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The Macy's Parade

Aired November 27, 2003 - 15:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, New Yorkers and others are all around the country. For many of them, Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without the old Macy's Parade. And this year, the famous balloons share top billing with American idols, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.
Kendis Gibson also loves a parade. He takes us back.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual pit stop for some of the hottest celebrities. Not just the helium filled ones that fly above. Instead, the red carpet walking kind. But it wasn't always that way.

When it began in 1924, the parade was just a local tribute to America from Macy's second-generation immigrant employees. As it grew in stature, celebrities grew in interest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The very first entertainer who did anything with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was one of the biggest stars of Broadway and Hollywood at the time, Eddie Cantor.

GIBSON: That was in 1934. Cantor was also represented that year in balloon form. Harpo Marx was the first star to actually perform in the parade, while Glenn Miller and his orchestra were the first musicians to play. As for the Rockettes, they debuted in 1958, but they didn't start out kicking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first year, they didn't dance. The first year they were part of a float that was designed as a huge Christmas mantle place, and they just were up on top of the mantle hanging their legs over to represent Christmas stockings. The following year, they began to dance, and they've danced ever since.

GIBSON: Over the years, the parade has become a showcase for a spectrum of stars from Broadway to pop and country. But some names are bound to cause a stir. Ricky Martin's old boy band, Menudo, was so big in the '80s, to avoid a fan frenzy, Macy's folks whisked them in and out of the parade aboard a float. Another duo did cause a sensation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually the most hysteria that was created was actually by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1958. So many people were crowding the parade route trying to get to them, that the police had to put eight officers on either side of the float they were on. GIBSON: But the biggest star of all, of course, is Santa, who arrives at the parade's end to usher in the Christmas season. Though he's the biggest name, he requires the very least.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All he asks for in return is when he gets off the sleigh at the end of the parade route we have a nice hot cup of chocolate for him and a cookie.

GIBSON: Kendis Gibson, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)







Aired November 27, 2003 - 15:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, New Yorkers and others are all around the country. For many of them, Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without the old Macy's Parade. And this year, the famous balloons share top billing with American idols, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.
Kendis Gibson also loves a parade. He takes us back.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KENDIS GIBSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual pit stop for some of the hottest celebrities. Not just the helium filled ones that fly above. Instead, the red carpet walking kind. But it wasn't always that way.

When it began in 1924, the parade was just a local tribute to America from Macy's second-generation immigrant employees. As it grew in stature, celebrities grew in interest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The very first entertainer who did anything with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was one of the biggest stars of Broadway and Hollywood at the time, Eddie Cantor.

GIBSON: That was in 1934. Cantor was also represented that year in balloon form. Harpo Marx was the first star to actually perform in the parade, while Glenn Miller and his orchestra were the first musicians to play. As for the Rockettes, they debuted in 1958, but they didn't start out kicking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first year, they didn't dance. The first year they were part of a float that was designed as a huge Christmas mantle place, and they just were up on top of the mantle hanging their legs over to represent Christmas stockings. The following year, they began to dance, and they've danced ever since.

GIBSON: Over the years, the parade has become a showcase for a spectrum of stars from Broadway to pop and country. But some names are bound to cause a stir. Ricky Martin's old boy band, Menudo, was so big in the '80s, to avoid a fan frenzy, Macy's folks whisked them in and out of the parade aboard a float. Another duo did cause a sensation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually the most hysteria that was created was actually by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1958. So many people were crowding the parade route trying to get to them, that the police had to put eight officers on either side of the float they were on. GIBSON: But the biggest star of all, of course, is Santa, who arrives at the parade's end to usher in the Christmas season. Though he's the biggest name, he requires the very least.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All he asks for in return is when he gets off the sleigh at the end of the parade route we have a nice hot cup of chocolate for him and a cookie.

GIBSON: Kendis Gibson, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)