This is a fascinating silent 16mm movie newsreel of the San Francisco World’s Fair — known as The Golden Gate International Exposition. It was held at San Francisco’s Treasure Island, and was a World’s Fair celebrating, among other things, the city’s two newly built bridges. The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. The exposition opened from February 18, 1939, through October 29, 1939, and from May 25, 1940, through September 29, 1940.
The newsreel shows many aspects of the Fair including the famous “Gay Way” and many of the buildings that were purpose built for the event.
The Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) on Treasure Island celebrated the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. The theme of the fair, “Pageant of the Pacific,” gave a Pacific Rim influence to the art, architecture and landscape design at the fairgrounds while blending in modernism and technological innovations. Initially opened from February 18, 1939 to October 29, 1939, the Fair was not a financial success because of the Great Depression and it was re-opened for a second round from May 25 – September 29, 1940.
The Exposition was a tour de force of architecture, art, and dramatic lighting—all set on its own little island created on the shoals off Yerba Buena Island. Viewed at night from the shores of San Francisco Bay, the Exposition was a floating, fairytale island of light. The monumental buildings were fantastically lit with indirect lighting. Multicolored spotlights shone their beams more than a mile up into the night sky. The Exposition was visible for more than 100 miles in every direction. It came to life for only two seasons and was nicknamed “The Magic City.” The theme of the Exposition was “A Pageant of the Pacific,” emphasizing the unity, heritage and melding of cultures that share the Pacific Ocean. The eclectic blend of Oriental, Occidental, and South Pacific art and cultural symbolism emphasized harmony and unity. The Elephant Towers at the west entrance blended Oriental design and Mayan architecture. The Fountain of Western Waters in the Court of Pacifica featured sculptures representing Asia, North America, the Pacific Islands and South America at its compass points.
The Exposition closed forever on September 29, 1940. Originally scheduled to become the new San Francisco airport after the Exposition, Treasure Island was taken over by the U.S. Navy in support of the war effort. San Francisco was given land on the San Mateo County mudflats, where the airport still stands, as compensation for losing the Treasure Island facility. Some Exposition statuary and art was saved, others destroyed. A few artifacts remain scattered around the city and the country, but for the most part, the glory of the Exposition was abandoned for the practical requirements of war.
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. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
