(3 of 6)
For an extra 50¢ visitors will be able to see the "Cavalcade of Texas" on a 300-ft. stage at the race track of the fair grounds, complete with all six flags, with cowponies and Wild West resurrected. And for untold small change there will be about 100 side shows on a Midway put together by Paul Massman who managed such matters in Chicago and San Diego. Some of its ventures: "Streets of Paris" for lovers of the nude; "Streets of All Nations" for lovers of the seminude; an "English Village"; Shakespeare plays acted by students of Carnegie Tech. ; Warden Lawes of Sing Sing exposing crime; Admiral Byrd exposing Little America; a "Black Forest"; an "Old Curiosity Shop"; etc., etc.
Second difficulty of the Dallas Fair was a shortage of time. Although the Centennial as a whole was planned more than twelve years ago, the Dallas Exposition did not get a good start until last autumn. Over 40 buildings had to be erected, two whole golf courses bought, cut up into sod and used to grass the Exposition. For the last few months, 7,000 to 10,000 workmen have been working three shifts a day. On every job was a big sign reading " — days until June 6. We shall not fail." Last week the fateful numbers on the sign fell from 10 to 9 to 8 to 7 and still buildings were going up, statues being cast. Among the buildings likely to be incomplete was the State of Texas building, but still the Expositioneers swore that all would be ready for the grand opening, June 6.
Third difficulty of the Dallas Fair was to make its visitors comfortable. Fearful that ignoramuses from distant States would not regard Texas as the ideal summer recreation grounds which they claim it to be, the Fair's managers announced that 80% of its buildings would be air-cooled. More ambitious were the Fair's publicity men who announced that Dallas would be cooled every evening by breezes from the Gulf of Mexico (250 miles away). More serious than heat was the question of housing. For a city such as Chicago, with over 3,000,000 population, to welcome 150,000 visitors at one time requires only about 5% more beds than usual. For Dallas 150,000 visitors would require over 55% more beds. For the past few weeks Dallas hotels have already been filled by people coming on Exposition business. To house the great influx expected, Dallas has been busy building tourist camps and tent cities on her outskirts, arranging to have Pullman cars kept on sidings for their passengers to live in, arranging a central booking bureau to which visitors can apply to rent rooms in several thousand private homes.
Rump Fair, It is a terrible thing for two cities to be only 33 miles apart. When Fort Worth heard that Dallas was to be the centre of Texas Centennial, her pride was pinched. Amon Carter and friends had got only a quarter of a million out of the Federal grab bag, but they determined to outdo Dallas. They sent for Fanny Brice's husband, little Billy Rose, most grandiloquent of U. S. showmen, the author of Barney Google. Presented to him was a contract reputedly for $1,000 a day for 100 days. Promptly Fort Worth's "Frontier Centennial" was planned.