What better way to celebrate summer turning into autumn than to visit Western Washington’s annual fairs? Whether it’s stomach-churning rides, admiring quilts, catching live entertainment, communing with chickens, or indulging in that once-a-year-deep-fried-decadence-on-a-stick, there’s something for everyone.
The color and excitement of fairs have always appealed to moviemakers, too. To build the proper anticipation for all the fun you’ll have at our local fairs, check out one of these classic films:
• State Fair (1945). This tuneful bit of nostalgia was Rodgers & Hammerstein’s only original film musical (it was later adapted for the stage). Based on a 1933 film starring Will Rogers, which itself was based on a Phillip Strong novel, the story revolves around a family’s visit to the Iowa State Fair. The roller coaster in this film, which looks a lot like the coaster at Puyallup, appears to have absolutely no safety restraints! Never fear—the real thing has a lap bar to keep you safe.
• Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). While the fair itself—the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair—isn’t shown until the final scenes, this story portrays the year-long anticipation of the fair, and what it means to the Smith family. This warm, nostalgic, simple story starring Judy Garland consistently ranks as one of the best musicals to come out of classic Hollywood.
• It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963). If, like me, you weren’t around in the early 1960s, it’s hard to imagine just how exciting Seattle must have been at that time. As if hosting the globe for the 1962 World’s Fair weren’t enough, who shows up to make a movie in the middle of it all but Elvis! The film features several brief, but outstanding scenes filmed at and around the fairgrounds (today’s Seattle Center) that give you a tantalizing glimpse of all the fun to be had. For a detailed day-by-day account of shooting the film in Seattle, see this great article from Historylink.org.
• Pinocchio (1940). Walt Disney’s animated masterpiece makes the list because of the scenes on Pleasure Island, the ultimate fair for bad kids everywhere. As you enjoy the real-life fairs, remember what can happen when you indulge your wild side a bit too much. Hee-haw!
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