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THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!
2,695
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in: Parade Team Members, Male Designers, Deceased Designers, Former Parade Team Members

Manfred Bass

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Manfred Gunther “Manny” Bass (August 15th, 1935 - October 8th, 2017) was the chief designer and senior director of Macy’s Parade Studio from 1963 through 2000.

Before joining the Parade Studio crew, Bass had long been interested in creating art. He began by designing props for school plays and proms and won several awards for his water color paintings displayed in the Irvington Public Library. He studied commercial art at the New York Phoenix School of Design, from which he graduated in 1958 with a degree in fine arts and storybook illustration.[1] He was drafted into the military later that year, serving as a monumental sculpture artist for the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia.

History & Career[]

Bass joined the Parade team in 1960, seeking art studio jobs after being discharged from the military. He took note of Bill Tracy’s design studio—the Outdoor Dimensional Display Company in Bergen, a contractor for the design and construction of the Macy’s Parade floats—in the Yellow Pages. Bass made the call and got the job.[1] Upon joining, Bass helped Tracy with the floats in all stages of development.

In September 1963, Tracy’s studio was foreclosed, to the surprise of Tracy and his workers. Bass recalled the incident, saying, “The government had slapped a padlock on the door, and we were out of a job.” As a result of the studio’s closure, Macy’s helped Tracy locate a warehouse to store the floats as they eased him out of his contractor position and offered Bass to head the Parade’s float-building and display operations, to which he agreed.[2]

Bass and his business partner, Robert Davidowski, moved float production from North Bergen to Hoboken in 1968. They purchased a former Tootsie Roll factory, officially founding the first official Macy’s Parade Studio.[3]

In 1984, Macy’s took the design and maintenance of its giant balloons in-house. As such, Bass began conceptualizing balloon designs in addition to floats.[4] He later recruited other concept artists to help with the design stage of new elements including Jerry Ospa, Brian McCormack, and Jennifer Palmer.

Bass officially retired as chief designer and builder in December 2000, in a joint retirement with parade director Jean McFaddin. He was gifted a golden hammer during his final Parade as a token of gratitude for more than 40 years of service.[5] He kept ties with the Parade, attending Studio Day and the Parade itself until 2016.

On October 8, 2017, Bass passed away at 82 from natural causes[6]—that year’s Parade was dedicated in his honor.[7]

List of Bass' Parade Designs[]

Giant Balloons[]

Novelty Balloons[]

Floats[]

Falloons[]

Scrapped Designs[]

  • Sleeper Train (1960s)
  • Birthday Teddy Bear (1978)

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dietzel, Herb. "Fantasies Come True for Builder." The Courier-News. November 24, 1978.
  2. ↑ Bird, William L. (2007). Holidays on Display. Princeton Architecual Press.
  3. ↑ Borchure: Macy's Studio, Hoboken, New Jersey - An Exhibit at the Hoboken Historical Museum. Hoboken Historical Museum.
  4. ↑ Manfred Bass Tribute. International Festivals & Events Association.
  5. ↑ Grippo, Robert M. (2004). Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Arcadia Publishing.
  6. ↑ Manfred Gunther Bass Obituary. Gray Funeral Directors.
  7. ↑ File:2017-Parade Manfred-Bass-Tribute.png
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