Chalfant: Fair's attractions have changed over years

The original Missouri State Fair was billed as an educational experience, especially for farmers, who could view the livestock to learn better methods of breeding, watch the demonstrations of new machinery to learn easier ways of performing farm tasks, and see the exhibits of crops to learn more scientific techniques of production. Female visitors could learn new styles of needlework, more scientific ways of canning fruits and vegetables, and tasty new recipes for pastries.

Midway-style entertainment was provided at the Street Fair in downtown Sedalia, which featured the Streets of Cairo exhibition spiced with dancers in sheer costumes, much to the chagrin of the proper, who criticized the dancers. The street fair closed abruptly when President William McKinley was assassinated in New York.
Entertainment on the fairgrounds consisted primarily of horse races, which were considered an educational feature, for watching races was believed to give breeders insight into creating horses with more speed and more stamina.

Within a few years, attitudes toward fairs had changed and entertainment became a major portion of the fair. In 1919, a variety of performers entertained audiences. The performances at the fair reflected the styles of entertainment popular in the nation at the time.

Music was the most popular entertainment. The fair spent $3,700 ($46,600 in today’s dollars) to bring the famous Thaviu Musical Troupe to perform. Thaviu’s troupe included lyric tenors Signor Irving Lavitto and Signor Cantore, both known “for their rich voices and highly temperamental renderings of whatever songs they sing.” Thaviu presented concerts with operatic arias, orchestra performances, classical and popular songs, choir numbers, as well as ballet and interpretive dance.

Patriotic music had become more popular during World War I, which ended in 1918. In the years after the war, patriotic music remained an important part of fair entertainment.

Sunday’s program focused on sacred music, with a variety of choirs and orchestras performing hymns and inspirational songs.

Another musical troupe, the Singing Thomas Sisters, performed in 1919, accompanied by local groups. Kroenke’s Band, a popular orchestra from Sedalia, presented concerts at the Coliseum, the grandstand, the campgrounds and other sites at the fair. The Second Regiment Band, Sedalia’s military band, also performed in various locations on the grounds. An African-American band played popular songs, including ragtime and the other lively songs of the day. The fair spent $1,500 ($18,900 today) for these groups.

Vaudeville shows, which combined singers, dancers, acrobats, jugglers, comedians and animal acts, had become a popular form of entertainment in the early 20th century. Vaudeville acts came to the fair to delight Missouri audiences.

Bob the Boxing Kangaroo showed visitors the exotic Australian animal in an unusual setting — sparring with human competitors rather than jumping through the outback or languishing in a cage at the zoo.

The “Kawana Japs, Those Tokio Tricksters,” who may or may not have actually been from Japan, provided “unique entertainment from the Land of the Cherry Blossoms.” These “two tiny artists” performed acrobatic feats and juggling, as well as “comedy barrel kicking” and an unusual “exhibition in dexterity [called] water spinning.”

Other vaudeville acts in 1919 included the Caldanos, the LeMaze Brothers, the Lavini Trio and the Steiner Trio.

Perhaps the most thrilling entertainment in 1919 was the $2,100 ($26,500 today) air show presented by Ralph Snavely and Louis Gertson, who called himself “the Birdman.” Gertson flew a military biplane, “looping the loop consecutively, spiraling and executing the death glide.” One of Gertson’s shows was at night, and smoke trailed from his plane, highlighting the loops and twirls of his flight.

Fair entertainment in many ways is different today, but in many ways is the same. Bands, singers, acrobats, clowns and airplanes still draw crowds.