Seco, South Pasadena’s Raymond Hotel, and South Pasadena’s Ostrich Farm – mostly using photographs from my collection.
During the first 50 years
Thousands of photographs were taken of The Raymond from Monterey Hills with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background, and from the hotel of the surrounding area. The first business buildings and homes of South Pasadena can be seen in nearly every photograph.
Over the last 50 years
South Pasadena is frequently seen in the movies, TV commercials, and in print. Our city is an idyllic Middle America “small town” that appears to be untouched by urban sprawl – featuring tree-lined streets, estate homes, and craftsman neighborhoods – making it the perfect “Hollywood backlot” for the film industry.
