On Nov. 25, 1920, the Gimbel Brothers hosted the first Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia.
Accompanied by floats, clowns, uniformed bands, and marchers in costume, Santa Claus came back to Philadelphia on Nov. 22, 1945 in the annual Gimbel Brothers Thanksgiving Day parade. At the climx of the parade, Santa climbed a ladder to Gimbels toy department as thousands of spectators watched.Despite it being a more low-key affair than what we recognize today, the Gimbel Brothers department store gets the nod for the original concept.
Ellis Gimbel’s vision was to marry children’s love of Santa Claus with his own love of moving merchandise at his store at Eighth and Market Streets. The building would also play a key role in the culmination of the parade: A red-clad firefighter would climb a ladder to the store’s eighth-floor window and step into the “Toy Palace,” signifying the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.Santa Claus rode in the last car, which was lavishly decorated with rolls of crepe paper.In 1924, however, department stores in two other major cities grabbed headlines. The J.L. Hudson Co. in Detroit and R.H. Macy & Co.
“There are people who don’t necessarily want to accept 1920 as being the first year of the Gimbels parade because it was so modest,” Lisicky said. “Philadelphia is America’s oldest organized Thanksgiving Day parade. I don’t think it’s even worth a debate.” The Gimbel family eventually sold its empire, which had ballooned to 36 stores nationwide, and by 1986 all locations were slated for closure.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FYI Philly gets you ready for 6abc Thanksgiving Day Parade, holidays in PhillyGet in the holiday spirit with Philly's iconic parade, things to do to celebrate the season and the Nutcracker on stage.
Read more »
Where to get your Thanksgiving Day pies in PhillyThere are plenty of pies to find in Philly year-round. But during the holiday, local bakers get creative with seasonal ingredients.
Read more »
Your guide to Philly's Thanksgiving Day Parade route, road closures and weatherHere's what to know about the 2024 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade including the parade route, start time, road closures and weather forecast.
Read more »
N.J. weather: Rain and clouds for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024, same for Philly paradeThanksgiving in New Jersey will be wet and rainy, but the state will be spared from a major winter storm affecting the midwestern U.S.
Read more »
Here's what you need to know about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this yearThanksgiving is swiftly approaching, and with that comes the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Read more »
Thanksgiving, Frozen: A Day-By-Day Guide To What To Cook Ahead, And WhenYou don't have to leave all the cooking for Thanksgiving Thursday. We offer tips for getting most of the meal ready in advance so you can sleep in a little later on the big day.
Read more »