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Worshipers Colony
Photo scanned from "New York World's Fair in Pictures" published by the "Exposition Souvenirs, Inc."
On the left was the Congress of Beauty. "Magnificent Stage Production" and on the right was the "Sun Worshipers Colony"
by Arie van Dort
by Arie van Dort
by Arie van Dort
by Arie van Dort
- With the Amusement Zone incomplete weeks after the fair's official opening, workers raced, at great pay increases, to complete the zone's concessions. The effort decreased considerably at the Congress of Beauty when the show's manager ordered the performers participate in an impromptu sun bath to increase their tans before the concession's opening.
- Ada Hoffman, hostess at the Gas Exhibit's Court of Flame Restaurant, smiled when a young lady who performed as one of N.T.G.'s sun worshippers, refused a table in the noonday sun.
- Della Carroll walked out of her contract with the Congress of Beauty when the managers refused to let her toss her "final rose" to audience members. Miss Carroll explained she began her performance with a dozen well – placed roses and removed them one-by-one. Because of recent censorship problems, the management insisted the final rose remain in place. Miss Carroll also walked out on a job in Vienna after the Nazis arrived in the city and insisted she wear a more discrete costume.
- A court settlement for the 110 women at N. T. G.'s Congress of Beauty established a pay scale of one week of rehearsal pay – free, the second, third and fourth weeks at $15, and the fifth and sixth weeks at $20. Full pay started on or before May 27, the scheduled opening at $35 for chorus girls and $50 for principals.
- Fairgoers constantly commented on how one of the showgirls at the Congress of Beauty closely resembled Greta Garbo. In fact, Patti Shaw doubled for the movie actress in "Conquest."
- Bookkeepers pronounced the assets of the Congress of Beauty barer than the girls who performed there. After thirteen weeks of running in the red, N. T. G. finally closed his concession after an investment of $170,000. Granlund complained about the fair's high admission prices and "stupid censorship." 120 performers lost their positions. The pavilions forty-three spotlights, eighteen trap drums, a piano, scenery, electrical appliances and tables and seats went on the auction block.
by Arie van Dort
by Arie van Dort
Courtesy of Beth Popovich.
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