Among Other Things: Now that was a real world's fair
By Paul Fugleberg
If you like World’s Fairs you’ll be interested in an unusual display that will be prepared at the Polson-Flathead Historic Museum this summer. It will feature information, postcards and posters from the 1933-1934 Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago. The event is still regarded as one of the best World’s Fairs ever held.
It’s motto was “Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms” and the architectural symbol was the Sky Ride, a transporter bridge perpendicular to the shore on which one could ride from one end of the fair to the other.
Expo ‘74 in Spokane had a somewhat similar sky ride as I recall.
The Chicago material was given to the museum by Sandy Ertle-Raymond of Polson and Gene Nobles will prepare the display.
Among other things that will be shown will be postcards showing exhibits from the various countries involved. They will include:
? Czechoslovakian Pavilion which contained displays of that country’s industries and culture
? Japanese Pavilion and Tea Hall with Tea Girls in native costumes
? Ukrainian Pavilion which included a restaurant and a theatre where folk plays, native dances and choral singing were presented
? Chinese Lama temple designed to duplicate the Golden Temple of Jehod. Inside were images of Buddha and other Lama gods, incense burners, prayer wheel, etc.
? German pavilion featuring an Old Heidelberg Inn with a German concert orchestra, garden terrace service, lunch room, and an old-fashioned Rathskeller in the basement.
? A Mayan temple — the Nunnery at Uxmal: An exact copy of a temple in Yucatan, at least 10 centuries old
? The French pavilion was laid out as “Streets of Paris”
? Egyptian pavilion, a replica of typical Pharaonic architecture, approached by an avenue of sphinxes
Other buildings included a Mexican restaurant; Swedish and Italian pavilions; Swiss, Belgian. Tunisian, Spanish, Irish, Old English, and Black Forest villages.
Even the famous German Graf Zeppelin made an appearance circling overhead for two hours on Oct. 26, 1933, to the consternation of some folks who regarded it as showcase for Adolf Hitler who rose to power earlier that year.
There were many American exhibits.
American Airlines promoted its “high speed service” — Chicago to Los Angeles, 25 hours, 50 minutes and one at 30 hours, 26 minutes, for $115. Flights featured a stewardess and “delicious meals.”
The Firestone Company explained how its high speed tires are made.
The Ford Motor Co. pavilion contained displays by companies whose products were used to make automobiles. They included Alcoa, the Bendix Corporation, Timken Detroit Axle Co., United Engineering and Foundry Co., Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Corporation, Briggs Manufacturing Co., United States Rubber, Stewart Warner Corp., Ford Glass, Ford Laboratories, Amskeag Manufacturing Co. and others. There was a diorama of a half-car and even hanging cars, plus a theatre and display of Ford models. Fair visitors were invited to stop and see Ford’s Greenfield Village and the Edison Institute at Dearborn, Mich..
Oil companies promoted their products. Sinclair told how one gallon of Sinclair HC Gasoline could have hoisted the 6,885,000-ton Boulder Dam .08 of an inch; or the leaning tower of Pisa, all 179-ft. tall, 15,967 tons of it, 3.1 feet.
Pure Oil Company explained how its products were processed and reached the market.
Havoline Motor Oil Co. had a 21-story high thermometer recording day and night temperatures and spread the message that Havoline Oil “protects your engine at all temperatures.”
Armco-Ferro featured a porcelain enamel frameless steel house, called “The Mayflower House.”
And Frigidaire proudly displayed its air conditioned house and boasted “the day of practical air conditioning for the home is here.”
The Illinois Central Electric railroad listed its timetable for trains running to the fairgrounds from all parts of the city. The fare: One thin dime.
The first major league All-Star baseball game was held at Comiskey Park during the World’s Fair.
United States Rubber Company told of its wide range of products ranging from hot water bottles, boots, bathing suits, to rubber tires and more.
The Union Pacific boosted its “America’s first fully streamlined lightweight high speed train.”
Those are just a few of the features of that fair. Sure wish I could have seen it.
If you missed that and other world’s fairs, there is a limited Expo 2008 scheduled in Zaragosa, Spain, with the theme “Water and Sustainable Development.” Expo 2010 is scheduled for Shanghai with the theme “Better City, Better Life.”
Better yet, just take a look at the display at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum this summer — it’ll be a lot less expensive!
Incidentally, the museum hopes to have the Evelyn Cameron photo display again from the Montana Historical Society this summer. The display of homestead era photos was a popular drawing card three years ago.