Evening star., 1932-02-15
SCIENTIST IS HIRED
FOR CHICAGO FAIR
New Surprises for 1888 Are
Sought to Eclipse
Thrills of '93.
BY VICTOR HACKLER.


Dy the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, February 15-What can
Chicago offer in '33 to equal the thrill
Of the Midway in '93. that mile-long
street of carnival that amused and
shocked the gay nineties?
The Midway-reminiscen of naughty
side shows, charivari, hurdy gurdy,
pageant of people, Of color.
Swaying dancers from the Orient.
Giddy whirl of the original ferris
wheel.
Fanfare of music and light-amaz-
Ing light, the wonder of electricity
blazing forth in the worlds first great
display of brilliance.
Forty years have slipped by. The
narvels Of the Worlds Columbian EX-
position have become commonplace.
How will this jaded generation be
entertained at the century OF progress
in 1898?
Old Thrills Faded.
A mathematician has been commits
stoned to answer the question: Forest
Ray Mouton, Ph.D., astronomer bal
listics expert. business man, lately OF
the University of Chicago, where he
was professor of astronomy for ID
wears. and now of the Utilities Power
& Light Corporation. DR.. Moulton has
taken charge of concessions for the
coming worlds fair and the Job OF
planning the amusementS for 5O,0O0,-
600 visitors.
The last 40 years of progress in Chi
cagos century of life have wrought
revolutionary changes in the art OF
making people gay.
Little Egypt feature dancer IN the
"Streft Cf Caro-" was a hit in '93. But
the swaying convolutions that brought
blushing protest from the lady man.
ayers" of those days have graduated
from carnival and burlesque to famll-
iarity on stage, screen and ball room
floor
The South Sea Islanders s"-palnted,
frightful fellows from the AntlpodeS--
danced their savage dance to the beat
of tomtoms. and many were the calls
for smelling salts by fainting bellies OF
the mauve decade. But the world has
shrunk in the intervening years. and
what with travel and the ubiquitous
movie cameraman, the customs OF far
of places have lost their exotic allure.
First Ferris Wheel Built.
The giant ferris wheel that swung the
visitors of 40 years ago to dizzy heights
from which they viewed. breathless. the
swarming pageant of the Midway was
genuine thrill. But the original OF the
Columbian show has had its counter
part at street carnivals and county fairs
ever since.
Dr. Moulton admits his is a formid-
able Job. 1t will take great show TO
beat Chicago's first world fair. Still,
busy with the details IS months in ad-
vance of the opening date he is conf
dent the Century of Progress Exposi-
ton will spread along its mile of shore
devoted to concessions thrill to match
every thrill of SO.
We'll produce a show that will as
tonish the world" he said There will
be an amusement zone and numerous
amusements in the usual sense of the
word-pageantS on land and water,
music, athletic events. geological gar
dens. shows, rides. fireworks, and every
thing that can legitimately add to gayety
and the lighter side of life"
Dr. Moulton IS not yet ready to talk
Of details. He prefers even to keep some
Of the amusements secret until the cur
tain lifts June l, 1888, recalling that it
was the surprise and Wonderment of the
early visitors to the old fair that ac-
counted for its huge success in later
months But he is indignant at the
"unfounded rumors" that the fair would
provide no fun. He blames this on the
preference given eXnlDltS In tne ad-
vance publicity.
DR.. Moulton directed the United
States Army Department of Ballistics
during the war. nationally known
mathematician, he likes to toy with
figures He has already estimated that
2,50OOO0 pounds of food materials will
be carried into the fair ground and that
so 900 900 visitors will eat 400 or 500
tons of popcorn.