Traveling
Tuesday: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
This year marks the 95th anniversary of the
first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, however, it will be only the 92nd
time participants will have marched the New York City parade route. After the
U.S. entered World War II, the festivities were cancelled in 1942, ’43, and ’44,
and the rubber balloons deflated and contributed to the government for use in
war materiel-a total of 650 pounds.
Originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade as a way
to celebrate the store’s expansion (which now took up an entire city block), the
majority of the participants were employees. Professional entertainers, bands,
and animals from the Central Park Zoo (bears, elephants, and donkeys) were also
included. In 1925 and 1926, lions and tigers were added, but it was determined
they were too scary for viewers, so were removed. Santa may have brought up the
rear of the parade and been popular with children, but the real reason for the event
was to unveil Macy’s Christmas window displays.
During the late 1920s, at the end of the parade, the
balloons were released, and a monetary reward offered for their return. Apparently,
the balloons included an address label on them so folks would know where to
take them. Setting the balloons free was seemingly good idea until a cartoon
character burst into flames when it hit a high tension wire, and a cat balloon
sent a two-passenger plane plummeting. Needless to say, after those events, the
tradition ceased.
Over the years, hundreds of celebrities have
participated. The early years saw big names such as Harpo Marx, Jackie Gleason,
Bob Hope, Diana Ross, Sammie Davis, Jr., and Tony Bennett.
In 1947, the film Miracle
on 34th Street brought the parade to theatres, and the following
year, the parade was televised for the first time by NBC. The estimated number
of viewers for this years is 3.5 million people!
I grew up in New Jersey, and as part of our high school
band marched in the parade each year. We’d leave the school at 3:00 AM (thanks
mom and dad!) in order to arrive at our lining up location at the appropriate
time. Those wool uniforms that were too hot during early September football
games, barely kept up warm during the frigid early morning hours waiting to
being. We’d surround the twirlers and flag girls, who wore tiny skirts and
lightweight blouses, in an effort to block the wind and keep them warm. I’m not
sure how successful we were.
Because of participating as a band member, the bands
are my favorite part of the parade. What do you like best about the parade?
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