May 27, 1933: The Century of Progress World's Fair

May 27, 1933: The Century of Progress Exhibition, a World's Fair, opens in Chicago. It celebrated the Centennial of the city's incorporation in 1833. It ran for 2 years, until October 31, 1934.

The theme of the fair was technological innovation, and its motto was "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Adapts," trumpeting the message that science and American life were wedded. Its architectural symbol was the Sky Ride, a transporter bridge perpendicular to the shore on which one could ride from one side of the fair to the other.

One description of the Fair noted that the world, "then still mired in the malaise of the Great Depression, could glimpse a happier not-too-distant future, all driven by innovation in science and technology." Fair visitors saw the latest wonders in rail travel, automobiles, architecture and even cigarette-smoking robots. The exposition "emphasized technology and progress, a utopia, or perfect world, founded on democracy and manufacturing."

The fair buildings were multi-colored, to create a "Rainbow City," as compared to the "White City" of the World's Columbian Exposition, the Chicago World's Fair of 40 years earlier. The buildings generally followed Moderne architecture, in contrast to the neoclassical themes used at the 1893 Fair.

One famous feature of the fair were the performances of Sally Rand, a "fan dancer," who used feathered "fans" to flash skin at viewers, so as to show that she was naked, but not appear totally so. Other popular exhibits were the various auto manufacturers, the Midway (filled with nightclubs such as the Old Morocco, where future stars Judy Garland, The Cook Family Singers, and The Andrews Sisters performed), and a recreation of important scenes from Chicago's history.

Sally Rand

The Fair also contained exhibits that would seem shocking to modern audiences, including offensive portrayals of African-Americans, a "Midget City" complete with "sixty Lilliputians," and an exhibition of incubators containing real babies. This may have been the 1st year of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal," and many of the exhibits may have been looking to the future, as those at World's Fairs tend to do; but much of the social attitudes were still trapped in the past.

Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, thought there should be a baseball game in connection with the Fair. So the 1st Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held at Comiskey Park on July 6, with a team of players from the American League beating one from the National League, 4-2.

The following year, the Chicago College All-Star Game, featuring recently graduated players taking on the defending Champions of the NFL, was played at Soldier Field, which was made part of the Fair's grounds. The 1st of those games, between the College All-Stars and the Chicago Bears, ended in a 0-0 tie.

Among the remaining buildings from the Fair are on the Museum Campus, including Soldier Field, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. Northerly Island, connected to the mainland by Solidarity Drive, includes another museum, the Adler Planetarium. It once house an airport, Meigs Field, which has been converted back into a public park.

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May 27, 1933 was a Saturday. This was also the day that the film Gold Diggers of 1933 premiered. I have a separate entry for that event.

These baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox, 15-11 at Yankee Stadium. Yes, that's a baseball score, not a football score. Pitcher Ted Lyons went 3-for-4 for the White Sox, but got knocked out of the box in the 8th inning, when the Yankees came back from 11-3 down to score 12 runs. Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey hit home runs. Babe Ruth did not, but did go 1-for-4 with a walk and 2 RBIs.

* The Brooklyn Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3 at Redland Field in Cincinnati. The ballpark was renamed Crosley Field the next season.

* The Cleveland Indians beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-0 at Fenway Park in Boston. Wes Ferrell allowed 9 hits, but kept the shutout.

* The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-2 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Mickey Cochrane hit 2 home runs, and Lefty Grove pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief to get the save for Tony Freitas. Jimmie Foxx did not play in this game. A year later, due to owner-manager Connie Mack's Depression-forced fire sale, Cochrane would be managing and playing for the Tigers, and Grove would be pitching for the Red Sox. Two years after that, Foxx would be with the Red Sox.

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-1 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Frankie Frisch, Joe Medwick, Ripper Collins and Jimmie Wilson each had 3 hits for the Cards, while Ethan Allen went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs.

* The Boston Braves and the Chicago Cubs were rained out at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader the next day. The Cubs swept, 5-1 and 3-2.

* The Washington Senators and the St. Louis Browns were rained out at Griffith Stadium in Washington. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on July 15. The Senators swept, 1-0 and 2-0. Lefty Stewart pitched a 9-hit shutout in the opener, and Bobby Burke a 5-hit shutout in the nightcap.

* And the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates were rained out at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on July 22. The Giants won the 1st game, 1-0. Carl Hubbell pitched a 6-hit shutout. The Pirates won the 2nd game, 7-2. Over the 2 games, Giants 1st baseman-manager Bill Terry went 3-for-7 with a walk, Mel Ott went 2-for-7 with a walk and an RBI, Pie Traynor went 0-for-7 with an RBI, Paul Waner went 2-for-7 with an RBI, and Lloyd Waner went 2-for-8 with a walk.