Page 8 - Demo

A Century of Progress %u2022 Vintage PostcardsAn exhibit of premature babies in incubators at the Fair.A Second World%u2019s Fair for Chicago (Continued)Sally Rand was a popular performer at Fair with her fan dance.of Lincoln%u2019s boyhood home, and the cabin of Chicago%u2019s founder, Jean Baptiste Point du Sauble. He was described in the Official Guide Book as %u201ca prosperous, educated Negro of French extraction.%u201d Other references to non-Caucasians were not often as benign. In fact, there were exhibits that would be shocking to modern audiences: offensive portrayals of African-Americans, and a Midget City filled with %u201csixty Lilliputians.%u201d Strangely, there was a display of incubators containing live babies. There was also an actual freak show, a flea circus, and a two-headed baby (conjoined twins) in a jar of formaldehyde. Less bizarre, but perhaps more eye-catching (especially to male fairgoers), were some of the performances at The Streets of Paris exhibit. In particular, there was the infamous Sally Rand. Accompanied by an orchestra directed by Art Frasik, she did a peek-aboo with her body on stage by artfully manipulating giant plumed fans in front of and behind her. Both graceful and seductive, she swooped and twirled%u2014often to the tune of Clair de Lune.Other less titillating, but still exciting, sights were Admiral Byrd%u2019s polar expedition ship, the City of New York. It was staffed by some of Byrd%u2019s Antarctic crew, and visited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he arrived at the