Expo: Magic of the White City
Encyclopedia
Expo: Magic of the White City is a historical documentary released to DVD on September 13, 2005. Directed by Mark Bussler and narrated by Gene Wilder
, the documentary tells the story of Chicago's
World's Columbian Exposition
in 1893. It begins by explaining Frederick Law Olmsted
's planning of the fair and the architecture by Daniel Burnham
. It also details exhibits by many people, including George Westinghouse
, Nikola Tesla
and Thomas Edison
.
In addition to detailing the fair itself, the documentary also describes the Midway Plaisance. Features of the Midway included bellydancing, side-shows, saloons, and a large Ferris wheel
. Finally Expo: Magic of the White City discusses the aftermath of the fair and the legacy it left.
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
, the documentary tells the story of Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in 1893. It begins by explaining Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
's planning of the fair and the architecture by Daniel Burnham
Daniel Burnham
Daniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA was an American architect and urban planner. He was the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He took a leading role in the creation of master plans for the development of a number of cities, including Chicago and downtown Washington DC...
. It also details exhibits by many people, including George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse, Jr was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry. Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the American electricity system...
, Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
and Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
.
In addition to detailing the fair itself, the documentary also describes the Midway Plaisance. Features of the Midway included bellydancing, side-shows, saloons, and a large Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
. Finally Expo: Magic of the White City discusses the aftermath of the fair and the legacy it left.
Special features
- Commentary tracks by Mark Bussler, Brian Connelly and David Cope (World's Fair Historian)
- Featurettes ("Making the Fair", "Art of the Fair", "Storyboards of the Fair", "Pictures of the Fair")
- Deleted scenes