By Cheryl R. Ganz

First, let’s consider other reviews of this book:

Beginning and ending with controversial fan dancer Sally Rand, The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair gives readers a distinctive and authoritative take on this important exposition. Cheryl R. Ganz’s thorough research and very readable writing style ensure that this will remain the standard history of A Century of Progress for years to come.”

—John E Findling, Coeditor of Encyclopedia of World’s Fairs and Expositions.

Cheryl R. Ganz gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the 1933 Chicago world’s fair, with interesting angles on the infighting among various interest groups. A significant addition to world’s fair studies, with novel contribution regarding gender, race, ethnicity, and class.”

—Arthur P Molella, director of the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center of the Study of Invention and Innovation.

These two excerpts offer readers quick expectations about this book. Anyone curious about Chicago’s second World’s Fair will obviously be immediately interested. Those interested in the city’s south side development, will, after a quick perusal, certainly want a copy for their personal library. Art Deco enthusiasts will be struck by the variety and quality of Ganz’s images. But what else does this beautiful book offer an average reader? Well, the recognition of how acquiring history from many sources and perspectives gives rise to an experience of reading good, candid, well organized writing; new awareness of what kinds of events seem to “jump start” a city, and how that variety might or might not work together within an existing city plan.

From a scholarly point of view, this modest-sized volume has been very well and extensively researched. Ganz draws from many private or public sources and much care has been taken in its presentation. The overall design echoes the rich Art Deco period while still allowing the text, notations, and illustrative material to dominate. Perhaps 272 pages with 631 notes may seem daunting, but the extraordinary organization further enhances the academic tone and intent of this book. Readers are able to quickly locate their special interests. I, for example, wanted to know how the fair looked inside. On page 176, note #28, I learned that most official guidebooks display building exteriors. Well, now! And how welcome those tone photos! And further on, use of color is discussed! It seems that forty years after Burnham’s “White City,” the World’s Fair was quite colorful indeed with all its distinctive postcard qualities displayed in the many brochures and posters, presented in the illustrative color section on paper saturated with the whitening power of titanium!

The eight topical chapters (plus Introduction and Epilogue) follow one another without interruption. Note material (often containing additional bibliographic reading suggestions) has wisely been placed near the Index, but it is still very accessible. Incidentally, but importantly, Ganz’s Index also works quite well without unnecessary cross-referencing and excessive categorization.

It might be useful to list chapter titles, followed by number of notes in parentheses. Why? Because such focused material allows the book to maintain its fluidity and cohesion. The author is able to clearly focus on the issues without unimportant diversions. Thus: Introduction (8); I-Sally Rand and the Midway (100); 2-Chicago Boosters Set the Stage (84); 3-A New Vision for a World’s Fair (62); 4-The Vision on Display (68); 5-Women’s Spaces at the Fair (96); 6-African Americans and the Du Sable Legacy (68); 7-Ethnic Identity and Nationalistic Representations of Progress (58); 8-Aviatation, Nationalism and Progress (77); Epilogue (10). These titles provide the directions taken by the book—this publication is not another merely picture book; it is an exemplary piece of scholarship, enjoyable and informative.

For example, in her third chapter, “Creating a New Vision for a World’s Fair,” Dr. Ganz explores the radical differences between the White City and the Fair of 1933. She writes:

The organizers of the 1893 World’s Columbia Exposition had used the “trade fair” concept and it competitive exhibits to display the progress of industry and the advancement of civilization. Dawes, Lohr and their team, on the other hand, revolutionized the trade fair concept. The idea of cooperation, not competition, underlay their vision, and they saw the very idea of progress itself as the fair’s thematic centerpiece. During the first decades of the twentieth century, businesses had discovered that cooperative action could actually advance their own industries, and fair organizers believed that this same concept could be used to demonstrate the collective progress of all industries. Cooperation would also save money for industrial exhibiters by eliminating display duplication. . . A Century of Progress would distinguish itself from all earlier fairs by underscoring the reality that science and technology serve the public interest by improving the everyday lives of each and every person.

This inevitable comparison, the distinction between the two Chicago fairs is something Ganz frequently addresses and with great success. Essentially three major differences seem apparent between these two fairs: 1. Major changes in attitudes and performances involving city-wide groups helped planners envision potential world impact; 2, Genuine attempts of activists and planners on all levels to excite the interest of their community and to explain how certain changes could make real differences in city functioning, benefiting all citizens, and 3. Provided real physical improvements that remained extant beyond just the “fair days” or depression years, reinforcing feelings that change was at hand and happening

The volume may be a bit pricey, but it has so much to recommend it. One more note: Dr. Ganz likes stamps. Thank God! Indeed, for me this book would be a quick choice from the famous Front Table. I wish to say thank you to Dr. Ganz. Thank you for sharing your superb research materials; thank you for your use of that wildly exciting vintage poster for your cover emboding the hopes and future dreams of a harried people. We needed such a splendid diversion then. We could certainly use another now.

Reviewed by Joan Hives

The 1933 World’s Fair: A Century of Progress by Cheryl R Ganz
University of Illinois Press, 2008
Cloth, 264 pp, $39.95
ISBN-10: 0252033574