Text by Patrick Bell.
As we pause to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we have a gallery of past celebrations for you to enjoy. There is a good variety, so let’s take a look at some simpler times.
Photo notes indicate our first image was shot in Palm Springs, California, but there was no mention of the occasion. A 1960 Ford F-100 Custom Cab Styleside short bed was the float, and it was carrying several actors in different costumes. The F-100 was mildly customized with dual air horns on top, a stack type exhaust pipe, dummy spotlight, paint job with pinstriping, and wheel covers. At the curb to the left was a bright red 1959 Cadillac Sixty-Two convertible.
Here was a 1948-1950 Dodge “Job-Rated” B or C series pickup from Rocky Point, New York that was towing a float in some sort of winter parade. I see a couple of shamrocks, so maybe it was St. Patrick’s Day. The float was carrying queens or princesses, and further back was a military vehicle, and behind it was an unreadable banner. The partially visible New York license plate could have been from 1958 or 1962.
Santa Fe, New Mexico was the location here, per the image notes. Again there was no indication of the celebration, but it was summer and the dominant color was orange. Front and center was a two fisted drinker hamming it up for the camera. Behind him was a early 1920’s touring sedan of an unknown brand with a few hams for passengers. Following behind was a 1947-1950 Chevrolet “Advance Design” De Luxe Cab 3800 series stake bed with a license plate that was used from 1961-1964 that was issued in (surprise!) Santa Fe County.
Now we are in Newark, New York, for what was then the annual Kiddie Day Parade. People were stacked pretty thick to watch it. In the lower right corner looks like a Chevrolet Advance Design (or it’s GMC equivalent) with a dump body that was full of people. Next to it was a blue 1955 Buick Special or Century. Then a green 1955 Plymouth Plaza 2 door Club Sedan with a couple of kids standing on the trunk. Further up the line were two 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air’s, a green convertible and a white over red 2 door sedan. They were the newest in the crowd.
This was the 1950 Tournament of Roses Parade held annually in Pasadena, California, on New Years Day. The crowd was thick in front of Morgan’s Cafe, where they likely kept the coffee pots going on that cool winter day. Passing by was the Mayor of Pasadena and presumably his wife. I am going to call their ride a 1949 or 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.
We are back at the same Kiddie Parade in a different location. A 1955 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire convertible was towing the Christmas Rose float. I guess that was Rose in the sleigh with some dude. If you squint while looking at the previous Kiddie Parade image you can see this Olds parading in the distance. On the top edge of the image, in the sunlight and facing away was a 1951 Lincoln Sport Sedan.
There is no information with this one, so we will go with what we have. A 1957 Ford Ranchero was passing by. It was mildly customized with dummy spotlights, shaved emblems on the hood and nose piece, fender skirts and wheel covers. It was advertising Allstate batteries and had the Allstate girls on top. It was towing what appeared to be an animal cage, and behind them may have been more of the same. Parked to the right was a 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door sedan with several kids sitting on the fender.
And we are off to Hawaii where a 1958 Cadillac Sixty-Two convertible was parading a pair of ladies and their driver in a 1959 photo. There is no information on the celebration, but there were red and blue ribbons on the car, so we will go with a patriotic holiday. In the background from the left a green 1955 Chevrolet One-Fifty Handyman wagon, not sure of blue car, and a 1958-1961 Volkswagen T1 Panel owned by Hawaii Blossoms Ltd.
Two red Chevrolet’s are all we see in this unidentified parade, with the lead 1961 Impala convertible carrying some dignitaries plus towing a float that was asking for money. Further back was a 1962 model that was too far away to ID any better. It appeared to be towing a boat on a trailer. The crowds were lined up on both sides, and the car in the lower left corner was a 1957 Plymouth.
A 1964 Ford Galaxie 500/XL convertible was the ride for the National Date Festival’s Queen and her Princesses. The date festival was all about the fruit, in case you were wondering. It is held every February in Indio, California. This image was shot in Palm Springs, about 25 miles away. I don’t know if this was the NDF parade, or if the girls were guests at another one. And which one was the queen, the driver?
The Galaxie looked close to new, and was well equipped with one of the big block engines, remote control mirror, wire wheel covers and whitewall tires. To the right was a nice vintage Union station.
Chicago was the scene of this Memorial Day parade in 1967. It was a cool day, and a 1966 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight convertible was passing by. It was representing the Disabled American Veterans and had four riders. The Ninety-Eight had a bulldog hood ornament and a block heater cord hanging out of the grille. Following behind was a 1966 Ford Mustang.
Mears, Michigan was celebrating its centennial in October of 1973 in this image. A Ford Model T from the 1920’s was passing by with the occupants in period dress. Parked along the road were from the left a 1970-1972 Chevrolet El Camino, and a 1972 Ford LTD 2 door hardtop with a Michigan license plate used from 1973-1975. Further down was a 1968 or 1969 Ford F-100 Ranger Styleside long bed, a 1970-1972 Chevrolet or GMC Suburban K series 4WD, a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 2 door, and a 1973 Chrysler.
An unknown parade in Los Angeles was shown here with Leslie Uggams riding in a Mercedes-Benz SL R107, which were built from 1972-1989. Following behind was a 1956 Imperial Dual Cowl Parade Phaeton. The crowds were thick on that day.
