Chicago World's Fair 1933-1934 DOUBLE DISC SET
Disc One
01:33:30 Runtime
1. Chicago World's Fair (30:25): A rare look at all the exhibits in the fair and footage from our archives..all of the Century of Progress main tour, all in black and white, all a must see for Chicago lovers.
2. 1934 Souvenir Picture Tour (17:16): Photo tour from the fair, with narration by Mr. & Mrs. Puter. Interesting little tour!
3. Hello Chicago! (1:48): You can find the original Hello Chicago footage on the 1930s DVD. But this clip was hand-picked for this World's Fair DVD. You'll see footage from BEFORE the fair even opened!
4. Chicago in the 1930s (02:44): A segment from the original production, all featuring the 1933 World's Fair. You'll love this black & white rare footage.
5. The Fair Opening 1933 (06:38): A grand gala at Chicago's Soldier Field held the opening ceremonies for the fair. Many beauty queens were chosen to sit court for this event, the Fair Queen and her fair court...much like a pageant. And, don't miss Miss Sally Rand doing her fan-dance...NAKED! (Seriously. Naked.)
6. Scrappy Cartoon: A World's Affair (03:40): RARE black & white cartoon of Little Scrappy (and the rest of the world!) going to the Chicago World's Fair! The sweetest introduction by two little guys with infant voices...then go on a tour with Scrappy! Animated.
7. Wonder Bread Home Movies (14:30): This footage is the only we've found that a company filmed their exhibit thoroughly. Starts at Lake Shore Drive & 23rd Street, even though it's not part of their exhibit, and takes you to the Wonder Bread Exhibit for a nice little tour. Their exhibit featured a dining area, an on-site bakery and more!
8. This Old Town Promos (16:00)
Disc Two
01:35:12 Runtime
1. FORD MOTOR Co. Shows The Chicago World's Fair (33:35): Produced by Ford shows all the exhibits and, of course, promotes the Ford Manufacturer of Automobiles. Also featured are some companies of the time providing parts to Ford. A rare look at all the exhibits in the fair with footage from our archives.
2. 1934 Night Footage Tour (6:50): Sky tour from the air provides a great night scene, as many of the fair exhibits are well lit. You get to see the entire fair layout! (counter present on film)
3. Century Tour (12:48): 1933 promotional film, and great stock footage of the fair and administrative buildings at the north entrance. See the Avenue of Flags, the Hall of Science, the Golden Temple of Jehol, the Sinclair Exhibit and more! See a live radio broadcast as it happens. Mechanical dinosaurs, high divers, the Travel and Transport Building, Pullman Cars, and the list goes on and on.
4. Chicago Fair Home MOVIES (5:22): A view of the fair as a tourist! Rare home movie footage of the fair.
5. BURTON HOLMES MOVIES (15:04): This producer shows you the fair, French Quarter, busy street vendors, and more. See the fair opening in 1933 at Chicago's Solder Field. Beauty queens held court like a pageant. And don't miss Miss Sally Rand doing her fandance...NAKED! Seriously. Naked. Included here are home movies from the family outside as the kids play, lots of baby footage – the buggy, crib, bath, kids pushcart, great home movie footage!
6. South Africa, Egypt, Europe Tour 1934 (21:40): The story goes that a pair of brothers had visited the fair (One Last Wish Before He Dies), and decided to see the world for themselves! This film, shot in 1934 takes you to the Indian Ocean, then tour Colombo Ceylon, Cairo, Rome, Venice, Italy...and much more as the tourists take you along.
The Best of Chicago Trolleys
Color & BW
Runtime 01:55:17
Chicago Trolleys, 28:46 Great amateur footage of Chicago, Illinois trolleys! Color and B&W, a classic look from the 1930s-50s of the trolleys of Chicago! See the city roll on by as the camera rides along with the trolleys, and see the trolleys roll on by as the folks filmed from the roadside. See the old rail yards, the trolleys, the South Shore going by, and more! Created by the MAHP from silent amateur footage, with music and some commentary thrown in! Great footage from The MAHP!
New Rapid Transit, 16:58 This one’s an instant classic! See rare 1950s B&W and color footage of Chicago, Illinois’ famous “El” trains. Subway in New York is underground…Chicago’s rapid transit is up in the sky…Elevated…”The El”! Great footage from amateur filmographers with a love for the railroad! See Chicago in the 50s, the classic cars, the roadside depots, the Dan Ryan…created by The MAHP from silent amateur footage, with music and some commentary.
Midwest Electric, 30:03 Another fantastic production from our own Bill Warrick! The electric lines that run through Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois are displayed here in this production. Great B&W and color footage back up this great story that includes “America’s Favorite InterUrban”, the South Shore Transit System! Hear how these electric lines got started, and how they fare today!
