Has Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gone downhill?

[kdonnel]

One of our local malls had TWO Macys in it for a long time. It originally opened with two other (regional) department stores (Lazarus and Marshall Fields). Over time, Lazarus was purchased/rebranded as Macy's. Not too long afterward, Marshall Fields was also purchased/rebranded as Macy's. There were two Macy's locations in the same mall (one at each end) for over 10 years, before they finally closed one of them.

I have seen that as well. Generally one of the locations ends up catering to the mens department and furniture/home goods while the other location is everything else.

 

[aprilgail]

Every Thanksgiving it has always been a tradition to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day each year and when I have seen it I think the parade has changed it's image and has gone downhill? Is it because Macy's has updated the parade for a new generation or do they try something appealing? Because every time I have seen it the parade is not worthy of watching anymore. Take for instance I have never figured out what's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's big obsession with Broadway musicals and plays? Because why they have the preshow devoted to Broadway musicals and plays is beyond me and they should have a limit of three Broadway musicals throughout each parade and the parade should have a better preshow about Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's history and other stuff. Another thing I noticed about the parade is whenever they talk about certain balloons they show the balloon give commentary then go to a commercial break and it has surprised me that they have started to do this on the parade now. And when I have watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade I never have figured out when they announce that Santa Claus is arriving in Herald Square they make a big deal by annoying you with commentary about Santa Claus with sayings like "Santa will arrive soon and "Don't miss the big moment at the finale" and when Santa Claus finally arrives at the end of the parade all Santa Claus does is wave his arms and jumps up and down like he's being chosen to play The Price Is Right and is completely silent and they should make Santa Claus say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I think Macy's needs to retire the Santa Claus arrival and replace it with The Rockettes doing a holiday show and that would improve the parade a lot better. I think ever since Robin Hall retired and Jean McFaddin passed away I think that was the beginning of the new image of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The broadway musicals is the best part of the parade for me!

 

[focusondisney]

We haven’t been impressed with the parade in several years. We don’t care for the broadway show spots either. We watch for the floats, balloons & marching bands. Some singing segments was fine, but watching so many lip sync segments isn’t our thing. We still have it on as we go about our morning. But we only pay attention to the parts we like.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I wonder if the NBC broadcast will focus ANY time on that one. On one hand, it is promoting the USMNT. On the other hand, it's promoting FOX. On the other hand, the networks have promoted each other when it comes to NFL games.

On the other hand, I'm not surprised you turned a thread about a parade into soccer.

I honestly just don’t like the balloon. The one in the Fox tv advert was what I was hoping for. I’m not bringing up soccer at all in this thread. I promise. This was just a relevant one time thing. Also, you now have 4 hands?

 

[RangerPooh]

I guess I have always viewed the Macy's parade as an advertisement for New York tourism; hence the emphasis on Broadway and Rockets. This does not bother me. It's the lip syncing acts that few people know of, and lack of floats that does. I'd much rather see high school bands and floats/balloons.

Regardless, the parade is on as background noise out of tradition. At this point I think I might be the only one in our family who watches.

 

[CynBeth]

We have watched almost every year since I was young unless we are at Disney and then when we get home I find a YouTube version of it. I love the Tournament of Roses Parade for New Year’s as well. This year I heard it will be on Monday the 2nd.

 

[shh]

It's still a store. They have nice online shopping as well. They closed some unprofitable locations.
I liked the old parade better. Now it's like one very long Broadway commercial. A few acts would be fine, but they have tipped too far in that direction.

I agree with this - we're not interested in broadway productions at all. So it gets boring to watch a bunch of commercials for shows we're never going to attend. Love the parade part, but usually don't watch the first part. But it is still tradition to put it on every year.

I also like to watch the national dog show that follows the parade and vote for my favorites

 

[KayMichigan]

Fun Fact: In the 1947 movie "Miracle on 34th Street", the footage of Edmund Gwenn being Santa Claus in the Macy's parade at the beginning of the movie was actually filmed during the real 1946 parade, where he rode down the street in the Santa Claus float and then addressed the crowd from the Macy marquee. Most of the people in the crowd had no idea.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think the commentators talk too much. But the 5 minutes of actual parade per hour is still pretty good.

Are there any new floats/balloons that you’re excited to see?

