Smiley Face is an American icon which stands for happiness. Created in December 1963 by Harvey Ross Ball, the friendly face became a pop culture icon, being on 50 million pins by 1971.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
In contrast with its usual iconic status, Smile is one of the most mysterious and obscure giant balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's existence. The balloon was recycled from the Elsie the Cow balloon from the 1963 Parade and was 27 feet high and 27 feet wide.
It was originally scheduled to debut in the 1971 Parade as the leading giant balloon, alongside the brand-new Mickey Mouse balloon, but due to high winds reaching up to 40 mph and rain mixing together to create weather unsuitable for the giant balloons, thus resulting in the only instance in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade history where the giant balloons were grounded. The balloon finally marched down the parade route in the 1972 Parade, leading the procession that year and spreading smiles to everyone in the crowd.
The balloon was retired shortly after the 1972 parade, making only one proper appearance and it was later recycled into many different Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade units, such as the hot-air balloon for the Alvin and the Chipmunks falloon from the 1986 Parade, which was later recycled one final time into the Babar balloon for the 1991 Parade.