The last two images are from a Bicentennial parade somewhere in Texas in 1976. Shown here was a 1965-1967 Jeep Wagoneer towing the Texas State Association float. The open hood may have helped it run cooler while idling in the parade. The “NCHA” license plate could have meant several things, and the Texas State Association may have been linked to Texas State University whose main campus is in San Marcos. But that is conjecture on my part. Following in the distance was a 1975 or 1976 Chevrolet C/K series.
To close we have a 1973 Dodge D200 Club Cab with Uncle Sam on the front bumper platform and Lady Liberty standing tall in the bed. This image was shot in almost the same location as the last one.
Thanks for joining us and have a great holiday!
The shot with Leslie Uggams shows one of the three Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons. One of the three had been sent to Los Angeles, and this was that car – after it was updated with 1956 sheet metal and given the silver-blue paint job, but before it was repainted white and retrimmed in red leather.
The black Parade Phaeton went to NY, and a white one was retained in Detroit, currently in the Peterson Museum I believe. They were built in ’52 and the styling was later updated to more stylish ’56 specs.
Yes the car was donated to the Petersen. It was a part of Chrysler’s collection of cars.
My 1939 Speed King Auto Racer in the Kenosha, WI Civic Veterans Parade. It was built for the Midget Auto Ride at the 1939-1940 NY Worlds Fair.
I wish I could identify the location of the last two shots, but in the absence of that, I’ll take a guess about the float in the second-to-last shot.
I bet NCHA stands for National Campers and Hikers Association – that organization had “state associations” and also nominated Teen Queens. I’m guessing the girl on the throne is the Texas NCHA Association’s Teen Queen for 1976.
I’m sure the photo is in Texas, but the C/K pickup behind the float is flying the Iowa state flag. Maybe the parade had floats representing all (or some) of the states? Regardless, these are great photos!
NCHA could also mean the National Cutting Horse Association. One of my former coworkers back in the ’90s raised cutting horses as a hobby.
Also, Texas State University had a different name in the ’70s and ’80s. It was known as Southwest Texas State University in those days.
While not a parade photo, I came across this July 4 themed picture a while ago and this seems like a good place to share it. Enjoy – and Happy July 4th!
Michigan is offering a similar plate this year only, and of course I had to get one for my only ’70s car.
That’s terrific! About 12 states have come out with Semiquincentennial plates, and Michigan’s is (in my opinion) the best – was a great design 50 years ago, and it is today too. Looks great on the Firebird!
Thank you for the cars and the music and many of the people. Happy 250!
My ‘69 Dodge Polara has had the honor to drive the Parade Marshall twice in our small community’s 4th of July parade.
That red Chevy is giving off Animal House parade vibes.
Lately the Rose Parade cars are more like Full Classics, not covered in greenery but still decorated with roses galore.
The 1955 Olds 98 Starfire convertible is exactly like the car Mom bought new. Great pictures all.
Looks like Picture #7 (1957 Ranchero) was taken in Paducah, Kentucky. Here’s a then-and-now comparison of the street (in a much different season). Google StreetView link here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tjHDjjWMEZyicCFp9
The pawn shop is still a pawn shop!
Re: the Wagoneer with the hood cracked- We watched this year’s Civic Parade from near the end of the route. A few of the classic cars were steaming / overheating, with one shut off and being pushed by marching band members.
Like to see “Rose Parade”, in “Pasadena. The pic here, though, just makes my nose itch.
I’m a bit perplexed by the “GIVE” float pulled by the red ’61 Impala convertible. If this had been in 1944, it would obviously have been a US War Bond drive or something like that. But in 1962? Maybe it was sponsored by the IRS? 🙂
Here in Southern Illinois small towns have “Homecoming Parades” in the summer which were started post WW II to welcome veterans’ home. I like to say that in the small towns such as Freeburg, Smithton (my town), Millstadt and Marissa that half the town is in the parade and the other half are watching the parade. Usually a “picnic” follows with food stands and carnival rides in the Village parks.
The dual cowl Chrysler Phaeton was gifted to the City of Los Angeles in 1953 and registered as such .
I used to work in the mayor’s garage and had to get parts for it now and then .
I have a really bad picture of me with it when I drove it to the contract muffler shop for all new exhaust in 1985 .
-Nate
It was Southwest Texas State University back in 1976, didn’t become Texas State University until fairly recently. So I doubt that Texas State Association float has anything to do with the university in San Marcos.
The NCHA is most likely the National Cutting Horse Association. So the Texas State Association being the Texas chapter of the NCHA.
Way back when they all seemed hoaky, yet somehow were always fun.
Did anyone else think of the fate of Isadora Duncan upon viewing the image of the Palm Springs parade with the edge of the blue cape on the young woman at the edge of the Ford being so close to the rear axle?
Yes
In some towns, Homecoming parades are held when the local high school has their annual homecoming football game in the fall. Don’t usually see homecoming parades in cities that have more than one high school.
The billboard in the Chicago Memorial Day parade — fly Northwest Airlines to Florida with an upside down USA map showing the jet flying “northwest” to Florida — hope the marketing team got a big bonus for that one. And a Stouffer’s restaurant — an upscale chain compared to Howard Johnson’s.
Top Photo: gentleman with top hat and cane sitting on hood of pickup:
Reminds me of the character who played Elizabeth Montgomery’s father on Bewitched.
The character was played by actor Maurice Evans.