This silent newsreel footage shows the opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The Exposition was held in San Francisco. The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was a world’s fair held in San Francisco, California, U.S., from February 20 to December 4, 1915. Its stated purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 636 acre site along the northern shore, between the Presidio and Fort Mason, now known as the Marina District.
The first segment of the newsreel shows opening day and the Tower of Jewels, the centerpiece of the expo, designed by architect Thomas Hastings, of the firm of Carrère and Hastings. The combination triumphal arch-and-tower was 435 feet (132.59 m) tall and covered with more than 100,000 1-7/8 inch (47 mm) diameter Novagems, cut glass faceted “jewels”, that sparkled in the sunlight, and were illuminated at night by more than fifty spotlights. At 2:30, equestrian events are showcased. At 5:01, aviator Silvio Pettirossi stands in front of his monoplane. Another aviator is seen at 8:16, most likely Lincoln Beachey. Aerial stunts are performed at night with spectacular results.
The Palace of Horticulture is seen at 11:40, and the Palace of Fine Arts at 17:38. Some of the other sights visible include exhibition sumo matches at 20:02, a military parade at 22:00 and aerial shots at 27:50. At 31:31 a title card announces a short film entitled “The Fairy of the Portals”. This is also known as the “Story of Jewel City.” The little fantasy film stars two little girls otherwise unknown to cinema: Kathlyn Dempsey as the Fairy of the Portals, & Catherine Lund as the Little Soldier Fairy. The portal fairy materializes between doric columns by a pond. She flies over domes & buildings then comes to another land where a soldier fairy guards a cannon. The soldier fairy walks among the corpses of the slain, baring her sword.
At 40:21, newsreel style footage resumes with cheering crowds. At 42:29 a ferry, marked Crowley No. 18, ties up at the dock. At 42:39 the town of Briceburg in Mariposa County, California is shown. At 42:54 are images of the St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco as well as what appears to be Market Street. At 43:38, Prince Paulo Troubetzkoy the noted sculptor is shown.
At 47:27 the Ohio pavilion is shown. Ohio Governor Frank Willis is visible at 49:10 planting a tree in front of the exhibition hall.
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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 http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
