 (10/17/07) -
Thrill to the invasion by a flying dragon, dinosaur and reindeer in the City of
Akron’s annual Welcome Santa Parade on Saturday, Nov. 24 and enjoy exciting Lighter
Than Air Society (LTAS) "Flying High" events throughout November. Giant
Character Parade Balloons will soar above the downtown pageant as the climax of activities
to celebrate when Akron began making Macy’s balloons 80 years ago and the
society’s 55th Anniversary.Featured speakers at
the fund-raising annual dinner will be Macy’s longtime balloon designer, Manfred
"Manny" Bass, and Bill Smith, whose Special Balloonworks will provide four
helium-filled creations for Akron’s parade. They will share parade memories at 6 p.m.
on Saturday, Nov 10 at the Martin Center, 105 Fir Hill on The University of Akron campus.
Prices are $35, or $50 for patrons. Greeting guests at the entrance will be "Dino the
Dinosaur."
Free movies at the Akron-Summit County Public Library
downtown include the 60th Anniversary showing of the 1947 holiday classic "Miracle on
34th Street" at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8 and the 2005 documentary "Inside
Macy’s Parade," at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11 in a program with guests Manny
Bass and Bill Smith.
 For the first time 48-foot balloons will fly
over Akron’s own parade to highlight an obscure yet nostalgic segment of
Lighter-Than-Air history. They are from Bill Smith’s company and will be displayed at
Lock 3 Park afterwards. Veyance (formerly Goodyear Engineered Products) will sponsor
"Rudolph the Reindeer" to guide Santa’s sleigh in the procession; Downtown
Akron Partnership (DAP) will underwrite "Happy Dragon" Also in the parade will
be "Dino the Dinosaur" and a "Giant Candy Cane." Historically,
however, Goodyear in Akron and some original LTAS members supplied Macy’s with
helium-filled Character Parade Balloons for more than 50 years.
Macy’s changed an attraction to balloons for their 4th Annual pageant in New York
City after the roaring and hissing caged lions and tigers scared children all along the
Manhattan streets. Instead, the store’s parade designer Tony Sarg, imagined huge
animal "balloonatics." Goodyear was the ideal choice for an industrial partner
to produce the fanciful creations. The rubber company first provided Macy’s 1927
parade with air-filled Character Balloons that were carried, but on Nov. 27, 1928 the
event introduced the signature high-flying creatures. Until 1982, Goodyear built and
tested the helium characters at their Wingfoot Hanger or Airdock.
Few Americans knew of the giants until Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began
television broadcasts in 1945. However, every holiday season Goodyear employees and their
families witnessed a gigantic balloon in the gymnasium alongside Santa Claus, who handed
out gifts to every child.
Dave Osterland, Chairman of the LTAS, invites all Goodyear families to a special free
program on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the library’s auditorium downtown at 1:30 p.m. David
Lieberth, Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor of Akron, will emcee and recognize those who
constructed the balloons. Manny Bass and Bill Smith will discuss parade balloon stories,
and the History Channel film documentary, "Inside Macy’s Parade," will be
shown.
Throughout November in all areas of the Main Library at 60 S. High Street, the society
will display photographs of Character Parade Balloons and Lighter-Than-Air books and
artifacts for the public to discover and enjoy.
Akron will be Flying High. Let’s have a parade
!
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www.BlimpInfo.com
CONTACT:
Dave Osterland - Chairman, LTAS 330-972-6351 |
