Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 20:53:24 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] 1932 Macy's Parade


Those are almost certainly the Sarg balloon puppets.   The first ones  
appeared in 1927.   I think Baird was a member of Sarg's company and  
would probably have been one of the handlers in the early years, but  
Sarg received the credit for designing and creating the balloon figures.

In the Winter 2004 issue of the Journal we had a review of Robert  
Grippo and Christopher Hoskins' book, "Macy's Thanksgiving Day  
Parade".  Alan Louis reviewed the book and recounted:  "Once helium  
had replaced air as a means of inflating balloons it was a tradition  
to actually release the balloons into the sky at the close of the  
parade.  Their carcasses, when retrieved from nearby fields or trees,  
were redeemable for prizes.  Each balloon contained reward  
information in a waterproof envelope.  Interference with airplanes  
eventually put a stop to this practice."

Just checked Amazon.com and if you search for the book, using the  
above title, you will find it.   ( I've pasted the link to the  
specific page below, but it 's a long one and I don't know how long  
these addresses can be before browsers lose interest.)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=br_ss_hs/104-3667752-3024739? 
platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=Macy%27s+Thanksgiving+Day 
+Parade&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Paul


Paul Eide, Editor, the Puppetry Journal
peide-AT-qwest.net



On May 22, 2006, at 7:58 PM, Andrew wrote:

> I'm not sure if anyone knows or not, but I saw these photos of the
> 1932 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade today -
> http://swapatorium.blogspot.com/2006/05/floating-on-air.html - and
> wondered if the balloons were the ones that Bil Baird and Tony Sarg
> created?
>
> -- 
>
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