(This special post is by 5CP Associate Editor Gayna Lamb-Bang.)
After watching last year’s
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and anticipating the oversized balloons of our
pals Snoopy and Woodstock, I wondered about the Peanuts balloon legacy in this
annual celebration.
 |
| 1968 WWI Flying Ace Snoopy |
I quickly discovered that
information was both scarce, and frequently inaccurate.
In the interests, then, of
providing an authoritative chronology of the association between Macy’s and the
Peanuts gang, I spent considerable time researching the topic. The goal was to
find and provide an absolutely accurate listing, at all times cross-checked
with photos and news coverage from reputable sources.
Let’s start with a few fun
facts:
• New York City’s famous
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade began in 1924, complete with live animals borrowed
from the Central Park Zoo. Beginning in 1927 — not 1928, as numerous Internet sites incorrectly claim — the live animals were replaced by large balloons designed by famed puppeteer Tony Sarg, and built by Bil Baird. A terrific Smithsonian Magazine article profiled Sarg in November 2013, and the Norman Rockwell Museum mounted a delightful exhibit devoted to him from June 10 through November 5, 2023.
• Snoopy, in various personas,
has been in this parade more than any other character.
 |
| Newspaper ad for the 1969 parade |
• The ground-based balloon
handlers must weigh at least 125 pounds.
• For many year's, Macy's promoted the parade with detailed, full-page newspaper ads that sometimes even listed the scheduled balloons and floats.
• For many year's, Macy's promoted the parade with detailed, full-page newspaper ads that sometimes even listed the scheduled balloons and floats.
• Until 2011, the floats and
balloons were built in a former Tootsie Roll factory in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The parade construction facility then moved to a larger warehouse in Carlstadt,
also in New Jersey.
• During the very early hours
of parade day, everything travels through the Lincoln Tunnel, to get to the parade’s
starting point in Manhattan. Once there, the balloons are inflated with a mix
of helium and outside air, just a few hours before the parade begins.
• These days, roughly 2
million spectators line the streets of Manhattan, to view the parade. The event
lasts approximately three hours, and covers two and a half miles.
Now, back to our favorite
beagle:
 |
| 1969 Astronaut Snoopy |
The big moment for Peanuts
fans came when Snoopy debuted as a giant balloon in 1968, in the 43rd
parade. This first incarnation was as the WWI Flying Ace, complete with a green
aviator cap and brown goggles.
Snoopy switched costumes in
1969, in honor of the Apollo 11 moon mission; he became Astronaut Snoopy, with
a white suit and blue oxygen tank. (Oddly, he lacked a protective helmet, which
sharp-eyed fans have commented on ever since!)
Astronaut Snoopy was
featured through 1977, inclusive, although he was unintentionally missing in
action twice. All the balloons were grounded in 1971, due to excessively strong
winds. Snoopy fared a bit better in 1975, making it partway through the parade
route, until he and two other balloons were grounded, again due to heavy winds.
Starting in 1978, and
continuing through 1986, inclusive, Snoopy once again resumed his WWI Flying
Ace persona (the original 1968 balloon) … but this run was fraught with peril.
Snoopy missed the 1980 parade
due to a “broken leg.” These large balloons are built with separate chambers,
so that the entire balloon is not affected by damage to one part, such as a
leg. Even though he could have flown, his appearance would have upset his fans.
 |
| 1987 Skating Snoopy |
For unknown reasons — as
research has indicated — Macy’s chose not to include Snoopy in either the 1984 or
’86 parade.
A new balloon, Snoopy the
Skater, was launched in 1987. Our cheerful beagle sported a black and red
scarf, with a matching ski cap, complete with white trim and pom pom. He seemed
quite pleased to be “skating” down the parade route on bright red skates.
His outfit changed the
following year. Bright red earmuffs and a Macy’s branded sweater were added to
this “Skating Snoopy” balloon. His pal Woodstock also joined the fun, wearing
his own red and white ski cap. This same year, Charles M. Schulz’s adult daughter,
Jill, skated on the MetLife Peanuts Ice Rink Float. (She also skated on the float in 1989.)
This balloon, with earmuffs
and sweater, continued to skate through the skies, along with his pal
Woodstock, through 1995 … with one unfortunate exception. Snoopy’s nose was
accidentally punctured in 1989, so he missed that parade.
(I wasn’t able to absolutely
confirm Snoopy’s 1992 appearance with a corroborative photo; if any readers can
supply such a photo, please get in touch.)
 |
| 1999 Millennium Snoopy |
Bewilderingly, Macy’s decided
not to include Snoopy in the next three parades: 1996 through ’98.
The World Famous Beagle’s
fifth persona arrived in 1999, as Millennium Snoopy — complete with jester hat
and horn — helped ring in the upcoming New Year. Millennium Snoopy returned in
2000 and ’01.
In a novel twist, Snoopy was
replaced by Charlie Brown — and his football — in 2002. Good ol’ Chuck
continued to try and kick that football through 2005.
 |
| 2002 Charlie Brown |
2006 temporarily retired
Charlie Brown, while debuting a new and improved version of Snoopy as the WWI
Flying Ace. His cap and goggles were much spiffier, and he also sported a
bright red scarf and binoculars, for spotting the dreaded Red Baron. This
Flying Ace continued to patrol the skies over the Manhattan parade route
through 2011.
 |
| 2006 WWI Flying Ace Snoopy |
Charlie Brown and his
football made another appearance in the 86th annual parade, in 2012.
The seventh version
of Snoopy’s balloon counterpart arrived in 2013, and has continued to appear through 2015. He’s back to his plain beagle self, floating horizontally
with Woodstock on his head.
 |
| 2013 Snoopy and Woodstock |
 |
| 2016 Charlie Brown and his kite |
For 2019's 93rd parade, Snoopy returned to space and was the first in the lineup of balloons. An updated version of Astronaut Snoopy - presented by Peanuts Worldwide and NASA - helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. This is Snoopy's eighth persona. He is the longest-running balloon character in the parade's history. To top it off, a small plush version of Astronaut Snoopy was on board the International Space Station at the same time as the parade, and was simulcast from space!
2020's 94th annual parade was very unusual. Due to COVID19, there was no in-person audience. The massive balloons were not flown by handlers; they were driven by utility vehicles. Astronaut Snoopy was back, continuing his record as the longest-running balloon character.
 |
| 2019 Astronaut Snoopy |
The 95th annual parade, in 2021, once again took place in front of a live audience. The beautiful, orange-suited Astronaut Snoopy was back for the third consecutive time, and happily traveled the entire route with the able assistance of ground-based handlers.
2022's 96th annual parade included the fourth consecutive appearance of the orange-suited Astronaut Snoopy balloon. This was a special year, because NASA's "zero-gravity indicator" on the uncrewed Artemis I flight to the moon and back, was a much smaller form of this Astronaut Snoopy.
The 97th annual parade, in 2023, introduced a new Snoopy balloon. The 55-foot-tall Beagle Scout Snoopy, wearing his red Scout tie and green backpack, with his pal Woodstock sitting on his hat, joined the festivities for the first time.
Unfortunately, on parade day, the front brim of his hat deflated, so part of Snoopy's face was obscured during most of the festivities.
 |
| 2023 Beaglescout Snoopy and Woodstock |
Speaking of past parades, a number can be viewed in their entirety —
including fun glimpses of the Peanuts balloons discussed above — at this YouTube Channel.
1 comment:
Fantastic read. Thanks for posting!
Post a Comment