this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2026
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Mildly Interesting

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Need some escapism? Bored with a few hours to kill? Like Gene Wilders voice?

Then you might find this documentary about the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair mildly interesting.

EXPO: Magic of the White City

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[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

This is him narrating the Devil in the white city right?

[–] CultLeader4Hire@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

I read that book and learned SO MUCH about the fair, and the guy who was in charge of the landscape and how his eyes were SO BLUE na d how his mouth hurt SO BAD and how his tinnitus was TERRIBLE and learned almost nothing about said devil… overall, weird book

[–] Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca 6 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Is this him or him AI? His wife said she would allow an AI recreation of him. Not sure if she meant video or sound or both?

[–] cardboardboxfort@lemmy.world 6 points 20 hours ago

Its really him. This documentary was made decades ago when he was still alive.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The World’s Fair needs to make a comeback.

[–] cardboardboxfort@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

They still have Expo's but they are nothing like they were in the glory days. Times and technology have changed so much I don't think we could make one of the old fashion fairs work. Disney built EPCOT to be like a never ending worlds fair, albeit with the usual Disney touch, and that's probably the best we'll ever get (and sadly some aspects of EPCOT like the focus on sciences is already giving way to more profitable rides.)

But this documentary is a great way to experience a slice of it. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is one of the only surviving buildings from the fair so you can in theory dip your toe in the past. And lots of the centerpieces of fairs survive, like the Eiffel tower for example. There's even a recreation of the Parthenon in Tennessee that was built for a fair.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't have time to listen right now, but do you know if he talks about the religious Congress, or Vivekananda?

[–] cardboardboxfort@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

That I don't know. Been a while since I watched it. It does go into depth into the various exhibits so its very possible.