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| 1933 Century of Progress Exposition Documents |
Long-Planned Pageant, Climax of Polish Week, Brings Big Crowd to Fair
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By Paul R. Leach.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 22 July 1933, pg. 4.
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The land of Kosciuszko and Pulaski had its day at Chicago's Century of Progress exposition today.
Since February people of Polish birth or descent have been preparing a pageant, to be presented this evening in Soldier field, and making ready for a festival which began at 2 o'clock this afternoon and continues through the pageant, "A Nation Glorified."
However well they may succeed in the matter of attendance tonight, in friendly rivalry with the Jewish day pageant—which drew 125,000 at one performance and 75,000 for a second—Edmund J. Odalsky, director of the program, said today that his people have outdone anything ever attempted by the Polish people in the United States.
Climax of Polish Week.
The day at the fair was the culmination of Polish week in Chicago, during which time social, fraternal, political and athletic associations of Chicago's great Polish group have been entertaining visitors from many cities all over the country. Among national groups in chicago the Poles rate first with some 450,000 population. They had the field not only for the production of their pageant, which has cost $25,000, but for a great day of attendance at the exposition as well.
A parade, forming on the near north side and flowing down Michigan avenue to the 14th street gates with 20,000 marching, and seventy floats, opened the afternoon's festivities, arriving at the grounds at 2 o'clock. Meanwhile, an official welcome was given Wladysiaw Sokolowski, councilor of the Polish embassy at Washington, who was the principal reviewing officer of the parade.
Beauty contests, folk dancing, musical events, among them singing by a massed chorus of 1,000 voices, was on the program for the period between 4 and 5:30 o'clock in the court of the Hall of Science.
Story of Pageant.
The pageant to be given tonight tells the often tragic, sometimes glorious, but patriotic story of the struggle of the Polish people for autonomy. The story begins 250 years ago, when King Jan Sobieski stopped the Moslems at the gates of Vienna and saved the western world for Christianity. The participation in the American revolution of Generals Pulaski and Kosciuszko, and the new Poland created by one of President Wilson's fourteen points at the Versailles peace conference, are other highlights in the tale as it is to be unfolded.
Firework displays, with participation of United States troops in world-war scenes, will provide a climax.
Belgian Day Tomorrow.
Tomorrow comes Belgian day, and a pageant to be given in the court of the Hall of Science from 8 to 11 p.m. Gus Van Hack, chairman of the day, said today that the Belgians are going to surprise exposition visitors "with the biggest show given there by any national group to date."
Speeches are to be given by Viscount de Lantsheere, charge d'affaires for Belgium in Washington; by Mr. Van Hack, chairman of the United Belgian societies of Chicago, and felix J. Streyckmans, chairman of the world's fair committee of nationalities.
Settle Closing Dispute.
The great to-do between fair officials and night life concessionaires has ended amicably, and the gay spots from now on may run on Saturday nights until dawn, and on other nights until 2 a.m., with the entrance gates open until midnight instead of 11:30 p.m. as heretofore.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 14 January 2006
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