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Albert Einstein Stops to Smell the Roses

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Dr. Albert Einstein took time out from his research to inspect the prize winning float in the 1932 Rose Parade. The float represented a scene in the Black Forest of Germany. | Photo Getty Images / Bettman
Dr. Albert Einstein took time out from his research to inspect the prize winning float in the 1932 Rose Parade. | Photo Getty Images / Bettman

The year was 1932. Albert Einstein was spending his second winter as a visiting scholar at Caltech in Pasadena. He described the city as a “paradise. Always sunshine and clear air, gardens with palms and pepper trees and friendly people who smile at one and ask for autographs." 

The theme of the Rose Parade that year was "Nations in Flowers." After the parade the famous Nobel Prize winner stopped by to admire the award-winning float "Germany," which represented a scene from his home country's Black Forest region. 

According to an article from the Glendale News Press,  Einstein complimented float designer Georgia Chobe on her work and “expressed appreciation of the sympathetic understanding accorded Germany by an American designer. “ Ms. Chobe had taken on the job after her husband passed away.

Einstein spent three winters at Caltech, from 1931 to 1933. In January 1933, only a year after this photo taken, Adolph Hitler would be elected Chancellor of Germany and Einstein would never return to Germany. 

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