A crowd hundreds of spectators deep lined Woodward Avenue on June 1, 1946. Sidewalks and side streets were engulfed in a boisterous mass of three-quarters of a million celebrants here to witness the Motor City Cavalcade. Elaborate floats and an armada of antique cars and trucks made their way down Woodward Avenue.

Life Magazine featured the parade in a two-page spread. The article joked about the unfolding drama of automotive history:

Ancient cars chugged down Woodward Avenue, Detroit's wide main street, which for six blocks had its pavement gilded. During the four-hour parade some of the early cars stalled, had to be pushed. A shiny 1946 model in the parade demonstrated the continuity of auto history by also breaking down.

Despite the huge crowds and occasional mishaps, Detroiters thrilled to the sight of their city bedecked in ornament and filled with myriad entertainments. Crowd pleasers included the 100-piece Jubilee band, and pipe bands from Chrysler and Ford. When the Nash float passed, carrying scantily clad bathing girls, "even the urchins screamed 'Hubba-Hubba'" at the girls, with "bare midriffs, blue faces and cold reddened knees."

At 8 P.M. the Jubilee Jamboree began, with dancing on Washington Boulevard. Celebrity entertainment predominated, with popular bands of the day, appearances by Ty Cobb, Art Linkletter and a host of smaller acts. Ethnic bands and dancing troupes also contributed to the festive proceedings, which culminated in the coronation of the Jubilee Queen Mary Grace Simescu.

top right: Vintage cars lined up in such a way as to depict a "parade of progress" and the evolution of the automobile.

above left: One of the more unusual floats represented the production capabilities of National Automotive Fibers.

lower right: Boy Scouts assist in crowd control at the Motor City Cavalcade.