photo album 1939 SF

[lemog]

I have some photos about the San Francisco World's Fair I will post here...

as I don't know much this event, certainly you could be able to have details unknown of me...

First series :

#01 - Aerial view... shame for the spot at left

#02 - Less good; but even interesting.

#03 - National Cash Register

#04 - Not sure, but is it the Festival Hall ?

the Federal Hall, the pavilion of the US Government (thanks anyway Joey )

California State Building : Governor's suite. Portola Expedition Diorama. Natural Resources exhibit. Ballroom (left part)

San Francisco Buidging : Mayor's suite. History of San Francisco. Wells Fargo exhibit. Municipal activities (right part)

Thanks Expoboy

#05 - Boeing Y1B-17 - On public exhibit in front of the Federal Buiiding on Treasure Island during the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition.

More comes soon of course

[Joey Chernov]

Great photos! And photo #4 is the Federal Hall, the pavilion of the US Government.

[lemog]

Great photos! And photo #4 is the Federal Hall, the pavilion of the US Government.

Festival... Federal... almost the same word for a french guy thanks Joey !

[expoboy]

Festival... Federal... almost the same word for a french guy thanks Joey !

I checked a map of the Exposition and the building in #4 is part o f the California complex. The section to the left of the circular rotunda is the State of California exhbit and to the right is the City of San Francisco exhibit. The Federal building is actually just outside of the photo to the left.

[lemog]

Thanks for the last informations Expoboy... well... I must prepare the next photos

(I find a Guide Book... but it miss the map )

[Randy Treadway]

Similar picture on a postcard.

It says 2 million visitors toured this exhibit.

It was back in 1940, but this time in a camouflage paint scheme.

[worldsfairent]

Thanks for sharing these photos from the Golden Gate International Exposition, lemog. It also appears that Picture #4 is a post-fair photograph. If you look at the buildings closely, you can see they're in a significant state of decay-- perhaps even early in the demolition process.

[worldsfairent]

Meanwhile... even though it required taking a few liberties in terms of accuracy... I couldn't resist at least trying to make that tragic white spot on your aerial disappear!

[expoboy]

Thanks for sharing these photos from the Golden Gate International Exposition, lemog. It also appears that Picture #4 is a post-fair photograph. If you look at the buildings closely, you can see they're in a significant state of decay-- perhaps even early in the demolition process.

You've got sharp eyes. I didn't even notice that. One of the buildings in the California complex suffered a major fire near the end of the fair's second season. My guess is this photo is post -fire.

[worldsfairent]

Right you are, expoboy. Don't know much about GGIE history (just LOVE the way it looked)-- but that's definitely fire damage. In fact, here's some great WPA footage of the nasty blaze that gutted the California Building:

WPA Newsreel: FIRE AT THE FAIR!

[lemog]

Thanks worldsfairent, the photo is perfect now... and thanks to all... for these precisions about the tragic fire, that was when exactly ?

[lemog]

New series...

#06 - Court of the Seven Seas

#07 - Court of Pacifica

#08 - ?

#09 - Court of Flowers

#10 - ??? - The Gayway which was the Expositions's amusement area. (Thx Expoboy and Randy)

But... there's nobody to follow the show ?

[expoboy]

#10 is The Gayway which was the Expositions's amusement area.

[Randy Treadway]

#10 - ???

Included in the picture is Sally Rand's show place in the 'Gayway' section of the expo.

[lemog]

Thanks guys, in first, I was not sure that these part was really in the fair

just remain the #08 to find.

If anyone have a good map of this fair, I will be very interesting... to show here, or to send me by email...

[Randy Treadway]

If anyone have a good map of this fair, I will be very interesting...

Official map (big)

Shell Oil Company map

[Randy Treadway]

GGIE Gayway at night. Sally Rand on the left, Ripley's Believe-it-or-Not on the right.

[lemog]

Ooooh YESSSSS

thanks a lot... so perfect, now, some aeras appears more clear for me !

that will be a great help to identify the photos

I only have this book... but I think it miss the map... maybe a color map ? dont 't know.

[Randy Treadway]

From Life magazine, March 6, 1939

[lemog]

Finally, this one was taked just front of the Lake of Nations, in direction of the exhibit halls...

[lemog]

Whaouw... the color photo is outstanding

[Randy Treadway]

On the large map there is something labeled 'Magic Carpet'.

It was a big flower display.

Courtesy Bill Cotter – worldsfairphotos.com

[lemog]

Incredible... stop Randy... now, I start to have the envy to begin a 3d project about the GGIE hahahaha

(I already imagine it)

[lemog]

more...

#11 - Now I know the name really inside the GGIE... Sally Rand Nude Ranch

(Danger, Keep Out, Symon Bros. 1435 Market St. ?)

#12 - Court of the Moon

#13 - Court of Flowers

#14 - Pacific Area - Philippine pavilion ?

#15 - Court of Reflections

[Randy Treadway]

Some GGIE trivia:

Did you know that the Administration Building looked something like Berlin's Tempelhof Airport terminal building (designed by Albert Speer), so it was used as a stand-in in the movie Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade ?

Here it is, gussied up for the movie.

The GGIE Administration Building also made an appearance in 1998's The Parent Trap, but without the Nazi trappings. :D