Sunday, August 9, 2009

Great Lakes Exposition - Part III

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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Sunday, July 12, 2009

The Great Lakes Exposition - Part II

As mentioned in the previous post on the Great Lakes Exposition that this was the “Golden Age” event for Cleveland in so many ways. The Exposition clearly demonstrated the power of the City even during the Great Depression. It too, highlighted civic pride and the old-world work ethic. In less than 90-days it took the City to approve and then build the Exposition (for comparison the Medical Mart is five-years and counting). Finally, the success of the Exposition demonstrated the positive civic pride the City once had - in earnest the City could see better days ahead; a world of opportunity knocking on the City’s door.

We highlighted in Part I the Horticultural Building - which was a gorgeous Art Deco design. But I have to say the Hall of Progress was a keeper too!

The Hall of Progress was 540 feet long and 180 feet wide and was constructed using a new system of rigid wooden trusses - a technique employed previously with only steel and concrete. It was the center display in offering up technologies of the future and was a quite popular display. In fact, Ohio Bell Telephone presented a whole slew of new telephony devices during the show. 

Three other buildings built near the Hall of Progress that merit special attention where the Firestone Building, Higbees Tower and the Sohio Building. Talk about Art Deco magic!

The Firestone building was a pure beauty. Wow! Can you imagine this building at our lakefront no matter who the tenant might be today? I can. Simply amazing. Take note of the “singing fountains” in front of the building. And the Higbee Tower…

The Great Lakes Exposition went beyond commerce and industry it provoked imagination and the belief that the future was going to inspire better days during the depression. The Higbee Tower is an awe inspiring facility and check out that fountain with large fish ornaments! Just spectacular. Now catch your breath for the next building…it is a stunner.

Are you kidding me!?! Buildings like this only exist in big budget Hollywood movies. But there it is in all of amazing splendor. (How could this have been destroyed?) Another major building during the Exposition was the Automotive Building. Cleveland was a City built on Big Auto - and the City went to great lengths to show the beauty and strength of the automotive industry.

The Automotive Building was a massive stage for all the automotive companies to happily show their new models. White Motor Company had a signature display during the Exposition.

During the next part of our blog on the Great Lakes Exposition we will detail the Sherwin Williams Amphitheatre and other-worldly Billy Rose’s Aquacade. These entertainment exhibits offer insight into the great frivolity of the day and a world before the TV. Amazing stuff so stay tuned.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Great Lakes Exposition - Part I

Perhaps the greatest “Golden Age” event of Cleveland was the Great Lakes Exposition of 1936 & 1937. The concept behind the Exposition was to celebrate the strong industrial trade of the eight-state region along the Great Lakes as well as to celebrate Cleveland’s centennial. A civic committee was formed in early 1936 and quickly raised over $1.5 million for the event. Ground was broke for the event in early April and doors were opened 80-days later in June!

And let me say, the Exposition looked spectacular!

The entrance to the Exposition was the Mall area north of St. Clair Avenue. The lakefront exhibition area was reached by a 350 foot bridge over the railroad tracks and the Exposition itself stretched from the old Municipal Stadium to East 9th Street, with additional development including a Midway amusement area, an international village called the “Streets of the World” and a “Goodyear” blimp landing strip that stretched down to East 20th Street. The development was massive. Not to mention multiple docks for luxury “lake liners” that were bringing attendees from all over the Great Lakes. The picture below gives an outstanding aerial view of the development including the bridge between City Hall and the County Courthouse. (You can actually see two Goodyear blimp’s in this photo - one in the center hovering over a “lake liner” and the second a bit above the first but moving to the right!) 

Additional showcase space was offered in a large underground exhibition space where the current Convention Center is located and in parts of public hall. While there were numerous buildings and exhibits - there were five main building showcased during the Exposition. The five were the Horticulture Building, the Hall of Progress, the Automotive Building, the Sherwin Williams amphitheatre and the Billy Rose’s Aquacade. 

The Horticulture Building, simply put, was an Art Deco classic as seen in this photo shot from Lake Erie looking south into the Exposition. Notice the old Municipal Stadium off to the right and in the distance the Terminal Tower. 

Rising in three tiers, its stepped terraces facing the lake were rounded, intended to look like the forward decks on an ocean liner. It’s entrance was extraordinary!

The Building was a marvelous piece of design and sat on 3.5 acres of land with various horticultural gardens and pools. One of the sculptured gardens can be seen below.

A very stunning building and a shame it is not around anymore.

In part two we will be detailing the Hall of Progress and the Automotive Building. Stay tuned. 

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