The 63rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1989) | The 64th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1990) | The 65th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1991) |
The 64th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 22, 1990 in New York City, and shown to viewers live on NBC that same day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. It was hosted by Willard Scott and Deborah Norville. The lineup featured 12 giant character balloons, 23 novelty balloons, 22 floats, and more than 2,500 participants.
Overview[]
For the 1990 Parade, an estimated 2.2 million people lined the streets of NYC to experience the magic of the event. The balmy breezes brushed aside the morning chill, with all balloons flying in fine form. Children's classic Clifford the Big Red Dog led the pack of balloons, walked by his owner Emily Elizabeth. Not too far behind, Bart Simpson from the smash-hit The Simpsons television series, riding on a skateboard down the street. Kermit the Frog returned to the parade to pay tribute to his late creator Jim Henson. Bugs Bunny made his proper debut in Herald Square, and more balloons flew down Broadway flawlessly.
Country music's Garth Brooks and his wife, Sandy, rode high atop the Turkey float. Scott Bakula shared his favorite things with the song "My Favorite Things" on the animated Carousel float, and singer Patti LaBelle gave a soulful rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Beautiful" from aboard the Indian Canoe float.
As always, Santa Claus rounded out the lineup in a sleigh shaped like a snow goose. In a flurry of snow (confetti), the 64th annual Macy's Parade kicked off the holiday season yet again.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the Parade elements that appeared in the 1990 line of march. Each element is listed in their respective categories/sub-categories, with sponsors bolded and italicized.
Bold indicates a new Parade element, underline indicates an element that was brought back after an absence, and * indicates a Parade element that was retired after the 1990 procession.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (Scholastic, Inc.) - 1st time
- Quik Bunny (Nestlé Foods Corporation) - 3rd time
- Big Bird (Children's Television Workshop) - 3rd time
- Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) - 4th time
- Woody Woodpecker (Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida) - 9th time
- Pink Panther (MGM/UA Communications Company, Inc.) - 3rd time
- Ronald McDonald* (McDonald's) - 4th time
- Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson Productions) - 12th time
- Bugs Bunny (Warner Bros.) - 2nd time
- Bart Simpson (Fox Broadcasting Company) - 1st time
- Snoopy & Woodstock (United Media) - 3rd time
- Snuggle (Lever Brothers Company) - 4th time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 5th time
- Ice Cream Cone (Macy's) - 4th time
- Pennsylvania Dutch Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
- Flower Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
- Macy's Star (Macy's) - 5th time
- American Star Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
- Blue Geometric Ornament (Macy's) - 6th time
- Macy's Star (Macy's) - 5th time
- Macy's Star (Macy's) - 5th time
- Snow Crystal Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
- Ice Stars (Macy's) - 4th time
- Red Poinsettia Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
- White Poinsettia Ornaments (Macy's) - 6th time
Floats[]
- Indian Canoe (Macy's) - 5th time
- Turkey (Macy's) - 18th time
- Strawberry Cottage (Macy's) - 4th time
- Huck Finn's Deserted Island* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Puppy Play (Macy's) - 1st time
- Watering Can (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Macy Flyer (Trans World Airlines) - 5th time
- American Folk Heroes (Reynolds Metals Company) - 2nd time
- Wizard of Oz* (Turner Home Entertainment) - 1st time
- Barbie Summit* (Mattel Toys) - 1st time
- Statue of Liberty (Good Housekeeping Magazine) - 6th time
- Circus Carousel (Macy's) - 1st time
- Saggy Baggy (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Herald Square Express Train (Macy's) - 6th time
- Tiny Toon Adventures* (Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment) - 1st time
- Macy Clipper (Macy's) - 6th time
- Cinderella's Carriage (Macy's) - 5th time
- European Village (Macy's) - 1st time
- Horse & Dragon* (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Paddington Bear (Eden Toys) - 1st time
- Candy House (Macy's) - 1st time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 13th time
Specialty Units[]
- New York City Police Department Motorcycle Unit - 6th time
- "Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere" Banner (Macy's) - 10th time
- Macy's REO Truck (Macy's) - 5th time
- GMC Banner* (GMC Truck) - 1st time
- Brigade of the American Revolution - 5th time
- Aviator Bikes (Macy's) - 12th time
- Euclid Beach Rocket Car (Macy's) - 3rd time
- "If You Haven't Seen Macy's..." Banner (Macy's) - 10th time
- New York City Police Department Mounted Unit - 64th time
- Conestoga Wagon* (Macy's) - 1st time
- American Water Horse Association* - 1st time
- Rolls Royce* (Jim Henson Productions) - 1st time
