A Photo History of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

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The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition many families look forward to each year. Here's how it all began – and how it's changed since it was first introduced.

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The very first parade back in 1924 featured animals borrowed from the Central Park zoo (think elephants, monkeys, camels, bears — you name it). It was was organized by a group of Macy's employees who dressed up and were a part of the parade along with other floats and entertainment (including Santa Claus).

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Live animals stopped being used in the parade after 1926. The balloons we know and love today replaced them, starting with an inflatable Felix the Cat, a toy soldier, dragon, and elephant.

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The first balloons were designed by a Good Housekeeping illustrator, Tony Starg.

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The first person to ever be "ballooned" was performer Eddie Cantor.

The balloons used to be intentionally released post-parade, with specific valves even being introduced in 1929 so they could float for days before landing. A monetary reward and gifts were given to those who returned the deflated balloons to Macy's (they were fitted with return labels). According to TIME magazine, the tradition was discontinued in 1932 after a balloon interfered with a passing plane in 1932, causing it to tailspin.

1942-1944 didn't see parades due to rubber and helium shortages caused by WWII. The balloons prepared for the parade were given to the government so as to use the spare rubber for war efforts.

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A pilgrim balloon in the 1946 parade.

Parts of the classic film Miracle on 34th Street was shot during the 1946 parade. The crowd had no idea the Santa Claus that year was played by Edmund Gwenn from the film.

The parade's original route spanned roughly six miles, but was cut down to less than half that distance in 1946.

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The parade was broadcast on local TV for the first time in 1946 (it also had a record crowd of 2 million people), followed by national coverage in 1947.

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Cowboys on horseback during the 1954 parade.

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Santa Claus has closed the parade every year since its inception, with the exception of 1933, when he was at the start of it.

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A marching band performs in front of Macy's at the 1954 parade.

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A peacock float made its way through the 1961 parade.

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A Rockettes performance during the 1966 parade.

Hosts Betty White and Lorne Greene at the 1967 parade.

William Shatner and soapbox derby members on a float at the 1968 parade.

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Announcer Joe Garagiola in the crowd during the 1970 parade.

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Balloons released at the 1981 parade.

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Since the start of the parade, there have been seven versions of Snoopy balloons (the most of any character in the parade's history!), from Astronaut Snoopy to Millennial Snoopy.

A float for the movie Annie at the 1981 parade.

Host Regis Philbin at the 1981 parade.

Spectators dancing during the 1981 parade.

Willard Scott of the TODAY show with The Pointer Sisters at the 1982 parade.

While floats have only gotten bigger since the parade's start, the rule remains that they must still be capable of fitting into a 12-foot by 8-foot box so as to easily travel from the Macy's Parade Studio in New Jersey to Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel.

From: Town & Country US


By Logan Sykes

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