The Michelin Man carefully balanced on the back seat of his black convertible. The Kool-Aid man, attired in a yellow windbreaker, genially waved to photographers. And the Crash Test Dummies—not wearing seat belts, we must report—were perched on top of the backrests of their silver car. It wasn't "Escape of the Commercial Icons"—it was the American Association of Advertising Agencies' (AAAA) Procession of America's Favorite Ad Icons, a parade of product mascots that kicked off AAAA's first-ever Advertising Week, a week of public promotional events, panel discussions, and exhibits designed to promote the ad industry.
Matt Scheckner and Jillian Mellone of Advertising Week in New York City, the AAAA subgroup charged with planning the entire week of activities, planned the parade with George Shea of Shea Communications and Tony Salerno of Avellin Productions. "We knew [the parade] would be great for kids," said Mellone, but she was also surprised to see how the icons excited adults as well. When Ronald McDonald was on hand to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange before the parade, adults were jockeying to have their pictures taken with him.
The parade commenced on 45th Street and turned south on Broadway and east on 42nd Street before heading to Madison Avenue and 50th Street, where the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame ceremony was held.
—Suzanne Ito
Matt Scheckner and Jillian Mellone of Advertising Week in New York City, the AAAA subgroup charged with planning the entire week of activities, planned the parade with George Shea of Shea Communications and Tony Salerno of Avellin Productions. "We knew [the parade] would be great for kids," said Mellone, but she was also surprised to see how the icons excited adults as well. When Ronald McDonald was on hand to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange before the parade, adults were jockeying to have their pictures taken with him.
The parade commenced on 45th Street and turned south on Broadway and east on 42nd Street before heading to Madison Avenue and 50th Street, where the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame ceremony was held.
—Suzanne Ito
The most impressive vehicle in the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Procession of America's Favorite Ad Icons kickoff parade for Advertising Week was Mr. Peanut's peanut-shaped "Nutmobile."
Ronald McDonald's shiny, red clown-shoe-shaped car led the procession down Broadway.
Chiquita Banana, Trix the rabbit, and the Energizer bunny cruised down Broadway.
The Guardian Angels dog and the Crash Test Dummies were near the end of the procession.
