Photographs and text by Stephen Harmon
The squeals and gasps of the children, the colors, the clowns, the marching bands, the floats and, of course, the enormous balloons make the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a special event for the entire country.
In the vanished days of the 1970s and 80s, unlike today, security was of little or no concern. Sure, New York’s finest were stationed along the parade route, but they alway kindly allowed me and many others to walk onto Central Park West with the marchers, so we could take close-ups of the wonderful balloons. Here are some of the ones I loved from those bygone days.
Stephen Harmon is a longtime Upper West Sider, a retired lawyer, and a world-class photographer whose work is on display in many of the city’s museums, including The Museum of the City of New York, The Brooklyn Museum, New York Historical, and The New York Public Library.
Check out our audio interview with Stephen Harmon on Rag Radio — HERE.
New! See all Throwback Thursdays — HERE.
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The balloons were so much bigger and flew so much higher. It seemed like they came right up to my apartment on the 8th floor. These wonderful shoes really illustrate that. Happy Thanksgiving.
Great photos. Snoopy, always a favorite ❤️
The parade was so much better then
I loved Inflation Day back then
Although there may always have been one or two or them, a “turning point” for me was when the balloon were not just cartoon characters, but “commercial” (corporate) balloons started entering the parades, “forcing out” other non-commercial favorites, since each parade could only accommodate so many balloons.
Snuggles may be a cute character, but he is not of the same ilk as Superman or Underdog or Woody Woodpecker.
There have commercial balloons for at least 60 years. Elsie the Cow from Borden Dairies. Dino the Dinosaur from Sinclair Oil. I am nostalgic myself, but the parade has always been a promotional event
The kids ALL went crazy for Snoopy and Santa .I liked Woody myself they were sooo big and colorful ..ahhh the 1970s all the kids in my family WERE kids back then…a couple are grandparents now…
Brings back many lovely memories, especially UNDERDOG, a favorite cartoon for my brother and me. Thanks Stephen !
WELCOME BACK, Steve Harmon!!! I have missed you and I am certian I am not alone. So today I am giving thanks for YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!! I appreciate those kind words,
Im so glad!! You can’t imagine my excitement when I saw the words “Throwback Thursday”.
No Bullwinkle ? Shame on you !
I hope you were smiling when you typed that.
Love it!!!
Aren’t these the same photos as last year?
Less access to the parade and inflating, but there’s better coffee now, and there’s Thai food.
They are!! They are photos of iconic characters that were and still are loved by many people. Those days are vanished but they will never change.
Good, glad my visual memory is working.
Thanks so much! Those were the best!! Bring back those balloons. The current ones can’t compare to those older ones…..(or is it just that I’m older and align with those balloons???) But they were great!!
It’s heartening to have another serving of photos shared by Mr. Harmon. Such gorgeous saturated color!!