The New York City St. Patrick’s Parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. These vintage photographs capture New York City St. Patrick’s parades during the 1940s and 1950s:

Wide World photographer Carl Donnelly Nesensohn as he leads off the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York, with Fire Chief John J. McCarthy, grand marshal on March 17, 1942. Another Wide World photographer, Robert Kradin who made this shot, said Nesensohn “led” the Irish marchers for almost a whole block before being lured away by an unusual opportunity to snap a good crowd picture. (AP Photo/Robert Kradin)

Auxiliary firemen with steel helmets passing the reviewing stand in the St. Patrick’s Day parade March 17, 1942. (AP Photo/Tom Sande)

James J. Farley; John J. Sheahan, chairman of parade; Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia; Leo McCauley, Irish Free State consul in New York, Dan F. Cohalan, former Governor Al Smith, at the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Fifth Avenue in New York, March 17, 1942. (AP Photo/Tom Sande)

A unit of New York City firemen marches up Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York , March 17, 1947. Police estimates 1.25 million people came out to see the annual parade. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)

President Harry S. Truman, left, shakes hands with Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, right, of New York, Republican Presidential aspirant, as he arrives at reviewing stand on 64th Street to view New York City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade up Fifth Avenue, March 17, 1948. Center is John J. Sheahan, chairman of the parade committee. The President arrived by plane from Washington, D.C. after addressing joint session of Congress. (AP Photo/stf)

Members of the United Irish Counties Association carry a banner bearing the slogan “England Get Out of Ireland” as they march up Fifth Avenue during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, March 17, 1948. St. Patricks Cathedral is at left. (AP Photo).

General views of the St. Patrick’s Day parade up Fifth Avenue, New York, March 17, 1949, as marchers pass 49th Street. An estimated 1,750,000 persons viewed the parade in which about 80,000 marched. At the immediate right is the French building of Radio City. (AP Photo/Jacob Harris)

Youngsters hold “Erin Go Bragh” flags as they watch Irish pipers move up Fifth Avenue in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York, March 17, 1949. (AP Photo)

Straining for the first glimpse of the marchers, Dorothy Belaski (left) of Ozone Park, Queens, and Patricia Caserta of Brooklyn hold their Erin Go Bragh flags / World Telegram photo by Al Ravenna. 1950.

Salute to the St. Patrick’s Day paraders along Fifth Avenue is given by (left to right) Mayor William O’Dwyer, John J. Sheehan, chairman of New York’s Parade committee, and New York Lieut. Gov. Joseph Hanley, from reviewing stand at 62nd Street in New York, March 17, 1950. (AP Photo)

Albany St., Pat’s Parade route (Fifth Ave.) / World Telegram photo by Roger Higgins. 1951.

Out bright and early to get a grandstand seat along the parade route were Lawrence Gannon (left), 3, and his brother, Thomas, 7, of 263 Nassau Ave., Bklyn / World Telegram photo by Roger Higgins. 1951.

Caroline, 6, and her mother, Mrs. Marie Auclair of West New York, N.J., are properly equipped with Erin Go Bragh banners to cheer marchers as they pass their spot at 49th St. / World Telegram photo by Walter Albertin. 1953.

Readying Fifth Avenue in New York for its traditional part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade are these members of the Department of Traffic who are painting the dividing stripe in the avenue a bright Kelly green. Dan Romano guides the paint machine at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue as fellow workers lend assistance in New York on March 13, 1954. (AP Photo/Chris Daley)

Two of the lassies from Bob Barrett’s Pipers and Drummers–Josephine Barrett age 10 [and] Madeline Ryan age 10 / World Telegram photo by Walter Albertin. 1955.

As New York City’s famed Fighting Irish Regiment, the 165th, swung into parade action along Fifth Avenue, two huge Irish wolfhounds, complete with green blankets, set the pace in New York, March 17, 1956. The hounds, Patrick O’Brien, and Ch. McGillacuddy, appear as if parade is old hat to them – they’re mascots of the regiment. An estimated 120,000 persons took part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the 120th anniversary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. The scene is at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)

Richard Cusumano, 3, son of Mr. And Mrs. Leo Cusumano of New Brunswick, N.J., sits in a stroller – having the best seat in the street to watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade up Fifth Avenue, New York, March 17, 1958. Drummers of St. Francis Xavier Prep., of Brooklyn, march past. Richard’s mother, the former Dorothy O’Leary of Brooklyn, wears an appropriate hat on her head as she stands behind the boy with her hand on the stroller. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)