Balloons On Parade

This is a scene from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade along Broadway in New York City on Nov. 30, 1933.

A helium-inflated Superman rose over the Times Square crowd to lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1940.

The figure of a spaceman, mark of the future, didn't faze this policeman's mount in the streets of New York City. The inflated figure, part of the 32nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, is shown on 34th Street at end of the line of march, Nov. 27, 1958.

A helium-filled Popeye balloon floated above some of the 1,300,000 persons watching the 33rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade pass through Times Square, New York, Nov. 26, 1959.

Betty Boop collapsed on Broadway near 49th Street as handlers worked to raise the deflated helium balloon during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Nov. 27, 1986. Betty Boop, the last balloon in the parade, could not finish the parade.

Bart Simpson made his debut on his skateboard in the 64th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade down Broadway in New York City, Nov. 22, 1990.

Kermit the Frog floated down Broadway in the 64th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Nov. 22, 1990.

Kermit the Frog drooped after a puncture in his head let out the oxygen-helium mixture in the balloon during the 65th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Nov. 28, 1991.

Spectators braved the elements as floats and balloons made their way through New York's Times Square during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade along Broadway, Nov. 27, 1992. A 66-foot long tail trailed behind the Pink Panther balloon.

Goofy, the Disney cartoon character, made his debut in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Nov. 26, 1992. Goofy was followed by Humpty Dumpty, Bugs Bunny and the Pink Panther.

Rex displays a droopy face after the helium-oxygen filled balloon popped during the 67th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade down Broadway at 53rd Street in New York City, Nov. 25, 1993. The 85-foot balloon, the longest in the parade, is one of several which burst in the blustery winds and freezing temperatures.

The Spider-Man balloon floated above Broadway during Macy's 69th annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York Nov. 23, 1995. That balloon was 78 feet long, 36 feet wide and held 8,300 cubic feet of helium.

Woody Woodpecker leads a line of other balloons and floats into New York's Times Square during the 69th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Nov. 23, 1995. Kids of all ages, bundled against the 36-degree chill, lined the route to enjoy the balloons, marching bands, singers and dancers, and other parade spectacles.

The face of parade newcomer Sky Dancer deflated in New York's Times Square during the 69th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Nov. 23, 1995. Other balloons that experienced parade problems that year included Sonic the Hedgehog and Dudley the Dragon.

The Rugrats balloon floated through New York's Times Square during the Macy's 71st Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 27, 1997. Winds of up to 40 mph kept the volunteer balloon handlers busy.

Handlers struggled with a wind-whipped Peter Rabbit balloon during Macy's 71st annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Nov. 27, 1997.

Handlers struggled with a balloon while passing through New York's Times Square during the Macy's 71st Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 27, 1997.

The Pikachu balloon floated down Broadway in Times Square ahead of the Little Bill balloon, during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Nov. 27, 2003, in New York.

Kaycie Gamblin, 6, left, and Brandon Gamblin, 11 of Hicksville, N.Y., watched as the Jimmy Neutron balloon floated down Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Nov. 27, 2003, in New York.

The Uncle Sam balloon floated down New York's Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Nov. 27, 2003.