Bloomington Line, 09:38 This film chronicles the old Bloomington Line, abandoned in February of 1953 when the interurban network began to crumble in the early 1950s. An Illinois Central freight powered by 2-8-2 steam locomotive number 2138, as seen from inside northbound interurban car near Forsythe, Michigan. Mostly silent, with narrative scenes throughout, this is a must have for fans of our Mid-American railroads past, and present! Great B&W footage!
Chicago Surface Line, 14:56 The largest surface lines in the country at the time. See trolleys as they go right along the lakefront over the original grounds of the 1933 World’s Fair. See RARE color footage from the 1940s of trolleys and trains in downtown Chicago! Folks getting on and off during their workday, almost as busy then as it is now! The colorful trolleys and surface rail cars in red and green and gold…rare to find such great footage. Silent amateur footage, with music and some narration mixed in.
Promos, 14:56 B&W and color previews of other Mid-American Heritage Preservation Foundation Inc.’s offerings (MAHP). Check out the great amateur footage we have in store for you! Downtown Whiting, Hammond, East Chicago, Indiana and more! Get your catalog now, and check the MAHP!
Chicago in the 1940s
02:12:00 Runtime
Chicago in the 1940s (29:50): Great footage of the Chicagoland area, originally released in 1999. Begins with a rare film clip of the Pageantry Opening of the Chicago Subway, October 16, 1943. This b&w footage shows you Michigan Avenue, watch the parade as they set-up in Chicago under the El...trolleys in the background as horse and buggy leads the parade. Great floats and marching bands right past downtown Walgreen's and Marshall Fields and the Telenews Theater that was set up during the World War II era. Plus, you'll have a tour of Chicago Park near Buckingham Fountain and the museums. Then, some rare color footage...the 1940s cars and people and styles and city streets. And, don't miss the billboard company films showing off the billboard advertising and how they pasted them up...with the glue bucket and the masterful billboard hangers as they worked in the sky. Watch the clicker guy counting all the people passing these billboards to show the high-traffic volume for their sales. Night scenes of downtown Chicago and the Paradise Theater and Howard Bowl. Then, more b&w parade footage in South Chicago at 87th Street and Commercial Avenue in the 1940s! See the opening ceremony, south side's Fire Department, local neighborhoods, a tour down Cal Sag Channel and more! This first chapter ALONE is worth the price of the DVD!
Street Trolleys 1940s (14:00): Rare b&w color film put out by the Chicago Surface Lines, the largest trolley system in the USA.
Home Movies 1940s (11:00): Color home movie footage, silent with music of the era added. Take a tour with a family from Hammond, Indiana going sight-seeing downtown Chicago on foot and a paddle boat ride! Skyscrapers, Jackson Park, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science & Industry, Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo and more!
Brooklyn Goes Chicago 1947 (08:58): A Brooklyn native checks out the Windy City of Chicago! Cute shorty production, narrated, fun!
Skid Row 1941 (08:00): Two reporters go under cover on "skid row" to uncover how life is with the underprivileged there. Great street scenes, narrated (dramatization).
Chicagoland Sports (06:26): Chicago Bears in 1949 at Wrigley Field...Chicago Cubs b&w footage as they beat Cincinnati in a grand upset...great footage!
Proudly We Hail (26:26): Late 40s production by Standard Oil Company. Speaks of Americans, but filmed and centralized in Chicago. America (Chicago) the melting pot...we're all just people...treat each other well...a feel-good American film!
Willett Trucking Company Film (27:55): B&W safety films produced by the company.
Chicago in the 1960s - Double Disc Set!
Color
01:17:11 Runtime Disc 1
01:19:11 Runtime Disc 2
Bonus TWO DISC SET! There was just too much footage for one DVD, and that means SAVINGS for you!!
Disc One includes Chicago in the 60s, showing the changing city and urban sprawl; Chicago Riots, a look at the violence of the late 60s in Chicago; Chicago Chamber of Commerce and population problems; footage of former Chicago Mayor Richard Daly; Riverview Park in 1968 being torn down – but the animals were still there; coverage of the last Monon train leaving Chicago with interviews of the last passengers on board the trip leaving from Chicago and passing through Hammond, Indiana...and much more in the bonus promos!
Disc Two begins with Midwest Heartland of the Nation, a great mixture of footage of midwest manufacturing and Chicagoland footage; also on this disc: Wonders of Chicago, narrated by George Jessel, a business tour of the Windy City; Chicago-Crossroads of a Continent, an Illinois Bell promo film about Chicago; Santa's Village, color home movies from the local park in Dundee, IL; Chicago River, home movie footage of scenes along the Chicago River. Of course, there's much more!!