The Cool History of Cleveland

The Great Lakes Exposition, in 1936 and 1937, was a celebration of Cleveland’s centennial as well as a venue to demonstrate the industrial power of the Great Lakes. It was a powerful show and in the two previous posting the Cool History of Cleveland detailed the various cool expositions available to all Clevelanders for those two years. In this final post we are going to focus on perhaps the wildest component of the Exposition which was the Marine Theatre, then rebuilt in 1937 as Billy Rose’s Arcade. Essentially you have to see it to believe it.

Military Boat Show at Marine Theatre.

A little dinner and a military model boat parade. This is cool stuff. Look at all the dancers and singers on the stage. This is insane entertainment. Unfortunately, we only see this type of entertainment in old movies. Speaking of old movies check out the next picture.

A Beautiful Swim Show at the Marine Theatre

Stunning just stunning. How cool would it still be to see aquacade show’s at the lakefront event today? I know I would show up. In fact, the Marine Theatre displayed “Aurora Borealis” lights, moving beams projected into the sky and radiating from a center. A most impressive and stimulating visual display.

The Aurora Borealis at the Great Lakes Exposition.

I know the above post card looks a bit incredible but it is in fact a colored photograph. Truth is it doesn’t do the Exposition justice in scope of beauty and architecture. In any case, in 1937 Billy Rose, a world-renowned, showman took over the Marine Theatre and named it, of course, Billy Rose’s Aquacade.

Billy Rose's Aquacade

The Aquacade had numerous shows and dinner. Truly an impressive scene and a wonderful part of the Great Lakes Exposition. If only Cleveland had maintained this gem. Some of this amazing infrastructure should have been maintained and kept for future generations. I will always consider this show and the next 15 years in Cleveland history as its Golden Age.

It always amazes me how much participation the Cool History of Cleveland site gets from its readers. This tells me that there is great passion about Cleveland - and many people simply needed aa venue in which to brag eloquently about their beloved City. Back in January of this year, Cool History of Cleveland did a story on a large number of buildings that were designed, announced and yet never built in the City of Cleveland. Take a peak here. The responses are still coming in - after almost seven months! Cool.

Recently, Brian Cook of Bridge Partners sent in the following email detailing a slew of buildings that never saw the light of day in Cleveland:

“Proposed Hotel at the current park at the NW corner at Jacob’s field fronting on E. 9th street c. 1996 Tony Milan’s proposed office building/resort hotel just west of the new Federal Courthouse c 1999

The twin of the former Medical Mutual/One Cleveland Center on the Jogging track on E. 12th.  Now proposed to be residential as part of Zaremba’s project there. There was another World Trade Center  proposed on the Waterfront line around 2000 I believe. Does the abandoned Eaton/Port project qualify, probably not?

Love this stuff!”

I love this stuff, too. I do not remember the second tower being contemplated for the One Cleveland Center. That would have been a pretty robust development in my opinion. And can you imagine if the second tower of the Old Ameritrust Building had been built on Euclid? Cleveland would have had two twin towers! Thanks, Brian for the email. If there are any additional buildings anyone is aware send over to Cool History of Cleveland today.