A Miracle for Macy's

  Prior to the release of the classic Miracle on 34th Street, the now famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was not well known outside of New York City. Started as a way to kickoff the Christmas shopping season, the parade became the international phenomenon it is now solely due to the Hollywood film.

The 1946 parade was used in the film and unbeknownst to the throngs of New Yorkers who witnessed it, Edmund Gwenn, played Santa Claus in the parade that year. Rather than just film the scenes needed for the picture , Mr. Gwenn chose to stick it out in the cold and create Christmas memories for the thousands gathered at the parade.