Crime Tour of Pasadena: From the Bloody to the Bizarre November 17, 2007

Tickets $55, but I can get them for $27.50 if we order ahead of time.

The Crown City masquerades as a calm and refined retreat, where well-bred ladies glide around their perfect bungalows and everyone knows what fork to use first. But don't be fooled by appearances. Dip into the confidential files of Old Pasadena and meet assassins and lepers, kidnappers, slashers and all manner of maniacs in a delightful little tour you won't find recommended by the "better class" of people! From celebrated cases like the RFK assassination (with a visit to Sirhan Sirhan's folks' house), "Eraserhead" star Jack Nance's strange end, black magician/rocket scientist Jack Parsons' death-by-misadventure and the 1926 Rose Parade grandstand collapse to fascinating obscurities, the tour's dozens of murders, arsons, kidnappings, robberies, suicides, auto wrecks and oddball happening sites provide a alternate history of Pasadena that's as fascinating as it is creepy. Passengers will tour the old Millionaire's Row on Orange Grove, learn about the shocking Sphinx murder on the steps of the downtown Masonic Hall, wonder about the unknown fiend who sneaked past a little girl to poison her father's beer and discover why people named Judd should think twice before moving to Pasadena.

Passengers on this eye-opening, funny and informative tour will forever see Pasadena in a new light. It's highly recommended for natives and newcomers alike, crime and history buffs, and anyone who likes to seek out the unexpected.