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| 1933 Century of Progress Exposition Documents |
Midway Seen as World's Greatest Show
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By John Drury.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 27 May 1933, pg. 5.
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"The main drag's all set to go," said Nat D. Rodgers, veteran showman as he waved his can today over the Midway at A Century of Progress exposition. To him, the Midway, street of a thousand and one thrills, is "the main drag." And his announcement that all was in readiness on the Midway carried the weight of authority, for Nat Rodgers is chief of the amusements division of the world's fair.
"I tell you it'll be the greatest show on earth," continued Nat. "I've seen many fairs and many Midways, but this one takes the cake. It marks the culmination of a long series of Midways in America, dating from the original one at Chicago's first world's fair in 1893. Never has the present century seen a Midway like the one we've got here. Everything's new and fresh and unique."
Nat wasn't engaging in an ordinary sideshow barker's sell. He meant every word he said. The keen anticipation of a showman who felt sure he had a "wow" colored his whole being. He was proud of the Midway, a city of thrills and chills that he had helped to create.
"Just to show you that I'm not boasting, come along in my car and we'll make a tour of the 'main drag,'" said Nat. "If you don't agree with me at the end of the trip that it's the greatest show on earth then I'll buy you a new hat."
Starts at Show Boat.
The Midway, or "ballyhoo boulevard" as some call it, begins at the 23d street bridge. Before you reach the bridge, however, there are two outstanding attractions which, although not within the Midway area proper, are close enough to be part of the amusement section. These are the showboat Cotton Blossom and Admiral Byrd's south pole ship New York. Thus it happened that Nat Rodgers started the tour of the Midway from the deck of the Cotton Blossom.
"He we have the old south," explained Nat. "This is an authentic showboat and the old-time melodramas will be played in it during the fair." Nat and the proprietor of the showboat, L. D. Cook, greeted each other effusively; they were fellow troupers on the road in the old days.
Then we viewed Admiral Byrd's sturdy sailing vessel and, after passing the 23d street bridge, came into an old world section. To our left was the "Streets of Paris," being a slice of the French capital, and on our right was the Belgian Village, easily the most elaborate and picturesque exhibition on the Midway.
Next we saw that gay and colorful tavern, Old Heidelberg Inn, silhouetted against the blue waters of the lake and, south of it, the A & P Gypsy show, one of the free shows on the Midway. The big dome of "The World a Million Years Ago" came into view and here we stopped to glimpse the revolving floor. You merely stand in one spot while the floor moves you around the hall, which contains exhibits of animated prehistoric animals. Next to this building is the Infant Incubator, another educational exhibit, showing how undernourished babies are restored to health.
Two Gorillas Shown.
"The Gorilla Villa," explained Mr. Rodgers, "will contain the two living gorillas owned by Mrs. William G. Lintz, of Brooklyn, who is loaning them to the fair." Something different in the way of a thrill is the Pantheon de la Gare, which contains the internationally famous panoramic painting of the world war. A similar exhibit is the "Battle of Gettysburg," housed in a large building. It is a circular painting and each soldier in the battle is shown in action.
We are now on the Midway Plaza. It is an open section surrounded on all sides by thrill rides, attractions, shooting galleries and other amusements. In the center of the plaza the Maynes-Illions Novelty Rides Company has installed a number of thrill rides—the Lindy Loop, Bozo Heydey, the Funnies and the Cyclone.
On one side of the plaza is the Palace of Living Wonders, conducted by Duke Mills, famed impresario of living freaks. Here you see the smallest couple in the world and the world's tallest man. Mills is remembered as the author of "Freaks," a movie produced by the Paramount company. He is also the promoter of another Midway attraction, the Old Plantation, containing a dry-land showboat and sixty Negro entertainers.
Another novel attraction is the Midget Village, where midgets move about in shops, hotels, restaurants and stores. All of the buildings are reduced in size. A short street leading off the plaza contains diversified exhibits—the trained flea circus, the Micky Mouse circus, Fisher's circus cookhouse, the phrenologist, the glassblower, penny arcades and the Miracle of San Angelo.
The Dance Ship is a large open-air night club which looks out on Lake Michigan. Two "decks" contain room for dining and dancing and floor shows. South of it is a cleared space of ground where the captive balloon is anchored. On the west side of Ballyhoo Boulevard at this point are a number of interesting buildings—the Temple of Mystery, where Carter the Great performs; Cliff Wilson's reptile show; Ripley's "Believe It or Not" Odditorium, containing curios and freaks from all parts of the world, and the Seminole Indian Village.
Painting Near Fort.
We are now at the south end of the Midway, marked by the replica of Fort Dearborn and the Lincoln Group of exhibits. Opposite Fort Dearborn is a building housing the Fort Dearborn Massacre. It is a large painting of that tragic episode in Chicago's history, augmented by sound effects.
Although this marks the end of the Midway amusement area, there are a number of other novel attractions further south which properly belong in the amusement category. Three of them have to do with American life—Zack T. Miller's 101 Ranch, the American Indian Village and the Days of '49. The last-named is a complete gold-mining town, with stores, saloons and a dance hall. A bit southward is the Domestic Animal Show and Monte Wax's log rollers from Oregon.
Another outstanding building in this area is the Mexican Pavilion, an imposing structure of striking architectural design. Museums, shops, cafes and a ballroom, illustrative of life in Mexico, are features of the building.
"Now that we are at the end of the trip, don't you think it is the greatest show on earth," said Nat Rodgers.
"You won't have to buy me a hat," we replied.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 14 January 2006
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