[1933 CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR AT NIGHT]

Year Published: 1933

Creator: Burton Holmes

Description:

Dating to 1933, this short film from filmmaker Burton Holmes shows the Chicago World's Fair at Night. The fair was also known as the "A Century of Progress International Exposition". It was held in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, from 1933 to 1934, and celebrated the city's centennial. The fairgrounds of the "Rainbow City" featured dazzling illumination, which is visible throughout the film. Some shots were likely shot from the moving Sky Ride. At (1:33) some of the fountains used in the fair's water show are shown. The lagoon fountain was billed at the time as the largest fountain in the world, at 670 feet long and was illuminated at night by colored lights. At (2:25) some of the state pavilion buildings are shown. The Sky Ride visible at (3:00) consisted of two towers, each 628 feet (191 m) high, spaced 1,850 feet (560 m) apart. Each tower had four elevators with a 30-person capacity. It was a transporter bridge (with a design similar to an aerial tramway or gondola lift) that ferried people across the lagoon, Burnham Harbor, in the center of the fair. At (3:28) fireworks erupt over the venue. At (4:29) a shot of the General Motors or GM building. The film concludes with a dazzling light show (5:23).

Complete Record: Dating to 1933, this short film from filmmaker Burton Holmes shows the Chicago World's Fair at Night. The fair was also known as the "A Century of Progress International Exposition". It was held in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, from 1933 to 1934, and celebrated the city's centennial. The fairgrounds of the "Rainbow City" featured dazzling illumination, which is visible throughout the film. Some shots were likely shot from the moving Sky Ride. At (1:33) some of the fountains used in the fair's water show are shown. The lagoon fountain was billed at the time as the largest fountain in the world, at 670 feet long and was illuminated at night by colored lights. At (2:25) some of the state pavilion buildings are shown. The Sky Ride visible at (3:00) consisted of two towers, each 628 feet (191 m) high, spaced 1,850 feet (560 m) apart. Each tower had four elevators with a 30-person capacity. It was a transporter bridge (with a design similar to an aerial tramway or gondola lift) that ferried people across the lagoon, Burnham Harbor, in the center of the fair. At (3:28) fireworks erupt over the venue. At (4:29) a shot of the General Motors or GM building. The film concludes with a dazzling light show (5:23).