Hollywood Christmas Parade
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hollywood Christmas Parade is a parade that takes place every year on the weekend after thanksgiving in Hollywood, California, in the United States. The parades 3.2 mile route travels along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard and highlights many celebrities in its participants.
[edit] History
The Hollywood Christmas Parade began in 1928 when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea in order to boost shopping. It was originally called the Santa Claus Lane Parade and featured only Santa Claus and the actress Jeanette Loff.
The parade continued to grow with the help of local business and community and in 1931 Santa Claus road a truck pulled float instead of the reindeer-pulled carriage of previous years. American Legion Post 43 marched with a color guard, drum line and bugle corps.
The Parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, but the parade reopened in 1945 with record attendance.
In 1946 Gene Autry took rode his horse along with the parade and was inspired by the children yelling "Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus," to write the song "Here Comes Santa Claus" along with Oaklely Haldeman.
The parade continued to grow through 1950s, '60s, and '70s, adding floats, animals, bands, and celebrities.
In 1978 the parade was renamed to the Hollywood Christmas Parade to attract more celebrities and the parade was broadcast locally on KTLA with the help of Johnny Grant.
[edit] Grand Marshals
- 1932 - Joe E. Brown
- 1998 - Robert Urich
- 1999 - Beau Bridges
- 2000 - Frankie Muniz, Dennis Hopper
- 2001 - Peter Fonda
- 2002 - Mickey Rooney
- 2003 - Johnny Grant
- 2004 - Magic Johnson
- 2005 - Antonio Villaraigosa
