The DooDah Archives

Since 1978, The Pasadena DooDah Parade has gathered together its most eccentric performers for the best alternative parade in town. We have made some wild memories over the years, a testament to Pasadena’s love of fun.

  • Beer fuels great idea at Chromos located at 120 W. Colorado Blvd.

    Parade starts at Pasadena Ave./Green St., N. on Pasadena, E. on Colorado, N on Raymond to Memorial Park.

    Queen Dorothy Romani, “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom”

    Grand Marshal Corky Peterson, original owner of Chromos Bar

  • Royal Couple Margaret Schermerhorn & Jack McIntosh, owners of Espresso Bar

    After Party – Snotty Scotty, Pecos et al, Memorial Park

  • Queen Susie Wilson.

    Grand Marshal Skip Finnell.

    Coronation was held at the Loch Ness Monster.

  • Queen Lauren "Lola" Jackson, age 11.

    Grand Marshals Corky Peterson, Jim Kendall & Chris Sulker, owners of Chromos Bar.

  • Route ended at Central Park.

    Queen Martha Frost.

    After Party at Loch Ness Monster Pub.

    "Pipe John" Herrman proclaimed himself DooDah King. Queen Martha voiced her disapproval by socking him in the jaw. The incident was reported in the Pasadena Star News.

  • Route ended in Central Park.

    Queen Hazel Guinn, owner of Hazel's Bar.

    Grand Marshals Snotty Scotty & the Hankies.

  • Route ended in Central Park.

    King & Queen Corky & Shirley Peterson.

    Grand Marshal Ian McKinnon, co-founder of the Loch Ness Monster Pub.

  • Queen Terry Collins.

    Grand Marshal & King Willie Bowman.

  • Animals banned after Jirayr Zorthian and his donkey bolted into the crowd!

    Queen Terry Collins (2nd time).

    Grand Marshal & King Willie Bowman (2nd time).

    Friends raised money to send Willie to his beloved Scotland. Unclear if they raised enough to bring him back.

  • Queen Liz Finnell.

    Grand Marshal Joe Messinger.

  • No queen! King John “Hi Buddy!” Fisher.

    Grand Marshal Betty Hamilton, co-founder of Pasadena’s Farmer’s Markets.

    Lt. Colonel Gretchen Sterling.

    After party at Handlebar Saloon.

  • Route ended in Central Park.

    Queen Richelle Small.

    King Bill "The Fox" Foster.

    Coronation at Toe's Tavern (also a record release party for exclusive DooDah recording artists, Snotty Scotty & the Hankies).

    After party at the Loch Ness Monster Pub.

  • No Parade. The Famous Doo Dah Pub Crawl went from the Espresso Bar to 35er to Chromos Bar to Barney’s, Ltd to Vitale’s Bar to the Loch Ness Monster Pub.

    Queen Cloud Backus.

    John Chamberlin served as mini-czar.

    Billy Booger represented Snotty Scotty & the Hankies.

  • Parade featured an actual wedding ceremony.

    Queen Cloud Backus (2nd time).

    After party in parking lot of Julian's Loch Ness Monster Pub.

  • First TV broadcast with Richard Simmons.

    Snotty Scotty & Billy Booger appeared as “Phony Baloney.”

    Queen Lila Johnson, waitress at Café 60 North.

    Grand Marshal Dr. Ray Oldenburg, neighborhood advocate.

    After party at Loch Ness Monster Pub.

  • Televised again on Channel 13 with Richard Simmons and Vicki Lawrence.

    King Dr. Jon Fischer King Blvd. Jr.

    Grand Marshal Snotty Scotty and the Hankies (again).

    After Party at the Loch Ness Monster Pub.

  • Queens Terese Basile & Gina Teresa, Olde Towne Pub bartenders.

    King Jon Fisher.

    “Mondo Doo Dah” after parties at Memorial Park and Old Towne Pub.

  • Parade circled City Hall ad nauseum.

    Queens Ellen Hoffman & Sue Kelley, aka The Sisters Booger.

    Grand Marshal Richard Reese.

    Tickets were $7 in advance, $10 to "get in."

    Snotty Scotty & the Hankies played in the center of the circle under a light drizzle.

  • Parade was co-produced by Peter Apanel and Light Bringer Project. It moved back to Old Town and was televised cover-to-cover by KCOP-13.

