As years float by

For more than half a century, KTLA-TV broadcaster Stan Chambers has covered the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Missing only a few parades since 1949, Chambers, who’s 79, has risen before dawn on New Year’s Day, yanked on a pair of long johns, swaddled himself in woolly outerwear and set out to tell viewers about some of the world’s most extravagant floral displays.

As he prepared to do it for the 49th time, he reflected on parades gone by.

The parade has evolved quite a lot in the years you’ve been describing it. What do you recall about covering the Tournament of Roses in the early years?

The fun part is when you think back to 1949 and remember there was no transcontinental cable; everything was local. It was strictly for the Pasadena-L.A. area then. And people watched TV because it was TV; they didn’t expect anything more than a picture. So, to have the Rose Parade with all those floats appear was just something people couldn’t believe. In those days, it was new, informal and exciting. Nobody knew what would happen next.

There’s plenty of opportunity for gaffes on live TV. Any uncomfortable moments over the years?

The most awkward and potentially the most embarrassing moment came in those early years when I was interviewing people in the distinguished visitors’ section and, all of a sudden, someone walked up to me who I didn’t know. The second before I began to talk I realized it was Gen. Omar Bradley. In TV you have to be lucky.

Is there a moment that stays with you?

Two years ago, when a B2 bomber did a parade flyover in a salute to our armed forces. Here was this huge plane that is so silent you don’t even hear it till it goes past and explodes in a roar. At that moment, it became a symbol of America -- our power, our strength, our future. It was so moving, emotional.

Have you ridden on a float?

Yes, and it was a big thrill. I played a TV reporter on a float that was saluting television. When you are on television, you forget the number of people at home that you talk to every day. The big thrill of going down Colorado Boulevard was seeing thousands of people waving and cheering. And then, as we continued, there were thousands more.

Looking back at all the times and ways you’ve covered the parade, what says the most about the changes you’ve seen in television during your career?

That year long ago when our station manager decided we would cover the two-hour parade twice. When we finished covering the parade at its starting point, we followed motorcycle escorts to catch up and did it all over again. Imagine it: There was no videotape. If you were going to be live, you were going to be live.

-- Ann Conway