Car 54, Where Are You? is a live-action sitcom that premiered on NBC on September 17th, 1961. Created by writer and producer Nat Hiken, the show stars Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynne as police officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon respectively, as they patrol the Bronx. The show ended on April 17th, 1963. with a movie coming out on January 28th, 1994, with David Johansen and John C. McGinley playing Gunther and Francis respectively.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
To promote the series, Patrol Car 54 appeared in the 1961 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynne riding aboard as they patrolled the Parade route. When the police car reached Times Square, it ran out of gas, and it had to be pushed by clowns.
The car returned for the 1962 Parade, with Ross and Gwynne reappearing once again. However, like in 1961, it broke down at Times Square. However, it wasn't able to recover, so the stars had to walk on foot.
The car was retired after that year's procession.