Local History Events

In addition to our First Friday presentations, there are many interesting talks at other local organizations to attend. We hope to see you at some of the following:

From Classy to Brassy and Fantasy to Fact
The Contradiction of Cultures at the GGIE

Saturday, February 29, 2020, 10:30 AM
Treasure Island Museum Building One, Treasure Island,
One Avenue of the Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130-1812

At its most elevated level, San Francisco’s 1939 World’s Fair was dedicated to internationalism: a Pageant of the Pacific that presented the history and culture of countries surrounding the Pacific Basin. At its most popular level the Gay Way – with its amusement rides, display of oddities and stereotypes, and array of hot dog and cola stands – proved to be the most lucrative attraction. The daily co-existence of the high minded ecumenical services in the Temple of Religion with the titillating draw of Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch crystallized the many cultural contradictions embraced in what publicists called The Magic City. This presentation will explore the juxtaposition of high brow and low brow cultures, and the emphasis on peace, harmony and progress while the world around was dissolving into two theaters of war.
Speaker: Lisa Rubens, Historian and Academic Specialist, Emerita, UC Berkeley
For more information visit their Events Page.