Manhattan, New York, USA, November 27 2014 – Santa Claus attends the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On the Photo: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa Claus
Credit: Luiz Rampelotto/EuropaNewswire
FUN FACTS
- The first Parade in 1924 was called “Macy’s Christmas Parade” although it took place on Thanksgiving Day. It was later renamed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- Live animals including lions, bears, tigers, camels, goats, elephants and donkeys were a part of the original Parade procession.
- The original Parade route took the march from at 145th Street and Convent Avenue, 5.5-miles down to 34th Street and Herald Square.
- In 1927, Macy’s replaced the live animals in the Parade with its now signature giant balloons created by famed puppeteer and Macy’s window designer Tony Sarg. The first balloons included Felix the Cat, The Dragon, The Elephant and Toy Soldier.
- Santa Claus has ended the Macy’s Parade every year with the exception of 1933, the only year in which he led the Parade.
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was canceled in 1942, 1943 and 1944 due to World War II.
- In 1947, the 20th Century Fox’s holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street, brought Macy’s Parade magic to theaters worldwide.
- In 1969, Macy’s Parade Studio was created to bring in-house the design and construction of the Parade’s elements. First housed in a former Tootsie Roll factory in Hoboken, NJ. In 2011, the Studio moved to a custom-designed facility in Moonachie, NJ.
- In 1977, the Macy’s Parade began its longstanding relationship with Broadway as the national broadcast began to showcase performances from Broadway’s biggest hits.
- In the 1980’s, the smaller “novelty” balloons were introduced including 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, the falloons highlight the creativity of the Macy’s Parade Studio team.
- Manhattan, New York, USA, November 27 2014 – Musician Gene Simmons and the band KISS attends and participated on the 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- On the Photo: Musician Gene Simmons and the band KISS
- Credit: Luiz Rampelotto/EuropaNewswire
- In 1989, the Parade marched through its very first snowstorm.
- In 2004, Macy’s introduced another new Parade innovation, the “Balloonicle,” a combination cold air balloon and self-propelled vehicle. The Weebles were the first characters to take on this new form.
- In 2005, the Parade’s Blue Sky Gallery series, which recreates works of modern art as flying wonders, debuted with Humpty Dumpty by Tom Otterness. In subsequent years Rabbit by Jeff Koons, Figure with Heart by Keith Haring, Kaikai & Kiki by Takashi Murakami, Tim Burton’s B., and COMPANION by KAWS have joined the select group.
- Innovation continues! In 2011, Macy’s debuted new trycaloons, another Parade Studio creation – part tricycle, part balloon.
- The 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade features 16 giant character balloons; 33 novelty balloonicles, balloonheads, and trycaloons; 27 floats; 12 marching bands, 1,300 cheerleaders/dancers, and 1000 clowns.
- Six new giant balloons will debut, the most ever in any year. New balloons include Paddington™, Pikachu™, Pillsbury Doughboy®, Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, Skylanders® Eruptor and Thomas the Tank Engine®.
- Five new floats will debut including Cracker Jack® Popcorn’s At the Ball Game; Sino-American Friendship Association’s Beauty of Beijing, Dora and Friends: Aventuras Fantasticas, GoldieBlox™’s The Girl-Powered Spinning Machine, and Pirate Booty®’s Treasure Hunt.
- New interactive elements will debut in 2014 including:
- The Confetti Carpet – a social media backstage look at the celebrities behind the scenes, available by following @macys on various social media platforms.
- The new Cracker Jack Popcorn At the Ball Game float will be equipped with live cameras that will capture the crowds and showcase them on the float’s jumbotron.
- Catch yourself at the Parade when the New York Daily News Big Apple float captures incredible 360-degree panoramic images of the crowds as it rolls down the route. Images will be available to view at macys.com/parade
Source: Macy’sPR and EuropaNewswire