I'll follow up the MacDonald lead. I don't know if it was by an author we would consider a grand master or someone who was quite obscure or not known for SF at all, but if it was a grand master-type it would be someone whose stories had that unnerving quality. I'm thinking along the lines of PK Dick or perhaps Ellison ... further suggestions along that line would be appreciated.

Also, while primarily known for mysteries, John D. MacDonald did do some sci-fi at about that time period too.

I like to think I would have remembered if it were Heinlein or (maybe) Asimov, seeing as I've read some of their books ... but I'll put them on the list.

Hum, with the time period--check Heinlein too. He did some short stories. And Asmiov, and, while this one is a long shot, maybe Clark??

Okay ... it doesn't seem to be in either The Illustrated Man or The Martian Chronicles.

It's possible that I may have slightly misremembered the details - that there were ticker-tape machines in the office with the women who were watching the parade, rather than it being a ticker-tape parade per se. (Or maybe both.)

Further suggestions welcomed. I may continue to check other Bradbury anthologies, because I can believe it's the sort of thing he would produce ... but I'm not sure at all that he was the author.

Ann, thanks. I'll follow up on that tomorrow. (Based on a quick skim, it's not from The Illustrated Man, but I may be wrong on that; I haven't completely ruled it out.)

What about one of the stories from The Martian Chronicles?

Thank you, Kate. I will investigate that possibility. :)

This reminds me of something by Ray Bradbury, maybe a short story from "The Illustrated Man"?

Giving this a bump.

This has bugged me for years. It had a sort of post-WWII vibe to it: the war was over, there was a parade, women were looking out the windows of their office buildings to watch.

After a while, they notice something: there are lots of machines, but no soldiers. Someone finally says "But where are all the men?" But they only see machines. It had a very eerie feel.

It was in my 8th grade English textbook; I would have read it in 1993 or 1994 or thereabouts. I think it might have also had "The Red Pony" in it ... but I'm not sure.