Easter Parade

I really wanted to go to church on this day but I was lured to the Easter Parade.  I've never been physically but I have been many times in song.  In grade school, our music teacher (Mr. Moore with band-aids on his fingers) taught us this song by Irving Berlin.  This occurred at a public school.  I'm guessing this song is no longer taught.  My sister-in-law works at an elementary school; I'll have to ask her. 

The lyrics of the song come back quickly, although I don't remember learning this first verse and I don't ever recall hearing it.

Never saw you look quite so pretty before
Never saw you dressed quite so lovely what's more
I could hardly wait to keep our date this lovely
Easter morning...
And my heart beat fast as I came through the door

For in your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade

On the Avenue
Fifth Avenue
The photographers will snap us
And you'll find that you're
In the rotogravure

Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter parade

It was just within the past few years that I learned what rotogravure was.  I can't imagine what I sang for that word as a child but I'm sure it was amusing!  According to the Wikipedia definition for rotogravure,

In the 1930s–1960s, newspapers published relatively few photographs and instead many newspapers published separate rotogravure sections in their Sunday editions. These sections were devoted to photographs and identifying captions, not news stories.

Another interesting tidbit about the lyrics is that there is an "alternative bridge" for Great Britain.  Who knew?

To the Park we'll go
Round Rotten Row
The photographers will snap us
And then you'll be seen
in the Smart magazine

The parade is no longer all about fashion.  In fact, there was less fashion than people (and the occasional dog) having fun with goofy hats.  Here is a sampling of the NYC Easter Parade...on the Avenue, 5th Avenue...2010.  (I do not know any of these people.)