whataboutbobbed
The first Santa Claus Lane Parade (as it used to be called) was held in 1928. In an effort to attract shoppers and their families to Hollywood Boulevard during the holiday season, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea of the parade. The Chamber started out by decorating Hollywood Boulevard with live Christmas trees and other Christmas decorations. Then to add excitement to the event, a live reindeer pulled a sleigh carrying Santa Claus and Jeanette Loff down Hollywood Boulevard – and that was the parade!