Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular (partially found TV broadcasts of event; 1985-present)
A screenshot of the 1995 Fireworks broadcast.
Status: Partially Found
On July 4, 1958, Macy's held a Fireworks showcase to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary.[1] This was initially a one time thing, with no Fireworks occuring in 1959. However, nearly 20 years later, in 1976, Macy's held another Fireworks showcase to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States. Macy's would eventually make it annual, beginning in 1977, with the exception of 2020. It would return in 2021, with the 47th Fireworks Spectacular set to be held in 2023.
Availability
As early as 1991, Macy's allowed the Fireworks to be broadcast on television. The first few broadcasts were exclusively in New York itself - on Channel 11. Eventually, in 1999, the Fireworks began to be nationally televised via NBC.
Very few Fireworks telecasts pre 2017 have been publicly uploaded in full, likely as a means of copyright concern. A clip of the 1999 telecast had made its way to YouTube, implying it still exists, in addition to numerous clips of the 2006-16 telecasts.
In early 2023, the full 2003 telecast was uploaded to YouTube. Later, on June 19th, the full 1995 broadcast was uploaded in full to YouTube by JuggleBuggle, who had also found torrents for the 2010-2013 Fireworks.
| Year | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Lost | First Broadcast |
| 1992 | Lost | |
| 1993 | Lost | |
| 1994 | Lost | |
| 1995 | Found[2] | |
| 1996 | Lost | |
| 1997 | Lost | |
| 1998 | Lost | Last New York exclusive broadcast |
| 1999 | Partially Found | First National Broadcast |
| 2000 | Lost | |
| 2001 | Lost | |
| 2002 | Lost | |
| 2003 | Found | |
| 2004 | Lost | |
| 2005 | Lost | |
| 2006 | Partially Found | |
| 2007 | Partially Found | |
| 2008 | Partially Found | |
| 2009 | Partially Found | |
| 2010 | Found | |
| 2011 | Found | |
| 2012 | Found | |
| 2013 | Found | |
| 2014 | Partially Found | |
| 2015 | Partially Found | |
| 2016 | Partially Found | |
| 2017 | Found | |
| 2018 | Found | |
| 2019 | Found | |
| 2021 | Found | |
| 2022 | Found |