Wacky World of Rubber: Goodyear, rubber industry make parade part of Thanksgiving traditions

Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And the tradition of the parade would be far different if it weren't for the rubber industry, which has helped to bring giant cartoon balloons to life for almost 100 years.

A decade ago, Macy's offered a behind the scenes look at how the giant cartoon balloons take shape, going from a mere idea to a larger-than-life parade staple.

Balloons begin as drawings, before eventually being transferred to scale clay models. Designers then use silicone molds to create additional models of the designs, which ultimately will be used to build the actual balloons. Today's balloons are made from polyurethane and fabric, but the balloons used to be of rubber.

In 2017, The New York Times put together a piece that explored the history of the balloons that have appeared in the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade, recapping the highs and lows of their inclusion in the festivities.

The first Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924, but balloons were not part of the fanfare until several years later. At that time, Goodyear Tire & Rubber was responsible for designing and building balloons that allowed imaginations to soar. It continued to contribute to the efforts until 1983, when Macy's took over the responsibility of building the balloons.

Although most of the balloons made by Goodyear have been destroyed, it is believed that several may still exist. According to an Akron Beacon Journal story posted in 2012, four balloons from the 1960s—Happy Dragon (1960), Bullwinkle (1961), Superman (1966) and Smokey the Bear (1966)—were believed to be in tact.

Several of those balloons were featured in a short video that is part of the University of Akron archives. The video shows balloon handlers practicing maneuvering the giant designs at Goodyear's hangar near Akron.

In the early days of of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's would release the balloons after the event, letting them soar into the skies, offering a monetary reward for their return. The practice, aside from being harmful to the environment, also resulted in at least one plane crash.

During WWII, the parade's balloons took on a far more patriotic role. In 1942, citing the war as the reason, Macy's President Jack Straus canceled the annual festivities. He had the balloons deflated and donated the rubber toward the war effort. In all, Macy's contributed 650 pounds of balloon rubber.

The parade remained on hiatus until 1945, when it finally returned to the New York streets.

There have been plenty of mishaps with the balloons over the years, as well. The New York Times details a few in the 2017 write-up, including the story of how the Felix the Cat balloon met its demise when it floated into a high tension wire and burst into flames.

Next week, when spending time with the family on Thanksgiving, feel free to turn on NBC and take a moment to savor the traditions that the rubber industry has helped to build.

Erin Pustay Beaven is the online content editor for Rubber & Plastics News. She is an appreciator of life's littlest treasures, a reader of great books and supporter of the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Indians. Erin is an advocate for libraries, arts education and PBS. Follow her on Twitter at @EBeavenCrain.