Hess Corporation (formerly Amerada Hess Corporation) is an independent energy company that carries out the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Founded as Hess Incorporated in 1933 by Leon Hess, the company was formed through a merger with Amerada Petroleum Corporation in 1968.[1] Hess is also known for its line of toy trucks that have been a popular Christmas gift tradition for over 50 years, and are among the longest-running toys on the U.S. market.[2]
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Road to the Future (2000-2002)[]
Hess Corporation made its first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 2000 with a brand-new float, Road to the Future. The float spotlights recreations of Hess’ iconic toy trucks as they travel New York’s most famous highways and byways, complete with a 22-foot tall replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. The float itself measured 32 feet long and 20 feet wide. On board at eight times their original toy truck size were replicas of the 1982 First Hess Truck and the 1999 Space Shuttle Truck.
Celebrating the yearly holiday release of the Hess Toy Trucks, the float was updated annually to include two replicas of the newest Hess truck at the time, including 2000 Hess Fire Truck, the 2001 Helicopter Transporters, and the 2002 Hess Toy Truck airplane and motorcycle with working lights. The Road to the Future float was retired after its appearance in the 2002 Parade.
Bridge to the Future (2003-2014)[]
Looking ahead to the future, Hess Corporation debuted a new float in the 2003 Parade lineup known as the Bridge to the Future. The 32 foot long, 20 feet wide and 30 foot tall float incorporates an elevated highway which spans from a modernized reproduction of the Brooklyn Bridge to the Delta Y Tri-Suspension Bridge of Tomorrow. Akin to its predecessor, the float showcased oversized replicas of iconic Hess Toy Trucks—the Toy Truck Airplane, Toy Truck Shuttle, and 1982 First Hess Truck—all recycled from the company’s previous float.
The Bridge to the Future float was also updated yearly to include the newest Hess Toy Truck of the holiday season. Replicas featured on the float over the years included the 2003 Hess Toy Truck and Race Cars, the 2004 Hess Sport Utility Vehicle and Motorcycles, the 2005 Hess Emergency Truck with Rescue Vehicle, the 2006 Hess Toy Truck and Helicopter, the 2007 Hess Monster Truck with Motorcycles, the 2008 Hess Toy Truck and Front End Loader, the 2009 Race Car and Racer, the 2010 Hess Toy Truck and Jet, the 2011 Toy Truck and Race Car, the 2012 Hess Helicopter and Rescue, the 2013 Hess Toy Truck and Tractor, and the 2014 Hess Toy Truck and Space Cruiser with Scout.
Following their 15th Parade appearance in 2014, Hess Corporation retired the Bridge to the Future float from the lineup, and are yet to make another appearance in the Parade.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Hess Corporation float, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.
Road to the Future[]
- 2000 - BBMak, sang "Still On Your Side"
- 2001 - O-Town, sang "We Fit Together"
- 2002 - Justin Guarini, sang "Get Here"
Bridge to the Future[]
- 2003 - Ruben Studdard, sang "Sorry 2004"
- 2004 - Gavin DeGraw, sang "I Don't Want to Be"
- 2005 - The Click Five, sang "Catch Your Wave"
- 2006 - Josh Kelley, sang "Just Say the Word"
- 2007 - Good Charlotte, sang "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)"
- 2008 - PushPlay, sang "Covergirl"
- 2009 - Boys Like Girls, sang "Two Is Better Than One"
- 2010 - Big Time Rush, sang "Til I Forget About You"
- 2011 - Cobra Starship, sang "You Make Me Feel So..."
- 2012 - The Wanted, sang "I Found You"
- 2013 - Cher Lloyd, sang "I Wish"
- 2014 - The Vamps, sang "Somebody to You"
Trivia[]
- In a 2007 poll conducted on iVillage.com, the Bridge to the Future float received 1% of the favorite vote float, tying it with the Marion-Carole Showboat by Macy's, Spirit of Liberty by Macy's, Spirit of America by United States Postal Service, Big Apple by New York Daily News, Jolly Polly Pirate Ship by Macy's, Cornucopia by Cotton, Incorporated, and New York Tin Toy by The History Channel.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Hess History, hess.com
- ↑ The Story of Hess Toy Truck, hesstoytruck.com
- ↑ Macy's Parade Floats - Voting Results, iVillage.com