Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Balloons Since 1927
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been a tradition of Thankgiving for decades. It started out as a way for the employees of Macy’s to say thank you to New York. Macy’s started using balloons in their parade in 1927 and it has been tradition since. Here’s part 1 featuring balloons from 1927 to 1968.
This post was created by a user and has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can post awesome lists and creations. Learn more or post your buzz!
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade dates as far back as the 1920’s, when Macy’s employees, many of whom were immigrants, began this tradition in an attempt to connect with American culture by celebrating Thanksgiving.”
Balloon years, when given, come from various sources, including Wikipedia and Macy’s website itself. Some have no name or date and a guess was made as to what year they may have appeared.
This is by no means comprehensive as there are most likely many balloons, especially early on that are not included.
1927 Felix the Cat
Macy’s used to release the balloons after the parade was over. Tickets were attached with a reward of $100 for the return of the balloons. That was a fairly nice reward. As an example, a cost around that time period, for a new stove could range from $30 to $60. A nice radio could cost $15 or a new ice box about $30.
Unknown Father Knickerbocker
Father Knickerbocker is a pen named used by Washington Irving, who wrote the first history of New York and was Manhattan’s first best seller. The then 26-year-old, used the name Diedrich Knickerbocker, “Diedrich” meaning “father” in Dutch, and a note by Irving in the book, indicating Knickerbocker meant to nod or doze over books.
Unknown Alligator
Facts and tidbits used are also from various sources, a special thanks to David Tarkington and his blog which has some nice bits of trivia.
Boardwalk Empire fans know Eddie Cantor as a character on the show. But in case you didn’t know, he was based on a real person.
No parade was held during the years 1942-1944 because of war efforts and a shortage of rubber and helium.
1945 Harold the Clown
Pilgrim 1946
Unknown Clown II
1957 Popeye
Numerous stories report that during a rain storm, Popeye’s hat filled with water. It eventually tipped over onto parade watchers. Merry Christmas!
Also a Happy Dragon, but no date given. Obviously much older based on the cars.
1961 Bullwinkle J. Moose
Apparently the oldest balloon still in use.
1962 Donald Duck
“Heavy rain filled the brim of Donald Duck’s hat in 1962, causing the character to tip over and dump 50 gallons of water on unamused onlookers.”
I’m thinking other onlookers were highly amused.
1964 Linus the Lionhearted
Part 2, tomorrow. But no promises.
This post was created by a user and has not been vetted or endorsed by BuzzFeed's editorial staff. BuzzFeed Community is a place where anyone can post awesome lists and creations. Learn more or post your buzz!
Contributions
- The 6-year-old boy who was shot Wednesday while on the playground at his elementary school in South Carolina has died.
- Trump's home and golf club near Washington, DC have security cameras inside and out, monitored from New York, insiders say.
- Seven bee species have officially been listed as endangered in the US. Losing them could have a devastating effect on the ecosystem.
Hot Buzz
Now Buzzing
-
What Is The Worst State In The Nation?
-
Trump’s Hotel Guests Wake Up To USA Today’s Historic Anti-Trump Editorial
-
People Are Freaking Out Because The Last High School Class Born In The ’90s Graduates This Year
-
We Know If You’re A Good Person Based On One Question
-
When You’re The Athletic Friend
-
23 Of The Most Powerful Photos Of The Week
-
Anna Kendrick Had An Unexpected Take On All That “Bake Off” Drama
-
Show Us The Funniest Grindr Message On Your Phone
-
This Week’s Top 5 Fab Celebrity Looks