The turkey’s bathing in brine, the relatives are preparing their political arguments and the children are parked in front of the television, watching a larger-than-life Pikachu pursue a too-big-for-his-britches SpongeBob SquarePants.
Since the first balloon debuted at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927, balloon-spotting has been as much a Thanksgiving tradition as donning elastic-waisted pants. But those gargantuan rubber characters—which can require as many as 90 handlers, a number that still hasn’t prevented run-ins with lampposts and the occasional bystander injury—have been the source of nearly as much Thanksgiving drama as have dinner-table debates.
Below are some photographs of the parade in 1961—do kids today even know who Popeye is?
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| A Thanksgiving parade in New York. Floating above the majorettes is a giant inflatable Popeye, November 1961. (Express Newspapers/Getty Images) |
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| A female marching band parades onward in 1961. A series tableaux behind the band commemorate landmarks in the city's history. (Archive Photos / Getty Images) |
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| Crowds of children gathered in a New York street to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Keystone / Getty Images) |
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| Two little sisters watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on November 26th, 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Children watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade from the sidelines, November 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Drum majorettes cause a ruckus in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| A parade float for the City Center Light Opera production of the musical 'Brigadoon' joins in the 1961 parade. The sign behind reads 'Macy's Presents a Fantasy of Christmas in New York'. (Archive Photos / Getty Images) |
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| Share Pin An inflated Popeye floats above the parade as it nears Times Square in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| In this 1961 photo, a family rides along in the parade with a model of Pinocchio following suit. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Children watch the parade as it nears Times Square, November 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Costumed participants dressed as pigs and harlequins are followed along by horse drawn carriages in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| High-kicking ladies wow the crowds during the 1961 Thanksgiving Day Parade! (Archive Photos / Getty Images) |
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| An ornate float passes under a balloon with a bear as a passenger in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Crowds gather to watch behind a police barrier in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Crowds gathered in a New York street to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| Alice and the White Rabbit are also included in the 1961 parade. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| An inflatable Popeye floats overhead at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| The “Alfred E. Neuman” from MAD Magazine joins in the festivities, 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| A balloon shaped like Bullwinkle, of “Rocky and Bullwinkle” fame, floats above girls wearing in soldier costumes and carrying banners at a Thanksgiving Day parade in New York. 26th November 1961. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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| A little boy waves at the passing floats during the 1961 Thanksgiving Day Parade. (William Lovelace / Getty Images) |
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