Wow, that’s some assortment of disturbing helium bags! Still, beats the July Fourth Lawnmower Parade in Terrace Park, Ohio (motto: “At least we’re not Kentucky!). I have fond memories of childhood visits to the Macy’s T-day Parade in the fifties, mostly because it was with our aunt and uncle who, being childless, were nicer to us than our parents. Afterwards we repaired to home where Mom was busy cooking turkey and sides, Grammie had made pies, and Aunt Mary brought her famous Arkansas-style candied yams with marshmallows. (Nicer to us or not, her cooking didn’t hold up to Mom’s.) Grammie liked to add booze to her mince pie; Great aunt Kitty, a tee-totaler, got schnockered on one piece. A tipsy 80 year old librarian is a surprisingly fun old gal, full of stories of when the West was young (or at least Paola, Kansas, where her father had a “bank” that kept cattle drivers cash safe while they went on a drunken spry. The “bank” was great-great granddad, his partner, a revolver and an agreement never to both be asleep at the same time.) But I digress.
My response to this piece was: Yes! Absolutely, yes! Though I have to admit that most years my family didn't bother to watch the parade, even on TV - Orange County, CA was quite the tight little enclave back in the 1960s-70s and Hollywood might as well have been Mars.
I do think trying to glam up the parade was a mistake. In olden times it had an endearing low-tech feel, as you said; very KCOP-Channel 13 or Avis "We Try Harder" aura which is now gone. When I attended with you and Mary in years gone by I thought of it as the "Secondhand Smoke Parade" due to the attendees puffing away.
Thank you for this trip back into the past. Incidentally, I saw that Gene Autry wrote and performed "Right Down Santa Claus Lane" in 1947 and went on to purchase KTLA Channel 5 (on Hollywood Boulevard) in the 1960s. He owned other broadcasting stations in the area as well, and I suppose he had a bit of a vested interest in boosting the parade.
Hey that's right, I forgot the parade had it's own hit theme song, although I didn't know Autry wrote it. I looked him up on Wikipedia just to see what else he had his hand in, and apparently, it was plenty: "He is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio, and live performance." He also earned the first Gold Record. No wonder he could afford to piss away so much money on the Angels.
Dear Buddha! It must be easier to get into Fort Knox than to leave a comment- especially if you forget your password.
I am so terribly sorry that you have to endure that erotic balloon parade every year. But it somehow seems fitting in the context of the new administration. Next year: pizza pedophelia balloons. All we have back east is Pizza Rat.
Wow, that’s some assortment of disturbing helium bags! Still, beats the July Fourth Lawnmower Parade in Terrace Park, Ohio (motto: “At least we’re not Kentucky!). I have fond memories of childhood visits to the Macy’s T-day Parade in the fifties, mostly because it was with our aunt and uncle who, being childless, were nicer to us than our parents. Afterwards we repaired to home where Mom was busy cooking turkey and sides, Grammie had made pies, and Aunt Mary brought her famous Arkansas-style candied yams with marshmallows. (Nicer to us or not, her cooking didn’t hold up to Mom’s.) Grammie liked to add booze to her mince pie; Great aunt Kitty, a tee-totaler, got schnockered on one piece. A tipsy 80 year old librarian is a surprisingly fun old gal, full of stories of when the West was young (or at least Paola, Kansas, where her father had a “bank” that kept cattle drivers cash safe while they went on a drunken spry. The “bank” was great-great granddad, his partner, a revolver and an agreement never to both be asleep at the same time.) But I digress.
Damn, that's a fascinating glimpse into cattle drive culture I never imagined. Too bad they didn't liquor up the old gal more often.
"our aunt and uncle who, being childless, were nicer to us than our parents."
I chuckled at this, then thought: Heyyyy!
<<polar sweat shop>>
Is that even possible? Or do they sweat crushed ice?
I dunno Carl, but thanks for singlehandedly bringing body horror to Santa's workshop.
I live to swerve
My response to this piece was: Yes! Absolutely, yes! Though I have to admit that most years my family didn't bother to watch the parade, even on TV - Orange County, CA was quite the tight little enclave back in the 1960s-70s and Hollywood might as well have been Mars.
I do think trying to glam up the parade was a mistake. In olden times it had an endearing low-tech feel, as you said; very KCOP-Channel 13 or Avis "We Try Harder" aura which is now gone. When I attended with you and Mary in years gone by I thought of it as the "Secondhand Smoke Parade" due to the attendees puffing away.
Thank you for this trip back into the past. Incidentally, I saw that Gene Autry wrote and performed "Right Down Santa Claus Lane" in 1947 and went on to purchase KTLA Channel 5 (on Hollywood Boulevard) in the 1960s. He owned other broadcasting stations in the area as well, and I suppose he had a bit of a vested interest in boosting the parade.
Hey that's right, I forgot the parade had it's own hit theme song, although I didn't know Autry wrote it. I looked him up on Wikipedia just to see what else he had his hand in, and apparently, it was plenty: "He is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio, and live performance." He also earned the first Gold Record. No wonder he could afford to piss away so much money on the Angels.
Dear Buddha! It must be easier to get into Fort Knox than to leave a comment- especially if you forget your password.
I am so terribly sorry that you have to endure that erotic balloon parade every year. But it somehow seems fitting in the context of the new administration. Next year: pizza pedophelia balloons. All we have back east is Pizza Rat.
True, but Pizza Rat is a goddamn national treasure.
He is definitely revered in NYC.
<< the homicide of a child's dream>>
NASA would like a word