Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloons are Hiding! Quiz

Answer: Unger the Feline

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...with a kniFE, "LIX", THE CATalog's..."

Debuting in 1927, Felix the Cat was the very first character balloon, as opposed to generic animal balloons, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He was manufactured by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, as were the other balloons as well. Felix was inflated with air, not helium, and carried on poles by handlers.

Answer: Reptile

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...DINO'S AURa was always..."

A 60-foot long dinosaur balloon rode along the parade route in 1927. The air-filled hand-painted rubberized silk balloon was created by German-American puppeteer, illustrator, and designer Tony Sarg, and it was accompanied by a prehistoric caveman carrying a club, thereby cementing the historical misconception in children and adults alike that the two coexisted.

Answer: Carries a trunk everywhere

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...to AdELE, PHANToms may..."

The Elephant made its debut in the 1928 Macy's Parade, and it was one of the first-ever giant character balloons to be filled with helium. Well, partially filled with helium. By 1928, Macy's started experimenting with partially filling the balloons with helium and partially with air. It gave some balloons more of a floating effect than the crowds were used to seeing at the Parade.

Answer: Type of animal

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...was cHUMMING BIRD seed..."

The hummingbird first appeared at the 1928 Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was also among that first group of balloons to be inflated with a helium and air mixture in 1928. The New York Times back then reported that the Hummingbird was a visual standout noted for its "graceful form" and "fluttering illusion."

Answer: figurine

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "All of Your TOYS" OLDIE Reached..."

A toy soldier was amongst those very first Thanksgiving Day balloons in 1927, which was the first year that it was officially a Thanksgiving Day Parade as opposed to the Parades starting in 1924 which were Christmas-themed. But of course, there's a lot of overlap in the two themes. We still see a live Santa Claus at every Thanksgiving Parade after all. And the toy soldier balloon also was the Christmas-like toy soldier variety like you would see at a Nutcracker ballet for instance or in the movie "March of the Wooden Soldiers" broadcast annually on Thanksgiving Day.

Answer: Mythical creature

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...hung an olD RAG ON a stick..."

The first dragon balloon in the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appeared in 1927, on November 4th. Tony Sarg designed the dragon as a "floating puppet", replacing those real-life animals from the Central Park Zoo that populated the earlier parades (1924-1926). The dragon was the first mythological/fantasy creature ever represented as a balloon in the parade. the New York Times described it and the other balloons as "creatures of the air" that delighted children.

Answer: Humanoid

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "The assassIN'S PEC TORe when...".

The first Inspector balloon (sometimes referred to as "The Policeman") appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1929, after they first started using helium. This particular balloon however had trouble rising above ground level during the parade, lacking enough lift despite attempts to add more helium. "The Inspector" as he is noted in Macy's internal notes and later retrospective materials was mustached, uniformed with a round face, cap, and police-style overcoat.

Answer: Dog

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...brewmeister yelleD, "ACH! SUNDay is..."

Fritz the Dachshund made his debut in the 1932 Macy's Thanksgiving Day procession. He was a giant helium character balloon, measuring 50' from snout to tail. Traditionally at that point, from 1927 on, the balloons were released into the air at the end of the parade. After Fritz was released, he ended up landed in the East River, recovered by a tugboat. He was the first of that year's released balloons to be found.

Answer: Cat

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...hidden word texT I GERmanized..."

Debuting in 1928, the "Sky Tiger" was orange with black stripes, and...yes wings. White wings. Macy's promotional materials described it thusly: "A giant flying tiger soaring above the crowds - the Sky Tiger!" It was 50' to 60' long and almost just as wide, and was released into the sky with a $100 reward note attached to it. It was found by 18-year-old Leo Sheppard, who captured Tiger (by the tail? We don't know) after it glided off the roof of his home. He got his $100 cash award.

Answer: Man riding an animal

You can find that early Macy's Parade balloon in the sentence: "...Sex and the City's Mr. BIG, TURKeys..."

Debuting on November 29, 1928, Big Turk was among the first Macy's Holiday Parade air & helium balloons. So, what was Big Turk (besides odd)? He was a large Turkish man (14 feet around the belt) wearing a turban, colorful clothing with flowing robes, curled up shoes, and a broad mustache. And he was riding...an animal. That's the best I can say because the creature, whatever it was, has been described as a "freak horse" a "sea cow", a "goldfish" and a "camel". Whatever it was it was 30 feet long. The "New York Times" described him as "a giant Turk smiling above the avenue" while the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" reported on "the Big Turk, towering high, with a crescent on his cap."