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Discover Mid-America — April 2004
Show Me Show
There being many collectors of World’s Fair memorabilia, Missourians and others will be interested to note that there will be a commemoration of the Centennial of the St. Louis World’s Fair. The event will be held from April 2004 to April 2008 at Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park, according to the Missouri Historical Society. For more information, the Society can be contacted at PO Box 11940, St. Louis, MO 63112-0040 or go to the website at www.mohistory.org.
What a terrific trip this would be! A trip to this wonderful city allows plenty of opportunity for the antiques collector, the architectural buff, and the historian. Then to round it off, visit the Historical Society Building to view a multitude of things from the St. Louis World’s Fair.
As always, dÈjý vu from 1904 will be of interest to anyone who studies the future from the past. One hundred years ago, with the telephone barely in use, who would have thought that today we would have wireless phones through which one can send pictures, email, look at one’s calendar or play a game? It will be interesting to see what the Historical Society has planned for the viewing public. Paintings of views of the fairgrounds done by John Ross Key, noted artist and grandson of Francis Scott Key, will be on a special display.
Over the years, many people have approached us at shows and asked if we have any 1904 souvenirs. Some are common, like the milk glass lattice-edged plates with various scenes in the center. One unusual piece we have had was a hand-painted brooch, enamel on copper. It was bright and beautiful. As always, these affairs bring out all kinds of kitsch memorabilia. But after one hundred years, even a tatty fan would be interesting.
There are nice paper goods, magazines with lots of advertising that looks out of date, but in some cases, is still in operation. The programs of the period, the Official Guides that give an explanation of the various pavilions, etc., are wonderful. The material in these handbooks enhances the knowledge of what were the outstanding inventions and county’s pride one hundred years ago.
We have an official guide to the Grater St. Louis Exposition of 1926, twenty-two years later. The art work is pure Art Deco, and the advertising is wonderful because the companies put in what they thought was the most advanced product that had to offer then. A sampling of some of the ads will follow. The Brecht Company made meat display units. The newest ones combined electric refrigeration AND lighting! The Columbian Can Company on Natural Bridge Avenue manufactured tin cans, both plain and decorated. This ad was a half page in size and that was the substance of it.
A full page ad with twelve words on it pushed Harriet Hubbard Ayer toiletries. Shell Gasoline had a small note in their full page ad an nouncing that they sold Motor Oil, Gasoline, Furnace Oils and FOROLENE, especially for Fords. United Railways, of city transportation, asked that folks come to see the old cars that Grandma and Grandpa used to ride. Their pitch was “When St. Louis Moves” United moved you with the current of a single wire. “This wire makes it go, makes it stop, opens its doors and lights its lights.” United Wood Heel Company had pictures of their new wood heels decorated in iridescent color in varied pattern for beautiful shoes.
St. Louis had a history of shoe and hat production, of high finance, of iron manufacturing, and lots of small but very active by-products of the day. Seeing the past and comparing it to the present will be a great lesson in progress. In 1926, the promoters titled their expo “Celebrating 150 years of American Independence and Industrial Progress.” And look at this city today!
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