| Show GREAT LAKES exposition OPENS Clev elands fair Is mammoth spectacle drama of regions Pro progress oress built around romance of iron and steel industries B by WILLIAM C UTLEY four million persons will click through the turn PROBABLY popeyed stiles during the days of the great lakes exposition which opened in cleveland a few days ago from the reports of the throngs of early visitors they are destined to see sec a fascinating show how one which combines an exhilarating exploitation of the industrial and social pro progress 11 ress of the great lakes region with colorful amusement features in in the best tradition of worlds fairs yet the cleveland show makes no pretense of being Z a worlds fair rather its makers wisely decided to confine it to the area indicated in the expositions name in such character it will be one of the largest fairs ever to be devoted principally to the resources of a particular portion of 0 the earths surface As the exposition began to take shape in Clev elands front yard on the thore shore of lake erie it became apparent that the only thing it was to lack in comparison with A century of pro progress exposition in chicago in 1933 and 1934 admittedly the most successful of all expositions was sheer bulk virtually all of the kinds of exhibits which fascinated nearly 40 million visitors at chicago as well as numerous added exhibits will be found at cleveland but presented in far more concentrated cent rated form perfect setting for expo ekpo for the vacationer or the weekend week end visitor this Is certain to be welcomed elc omed in the light of a distinct advantage it will save him many miles of weary walking and it will enable him to take in the whole show in a minimum of time and without the annoyance of having to look at the same exhibit several times in different forms displayed by different sponsors it will certainly enable hire him to get more for his money cleveland concedes nothing to chicago as a setting tor for an important exposition the gates of the great lakes exposition are only two blocks from the public square from which all transportation and activity in the city radiate railroad trains and buses come within rive five minutes walk of the main entrance while lake steamers mem tor for which cleveland Is a principal port dock in the heart of 0 the fair cleveland has a ph physical location for its fair which is perfect for the theme on the one hand is the vast blue expanse of lake erie unchanged oter the ae decades since the first tiny boats of the early pioneers pioneer touched upon Us its shore on the other at her hand rise the tall fall gray towers of the great city of a million touts souls which was incorporated just a hundred years ago and which grew out of the incomparable resources of the region into one of the worlds important centers of iron and steel production of shipping and manufactures the ekpo expo Is unique in that it Is built upon two levels one of them in the heart 0 of the cleveland business district about the gigantic auditorium chere here the republican national convention was held a few weeks ago and the other on the lake front below this situation Is going to furnish a pleasant surprise for visitors new to cleveland who enter the fair through the main entrance which Is on the higher level looking past the main gate toward the lake one does not see what lies below except the water after attending the exhibits on the higher level which include some of the principal industrial ones and Rad loland he Is likely to say to himself well it was a pretty good show and then reaching the crest of the hill suddenly discover another wide panorama tf bf more exhibits and amusement attractions tr than he ever tire dreamed am of fairyland of LI light the visitors first glimpse 0 of f the exposition should be at night for I 1 here I 1 ere it Is claimed Is the best lighted fair the world has ever seen this Is natural it if not mandatory from the fact that cleveland Is the center of the lighting industry both research and practice tor for the whole country seven 70 foot pylons nylons slim graceful shafts of light guard the entrance throughout the grounds are decorative nautical structures bathed in stimulating light longitudinal louvres douvres lou la in color light the automotive building and the hall of progress behind the stage of the marine theater Is a blazing aurora borealis Bore alls of constantly moving colored shafts of light while there are no dead spots in the exposition illumination there are likewise no buildings or areas to discomfort the eyes of fairgoers fair goers I 1 there as is one dominating therne theme of mi exposition it it is the romance of iron and steel art an exhibit by that camp shares the lakeside exhibition hall with the food exhibits these and Radi oland and the court of presidents make up the first of three sections into which the exposition is di divided tided the iron and steel exhibit Is a combination of models dl dioramas oramas and in mammoth ammoth photographs after the manner of the renowned european museums the visitor gets get 3 the opportunity of going in effect to the bowels of the earth via mine shafts and watching untold unfold the story of the metals from the furnaces of prehistoric times to the present day modern mining ln Is 13 also shawn in motivated exhibits as Is the journey of the ore from the mine to the great lakes area blast furnaces a foundry and bessemer converter will appear to be in actual operation the exhibit Is completed with a rolling mill and a modern steel laboratory fun for radio fans with the enormous popularity of the big name radio shows it Is easy to see why one of the most crowded spots Is Radi Rad oland loland into which the public auditorium