Chicago's World's Fairs: 1893 & 1933

In this lecture, local author William Hazelgrove presents the exciting and sprawling history behind the 1893 and 1933 World's Fairs.

He reveals the story of the six millionaire businessmen, dubbed "The Secret Six," who beat Al Capone at his own game, ending the gangster era as prohibition was repealed.

The story of an intriguing woman, Sally Rand, who embodied the World's Fair with her own rags to riches story and brought sex into the open.

The story of Rufus and Charles Dawes who gave the fair a theme and then found financing in the worst economic times the country had ever experienced.

The story of the most corrupt mayor of Chicago, William Thompson, who owed his election to Al Capone; and the mayor who followed him, Anton Cermak, who was murdered months before the fair opened by an assassin many said was hired by Al Capone.

But most of all it’s the story about a city fighting for survival in the darkest of times; and a shining light of hope called the Worlds Fairs. 

Books will be available for purchase and signed by the author.