An American Tradition-Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade History

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
History

For over 75 Years, Macy's has given us a tradition which both celebrates America and calls forth Christmas.

Let's take a look back!

Humpty Dumpty float - 1926

In the 1920's many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants.
Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate the American holiday with the type of festival they loved in Europe.

The employees marched from 145 Street down to 34th Street dressed as clowns, cowboys, knights and sheiks. There were floats, professional bands and 25 live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo.

With an audience of over a quarter of a million people, the parade was a hit!

Large balloons first appeared in 1927 with Felix the Cat. One tradition long gone is the releasing of the balloons. They would float for days and the lucky finder could claim a prize!

Ah, the good old days!

New balloons such as Walt Disney characters were among the favorites and radio audiences were able to hear the ceremonies and Santa's arrival at 34th Street.

The Parade resumed in 1945, and was televised in New York. The Parade also began the route that it still runs today.

With nationwide television, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade assumed it's hold on the entire nation in the 1950's.

It also became a time for celebrities. Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye, and even Howdy Doody made appearances.

The Parade has always been known for its policy of going on rain or shine and the valiant efforts of the balloon wranglers should always be recognized.

The most bittersweet year of the Parade had to be 1963. Less than a week after President Kennedy's assassination, the country was still in mourning. But, it went on so as not to "disappoint the millions of children."

In 1971, the winds were so bad, the balloons had to be cancelled. Television viewers had to settle for clips from the 1970 Parade.

Through the 1960's, 70's and 80's, some of the favorite balloons appeared including Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, and Superman.

AMERICA’S PARADE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE �

The first Parade in 1924 was called the “Macy's Christmas Day Parade” although it took place on Thanksgiving Day. In 1927 it was renamed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Live animals including camels, goats, elephants and donkeys were a part of the Parade that inaugural year.

The original Parade route started at 145th Street and Convent Avenue and traveled 5.5 miles to 34th Street and Herald Square.

In the first Parade horses pulled the floats. A particular white steed, that was to aid in the Ben-Hur float, disappeared at the last minute before the start of the Parade.

In 1925 and 1926, bears, lions and tigers were added to the live animals used but this had to be discontinued because they scared the children along the line of march.

In 1927, Macy's replaced the live animals in the Parade with its now signature giant helium balloons. The first balloons included Felix the Cat, The Dragon, The Elephant and Toy Soldier.

1928 saw the first release of the giant Balloons into the air at the end of the Parade. Equipped with a return address label, in 1929, Macy's began offering prizes for the return of the giant balloons.

In 1931, Clarence Chamberlain an aviator flying above New York City catches the Pig Balloon in mid air in order to claim the $25 reward money. The practice of releasing the Balloons was discontinued in 1933.

Santa Claus has ended the Parade every year except in 1933 the only year when he led the Parade.

The 1933 edition of the Parade was the first ever recorded for newsreels and subsequently shown in theatres around the world.

The Parade was canceled in 1942, 1943 and 1944 due to World War II. At the start of the war, Macy's donated the Balloons (that where made of rubber at the time) to the government’s rubber scrap heap in a ceremony held at New York’s City Hall.

In 1947, the holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street, brought the Parade’s magic to theatres worldwide.

In 1948 NBC began telecasting the Parade nationwide, as spectators from coast-to-coast began referring to the Parade as the “Macy's Day Parade.”

Due to a helium shortage in 1958, the U.S. Government asked Macy's to go light on the use of the gas. Macy's decided to inflate the Balloons with air and hoist them on trucks with cranes for the journey down Broadway.

In 1969 the Macy's Parade Studio moved to its current home in Hoboken, New Jersey in the former Tootsie Roll Factory.

The Dino the Dinosaur Balloon was inducted into the Museum of Natural History in 1975 as an honorary member.

In 1977, the “Parade Lady” Jean McFaddin took the helm of the Parade, which she leads for the next 24 years.

In the 1980’s, the smaller “novelty” balloons were introduced, including the Macy's stars and the 30 ft. triple-scoop ice cream cone.

“Falloons” were also introduced at this time. A combination of float and cold air balloon, a highlight of the creativity of the Macy's Parade Studio.

In 1989, the Parade marched through its very first snowstorm.

The 1990’s saw the Parade Balloons adding new characters from the Internet, videogames and contemporary cartoons. Sonic the Hedgehog, Jeeves and the Rugrats were just a few of these Balloons.

In the past 77 years the Parade has attracted a sea of celebrities. The years have seen Harpo Marx, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Diana Ross, Sammy Davis, Jr., Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, NSYNC, Shania Twain, and Christina Aguilera, among others.

Macy's is the world’s second largest consumer of helium. The United States Government is the first.

In its 77-year history more than 300,000 Macy's employees have participated in the Parade. More than 50,000 clowns have delighted millions of children along the Parade route.

In 2004, Macy's introduces another new Parade innovation. The “Balloonicle,” a combination cold air balloon and self-propelled vehicle.