More Smokey Bear connections with Thanksgiving.
Smokey Bear will be making an appearance in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. NOT as a balloon but as a character on a float. This new float, HATS OFF TO OUR HERITAGE, makes its debut in style celebrating the 85th anniversary of Macy's Parade. On board are two of the parade's most famous leaders - Jean McFaddin and Robin Hall. The stewards of the Macy's parade legacy for a combined 34 years, Macy's tips their hats to the incomparable leaders who each left an indelible mark on the procession. Depicting their famed headgear - a cowboy hat for Jean and a top hat for Robin, the float also features a host of characters that have graced the skies of New York in the line-up from the first-ever Macy's balloon of Felix the Cat to one the newest character Dora The Explorer, including Smokey Bear. The parade's balloon history comes to life on this frolicking float.
When: Thursday, November 24, 2011; 9:00 am – Noon EST
Smokey’s 15th appearance, only a small group of others have appeared more. Snoopy has appeared as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character in history. As the Flying Ace, Snoopy has appeared 64 times.
1966
The Smokey Bear Balloon first flew in the Macy’s Parade in 1966. The 59 foot balloon was sponsored by the General Electric Company which gave publicity to a network television animated special, “The Ballad of Smokey Bear” which was aired that evening. The balloon flew in the parade every year from 1966 through 1974 with the exception of 1971. Then he again graced the skies of NYC in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1993. He also made an appearance, for the first time as a character NOT a balloon walking alongside of Woodsy Owl, Thermy™, BAC, and Power Panther™ (all USDA characters) in 2000.Smokey Bear will be escorted by New York State Forest Ranger Captain Eric Lahr.
No comments:
Post a Comment