The 42nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 28th, 1968, in New York City, and shown to viewers live on NBC that same day from 9 AM to Noon EST. It was hosted by Lorne Greene, Betty White, and Joe Garagiola. The lineup featured 9 giant character balloons, 12 floats, more than 700 clowns, 15 marching bands, 3 performance groups, a host of musical stars, and the one and-only Santa Claus.
Listed below are the elements that appeared in the 1968 Macy's Parade, in order of appearance.
Parade Lineup[]
"Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere" banner (Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion)
Cardinal Dougherty High School Marching Band
Carousel* by Macy's (Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy)
American LaFrance Fire Engine* by American LaFrance (Your Father's Mustache)
Clowns
New York Police Department Emerald Society Pipe Band
Doodlebug* by Macy's (Bayn Johnson)
TV Camera Clowns
Rocking Giraffe* by Macy's
Clown Shack by Macy's
Banana Buggies* by Hanna-Barbera Productions
Fantasyland* by Macy's (The Banana Splits)
Fairfield Union High School Marching Falcons
Clowns
Greater Kensington String Band
Soap Box Derby by Chevrolet (William Shatner)
Clowns
Morris Brown College Marching Wolverines
Cat, Mouse, and Cheese by Macy's (Roller Skating Champs)
Sea Clowns
Gorilla By Macy's
Circus by New York City Center (Leon Bibb and the cast of New York City Center's production of Carousel)
Golden Triangle Baton and Drum Corps
Santa's Toy Factory by Anheuser-Busch
Colonial Grenadier Guard High School Marching Band
Clowns
Red Barrel* by Macy's
Antique Roadster (Jerry Vale)
"Museum of Natural History's 100th Anniversary" banner
McDonald's All-American Marching Band
Horse-Drawn Carriage (Tournament of Roses Queen: Linda Strother)
The Tortoise and the Hare by Macy's
Airplane by Macy's
Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps
Snail by Macy's (Johnny Whitaker)
United States Air Force Academy Drum and Bugle Corps
Cinderella's Carriage* by Chevrolet (Bobby Vinton and America's Junior Miss: Debi Faubion)
Colonial Ancient Fife and Drum Corps
NYC Mission Warriors Drum and Bugle Corps
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* by United Artists (Sally Ann Howes)
"If You Haven't Seen Macy's, You Haven't Seen New York" banner
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Youth Organization Band
Mickey Mouse's 40th Birthday Celebration* by Walt Disney Productions
Buckboard by Macy's (Sonny James)
Radford College Highlanders
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown* by United Media and MGM Records (The Broadway Cast of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown)
Rocking Horse by Macy's
Clowns
National Hula Hoop Champion: Marilu Jones
Istrouma High School Nawaganti Indians
Santa's Sleigh by Macy's (Santa Claus)