Snapshots of the Fair, 1936-1940
by Paula Bosse
Centennial Exposition, 1936 — photo by Lewis D. Fox (click for larger image)
by Paula Bosse
An amateur photographer named Lewis D. Fox took a lot of photos at the State Fair of Texas — from the Texas Centennial in 1936 through 1940. The Centennial photos are particularly interesting, because they show what the “Exposition” was like to the average visitor — there was more going on than just the spectacular extravaganza we usually see — there are also shots of people doing un-spectacular things like just walking around or enjoying a quiet, late-afternoon cup of coffee. There are also photos of the people who do the heavy-lifting at a state fair — the men and women who work the Midway shows and the concession stands (a link to a larger collection of Mr. Fox’s State Fair photos — almost a hundred snapshots — is below).
Enjoy this look at a time when going to the fair meant dressing up and, apparently, often leaving the children at home! (Click photos to see larger images.)
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Sources & Notes
All photos taken by Lewis D. Fox, from the Fox Photograph Collection in the Fort Worth Public Library Archives, courtesy of the Genealogy, History and Archives Unit, Fort Worth Public Library. Mr. Fox took a lot of snapshots at the fair — see more here.
On a personal note, I’m mesmerized by “The Waffle Man.” He looks just like a young Lefty Frizzell! Lefty was from nearby Corsicana and he spent a lot of time in Dallas, but he wasn’t born until 1928, so it can’t be him — but check out this photo of Lefty as a teenager and see the remarkable resemblance! Not only did the (no doubt syrup-scented) young man above look like one of my favorite singers, but he also had ready access to waffles. What’s not to love? Oh, Waffle Man….
All images larger when clicked.
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Copyright © 2014 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
A penny for her thoughts
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And she’s got CHANGE!
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The building with the “Swing Review” marquee appears to be modeled after the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles with its Streamline Moderne towers. However, that building was built in 1935 just months before the Centennial Exposition. Any idea if it was modeled after something else?
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I don’t know. I’d never even heard of a swing revue at the fair/Centennial until I saw this photo. I’ll try to see if I can find out more about it later today.
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I always look to see if there is a picture out there somewhere of my mother. All I know she was a singer/dancer in a show at the Centennial, the year before I was born.
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And there were so many dancers employed at the Centennial! Don’t stop looking, though. Good luck!
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