1939 Christmas Parade By Pat Sides

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As 1939 drew to a close, hard economic time created by the decade-long Depression still lingered in the country. Locally, community activities such as parades boosted spirits, as did the third annual Christmas parade on November 24, 1939.

The event’s theme was “Favorite Movies, Old and New,” which brought to life a dazzling array of storybook characters constructed by unemployed WPA workers. Despite frigid weather, an estimated 80,000 eager onlookers lined the 32 blocks of the parade route to view characters from popular Hollywood films, such as Pinocchio, Cinderella, Snow White, Tarzan, and Ben Hur.

This image shows an entourage of giant characters marching south on First Avenue past the old municipal market.