has been converted tor for the present here the exposition throngs are invited to watch the broadcasts of their favorite stars in the flesh they can even watch the rehearsals it if they want to during the period of the fair it Is expected that at one time or another there will be present on the Radi Rad oland loland stage such celebrities Z 1 I fill oft sil 1 I luk mill a 17 ez LAW the magnificent horticultural gardens on the lakefront lake front in cleveland as paul whiteman and his orchestra walter winchell guy lombardo the sinclair minstrels kate smith and the A P gypsies fibber mcgee and molly ed wynn phil baker and major ia bowes nud and his bis amateurs the visitor reaches the second section of the exposition over a steel bridge which ts Is named the court of presidents the court Is lined with concessions from which rise 10 large lame booths each surmounted by a goon golden eagle each of these structures Is dedicated to one of the 10 presidents who was born in or elected from the great lakes region and whose likeness likeke Ss Is painted upon the side of the booth dominating building of the second section of the fair is the great round cleveland municipal stadium which seats 80 persons in this area are most of the buildings erected by the lite exposition administration and therefore many of the largest exhibits ek hibits architects who designed these buildings in gs describe their style as simple straightforward and sincere the ex shore Is the peaceful pence ful haien baen that visitors with setting aching feet welcome with delight the horticultural at gardens there are three terraces on the unusual building in these gardens and 0 o L 1 1 I 1 A corner of st marys cathedral of krakow poland in the streets of the world it assumes somehow the atmosphere of the forward deck of a great ocean liner its interior Is devoted to the exhibition of transient lowers flowers and the holding of floral contests of one sort or another one of the features of the gardens which was attracting the most attention in the early days of the fair was the historical gardens an 1836 garden one of a 1929 1920 garden then examples of what not to do in a garden compared with what makes good taste in building a garden and finally an exhibit of what might be the garden of the future like the horticultural gardens of A century of progress these are the rendezvous of hundreds of vacationing lovers enthralled thrall ed by all ail the excitement not to mention the moon over lake erie in n the east section of the fair are the automotive building the hall a of progress principal exhibitors are the utilities and the manufacturers of appliances and the giant amphitheater chich houses a spectacular pageant of transportation por tation called parade of the years this latter is a sort of 1936 edition of wings of a century from the chicago fair and written and directed by the same man as its predecessor edward A flung hungerford erford all of 61 the ancient locomotives the great cast of hundreds of actors and actresses chich fAril thrilled led in millions i 1 in the wings of a century are here hut but the show is embellished and im moved improved and just as breathtaking to one aho 0 saw wings as to a newcomer it Is hardly possible within the limits of a short article to describe the hundreds of exhibits in detail but here Is a partial list ot of the exhibitors the federal government westinghouse general electric ford general motors standard oil united states steel national steel republic steel youngstown sheet and tube american rolling mills sherwin williams swift national cash register beechnut white motor company Grass eill chemical chase brass copper Intern international atlon business machines international nickel cleveland cliffs iron timken roller bearing and streets of the world the third area houses the amusements and here there Is good news tor for the seasoned fair visitor it if there was one fault of the chicago fair in 1034 it was vas that there were ere too many foreign villages ages and they were too far scattered visiting them entailed much walking and considerable expense for there was an admission charge to each cleveland Clet eland has retained the admitted attraction of these foreign til ti lages their drai drat iback eback by combining them gil alt in ja ip 4 ago in the automotive building are some of the principal exhibits terrors are of simple line with a lavish use of varied color construction has been benefited by a million dollars worth of sound experience at A century tury of progress exposition for or all of it has been managed by albert N go gonsior D who was in charge of construction c tio for the chicago worlds fair gardens delight visitors one of the most lively spots 0 of f the grounds Is the marine theater which Is in the second area for here day and night Is presented a lavish fashion show full of the glamorous girls that broadway shouts about and performed to the accompaniment of gay music and gaier lights between tho tu sta staJl dilim nn and alid the wi la one great amusement concession the streets of the world here all for one admission it is possible to visit replicas of famed scenes in czechoslovakia czechoslovak la poland germany italy ireland Ilung hungary ary england and other countries among the he sights are the bazaar at krakow the cathedral of st marys with its broken trumpet call an old fashioned german photographic studio the hunyada castle and parliament buildings at ouda buda pest the orava castle of czechoslovakia a continental type idallan Iti illan movie house and dickens old 0 d curiosity shop in each of the nat nationality to n aliby sections there Is tree free entertainment by national groups in ili native costumes ca W aft q union |
