Macy's Day Parade

In this episode - Macy’s Day Parade . . .

Thanksgiving in America is known for traditions like turkey dinners, football games, and Black Friday sales. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a long-standing tradition that captures millions of hearts.

For nearly a century, the parade has been a source of joy for people of all ages, attracting millions of viewers in person and on television. The parade features giant balloons, marching bands, Broadway musical casts, and celebrity performers, making it America's biggest Thanksgiving Day spectacle. It is hard to imagine Thanksgiving morning without this iconic parade. But how did it all begin? And how has it become a beloved tradition that people look forward to every year?

It was 1924, and Macy's held its first Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade featured store employees, entertainers, floats, marching bands, and animals from the Central Park Zoo. Santa Claus concluded the parade by riding into Herald Square. Over a quarter million New Yorkers attended the parade, and Macy's declared it an annual event.

Over the years, the parade has transformed into a magnificent spectacle with large helium-filled balloons instead of zoo animals. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company created the balloons in the late 1920s, back then released and return address labels were sewn into them so that whoever found them could return them to Macy's and receive a reward.

Macey’s parade grew in popularity throughout the 1930s, and by 1933, it had over a million viewers. The festivities were broadcast over the radio starting in 1932 and continuing until the advent of television. The parade was put on hold from 1942-1944 due to World War II, but it resumed in 1945, breaking records with its crowds.

In 1947, the movie "Miracle on 34th Street" celebrated the parade, which was then known as the "Macy's Day Parade." This marked a turning point, and the tradition became well-known and beloved.

1948, the parade was broadcast on national television for the first time. CBS aired the festivities for the first few years, but since 1952, NBC has broadcast the official telecast. The telecast has gone through a long list of hosts, from Betty White to Ed McMahon to Katie Couric. The current team to lead the TV coverage includes Today Show hosts Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda Kotb.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2016 had an estimated 45 million viewers, with four million lining the route in NYC. It's the most-watched non-competitive event of its kind on Television every year - a symbol of holiday joy throughout the country.

I’m Patrick Ball. Happy Thanksgiving! See you in the next episode.

Comments

Practiced Hands: The 50-Year Warranty

What Doc Burch Taught Me About Staying Active. We talk a lot about "life hacks" these days, but most of them don’t have a very long shelf life. Usually, they’re forgotten by the next app update. But back in 1972, I received a piece of advice that came with a 50-year warranty. It’s the reason I’m still on my bike today, still chasing a golf ball around Carlsbad, and still—mostly—in one piece. The Kick That Changed Everything It started with a literal kick in the pants. A kid at school in Cuba, Illinois, was joking around and caught me just right. By the next morning, my lower back was screaming. My mom didn’t reach for the Tylenol; she reached for her car keys. "Let’s go see Doc Burch," she said. "He’ll fix you right up." Harry E. Burch, D.C., was a fixture in Lewistown. He’d graduated from Palmer College in ’59 and had been our family’s go-to for years. He was a man of practiced hands and steady eyes. After a quick exam and an X-ray, the mood in the room s...

The Art of the Annoying Question

In this episode, why "Cool" is the Enemy of Growth Last night, Lori and I joined our friends (team #1) in a professional kitchen at Sur La Table in Carlsbad, CA., for a "Date Night in Southern Italy." On the menu: Steak Tagliata, Sautéed Shrimp with Fried Capers, and handmade Garganelli. The experience was amazing, delectable food and an exceptional highlight: the Amalfi Lemon Gelato, complemented by the barrage of questions. When I’m with someone like Chef Gaetano, who’s incredibly patient, I tend to ask a lot of questions quickly. “Why use a fork to whisk the eggs and not a whisker?” “What exactly is the chemical transformation of a fried caper?” “If I roll this Garganelli a half-inch wider, does the sauce-to-pasta ratio collapse?” I could see the look on a few other students' faces: Is this guy for real? Just eat the shrimp, Patrick. But here’s the wisdom I’ve gathered after nearly six decades of being the annoying guy in the front row: The quality of your l...

The Miller Effect

In this episode - The Miller Effect . . . The sun hung high in the sky, casting shadows across the desolate landscape of Huron, California. Dr. Vo, a brilliant yet witty electrical engineer, stood before the main breaker box of a massive 1.4 MW-DC solar array that had confounded everyone who had dared to diagnose its persistent issue. It had been six long months of head-scratching and ten failed attempts by others before the desperate call came into Dr. Vo's office. As the sun's rays bathed the vast array in an orange glow, Dr. Vo stepped up to the Main breaker box, his sharp eyes shaded by his green Cenergy cap. He wore his North Face jacket that billowed in the light breeze, and his presence exuded an air of mystery and intrigue that was as pervasive as the problem at hand. The solar array was a colossal assemblage of panels, wires, and inverters, but the main breaker kept tripping, sending the entire operation into chaos. The workers at the site were on edge, muttering, “We’...

In Solar Time

In this episode - In Solar Time . . . We are thrilled to present a unique surprise for this week's podcast. We have composed a special tribute to Cenergy's V-Team in the form of original lyrics to the iconic Beatles song "When I'm 64". One of Cenergy’s engineering team members is Vietnam’s Doan Vo (Dr. Vo). Dr. Vo - as we call him - is the team lead for Cenergy’s Electrical Engineering Operations. We want to thank the V-Team for their unwavering commitment and assistance to the US team. Your diligent efforts are truly appreciated. In Solar Time When I get older, losing my mind many years from now. Will you still be estimating power lines? Calculating modules in Solar time. If I'd been shocked at quarter to four would you close the door (circuit)? Will you still teach me? Will you still reach me? When I'm eighty-four. You'll be older too. And if you say the word I could just phone you. I could be handy, changing the fuse. When your power’s gone. Cal...

On The Fly

Search This Blog