November 25, 1920 –
Contrary to popular belief, Macy’s didn’t host the first Thanksgiving Day parade (Macy’s held their first parade in 1924, tied for second in the nation with the J.L. Hudson’s Dept. store Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit) – that honor goes to their longtime (and now defunct) rival Gimbel Brothers (Gimbels), in Philadelphia, which started the tradition on this date.
The first parade featured 50 costumed store employees leading a fireman dressed as Santa to the store on Eighth and Market Streets. Santa Claus, upon reaching Gimbels, would scale a fire truck ladder to the store’s eighth floor, conveniently the home of Gimbels Toyland themed dept.
The Haus of Dcaligari 