The Inspector is a character from The Katzenjammer Kids comic strip. He is the bearded, dreaded school authority of Hans and Fitz.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Inspector first appeared in the 1929 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Throughout the parade, the balloon would not rise above ground level. Not even an extra dose of helium would give him the necessary boost. As a result, Macy’s Parade officials tore the balloon's whiskers in an attempt to stabilize the balloon.
After the 1929 Parade, the Inspector balloon was permanently retired from the Parade's line of march and was later disposed of.
The Inspector balloon made a cameo in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie alongside many of the haunted vintage balloons from the parade, such as Pinocchio, Little Man-Big Man, Morton the Nantucket Sea Monster, and Clarence the Clown.