Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Century of Progress Photos



The postcard above shows the "world's largest parking lot" at the Century of Progress Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) held in Chicago in 1933 and 1934.

The snapshot below has a 1934 Century of Progress border. I like to think that the women posed with the car were on the way to the fair and might have parked in the lot shown on the postcard. Although the photo has a Century of Progress border, I don't know if it actually represents a trip to the fair. I wish I knew whether the photos with this border were all connected with the fair.



The photo of the women does have a list of names on the back. Two of the names--Vera Jasmund and Hermina Wulf--are uncommon, and I was able to find the names on the 1930 census for Chicago. They were born about 1912 and 1911, which would make them in their early twenties in 1934.



The rest of my photos are from a different source. They have an 1833 - 1933 Century of Progress border. There is no information on the backs. The first photo shows two women seated at an outdoor table. The sign above the woman on the left says Restaurant Leopold. Restaurant Leopold was in the Belgian Village.



The next photo shows the women looking at the replica of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace.



The last photo is a view of the Fort Dearborn replica. Fort Dearborn was an important fort in Chicago's history.



The Century of Progress was actually a colorful place, as shown in this 1934 Chicago World's Fair in Technicolor video.



Visit Sepia Saturday for More Vintage Photos




21 comments:

  1. A really enjoyable post. I can imagine those young women, a group of friends, setting off with excitement. The video being in colour really brings it all alive, but the commentary made me feel quite tired. It was very much of the time though.

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  3. I enjoyed the photos but I wouldn't buy a used car from the video commentator. It's much better with the sound turned off. Check everyone in coats and hats, the men with ties.

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  4. I don't really like that old style of commentary, but I like listening to it in old movies and videos.

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  5. There seems to be no end to the amount of Century of Progress paraphernalia out there....good stuff!

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  6. I love the borders on those cards. And, I find the video fascinating. It's also interesting how the style of radio and TV announcing changes over time. This one is a classic.

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  7. a Time when The Motor Car Was New And Exciting And "The Future"! That Car Park Looks Very Modern (i.e. a traffic jam!)

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  8. Love the world's largest car park. The M25 motorway in the UK has been nick-named the world's most expensive car park.

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  9. What a wonderful collection you have for us this week! The ladies look as if they are enjoying themselves very much.

    Thanks so much for stopping by to visit,

    Kathy M.

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  10. Absolutely and completely awesome post, the photos and information so very interesting for me...I was born in Michigan and it was a real treat!

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  11. Very clever medley on the theme. In 1934 Chicago must still have remembered the calamity of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

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  12. I love this unexpected glimpses into the past!

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  13. Fascinating video. I loved the Dragon Ride, but the Midget Village doesn't sound so enticing.

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  14. Thanks for the great trip to the world's fair! These are all amazing photos! I think my favorite is the one of the ladies with their heads stuck in the windows of "Lincoln's cabin." That made me chuckle! You have a fantastic collection here. I'm so glad you shared!

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  15. Oh I loved that video. Reminds me of what we used to see every Saturday at the movie matinee. New of the World. Great job.
    QMM

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  16. The thought of parking in the world's largest parking lot would put me off any idea that I might visit the place.

    I was watching a TV programme the other day about the development of hand-held movie cameras and how it transformed the production of documentaries. Before that they had to be staged and were very stilted, like this one. The first of the new type was produced during JF Kennedy's campaign to be president.

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  17. Great post : I suspect that the World's largest parking lot soon lost its' record.

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  18. that second pic certainly puts you in perfect themer position. and that vid on the Chicago fair, am i the only one, or does this feel more modern than 1934. interesting that progress turned out that way indeed.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  19. I loved the wonderfully "over the top" commentary of the video.
    The way he mispronounced the Maaya Temple. I would have loved to have been at this "Mardi Gras of Frolic", and have seen the "Egyptian Hot-cha Girls", the "freaks and fakirs" and the queer crafts in the harbor, etc.
    I sure hope they had a tram in that parking lot to take you from your car to the entrance. My father lived in Chicago at the time but I don't remember him ever talking about it.
    Very entertaining post.
    Barbara

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  20. I've never seen a border like that. It's wonderfully busy.

    Love the shot of the women in the cafe with those checked tablecloths.

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