South Pasadena's Ostrich Farm

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Edwin Cawston captivated early 20th-century audiences by raising ostriches, showcasing these massive African birds at his farm in South Pasadena. Despite skepticism, his Cawston Ostrich Farm became a major Southern California attraction, where visitors marveled at bareback ostrich riding. Cawston's venture not only provided feathers for a range of consumers, from budget shoppers to high-profile performers, but also established him as a prominent showman of his era, blending entertainment with the exotic allure of ostriches.