Evening star., 1933-05-27
HUGE WORLD FAIR
OPENED AT CHICAGO
Farley 0fficiates as Century
of Progress Exposition
Gets Under Way.

CONTINUED From First Page.)
Farley representing President Roosevelt.
AS a climax tonight science will loose
ray from the star Arcturus to turn
the switch lighting all buildings
Today's exercises were concentrated In
huge Soldier Field, an integral part Of
the exposition grounds.
At IL am the inaugural parade was
planned to enter Soldier Field, with Mr..
Farley, shortly thereafter, accepting a
pen from the queen Of the fair with
which to sign the proclamation open
ing the exposition.
The program called for brief speeches
by Mr. Farley, Rufus c. Dawes, presi-
dent of the fair; Chicago's Mayor Kelly,
Gov. Henry Horner of Illinois and other
dignitaries. after which the public was
to be told to go and see it."
Success Expected.
Tonight's exercises will be held on
the tar-reaching esplanade Of the Hall
of Science Court Lawrence Tibbett,
noted opera star. will sing the National
Anthem as Arcturus' rays turn the vast
grounds into blaze OF illuminated
color.
Will a Century of Progress duplicate
the success of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition of 40 years ago? Mr.. Dawes,
Lenox r. Lohr, Army major, drafted to
be managing director of the exposition,
and the hard-headed Chicago business
men who underworld the bonds for the
fair think so.
They point out that the Columbian
Exposition was held in hard times and
set a mark of success that few exposi-
tions, past or future, ever approached.
There was unusual pressure, even on
the part of Chicagoans, to postpone the
project, at least for year. They
thought the times decidedly unpropi-
tious.
AS late as last February, one Chi
cagoan, who had underwritten $3.50, ,00O
of the bonds, called on Gen. Charles G
Dawes and explosively urged him to
postpone the opening for a year. Just
as explosively, the general urged him
to take an extended look at the grounds
He did.
Odds and Ends Remain.
Later he telephoned briefly: II have
just come back and told my secretary
Ten thousand workmen feverishly
swarmed over the fair grounds all this
week, working against time to complete
the exposition buildings and exhibits.
1t was not all done today, but it was
complete enough that only odds and
ends remained to be whipped into shape
The progress of industry in all its
phases through the last century-that
is the motive and message OF the ex-
position.
Automobiles are being made before
the eyes of the public, gasoline refined
diamonds mined, science, agriculture,
transportation are on parade.
Amusements, seemingly endless, stretch
along Ballyhoo Boulevard, dwarflng In
number and variety the famed midway
of the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
All of these are housed in structures,
breath-taking in modernity Of archi-
lecture; made vivid by solid hues from
the color pots of Joseph Urban and
lighted with the flaming streamers OF
the most advanced thought of scientific
illumination.
Covers 424 Acres.
Spanning the lagoon is the Sky
ride" twin towers Of steel, rearing $40
feet in the air, colossus of steel IN
half-mile boots. 1t cost $4,000
Across its cables will shoot rocket cars
at an elevation Of 230 feet.
On the other side of the lagoon are
North and South islands; one, fairy
land for children, the other containing
the Federal Building, Agriculture Build
ing, restaurants and concessions.
From the Administration Building
stretches the avenue Of flags to the
Hall of Science and general exhibits
structure. Farther down is a section
of the Montmarte, '"'the streets OF
Paris" A short distance from there is
little Belgium, its simulated classic
architecture in striking contrast to the
razor-like modernistic display buildings,
The grounds roughly compose 424
acres. from Chicagos Twelfth to Thirty
ninth streets, sandwiched between the
lake and Michigan avenues serrateo
skyline.
Tea Room Cashier Is Queen.
Lifted from a commonplace existence
in a world of reality to position OF
fairy tale regality 23-year-old Racine,
Wis, tea room cashier awoke today as
queen Of the exposition.
She is fair-halred MISS Lillian An
derson, chosen as the most beautiful
from among 81 young women hailing
from Paris, London and many Amer
ican cities in an international contest
sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and
81 affiliated newspapers.
Besides the honor of presiding over
numerous functions held in connection
with the fair, Queen Lillian receives
SIS, 900 cash award. She said financial
difiiculties forced her to leave high
school a few years ago and take job
as a cashier In tea room.
Two others shared in her glory today.
They are Miss Lorraine Nevens, Evans
ton, ILL.,, until recently Northwestern
University coed. and Miss Ruth Hardie,
Chicago, first and second ladies-in-
waiting respectively.
For placing second in the contest
Miss Nevens receives $4,000 and Miss
Hardie $4,000 for third place. The
other 48 entrants will form the queens
court
The queen is . blonde and is feet 6
inches tall. She tips the scales at 125
pounds. Her eyes have been described
- violet. ----. .---.-----..-.--