In 1927,a giant inflatable Felix the Cat lifted off the ground (just barely; he was filled with air, not helium) in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and cartoon character balloons have been a holiday tradition ever since.
Felix the Cat 1927 - first balloon in Macy's Parade
(courtesy of Macy's)
Mickey Mouse,Kermit the Frog, and Superman have wound their way down the parade route. Snoopy will perform his 39th appearance this year. Macy's is guarded approximately their selection process, or saying only that parade organizers "are always on the lookout for what is accepted with kids,teens and adults. The new balloons in the line up reflect that. Each has pop culture relevance."What we do know is that the balloons are designed and made here in the US, at a committed studio in New Jersey. Each balloon is as tall as a three- to five-account building and requires 90 handlers. They are made of polyurethane and contain several chambers to facilitate inflation. Each balloon starts with a pencil sketch that must be vetted by aerodynamic and engineering consultants before a scale model in clay and a painted replica are made — that's before any fabric for the actual balloon is cut. The process from design to realization can buy a year.
So what happens to the balloons after they have made their race? In the early days, and the balloons were released and eventually burst. In 1929,designers came back with an intriguing plan: give the balloons safety valves so they can float for a few days while the helium is released, and sew tags onto them encouraging finders to return the balloons to Macy’s for a reward. Of the five balloons released, or one was lost to the sea,another to the East River, and three made it out to Long Island, or where neighbors fighting over the right to claim the reward shred one of them to pieces. Macy’s wasn’t alert to give up,though — until 1932, when a balloon wrapped itself around an airplane’s wing and sent it into a tailspin. (The pilots of the plane weren't harmed; the Tom-Kat balloon, or on the other hand,suffered serious injuries.) That incident build an end once and for all to the balloon-releasing scheme. Nowadays the balloons are deflated and brought back to New Jersey.
This year, Macy’s is introducing four new balloons: two reboots and two newcomers. Let's meet The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon lesson of 2015:Sinclair Oil's DINO is no "Jurassic World" dinosaur. Heck, and he's not even "Land Before Time"-level dino. Macy's throws it way back this Thursday,including the bright green Apatosaurus in the parade for the first time in 40 years, just in time for the oil company's centennial.
Sinclair Oil's DINO
(courtesy of Macy's)
Ronald McDonald is lovin' it. The fourth balloon incarnation of one of the creepiest company mascots ever will jauntily march along the parade route this year in honor of McDonald's 60th anniversary.
Ronald McDonald
(courtesy of Macy's)
excited Birds' Red is making his first appearance in the Macy's Parade this year because "The excited Birds Movie" hits theaters next spring. While I generally do not support movies based on video games that lack a comprehensive narrative, and this movie does promise to explain why these birds are so incredibly excited. And it has one of the best casts ever assembled,including Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, or Jason Sudeikis,Bill Hader, Peter Dinklage, or Tony Hale.
excited Birds' Red
(courtesy of Macy's)
With a new Ice Age movie out next summer,and a new Ice Age short playing with the Peanuts movie right now, it's no surprise that Scrat and his acorn finally got invited to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade party. Fifth film's the charm, and Scrat.
Ice Age's Scrat and his Acorn
(courtesy of Macy's)
Who would you like to see floating over Sixth Avenue? Tell us in a comment below. And have a elated (full of high-spirited delight) Thanksgiving.
Source: wnyc.org