Great ken burns type documentary!!
bill renek | sunset,utah | 10/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i just got this dvd in the mail yesterday and i have to say content wise and the subject matter were absolutely fascinating,on par with the best documentary done by ken burns.one of the chapters tells about the first olympic games on american soil being held at the fair,another about the famous foods that might and might not have been introduced for the first time at the 1904 fair,the ferris wheel,the music played at the fair,and the exploitation of the filipino and african-american races in 1904 america.the directors scott huegerich and bob miano in my opinion made a very fun,informative,and enlightening documentary i will be watching many,many times over and i recommend it absolutely,get it,you won't be sorry!!"
Of course I liked it... I DIRECTED it! ;^)
Director Bob | St. Louis, MO USA | 07/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not going to tell you that this is a wonderful production - Since I'm one of the directors! But I DO want you to know that you can read a detailed description of this documentary (along with what the critics have said about it) at www.theworldsgreatestfair.com. You can also find reviews from folks who saw the film in theaters at www.imdb.com.
I think you'll enjoy this compelling documentary. Everyone who worked on it during the year and a half we were in production (well over 150 people) wanted to create THE documentary about this important event for decades to come.
Bob Miano
Director
Civil Pictures"
It WAS the Greatest Fair -- Ever !
Mike Truax | 10/14/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Around the beginning of the 20th century during the Victorian Era and the Industrial Revolution, a series of World's Fairs were held in Europe and the United States. They displayed the latest inventions, manufacturing processes, agriculture advances, and brought together the peoples of the world to see the world--all in one location! The Victorian World's Fairs attracted millions of people, and reached an apex in 1904 in St. Louis at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
Scott and Bob produced a magnificent portrait of this amazing Fair, not by descriptions of the fantastic buildings and exhibits, but by telling numerous detailed and intimate stories about the Fair. The viewer will learn all about the Fair, including David Francis (the President of the Fair), the music, food, art, and people that were at the Fair, the Pike (the mile of entertainment), the 1904 Olympics, and the great Ferris Wheel.
Since the Fair reflected the culture of the times, there are stories about women and the only official woman photographer at the Fair, and the treatment of the minorities that were brought to the Fair as part of the young science of Anthropology. Stories about the transportation of the time include an automobile 'race' from New York to St. Louis, and the wreck of a train full of would-be Fair visitors.
Critically acclaimed, the movie was thoroughly researched and photographed, and features many famous St. Louis voices, including Mayor Francis Slay and Stan Musial. Written with the help of many St. Louis World's Fair Society members and enthusiasts, it was shown in 2004 to sold out audiences many times in St. Louis.
This movie will interest anyone who is interested in history or entertainment of the early 1900s from beginning to end with it's variety and scenery.
Even though I was a "Fair Fan" and one of the lucky ones who got to help Bob and Scott, I learned many new things from this movie. You'll see that the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair truly was "The World's Greatest Fair".
"
The Wonders of the Worlds Fair
David Holubetz | Telluride, Colorado | 02/22/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This was a good video, and I recommend it to anyone interested in the Worlds Fairs, or anyone who wants to discover the basis for Disney and the great theme parks of today. Mind boggling stuff, very cool. I take away a few stars only because, like so many of the documentary / educational videos today, the people who made this thought they had to have conflict and tragedy and suspense woven in to make it interesting. This is the kind of thing the History Channel loves. And now you even see it on PBS and Discovery too. The train wreck, the minorities, the cannibals ... sure it was part of the story, but why focus so much attention on it? There is no need, the other material stands on its own. But this typifies the style of video we see now. I would prefer a return to more straight ahead reporting, and leave the tear jerking stuff for the soap operas. Nevertheless, this is a great video, and highly recommended."