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This fascinating home movie, complete with handmade title cards, dates to 1936 and was shot by an unknown American amateur filmmaker, possibly named McElhiney. It contains rare scenes of the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas. This fair ran from June 6 to November 29, 1936, at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. The expo was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836. The grounds featured more than 50 buildings, some of which remain in the present era. The Expo attracted more than 6 million visitors and helped boost the Dallas economy during the Great Depression.
The film starts with images shot in a trailer camp of "George R. Chester and Family" (10:13). A 1930s camp trailer or travel trailer is visible at (28:00). At (34:00), a "wee nip" as the friends partake in a celebratory drink -- keep in mind Prohibition had only ended in late 1933! At (54:00), the segment shot at the Texas Centennial Exposition. At (1:02) a sign for the Magnolia Petroleum Co., based in Galveston, is seen. At (1:01) what appears to be the fair's midway is shown, with buses rumbling by as well as men on horseback. The Federal exhibit building is seen at (1:32) and the Ford Motor Co. building at (1:42). Radio studios are visible at (1:56). At (2:57) a Dr. Pepper stand is visible -- perfect for a hot day! (Dr. Pepper was created in the 1880s by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas.) At (2:14), fabulous Art Deco sculptures. Starting at (2:49), extremely rare color footage of the Texas Centennial. At (3:18) a large "bus stop" sign is visible. At (3:37) more shots of the Federal building with its high tower. At (3:56) the "streets of Paris" exhibit is seen. This was a George Dahl-designed building shaped like the famed S. S. Normandie ocean liner. It had three levels (“decks”) and housed a lounge, dining rooms, a main clubroom, and a “dance pavilion” - all air conditioned. At (4:06) a Ripley's Believe it or Not! exhibit is seen and a (4:14) the Black Forest exhibit, Germany's contribution to the fair, which included the Nuremberg Restaurant. At (4:35) the Texaco Oil Co. building is shown. At (5:30) the film switches back to more typical home movie fare -- showing a swimming hole known as Old Kidd Spring "where the McElhiney's cool off." Various shots of people bathing and wearing 1930s swim suits follow. Kidd Spring Park still exists today and is 29 acres in size! At 8:17, kids and teens crowd a sliding board for a chance to slide. At (8:35) the Sam Houston Zephyr is shown. This train was operated by the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad and was the first streamlined passenger train in Texas. This train first ran on October 1, 1936 and ran from the Texas and Pacific station in Fort Worth to Union Station in Houston in exactly five hours, making four intermediate stops in Dallas, Waxahachie, Corsicana, and Teague. At (9:16) two people interact with a parrot in a cage. The film ends with footage (10:46) of more swimming in a local lake or channel.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com