18 Floats Collect Trophies, With Unocal’s Judged the Most Beautiful

Eighteen of the 60 floats won awards in the 1989 Tournament of Roses parade. The number of honors is down from years past, when more than 50 trophies were given. The process was streamlined by eliminating the distinction between commercial and non-commercial entries.

Sweepstakes Award, for the most beautiful: Unocal Corp.’s “Mardi Gras,” featuring a giant masked jester and a live jazz band.

Grand Marshal’s Award, for most creative: Pepsi Slice soft drink, “Luau,” a tropical island scene with real waterfalls and Polynesian dancers--which broke down before making it to Colorado Boulevard.

President’s Award, for floral excellence: Florists’ Transworld Delivery Assn., “100 Years of Flowers on Parade,” featuring an oversized, turn-of-the-century horse-drawn carriage.

Director’s Award, for craftsmanship: Bank of America, “Protected for the Future: A Celebration of Life,” portraying imperiled species such as polar bears, bald eagles and sea otters in their natural habitats.

Queen’s Award, for use of roses: Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, “A Day to Remember,” featuring a Pasadena-bound family in a 1928 Ford flivver covered with almost 60,000 American Beauty roses.

Mayor’s Award, for original design: Carnation Co., “Tallest Show on Earth,” a circus wagon drawn by a 70-foot roller-skating giraffe with a live acrobat swinging from a trapeze in its mouth.

Theme Award, for excellence in presentation: Eastman Kodak Co., “A Rose Queen Is Forever,” a horse-drawn coach carrying Rose Queens from parades past.

Anniversary Award, for portrayal of life in the United States: General Motors-United Auto Workers, “Celebrating Teamwork & Technology,” with three moving wheels representing American history--a wagon wheel, the gear of a steam engine, and a space station.

Pioneer’s Award, for the romance of California: City of Beverly Hills, “A Celebration of Style,” a float with five animated dancing couples, the women in period gowns re-created by such designers as Bob Mackie.

Humor Award, for most amusing: La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses, “The Party’s Just Begun.” The animated design, from an idea by a local boy, shows a cat and mice playing with horns, streamers and a pair of chattering false teeth snapping the cat’s tail.

Judge’s Special Award, for most whimsical: Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream, “Bubbles Celebrates New Year’s.” Bubbles the pink hippo spouts bubbles from the top and balloons from her mouth.

Animation Award, for best animation: Transamerica Life Cos., “A Halloween Trick-or-Treat.” The green-skinned Frankenstein’s monster rises from the floral laboratory table to greet unsuspecting trick-or-treaters, to the music of “Monster Mash.”

Governor’s Award, for outstanding city entry: Santa Ana, “Celebrate Our Spirit,” depicting a burst of pinwheel, skyrocket and star-burst fireworks.

Founders’ Award, for most outstanding decoration by volunteers: Cal Poly Universities’ computerized “Paradin’ Around,” a child on a tricycle pulling a bass drum and a dog in a wagon. The schools’ volunteers even grew their own flowers.

International Award, for most beautiful from outside the United States: China Airlines, “Chinese Lantern Festival,” with a mythical Guardian Lion at the center of twirling lanterns and parasols.

Princesses’ Award, for most beautiful under 35 feet: International House of Pancakes, “A Roaring Celebration,” featuring a 30-foot-high crowned lion draped in purple.

Isabella Coleman Award, for most unusual: GTE, “The Harmony of Nature’s Network,” a peaceful forest scene with fluttering butterflies, ducks and a nesting pheasant. GTE won the same award last year.

Tournament Special Award, for exceptional merit: Sea World, “Jump for Joy,” in which sea critters, including dolphins, sea lions, walrus, penguin and a leaping killer whale frolic on the ocean.