- North Wind Museum Trolley (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Christmas Wagon (Macy's) - 22nd time
Toy Floats[]
- Pilgrim Man & Pilgrim Woman (Macy's) - 16th time
- Rocking Tortoise (Macy's) - 12th time
- Racing Hare (Macy's) - 4th time
- Rocking Kangaroo (Macy's) - 12th time
- Honey Bear (Macy's) - 18th time
- The Growing Flowers (Macy's) - 5th time
- George Washington & Ben Franklin (Macy's) - 16th time
- Rocking Lion (Macy's) - 12th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 11th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 32nd time
Guest Stars[]
- Daniel Frey (Macy's REO Truck)
- Patti LaBelle, sang "Wouldn't It Be Beautiful" (Indian Canoe)
- Garth and Sandy Brooks, sang "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" (Turkey)
- Kyndra Joy Casper (Strawberry Cottage)
- The Guys Next Door, sang "Bad Boys Club" (Huck Finn's Deserted Island)
- Raven-Symoné (Garden Snail)
- Bert and Ernie, sang "Do You Like Me?" (Watering Can)
- Jane Carr, sang "Blue Skies" (Macy Flyer)
- Judy Kaye, sang "I Got the Sun in the Morning" (American Folk Heroes)
- Barbie and Friends, sang "Together We Can Do It" (Barbie Summit)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Band, sang "Count on Us" (Euclid Beach Rocket Car)
- Miss America 1991 Marjorie Judith Benson with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Glee Club, sang "This Is My Country/You're a Grand Old Flag" (Statue of Liberty)
- Scott Bakula, sang "My Favorite Things" (Circus Carousel)
- Kecia Lewis-Evans, sang "Mama Will Provide" (Rocking Lobster)
- The Big Apple Circus (Saggy Baggy)
- Elayne Boosler (Conestoga Wagon)
- Patty Loveless, sang "On Down the Line" (Herald Square Express Train)
- Babs, Buster, Plucky and Dizzy Devil, performed "Tiny Toon Thanksgiving" (Tiny Toon Adventures)
- The Boys, sang "I Had a Dream" (Macy Clipper)
- Dr. Joyce Brothers (Mother Goose)
- Brian Boitano and Katerina Witt (Cinderella's Carriage)
- Polondaise Folk Dancers (European Village)
- Desiree Coleman-Jackson, sang "We Belong Together" (Horse & Dragon)
- Mark Jackson (Horse & Dragon)
- Fred Travalena, sang "Rockin' Nursery Rhymes" (Candy House)
- Barry Manilow, sang "Because It's Christmas (for All the Children)" (Christmas Wagon)
- Santa Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Costumed Characters[]
- Paddington Bear (Macy's REO Truck)
- McGruff the Crime Dog
- The Berenstain Bears
- Marvin
- The Toxic Crusuader
- Beetle Bailey and Sarge
- Johnny Appleseed (American Folk Heoroes)
- Garden Princess (Doodlebug)
- FlikFlak
- Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz)
- H.R. Pufnstuf
- The Lockhorns
- Mighty Mouse
- Dancing Twin Towers
- Dagwood and Blondie (Rocking Lion)
- Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy (Rolls Royce)
- Felix the Cat
- F.R.O.Y.D.
- Count Duckula
- Betty Boop
- Eureeka
- Merlin
- California Dancing Raisins
- Teddy Ruxpin
- Popeye and Olive Oyl
- Dennis the Menace (Rocking Horse)
- Peter Rabbit
Marching Bands[]
- Riverside Community College Marching Tigers (Riverside, CA), performed "Give My Regards to Broadway"
- Jones Junior College Maroon Typhoon (Ellisville, MS), performed "New York, New York"
- Maryville High School Marching Spoofhounds (Marysville, MI)
- Alexis I. duPont High School Tiger Marching Band (Wilmington, DE)
- Howard University "Showtime" Marching Band (Washington, D.C.)
- Pickerington Marching Tigers (Pickerington, OH)
- Sumter High School Marching Band (Sumter, SC), performed "America the Beautiful," "Stars and Stripes Forever," and "The Thanksgiving Hymn"
- Cisco Junior College Wrangler Band and Belles (Cisco, TX)
- Homewood Patriot Band (Homewood, AL), performed "Great Day"
- Fort Walton Beach High School Viking Band (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
- Bergenfield High School Marching Band (Bergenfield, NJ), performed "The British Invasion of Broadway"
- John Overton High School Marching Band (Nashville, TN), performed "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers"
Performance Groups[]
- University of Pennsylvania Glee Club (Philadelphia, PA), sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
- Spurettes Twirling Dance Team (Louisiana)
- Dancin' Grannies (Tucson, AZ), performed "Let It Roll (Let It Rock)"
- NCA All-American Cheerleaders (Nationwide), performed "A Celebration of Youth in America"
- The New York Renaissance Festival (New York, NY)
- The Dance Odyssey (West Babylon, NY), performed "Jingle Bells"
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- NCA Superstar Dance Team, performed "Baroque Hoedown"
- Forever Plaid, performed "Lady of Spain"
- Oh, Kay!, performed "Clap Yo' Hands"
- Kid 'N Play, performed "Energy"
- Nunsense, performed "Tackle That Sensation With a Time-Step"
- Grandma the Clown, performed "U Can't Touch This"
- Cathy Rigby, sang "Never Neverland"
- Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, performed "That'll Be the Day"
- Robert Vincent Smith of The Fantasticks, sang "Try to Remember"
- Robert Urich, Cathy Rigby, Willard Scott, and the NCA Superstar Dance Team, performed "Herald Square Dance"
Trivia[]
- The 1990 NBC broadcast featured Deborah Norville in her last Macy's Parade hosting position. The following year, Today correspondent Katie Couric took over the hosting duties for more than a decade.