The Bowery Boys episode 445, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a century of cheer.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Hey, it's the Bowery Boys.

Hey. Hi there, welcome to the Bowery boys. This is Greg Young.

And this is Tom Myers. And today we're talking about one century of festive tradition in New York City and America.

Actually, we're talking about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

Essentially a massive celebration of the entire holiday season, really,

wrapped up in a kitsy event filled with product placements,

a march through Midtown Manhattan that has become a cornerstone

of the American Thanksgiving tradition. Now, the very first Macy's Parade made its way,

its very long way, down the island of Manhattan in 1924. And it was quite a different event

from the one that we have today. But it did have Santa Claus, and it was quite a different event from the one that we have today.

But it did have Santa Claus and it did finish right in front of the department store.

Yes, Macy's, Macy's department store.

Let's always remind ourselves that this tradition is really a promotion for this department store located in Herald Square.

So we'll actually be setting the scene by talking about the story of Macy's and also

early Thanksgiving customs, some very, very strange customs.

That's just the beginning of the oddities featured in today's show.

This is a weird show. It is. It is a weird

show. Because the early days of the Macy's parade also brought about a few bizarre, some even

like dangerous short-lived traditions. But this parade really did catch on. And so we will be

telling its story today. And along the way, we'll be telling

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