Samson, Monrovia’s Legendary Hot Tubbing Bear, to Make Old Town Appearance

As part of Monrovia’s approaching 125th birthday, city officials have announced that 3 foot tall, painted fiberglass replicas of our very own Samson, the "Bear that Made Monrovia Famous," will be decorated and placed about Old Town.

Samson gained fame in Monrovia about 1994, when, like other hungry critters, he wandered down from the foothills in search of food. Along with the food, Samson found a hot tub. Video began showing up on the news and the rest, as they say, is history.

Eventually, Samson was captured after ingesting a plastic bag and because of the intervention of then Governor Pete Wilson, he was given a stay of execution. He lived out his days in the Orange County Zoo and died in 2001. A statue of Samson dedicated in 2002 sits in .

With the assistance of the and the the statues will be available for businesses to sponsor and selected local artists to decorate. The sponsorship fee is $2,000 and there is a “Share Bear” option that will allow several groups or businesses to go in on the fee. A sponsorship plaque will be fixed to the statue. 

“Monrovia has a commitment to art in public places,” said Kerri Zessau, the city’s recreation supervisor who is one of the city employees in charge of the project. “This is modeled after Chicago’s ‘Cows on Parade’ and LA’s Angels. Those are big cities, we’re a small home town doing this.”

“The project is important,” she added. “We have so many historic homes and a beautiful downtown. The desire is to celebrate the arts in public.”

The bears will be temporary fixtures on the streets of and will be removed to the sponsor’s location in September. Sponsors will be able to work with the City to permanently place their bear at a variety of locations if the business does not have room. Suggested permanent locations will include the library, fire station, and city hall among others. 

“We are part of this community, and want to support Monrovia,” Bonnie Kaufman, owner of , one of three businesses who have bought one of the bears. “We plan to have it permanently on display out front.”

“We will also be designing our own,” Kaufman added. “JoAnn Nolan, our own talented designer will be doing it.”

Some of the plans for the bears (like our real life bear friends) are still up in the trees. Security from vandals is a prime concern.

“We had our wooden soldiers out for Christmas,” Diane Delmatoff from the ommunity services department said. “Nothing happened to them this year.”

The plan so far is for businesses who have doors wide enough to roll them in at night. 

“We enjoy being part of the Monrovia community,” Greg Kahwajian, CEO of , who also paid the $2,000 to have a bear. “We are giving something back. The city and it’s leaders are outstanding as far as we are concerned.”

Mt. Sierra will also be doing their design in-house, under the direction of Media Arts Chair Mitch Gohman.

“We will have several different approaches then make a choice,” Kahwajian said. “I’m a little nervous though, we want something that people will like.”

So far, in addition to Creative Woman and Mt. Sierra College,, the and the Art in Public Places committee (which has opted for three bears) have committed to the ursine undertaking. 

"I was in Seattle a few years ago," said Dr. Sylvia Domotor, who owns the animal hospital on Foothill Boulevard. "It's a blast to walk around town and see [the decorated pigs]. We're doing it because it's fun."

Domotor is teaming up with local real estate agent Norm Haley for their bear and they plan to use an artist recommended by the Art in Public Places Committee. 

A contest for the best decorated bear will be held and sponsors are encouraged to enter their bear in the Monrovia Days Parade on May 12. 

Businesses who are interested in submitting a proposal can get an information packet that includes suggestions and a listing of appropriate paint and other decorating materials from the city’s or from Annette Simpson, 626-256-8269, or Lisa Hansberger, 626-256-8230. 

“I didn’t grow up with art,” Zessau said. “It wasn’t until I started working for the city that I began to understand how important art is. The city taught me to appreciate art.”