    There was no queen or grand marshal but there were two “Special Friends” - Claire Bogaard and Bill Doulos.

    After party at Memorial Park and Olde Towne Pub.

  • Parade solely owned and operated by Light Bringer Project. Cover-to-cover broadcast again by KCOP-13.

    Queen Sabrina, Diva of Pasadena.

  • Queen MaryJean Shaffer selected at Doo Dah Queen Tryouts held at the “Doo Dah Mansion,” a crumbling house on stilts in Northwest Pasadena.

    Grand Marshal Dr. Demento.

    After party featured Snotty Scotty & the Hankies and Dread Zeppelin at Moose McGillicuddy’s.

  • Queen Juliariana, cojoined twins (mother Juliana and daughter) selected by Doo Dah judges. Sierra Madre resident Claude Hodge presented his wife’s ashes for consideration and she was named Queen Lily of the Hereafter.

    Grand Marshal Jirayr Zorthian.

  • Queen Tequila Mockingbird as Louis XIV wins the crown when asked “Pavorotti or Weill?” Whereupon, she tossed away her powdered wig (revealing green dreadlocks) and sung “Mack the Knife” in perfect German.

    Grand Marshals Culture Clash.

    22 members of Amnesty International parade in bear suits as "Animals for the Ethical Treatment of Humans."

  • Queen Erika Marrin aka Tippi Headtrip and the Lost Language of Cranes.

    Grand Marshal Ian Whitcomb.

  • Queen Barbara Goodman (Snotty Scotty occasional drummer).

    Grand Marshals Synchronized Briefcase Drill Team.

  • Queen Kavita, the Queen of Peace and Love, is hoisted along the parade route by bronze-chested young men on a bed of roses.

    Grand Marshal Norton Wisdom.

    Johnny Neurotic of Neurotic TV "invades" Doo Dah.

  • Doo Dah defied the laws of basic numeration, skipping directly to our 28th year.

    Queen Molly McIntosh, daughter of Dooh Dah 2’s Royal Couple, Margaret Shermerhorn & Jack McIntosh

    Grand Marshal Richard Reese (again!)

    Doo Dah Royal Court participated in December Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade and won a trophy for “Most Unusual Entry.”

  • Feeling as though we missed something, we took a trip backward for our 27th year.

    Queen Mercy Powell (of Mercy & the Merkettes).

    Grand Marshal Ray Campi, King of Rockabilly.

    Doo Dah Royal Court, including Tequila Mockingbird, Andrew, Duke of Doo Dah and Rockabilly King Ray Campi.

    Invited back to Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade.

  • The year so nice we did it twice. Finally realigned with basic human chronology, we proceeded to our 28th year, again.

    Queen Cherry Capri.

    Grand Marshal Dabney Zorthian.

  • Queen tryouts held at Zorthian Ranch.

    Queen Cherie Flores, fire dancer.

    Grand Marshals BBQ & Hibachi Grill Team.

    Discovery Channel documented parade with commentary by actor-comedian Fred Willard and Light Bringer Project President Tom Coston, which aired April 4, 2006 as part of Fred Willard's American Festivals series.

  • Queens Sephira & Saphrona, the serpent queen naked nymphs.

    Grand Marshal Snotty Scotty (again!).

  • No occasional parade in 2007.

    Queen Michelle “Naughty Mickie” Mills.

    Grand Marshals Reverend Billy & Savitri D of the Church of Stop Shopping.

    After party moves to American Legion in East Pasadena.

  • Queen Julie “Skittles” Klima selected by judges at American Legion.

    Grand Marshal, Charles Phoenix.

  • Doo Dah moved for the first time in its history from Old Pasadena to East Pasadena. Route looped around street median on Colorado Boulevard.

    Queen Erica Valentine (about time).

    Grand Marshal Corky Peterson, co-owner of Chromos, site where Doo Dah Parade was hatched.

  • Queen Rosalind “Red Rosie” Schoen (17 years old).

    Grand Marshal Ron Stivers, owner of Poo Bah Records.

    After parties at the American Legion, Poo Bah Records, The Colorado Bar, & Plate 38.

  • Queen Dianne “Patrizzi Intergalactica” Patrizzi.

    Grand Marshal Ann Erdman, retired PR Director, City of Pasadena.

