GRIFFITH PARK BEAR - READY FOR ITS CLOSE-UP

We drove by the Griffith Park Bear yesterday morning at 8:15. The bear was already drawing a crowd!  And for good reason.  The bear was bedecked in finery - in honor of today's Oscar Award Ceremony.

About noon, when we passed by the bear again, I had to wait my turn to take a couple pics. 

With Oscar statue, blond wig and sunglasses this glamour puss seemed delighted to pose for the cameras. 

In the past the bear has been costumed for Valentine's Day or Halloween. On time during a cold winter day, the bear wore a knit scarf and cap.

Griffith Park Bear

For years I passed by the bear, paying little more attention to the statue than to a tree or street sign. But in 2011 I started to take notice.  Sometimes on cold days the bear wore a hat or a scarf.  On Valentine's Day 2011 he could be seen with a pink and red crocheted vest.


At the beginning of this year curiosity finally compelled me to park the car on Fern Dell and check out the bear's story. The Griffith Park Bear resides at the corner of Los Feliz Boulevard and the Fern Dell entrance to Griffith Park.  On that day, he was in his natural state.

From the base of the statue I learned that Berlin gave the bear statue to the City of Los Angeles.  At this point I assumed Berlin chose a bear because it's an emblem on the California state flag.  Later, of some research, I realized Berlin's mascot is a bear.

This year on Valentine's Day I was a little disappointed to see the bear without the pink/red granny square vest and only wearing a couple strands of mardi gras beads and a floppy hat.  On St. Patrick's Day he looked more cheerful with a jaunty green boa and a crocheted sash.

Now that the Griffith Park bear has become part of my neighborhood family I feel bad I didn't stop by yesterday.  I wonder if the bear was carrying an Easter basket.  Or wearing a fancy bonnet.