Continuing the exploration of the Chicago Rail Fair with more images from the exhibits and shows. The first is for the Vitarama show. A predecessor to the Cinerama movies, the Vitarama used 11 synchronized projectors to show a film in the semi round. First used at the New York World's Fair in 1939, later adopted in World War 2 for aerial gunnery training. The Vitarama show at the Rail Fair featured Eastern Railroads such as the Nickel Plate Route, B and O and Northwestern. Of course this idea would be refined and altered into a 360 degrees motion picture called Circarama for Disneyland in 1955.
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The second shot is from an outdoor play. The set and setting look similar to the Golden Horseshoe Review. I like the railroad lantern as a light on the aisle.
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Another nice image of Gold Gulch. This was one of the more scenic areas on the 50 acre fairground and I have more images from that area to share.
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The final image is of the Union Pacific station and display. Modeled after the Los Angeles Union Station with displays about railroads in the Pacific.
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6 comments:
Well, what can I say, except that these amazing slides are about as good as they get. They make me smile! Thanks so much
Everything he said.... Wait, you have more?
Wow - what is that big headed thing in the Vitarama show?
It looks like a large, mechanical barker, doesn't it, Chris?
Boy, these are some nice images!
Kudos!
That Union Pacific station has little resemblance to Los Angeles Union Station. The one-story section is reminiscent of their smaller depots in California and Nevada, and the tower "looks Union Pacific" but I don't know enough to say what cities might have had something similar.
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