I always think some new ones are weird, including this one:
https://www.foxsports.com/presspass...-debut-in-2022-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/

I know a nurse that has just the thing for that balloon.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the commentators talk too much. But the 5 minutes of actual parade per hour is still pretty good.

The few times I've even turned it on I quickly turned it off. Didn't get much time at all to see the parade, too much commentator noise but I understand the nostalgia, the tradition people have with having it on.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I know a nurse that has just the thing for that balloon.

View attachment 715267

Yeah, that balloon is as bad as this year’s jersey. Why couldn’t they use the balloon from the tv advertisement? That one actually looked good compared to chosen one.

The balloon I’m referencing is at the 52 second mark. (This is the last soccer related post, even though it’s about the discussed balloon, I will make on this thread). Apologies to the OP if this comment is annoying.

 

[AppleDumpling]

My family has watched it since the beginning. I love at the end of the ad, it includes the Hudson Valley.

Thanks for sharing. Haven’t seen this before and I love it!

 

[MillauFr]

I'm not surprised you turned a thread about a parade into soccer.

soccer??? Its football... Common Man!!!!!!!

 

[Buzz Rules]

soccer??? Its football... Common Man!!!!!!!

Association football. Is this the first soccer balloon at the parade?

 

[sam_gordon]

soccer??? Its football... Common Man!!!!!!!

Figured that would confuse too many.

 

[DodgerGirl]

We have watched almost every year since I was young unless we are at Disney and then when we get home I find a YouTube version of it. I love the Tournament of Roses Parade for New Year’s as well. This year I heard it will be on Monday the 2nd.

You must be like me CynBeth. Because I love watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades from the 80's and 90's on Youtube too myself year round and it's so fun to watch. And my family has watched every single Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade except 2020's parade and it's amazing entertainment to see not only on Thanksgiving but on Youtube year round

 

[DodgerGirl]

Another thing I've noticed about Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is that they seem to have few balloons and floats based on movie characters or cartoon characters and it seems that the big balloons and floats are based on commercials and I can't figure it out. Because it seems to me that the parade has turned itself into a commercial showcase and I remember when Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade had floats and cartoon character balloons of Bugs Bunny Pink Panther and Spider-Man and even Disney had balloons of Mickey Mouse and Goofy and Olaf and that made the parade fun to watch. I think ever since Amy Kule took over producer duties of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade she is the reason why the parade went downhill. I do agree about the celebrity interviews of the parade because I think they slow the parade down and all the celebrities talk about are family life and Thanksgiving plans and they should do away with these interviews and focus on the parade

 

[Kennywood]

Disney Cruise Line Float to Return to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2022​

by Jackie Galley



One of my favorite ways to kick off the holiday season is by watching the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from the kitchen as I’m fixing all of my family’s favorites for dinner.

Last year, Disney Cruise Line debuted an all-new cruise ship float during the parade and they’ve just announced that the same vessel will be returning to the beloved parade later this month. This year, the “ship” – inspired by the style of the Disney Wish – will float through the streets of New York once again, accompanied by an all-new performance in Herald Square.



This year’s live performance is inspired by one of the new Broadway-style shows that takes place on board the Disney Wish, Disney Seas the Adventure. Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy will be on hand to lead the cast of performers and Disney characters in the show-stopping number.

You can tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC-TV on November 24th from 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones.

Source: https://dclfan.com/entertainment/disney-cruise-line-float-to-return-to-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-in-2022/

 

[DodgerGirl]

My mother has always liked Santa Claus's entrance at the parade's end and I always wondered who plays the role of the Macy's Santa Claus? Because I always think he's real and traditional and whatever actor they choose does the job to perfection. But the other thing that Macy's should not do with the parade that has caused them to go downhill is they have had several singers and bands start the parade such as America Sings and the amazing Macy's Singing Tree choir then retire them and they should bring them back to make the parade great to watch. Another thing that caused the parade to go downhill is that they changed the theme song from the iconic New York New York to On Broadway and that seemed odd to me and now the new theme song is a remix of New York New York that's the original Frank Sinatra instrumental. I hope that this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is great and improved so nicely

 

[slo]

It's fine - it's background noise for us while we're prepping Thanksgiving dinner that morning. I don't really sit and watch any portion of it for more than a minute or two, generally.

Same for me - we have a TV in the kitchen and I glance at it once in awhile but that’s it.