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The D. Earl Comb Christmas parade. Back in the early 30's Mr. Comb ran this parade throughout the Midwest and the southeastern United States.
He bought the parade from Albert H. Thacher for $1,800 - including all animals, costumes and props.
The pictures are from various locations. I've only been able to pinpoint two - one at a very specific corner in Atlanta and the other in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. My favorites are of the parade clowns. I've got a Flickr group that contains all the pictures, stationery and contract for this. I've still got some documents I haven't scanned in yet (like the instructions to running a parade), but hopefully will sometime soon.
That's the original Mr. Burns! "Eeeeeexcellent!"
I showed this picture to my 4-year-old son. He liked the clown a lot, and thought lollipop man was funny as well. However, I agree with the sentiment that he was probably pretty scary looking in person. There are probably a few geriatrics in the south and midwest who still have nightmares about him.
The clown is the least scary thing at that parade.
But that turnip-head character is the thing of childhood nightmares.
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