Here’s a parade I’d love to have seen just once: the annual Santa Claus Lane Parade down Hollywood Blvd. Beginning in 1928, Hollywood Blvd was dubbed “Santa Claus Lane” each December (primarily to boost shopping) and decorated with electric lights and culminated in a nighttime parade. The one we’re seeing in this photo was dated “circa 1945.” If it actually was December 1945, the Angelenos in this photo would have been celebrating their first peace-time holiday season in four long years.
** UPDATE ** The parade was on December 1st.
Dennis R. said: “I saw this parade in person many, many time in the late 50s and 60s. It was always held on Thanksgiving Eve. And the stars that would ride in the parade…there were so many. I’m not sure when they changed the format, not only moving it to a Saturday or Sunday night in early December but turning it into a performance stop at one part for television, andvto charge outrageous prices for bleacher seating but it’s definitely not what it once was. But then what is these days?”
This is that same view albeit from ground level and during the day in July 2024.We can see the Security Bank on the corner of Cahuenga Blvd.
I was in that crowd somewhere, age 11 4 months after VJ Day on Hollywood Blvd.
Were you really? Lucky you, Earl!
Nice, Earl! Do you have any particular memories of that parade?
That Streamline Moderne building looks ominously empty. Hope no one’s planning to raze it and build a multi-story building.
P.S.: I tried looking up anything about this building. One of the property sites says it’s currently owned by CSI…Church of Scientology International, and is the CSI Landlord’s Office. (No wonder the windows are all covered.) Appropriately CSI also stands for Crime Scene Investigation, heh! As much as I find that that organization to be, well, let’s just say problematic, they have been stewards of some historic Hollywood Bldgs. that may otherwise have been demolished.
This looks much better than the Macy Parade. I wish I would have been there to enjoy it. Do they even have the parade these days?
The parade was on December 1st.
Thanks, Martin.
It use to be televised here in Colorado years ago but I have not seen it in at least 20 years. I use to look forward to seeing it.
I can’t imagine how it would look during Christmas 2024 but I imagine it could never top the picture from 1945 and that is very disappointing.
I’ve been to the parade once years ago, and had VIP tickets to park in the
Church of Scientology parking garage across from the Roosevelt Hotel.
There was a large “outer space” painting with L. Ron Hubbard in one of the
hallways, as we walked to an elevator down to the lobby, and out to the street. Felt like we were being watched? Kind of “spooky”!
Was able to get decent bleacher seats facing the Hotel across the street!
At the end of the parade, as the Santa and reindeer float with an angled lift was turning to make the corner to enter Hollywood Boulevard, they accidentally went too fast, and crashed Rudolph, the reindeer into one of the ficus trees in front of the Roosevelt! His antlers were caught in the tree branches, and after numerous tries, managed to pull him out with a large branch hanging from the antlers! Was so funny to watch the Hotel employees in the big window on the 2nd floor, run from the window because they thought the Rudolph might break the glass!
Then the float sped up the Boulevard, to make it in time for LIVE coverage on the KTLA 5 broadcast!
Don’t know if that branch ever fell off?
Great memories! 🙂
As for the Church building… spooky!
If you don’t look too closely, it could be a parade in Hollywood in more recent years. One thing for sure, Hollywood knows how to throw a fantastic parade.
Fabulous. You also have to remember, Dec. 1945 officially marked the end of WW II and people were in a festive mood. I’ll bet this was a pre-New Years Eve blowout. Yes, I agree its amazing the building on Ivar was not demolished or re-built. I worked at 1645 Vine Street, The famous Broadway building, which was gutted to make way for condos. Only the brick front remains facing Hollywood Blvd. Save historic Hollywood!