“Santa Claus is about to arrive!!”
December 24, 2022 5:38 AM Subscribe
The Complete 1984 Metro Toronto Santa Claus Parade with Original Commercials [YouTube] Here is the complete broadcast of the 1984 Metro Toronto Santa Claus Parade, now with corrected audio. This was the last parade before broadcast duties were taken over by Global TV in 1985. BONUS: The Complete 1986 Metro Toronto Santa Claus Parade, Eaton’s Toronto Santa Claus Parade (1954),
60+ Minutes of Awesome '80s Xmas Commercials, [via: Retrontario]
A retired gent I know worked in television production for decades. One year — I cannot recall which — he was directing the TV coverage of this very parade.
He noticed early on that the first few floats were spread out too far to make for decent TV, so he ran into the parade a little outside of the camera coverage area and blocked it from proceeding until it backed up a bit and the floats were closer together.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:10 AM on December 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
He noticed early on that the first few floats were spread out too far to make for decent TV, so he ran into the parade a little outside of the camera coverage area and blocked it from proceeding until it backed up a bit and the floats were closer together.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:10 AM on December 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
People from outside Torobto and especially outside Canada, had you ever heard of the parade? Did you ever watch it?
I'm from Canada and I am/was barely aware of it. Disclaimer: not much of a parade person.
posted by nubs at 6:21 AM on December 24, 2022
I'm from Canada and I am/was barely aware of it. Disclaimer: not much of a parade person.
posted by nubs at 6:21 AM on December 24, 2022
If only I had a penguin: People from outside Torobto and especially outside Canada, had you ever heard of the parade? Did you ever watch it?
From Iceland, lived as a kid in the 80s in France, have never heard of it.
posted by Kattullus at 6:24 AM on December 24, 2022
From Iceland, lived as a kid in the 80s in France, have never heard of it.
posted by Kattullus at 6:24 AM on December 24, 2022
I think that broadcast around the globe stuff is probably technically true but let's be honest, its mostly locals who are tuning into this. But still really cool to see all the fashion. A nice little time-capsule.
posted by Fizz at 6:33 AM on December 24, 2022
posted by Fizz at 6:33 AM on December 24, 2022
Here's footage of the 1928 Santa Claus parade. Santa is on an ice throne surrounded by bears.
Also, Santa once arrived on a giant fish.
I think the parade was just a Toronto and area thing - I don't think people elsewhere knew of it.
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 6:34 AM on December 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
Also, Santa once arrived on a giant fish.
I think the parade was just a Toronto and area thing - I don't think people elsewhere knew of it.
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 6:34 AM on December 24, 2022 [5 favorites]
Oooh, thanks for linking/sharing tallmiddleagedgeek. The '28 parade is filled with some really cool stuff. :-D
posted by Fizz at 6:46 AM on December 24, 2022
posted by Fizz at 6:46 AM on December 24, 2022
Looking forward to watching the parades while I do my Christmas prep! Thanks for sharing.
posted by vespabelle at 7:12 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by vespabelle at 7:12 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Thanks for this. Gonna show to my Mom, when we get to London ON (either later today or tomorrow morning, roads willing). Merry Christmas/etc to MF.
posted by Artful Codger at 7:41 AM on December 24, 2022
posted by Artful Codger at 7:41 AM on December 24, 2022
For those keeping track but not from around here:
Canadian Thanksgiving = 2nd Monday in October (no parade, no Santa)
Canadian Christmas Parade = 3rd Sunday of November (Toronto / Eaton's, Santa)
US Thanksgiving = 4th Thursday in November (NYC / Macy's parade, w/Santa finale)
posted by bartleby at 8:22 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Canadian Thanksgiving = 2nd Monday in October (no parade, no Santa)
Canadian Christmas Parade = 3rd Sunday of November (Toronto / Eaton's, Santa)
US Thanksgiving = 4th Thursday in November (NYC / Macy's parade, w/Santa finale)
posted by bartleby at 8:22 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
That video game float. That announcer patter.
(Edited to add this link to 38m13s)
posted by Songdog at 9:27 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
(Edited to add this link to 38m13s)
posted by Songdog at 9:27 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
I enjoyed this today - thank you! Thanks to an offhand comment by one of the hosts I have now learned about Hamilton (Ontario) having a reputation as the city of one-way streets.
posted by brainwane at 1:02 PM on December 24, 2022
posted by brainwane at 1:02 PM on December 24, 2022
And it was particularly fun to watch the link that tallmiddleagedgeek shared first, then the 1984 video!
Oh and a youngish Wayne Gretzky shows up wishing us a merry Christmas!
posted by brainwane at 1:03 PM on December 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh and a youngish Wayne Gretzky shows up wishing us a merry Christmas!
posted by brainwane at 1:03 PM on December 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
That parade was a big deal in my family. We used to go watch it from right around where the filming was at the Ontario Legislature and we’d sit on the west side of University Avenue, same angle as the cameras. My dad loved marching bands and we all loved the spectacle of it. When Santa arrived after all the build up there was ecstasy in the crowd. If six year olds could faint, the streets would have been littered with little passed out kiddos! Instead we all just jumped up and down and squealed.
I was 16 the year of this particular parade and I probably wasn’t there. Many of my friends were in the North Toronto CI marching band and some years I would go watch them. But by the look of the weather that day my guess is that I was playing video games at my favourite arcade on Yonge Street, hanging out at Sam the Record Man or chilling at the library.
posted by salishsea at 2:10 PM on December 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
I was 16 the year of this particular parade and I probably wasn’t there. Many of my friends were in the North Toronto CI marching band and some years I would go watch them. But by the look of the weather that day my guess is that I was playing video games at my favourite arcade on Yonge Street, hanging out at Sam the Record Man or chilling at the library.
posted by salishsea at 2:10 PM on December 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Parade route, 1964 or 5. Young random and brothers. Waiting for Santa. I still believed.
posted by philip-random at 2:13 PM on December 24, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 2:13 PM on December 24, 2022 [4 favorites]
About ten years ago I went to the parade with some younger cousins. We sat next to this little girl maybe 3 years old. At one point the Kool-Aid man was marching through the parade and I yelled (because I get into it!) "HEY KOOL-AID MAN!" and the little girl turned to me in awe and said "Do you KNOW him??"
Also, accepted wisdem in my family is that you go watch along Bloor in the Annex. You want to go early in the route. Not the VERY beginning because you want them to have their act together by the time they get to you. You don't want them half-mustered, but if you see them early you'll see them before they're tired and before the cold gets into their actual bones/souls.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:21 PM on December 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also, accepted wisdem in my family is that you go watch along Bloor in the Annex. You want to go early in the route. Not the VERY beginning because you want them to have their act together by the time they get to you. You don't want them half-mustered, but if you see them early you'll see them before they're tired and before the cold gets into their actual bones/souls.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:21 PM on December 25, 2022 [3 favorites]
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Also, whenever this was broadcast they would always say "people watching in 126 countries around the world" or whatever and madness sound like the whole world watched the Toronto Santa Claus Parade. I don't imagine they would just lie about the broadcast but really? Like I've never met anyone who was like "oh you're from Toronto? I used to love watching the Santa Claus parade!" Or "when I moved ti Toronto I was so excited to go see the parade live!" or anything like that.
People from outside Torobto and especially outside Canada, had you ever heard of the parade? Did you ever watch it?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:00 AM on December 24, 2022 [1 favorite]