Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Fun Facts

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was first held in 1924

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was first held in 1924 when was called the Macy’s Christmas Day Parade although it took place on Thanksgiving Day.
Live animals including camels, goats, elephants, and donkeys, were a part of the parade that inaugural year.
The original parade route was from 145th Street and Convent Avenue to 34th Street and Herald Square.
The floats were pulled by horses. In the first parade a 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 the use of these animals had to be discontinued because they scared children.
In 1927, Macy’s introduces the world famous giant helium balloons. The first balloons included Felix the Cat and Toy Soldier.
1928 saw the first release of the giant balloons into the air at the end of the line of march. The balloons promptly exploded after reaching a certain altitude.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was first held in 1924
The balloons were redesigned and again released. Equipped with a return address label, Macy’s offered a prize for their return.
In 1932, Clarence Chamberlain, an aviator flying above New York City, catches the Pig Balloon in mid air in order to claim the prize money.
Santa Claus has ended the parade every year except 1933, the only year in which he led the parade.
The parade was cancelled in 1942, 1943, and 1944 due to World War II.
In 1955, the parade telecast returns to NBC after a two year tune on CBS.
Due to a helium shortage in 1958, the balloons are brought down Broadway on cranes.
In 1969 the Macy’s Parade Studio moves to its current home in Hoboken, New Jersey in a former Tootsie Roll factory.
Dino the Dinosaur balloon was inducted into the American Museum of Natural History in 1975 as an honorary member.
In 1977, the “Parade Lady” Jean McFaddin takes the helm of the parade, which she leads for the next 24 years.
In the 1980s, the smaller “novelty” balloons were introduced, including the Macy’s stars and the 30 foot triple-scoop ice cream cone. “Falloons” were also introduced at this time. A combination of float and cold air balloon, this is a highlight of the creativity of the Macy’s Parade Studio.
In 1989, the parade marches on through its very first snowstorm.
The 1990s saw the parade balloons adding new characters from the internet, video games, and contemporary cartoons. Sonic the Hedgehog, Ask Jeeves, and the Rugrats were just a few of these balloons.
The parade has attracted a sea of celebrities. The years have seen Harpo Marx, Jackie Gleason, Diana Ross, Sammy Davis, Jr., Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow, NSYNC, Shania Twain, and Christina Aguilera.
Macy’s is the world’s second largest consumer of helium. The US government is the first.
If you laid every parade balloon since 1927 end to end they would stretch from Battery Park City to the Cloisters.
More than 50,000 clowns have delighted millions of children along the parade route. SyTjDrW470w

Sonia Pantiss

Sonia is the heart and the artist of the team. She loves art and all that it implies. As Sonia says, good music, a well directed movie, or attending a music or film festival melts people’s heart and make them better. She is great at painting and photography. Working on scrapbooks is her favorite activity.