Wings of a Century: Fair 1933

This 1933 silent film, Century of Progress Exposition: Wings of a Century, shot in black-and-white 16mm, offers a fresh take on Chicago’s Century of Progress Exposition. Sweeping pans reveal the fairgrounds and Japanese Pavilion, while animatronic dinosaurs, including a T-Rex, lumber on a faux movie set. A Houdini-style rope act and stunning high dive captivate, ending with an aerial view of fascist-inspired architecture. A pre-war showcase, it merges 1930s spectacle with bold design, echoing progress amid global shifts.