LAGUNA BEACH : Senior Rose Queen Gets Crown at Last
When Holly Halsted Balthis of Laguna Beach reigned as queen at the 1930 Tournament of Roses, the giant New Year’s Day parade in Pasadena was a simpler affair.
Balthis herself decorated the float on which she rode, using asparagus ferns and home-grown roses. She spent $10 on lace and satin to make her own dress. And she wore no crown.
Although rose queens have presided over the parade since 1905, crowns were not bestowed on them until 1931, one year after Balthis’ reign.
But Friday, Balthis--at 83 the oldest living rose queen--finally received that crown in a surprise ceremony held during the annual reunion of former rose queens in Pasadena.
As she stood on risers with 27 other former rose queens at Caltech’s Atheneum, Balthis was given a sparkling rhinestone crown.
“Oh, no,” Balthis blurted. Then she stiffened to her full 5 feet, 1 inch, stretched out her arms regally and smiled as the crown was placed on her head. And in the best tradition of rose queens, she maintained that smile as photographers snapped pictures and TV cameras rolled.
“Isn’t that adorable,” Balthis said later, fingering the crown. “It’s a very special gift to me, and I appreciate it so much.”
Balthis, who has lived in Laguna Beach for the past 19 years, was married to her husband, John, for 47 years. She got married five months after the 1930 parade, wearing the same satin dress she had worn while riding down Colorado Boulevard.
After her husband became an appellate court judge, Balthis said, she spent her time in volunteer work and as a “helpmate.” He died 12 years ago. The couple has a son, Frank.
Balthis said she wore a borrowed crown two years ago when she rode on a float with 41 other former queens in the 100th Rose Parade.
The crowns that have been given to rose queens since 1931 are retained as property of the Tournament of Roses Assn. All are kept in a locked case at Tournament House, a two-story mansion on Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena.
After her ride down Colorado Boulevard in 1989 with the borrowed crown from Tournament House, Balthis said, she returned to the mansion feeling like Cinderella with borrowed finery.
“I’ve come back,” Balthis said she told tournament officials at the time. “Here’s your crown. I haven’t absconded with it.”
But the crown given Balthis on Friday will be hers to keep, because it is from Eastman Kodak Co., sponsor of the queen reunion, rather than the tournament association.
