bbb6444284571_5736d0aa18_mThe Macy’s parade interactive website offers a variety of facts and photos from its long history, but I pulled out those that I thought were musical noteworthy! (Some are direct quotes, while others are a summary) Here they are:

  • 1920’s
    • The inaugural Macy’s Day Parade took place on Christmas, 1924 with performers, jazz bands and animals from the Central Park zoo!
  • 1930’s
    • In 1934 Macy’s designs a balloon in the likeness of a real person (This is the only time this happens!): super-famous-at-the-time vaudeville performer Eddie Cantor.
    • Celebrities join the parade starting in 1934 with Eddie Cantor, actor Harpo Marx, singer Jessica Dragonette and bandleader Benny Goodman (Would have loved to have see him!!!)
    • In 1938, WOR Radio begins broadcasting the excitement.
  • 1040’s
    • The parade makes its film debut in 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street. Edmund Gwenn stepped in for Santa in 1946’s parade—as he filmed his starring role in the holiday film classic.
    • In 1948: the parade’s first national televised broadcast on NBC.
  • 1950’s
    • Celebrities from TV, Broadway and the movies join the fun: Howdy Doody, oscar-winning actress Ginger Rogers, Jackie Gleason, and Shirley Temple Black who was the “Princess” of 1959’s parade, signaling the end of the decade.
    • In 1958, for the first time, the parade lines up the Rockettes (My childhood dream was to go to NYC and become one!!)
  • 1960’s
    • Bob Hope serves as “King” of the parade while Shirley Jones and cast members of Bonanza ride down Broadway on horseback.
  • 1970’s
    • Performers include Diana Ross, Queen of Motown, The Village People and Menudo.
      • (This cracked me up, so I included it) So here’s what happened. Menudo is originally slated to perform on a float like the other entertainers. BUT TEEN GIRLS. Deciding it would be best to protect the heartthrobs from a mob scene, the parade keeps the group high above the hysterical fans—and has them perform on top of a moving bus. We don’t know how they got up there…
    • Opera singer Jessye Norman, music icon Diana Ross, song-and-dance man Ben Vereen
  • 1980’s
    • The Annie float debuts in 1981 as one of the largest ever built by Macy’s parade studio! The enormous replica of the orphanage and Warbuck’s mansion carries 17 actors from the original film. It’s so big that designer Manfred Bass rides atop the roof and radios the crew as they guide the float along the route.
  • 1990’s
    • Featured entertainers are Shania Twain, boy bands and Christina Aguilera.