The postcard above shows four of the major buildings of the Century of Progress International Exposition that was held in Chicago in 1933 and 1934. These buildings were all temporary structures with plane surfaces and without windows--less architecture than stage setting.
In 1933, a palette of 25 bold colors was used to to tie the buildings together and serve as backgrounds. The postcards below give an idea of how the buildings were painted in 1933. In 1934, the second year of the fair, the color palette was more subdued, with much more white.
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| Beautiful, colorful, immense in its ground area. The Hall of Science at A Century of Progress, Chicago's 1933 World's Fair, probably houses the most fascinating exhibits on the grounds of the Exposition. |
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| A water view of the Electrical Group at A Century of Progress, Chicago. Within these flaming walls the marvels of this electrical age are presented in fascinating exhibits that dramatize progress since Pascal, Morse, Edison and Marconi. |
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| The Travel and Transport Building Some is 125 feet high and 200 feet across, without a single arch, pillar, beam or other support to break its expanse. It is said to be the largest unobstructed area to be enclosed beneath a single roof. |
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| The Federal Building is 620 feet long by 300 feet wide, with a rotunda 70 feet in diameter surmounted by a 75-foot dome around which the three fluted towers are grouped. The Federal Building adjoins the Hall of the States. |
I have a large collection of Century of Progress postcards. I originally became interested in collecting them because my parents had worked at the fair. Below is a photo of my father who worked in the lagoon patrol. The Federal Government Building is in the background.
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Love this!
ReplyDeleteWhat dramatic images - it must have been an impressive exhibition. I have an interest in the "other" Chicago World's Fair in 1893, for exactly the same reason - my great-grandfather and his two brothers worked on its construction.
ReplyDeleteThose are some rather futuristic facades! Reminds me of a book I saw once called "Yesterday's Tomorrows". It was full of remarkable ideas from the (I think?) 1920s of what the future would look like in 50 years or so. Some were silly; some were rather ridiculous. But some were startlingly 'right on'!
ReplyDeleteThere is a wonderfully modernistic look about it - rather like something from one of those early science fiction films. It is quite fascinating how we think the future will look and how dated such views look in retrospect.
ReplyDeleteI like the bright colors -- they send a message about a bright future.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Wendy -- those colors are fabulous, thought the electrical building is just a little over the top! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful postcards. My favorite is the travel and transport building. (grin) Such beautiful colors, too.
ReplyDeleteThe colors all seemed over the top to me but perhaps the postcards made them more intense.
ReplyDeleteVery nice cards, and what colors! I like the building designs, a fair is always a chance to push the envelope...but no windows ??
ReplyDeleteWow, that was really great for your parents, how fun! I like the colorful postcards too. You always share the nicest cards!
ReplyDeleteI had the same reaction as Alan, the buildings look like the set of a science fiction movie. A century of progress with unfortunately a decade of setbacks to come.
ReplyDeleteWow, the colour choices were very brave. They must have had a forward-thinking committee.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comments. Very futuristic and colourful.
ReplyDeleteI am also very interested in finding out more about your fathers work in the "lagoon patrol".
I knew you would have a quartet postcard for sure, and the colourful individual ones are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic presentation you have given here and I loved seeing the photo of your father at the end....made it all very real and exciting. Great work!
ReplyDeleteWow! Father in the Lagoon Patrol. How cool is that?
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