    After parties at the American Legion, Poo Bah Records, The Colorado Bar, & Chefs’ Center.

  • Queen Susann Edmonds, Queen of Good Vibes, House Parties & Jabberwockyjerk Sauce.

    Grand Marshal Alan Zorthian, son of former Grand Marshal's Jirayr and Dabney Zorthian .

    After parties at the American legion, Poo Bah Records, The Colorado Bar.

  • Queen Narayana.

    Grand Marshall Johnny the Bartender.

    After parties at the American Legion, the famous Colorado Bar, Meow Meowz thrift shop, and PooBah Records.

  • Queen Veronika MeowMeowz

    Grand Marshall Juli Crocket, playwright, director, and lead of the Evangenitals.

  • Queen Mimi MarGo-Go (Meg Cole), chosen after trying out for Queen of Doo Dah for over 30 years. She won it twice but the judges took it away. Before winning, Meg Cole said, "If you win you can't come back and do it again. Like a queen bee you die" (Pasadena Star-News)

    Grand Marshals, Lori and Scott Webster of Hoopla.

    Dedicated this year's parade to Doo Dah devotee Scott Finnell, better known as Snotty Scotty of Snotty Scotty and the Hankies, mischievous rock ‘n’ rollers who led each and every Pasasdena Doo Dah Parade since it's inception (1978-2015). A lone bagpiper walked the parade route in Scotty's honor.

  • Queen Imani and King Pied Piper of Pasadena.

    Grand Marshal social activist Marty Coleman.

  • Queen Jennipha and King Earl Clayton (unofficial Mayor of Old Town Pasadena).

    Grand Marshal Jamie Woolner of Pizza of Venice who saved his grandparents from the Woolsey Fire by boat!

  • Queen Jesselynn Desmond.
    Grand Marshals Seismo Sue and the Seismo Sistahs.


    After parties at the American Legion, the famous Colorado Bar, Meow Meowz thrift shop, and PooBah Records

  • Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 43rd Pasadena Doo Dah Parade could not be held in person. So we made a movie! Thanks to Vince & Veronica of the Rock 'n Roll Preservation Society for assisting in the make of this video and for being the hosts. Not only did Doo Dahers send in videos of their Doo Dah-ing shenanigans, we took a look back through Doo Dah history. Enjoy the show!

  • Held at the Old Towne Pub, the Altadena Twirlers were crowned the 2021 Doo Dah Queens.

  • Due to surging COVID-19 numbers, no parade was held in 2022.

    A new Doo Dah royal title was born.

    Queen Natalie "Mama Sunshine" Flores
    Quing Robby Ravenwood.

    Grand Marshal Diamond Dave marshals in the parade from a remote location.

  • With a record-breaking 116 sign-ups and 97 appearances, the 45th Doo Dah Parade was the largest in Light Bringer Project’s history.

    Queen Sparrow Dena wowed with their original ukulele numbers.

    Inaugural Royal Night Romo the Robo (Rome Romeanne) and Royal Light Mrs. Roper (LoriLee King-Beckman) served in royal court.

    Grand Marshal John Vorhaus and his band of Slacker Wednesday ultimate frisbee lovers tossed mini frisbees to the crowd.

Meg Cole, 2016 Doo Dah Queen, and Scott "Snotty Scotty" Finnell before the 1979 Doo Dah Parade (Mike Peck)

1984 and 1985 Grand Marshal & King, Willie Bowman (Joe Messinger)

Citizens for the Right to Bare Arms, 1986

Richard Simmons and Vicki Lawrence host Doo Dah’s first television broadcast, 1990 (Joe Messinger)

Dr. Demento, Pasadena radio legend and 1996 Grand Marshal (Julie Smith)

Grand Marshals, Synchronized Briefcase Drill Team, 2000 (Joe Messinger)

Tom Coston, Light Bringer Project President, and comedian Fred Willard commentate the parade for Fred Willard’s American Festivals on Discovery Channel, 2005

Doo Dah Queen Julie “Skittles” Klima, 2009 (Joe Messinger)

A lone bagpiper walks the parade route in memory of the late Snotty Scotty (Scott Finnell), 2016 (Terry Miller)

The Altadena Twirlers, Queens of the 2021 Doo Dah Happening (Anne Nowlin)