Didn’t get up in time to watch this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—in person or on TV?
No problem. Instead, travel back in time to 1945 and take a look at this vintage parade footage, which offers excellent views of mid-century Central Park West, clowns who are not scary, and parade floats inspired by fairy tales rather than blockbuster movies.
1945 was a milestone year for the parade, which started in 1924: it had been suspended for the three previous years because of rubber and helium shortages brought on by World War II, according to AM New York.
Tags: 1945 Macy's Parade, Central Park West 1940s, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade vintage footage, Macy's Thanksgving Day Parade, New York after World War II, New York in 1945
November 24, 2016 at 1:15 pm |
the embedded video didnt come through in the email version
November 24, 2016 at 4:12 pm |
Sorry about that. Can you cut and past the link here or search for it on YouTube? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoyHOyHzl3k
November 24, 2016 at 3:09 pm |
I enjoyed watching this more than the parade that’s on TV right now — such simpler times, no worries about terrorism, no commercialized floats — oh, to only be able to go back in time…
November 24, 2016 at 3:26 pm |
That made me incredibly sad! Beautiful voice but so sad!
November 24, 2016 at 4:35 pm |
Wow! So nice. Song was very touching, sort of speaking to those of us who romanticize the past.
November 25, 2016 at 7:42 am |
My Aunt Blanche worked at Macy’s as the head creator of the cocktail hats in their millinery boutique She was proud of walking in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in the Humpty Dumpty segment.
December 8, 2016 at 2:44 am |
Another unexpected star of this footage is the buff colored brick building that keeps appearing at the left side of this footage. It is The Dakota, the famous apartment building at 72nd and Central Park West which was the home of such stars as Roberta Flack, and Lauren Bacall. Unfortunately, it was also the home of John Lennon who was killed just outside the building.