Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis. Missouri. Since 2008, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) which also has its North American regional management headquarters in St. Louis
The company employs over 30,000 people, operates 12 breweries in the United States, and until December 2009, was one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, with ten theme parks through the company's family entertainment division, Busch Entertainment Corporation.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Anheuser-Busch made their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 1967, sponsoring a float called "Santa's Candy Factory." The float featured elves from The North Pole loading candy canes in a sack. The float retired after that year's precision. In 1974 the company took over the sponsor duties of the Snowman Sleigh float which was originally sponsored by Budweiser from 1972 to 1973.
In 1975, To promote Busch Gardens in Williamsburg Virginia, The company sponsored a brand new float that was referred to as the "Old Country Village". The float recreates a charming old European townscape with its street lamps, clock towers, jagged roof and quaint chimney tops. Colorful coats of arms, banners, flags and hand-painted signs adorn the float, which additionally featured an oh-pah-pah band and was pulled by Clydesdale horses.
The float was initially retired after three appearances from 1975 through 1977 and it was Replaced by the Loch Ness Monster float in 1978. When the float was retired shortly after the 1981 parade ended, The Old Country Village was remade the following year in 1982. This version would make another three consecutive appearances before it was permanently retired from the line of march after the 1984 procession. Since its retirement, the float has been recycled into the 1995 A Christmas Carol float and the 1997 Sound of Music float, among others.
20 years later, the brewing company would be sponsored one last time with Anheuser-Busch's Hitch Wagon & Clydesdales for only two years in the 2005 Parade & during the 80th Anniversary Parade.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have performed/appeared on the float. alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.
- 1975 - 1976 - The Old Country Band and Dancers performed the "Schuhplattler"
- 1977 - Lou Rawls sang "Lady Love"
- 1982 - The Joffrey Ballet performed "Ice Skating Party"
- 1983 - Lou Rawls sang "Wind Beneath My Wings"
- 1984 - The Wyatt Brothers