Turner Classic Movies (TCM) kicks off its 20th anniversary celebration by joining forces with Macy's to bring the holiday spirit to New York with a special screening of the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street (1947). The movie will be screened for fans outside Macy's Herald Square beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 and will run throughout the day. TCM host Robert Osborne will introduce the final screening at 7:45 p.m. In addition to the screening, TCM will also offer classic film fans in the Big Apple 20 days of free admission to the TCM Classic Film Sightseeing Bus Tour, beginning Dec. 1.
"Miracle on 34th Street is one of the most beloved holiday films of all time, a celebration of the magic that envelops New York City during this special time of year," said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of digital, affiliate, lifestyle and enterprise commerce for TCM, TBS and TNT. "It's great to be partnering with Macy's, which plays such a prominent role in Miracle on 34th Street. With TCM celebrating 20 years as a leading authority in classic film, we are thrilled to be giving back to fans not only through this special event with Macy's but also by offering 20 days of free admission aboard the TCM Classic Film Sightseeing Bus Tour."
"As Macy's prepares for the most wonderful time of year, we are so excited to partner with Turner Classic Movies in screening the Miracle on 34th Street right where the story takes place, at Macy’s Herald Square," said Martine Reardon, chief marketing officer, Macy's. "What better way to spread pre-holiday cheer than with an all-day showing of one of America’s most beloved films in front of one of the most iconic holiday destinations? That's the miracle and magic of Macy’s.”
Miracle on 34th Street stars Edmund Gwenn in an Oscar®-winning performance as Kris Kringle, a kindly, bearded gentleman who takes the reigns of Santa's sleigh at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. Maureen O'Hara is Doris Walker, the supervisor who decides to hire Kringle as Macy's in-store Santa. John Payne plays Fred Gailey, Doris' handsome neighbor who agrees to take Kris in as a roommate. And Natalie Wood is Susan, Doris' perpetually skeptical daughter whose world is upended when it appears Kris Kringle might be the real Santa Claus.
Miracle on 34th Street helped make the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade an American institution. Begun in 1924, the Parade remained a primarily local tradition little known outside of New York. With its on-location opening scenes, however, Miracle on 34th Street brought the parade into the national consciousness. National television coverage of the Parade began in 1947, the same year of the film's release, and has remained a part of American popular culture ever since.
TCM will also celebrate the holiday season in the Big Apple by offering 20 days of free admission to the TCM Classic Film Sightseeing Bus Tour, beginning December 1. The three-hour sightseeing bus tour launched earlier this year in partnership with On Location Tours, one of the world's largest TV and movie tour companies. The tour, which normally runs three days a week (Tues., Thurs. and Sat.), will expand to seven days a week Dec. 1-20.
Each day's TCM Classic Film Sightseeing Bus Tour begins at 11:30 a.m. and takes movie fans to some of the city's greatest filming locations, including the Empire State Building (King Kong); Zabar's market (Manhattan, You've Got Mail); Holly Golightly's brownstone (Breakfast at Tiffany's); the famed subway grate that blew Marilyn Monroe's skirt (The Seven-Year Itch); Grand Central Terminal (North by Northwest, Superman); and, of course, Central Park. In addition to seeing the real locations, visitors get to see clips of the sites from the movies.
Fans can find more information about the TCM Classic Film Sightseeing Bus Tour and book their free reservations online at tcm.com/20. For additional questions, fans can email [email protected]. Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
