Hales Fire Fighting Exhibit
 | |
| Location | The Pike |
|---|---|
| Owner | George C. Hale |
| Construction | |
| Construction Cost | $52,500($1.58 million in 2021) |
| Proft | $326,994.21($9.86 million in 2021) |
| Entry | |
| Adult Entry | 25¢ ($8 in 2021) |
Though the fire fighters were capable of dealing with real blazes, the Fair had their own fire department, hence, Hale's firefighters found action on The Pike. The attraction was operated by George C. Hale, former Kansas City Fire Chief, who ascended into celebrity status.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Before the Fair[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The building contained a 5,000 seat auditorium to house the 50 minute show. Hale repeated the extravaganza four times daily.
The show began with an informative lecture on how the fire wagons worked as well as draft horses leaping through `fire.' The set switched to a New York City street and illustrated how the brave firefighters were alerted, responded and dealt with a six-story building fire. The concession's content was based on previous events and gained world acclaim while receiving first prize at the 1893 International Fire Tournament in London and its showing at the 1900 Expo in Paris.
There were women and children to rescue, while hoses fought the `blaze,' the strongest men pumped the `water.' The interesting fact for this attraction was that there was no actual fire used in the spectacle. Special effects and stage tricks included: steam, electricity, film, stained glass, silk, celluloid and assorted mechanical & physical effects which created a realistic illusion of a building on fire.
At the end, the building collapsed after the rescue of its inhabitants.
After the show, the crowd gazed at a collection of old and new firefighting equipment. New York sent two fire wagons once pumped by George Washington and Benedict Arnold.
There was a 2,000 seat restaurant in the exhibit as well.
