CHRISTMAS ON PARADE HOLLYWOOD TRADITION (SINCE '28) LAUNCHES THE HOLIDAY SEASON.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer For Hollywood Christmas Parade The Hollywood Christmas Parade took place every year for 75 years on the weekend after Thanksgiving in the Hollywood community in Los Angeles, California, United States. The parade's 3. Grand Marshal Johnny Grant, Christmas glitter begins in Tinseltown. ``Tell the world, Merry Christmas!'' shouted the honorary mayor of Hollywood after hitting the switch on 22,000 Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. lights Sunday, prior to the 72nd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. ``I wish everybody had the same spirit as we do in this part of the world.'' Sunday's Hollywood Christmas Parade, presented by Chrysler, drew thousands of spectators for an unseasonably warm cavalcade cav·al·cade n. 1. A procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages. 2. A ceremonial procession or display. 3. A succession or series: starred in a cavalcade of Broadway hits. of celebrities, marching bands, holiday floats and an appearance by ol' St. Nick. For many, the 3 1/2-mile procession, hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, officially launches Christmas in Los Angeles. ``It's a feeling time, it's a joyous time, it's a happy time,'' said Los Angeles city Councilman Dennis Zine, of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , who rode with Los Angeles Fire Chief William Bamattre. ``This is the beginning of the Christmas season.'' Joe Mantegna, star of the supernatural sitcom ``Joan of Arcadia Joan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama, which aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS from September 262003 until April 222005. It is currently in syndication with episodes airing in high definition on HDNet. ,'' joined Grant to rekindle a Hollywood Christmas Parade tradition by lighting a giant Christmas tree in front of the Kodak Theatre. Like many of the 100 celebrities on hand for the parade, he expressed hope for America's troops abroad. ``Let's bring the troops home,'' Mantegna said. ``That's the best Christmas wish we can have.'' The 76-year-old parade began with a band beating ``Hooray for Hollywood'' and segueing into a triumphal ``Joy to the World.'' The parade then threaded through a gantlet of onlookers from Grauman's Chinese Theatre  The of this article or section may be compromised by "peacock terms".You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. , down Hollywood Boulevard, then down Vine Street before looping back on Sunset Boulevard. One by one, such stars as Jenna Boyd of ``The Missing,'' Austin Majors of ``NYPD NYPD New York City Police Department (since 1845; New York City, NY, USA) NYPD New York Play Development Blue'' and Kate Linder from ``The Young and the Restless'' cast broad smiles down the crowded route. Seabiscuit, the winning stallion from the recent blockbuster, ``Seabiscuit,'' drew large applause. Celebrities were joined by city officials, a flotilla of floats and classic cars, and more than 20 bands from around the nation who high-stepped past such Hollywood landmarks as the wild neon lights of the El Capitan Theatre. Fans packed the sidewalk - some with stars in their eyes, others drawn by holiday hits and floats like the Christmas Nutcracker. ``It's terrific,'' declared Steve Zdroik, 43, of Studio City, who zipped in on the Red Line subway for his first Christmas parade. ``I like it,'' added Rebecca Ecob, 22, from Scotland, craning her neck to see the plumes. ``Are there going to be any bagpipes bagpipes Noun, pl a musical wind instrument in which sounds are produced in reed pipes by air from an inflated bag bagpipes npl → gaita sg bagpipes ?'' For some of the children who hugged their parents along the Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a pavement along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, which is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of not only human celebrities but fictional characters honored by , the parade was a magic, if not unforgettable, experience. ``There were two horses,'' bubbled Elena Van Eenenaam, 3, of Dana Point, sitting on her father's shoulders as a dozen equestrians marched by. ``I like Santa.'' Founded in 1928, the first Hollywood Christmas Parade contained only one actress, Jeanette Loff, and a live reindeer-drawn sleigh sleigh: see sled. carrying Santa Claus. Ensuing parades would add such stars as Bette Davis, Evelyn Venable and Mary Pickford. After some dark years during World War II, the parade resumed and Gene Autry coined a hit Christmas song after hearing children yelling, ``Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus?'' as he rode his horse, Champion, through the parade. Some celebrities Sunday said they couldn't get enough of Christmas. ``I have Christmas spirit 365 days a year,'' said Tracey Ross of Thousand Oaks, who plays Dr. Eve Russell in the daytime drama ``Passions,'' wearing red on red. She said she had 35 Christmas CDs. ``Christmas carols every day of the year. 'Sleigh Bells' is my favorite,'' she said, humming the tune. ``God, I love that!'' Dana Bartholomew, (818) 713-3730 dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Musicians from the Champlin Park High School Champlin Park High School is a four year public high school located in Champlin, Minnesota on 6025 109th Avenue N. The school principal is Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed and the assistant principals are LaShawn Ray, Steve Hall, Gerry Hegna, Matt Mattson, and Julie Yager. Band from Minnesota perform during the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday. Above, inset, Garden residents Jerry Martinez Jr., 9; Reymundo Martinez, 4; and dad Jerry Sr. watch the parade. (3 -- color) Dancers from the Pearl City High School Pearl City High School can refer to:
Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion