Lone Star Thrills - Fair Park & State Fair of Texas -- Historical Timeline

Lone Star Thrills - Fair Park & State Fair of Texas -- Historical Timeline

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2007 Midway
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Buildings & Museums

African American Museum
Dallas Aquarium
Museum of Nature and Science
  · Nature Building
  · Leonhardt Lagoon
  · Planetarium
  · Science Building
Museum of the American Railroad
Texas Discovery Gardens
Texas! Music Center
Texas Vietnam Memorial
Women's Museum

Administration Building
Animal Pavilions
Aquarium Annex
Automobile Building
Centennial Building
Continental DAR House
Cotton Bowl
Creative Arts Building
Embarcadero
Fair Park Bandshell
Fair Park Coliseum
Food and Fiber Pavilion
Grand Place
Hall of State
Magnolia Lounge
Music Hall at Fair Park
Old Mill Inn
Pan American Arena
SuperPages.com Center
Tower Building

Historical Timeline
Removed Attractions
Removed Rollercoasters
Removed Structures

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Historical Timeline
Historical Timeline of the State Fair of Texas and Fair Park

1886-1900 - 1901-1920 - 1921-1934 - Texas Centennial
1938-1960 - 1961-1980 - 1981-2000 - 2001-2009

· Dallas State Fair and Exposition
      · October 26 - November 7, 1886
      · 80 acre site on current Fair Park site
      · Featured several attractions from the 1884 New Orleans World's Fair
      · 250,000 total attendance

· Texas State Fair and Exposition
      · October 25 - October 31, 1886
      · 100 acre site on the Cole Family Farm in North Dallas

· Dallas State Fair and Exposition and Texas State Fair and Exposition combine on February 10, 1887

· New "Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition" opens for a 17-day run
      · 37 acres bought expanding fairgrounds to 117 acres
      · Geological Hall and Machinery hall constructed
      · "Restaurant Row" opens
      · Giant Coaster (LA Thompson Scenic Railway) installed
      · 100,000 - 250,000 total attendance

· Fair expanded to 21-day run
· Accident occurred on the Giant Coaster (1 dead, 5 injured seriously)

· 4,000 seat Music Hall built adjoining the Exposition Building
· Admission raised to $0.50
· Circular swing ride "Razzle Dazzle" debuted

· Racing Stables burned
· New 400-stable pavilion built in time for fair

No Entries in Database

· Competed directly with the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago
· Fair turned a profit for the first time

· 16-day run
· Dalhomey Village saw the birth of the first cannibal in the US
· Midway enlarged in response to the 1893 Columbian Exposition
· Ferris Wheel installed
· Mirror Maze installed

· Fires destroyed Restaurant Row
· "The Last Days of Pompeii", a 90-minute fireworks show debuted

· 19-day run
· Golf Course opens to the north of the park
· Cycle Park opens on the southwest corner of the park
· Season Passes offered for $4.00

· Cinematograph, Phantoscope and Vitascope on display

nbsp;· 16-day run
· One of the most successful fairs ever

· Booker T. Washington made an appearance
· "The Burning of Chicago" show debuted as a favorite
· 70,000 people in attendance on Buffalo Bill Day (Starring Cody "Buffalo" Bill)

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1901-1920

· First emergency medical tent erected
· First No Warranties Disclaimer used on tickets
· Auto Racing debuted, an instant hit

· Main Exposition Hall, Music Hall and Poultry building burned July 20, 1920
· Victorian Electric Fountain installed
· UT Austin and OU played at the fair for the first time (against other teams)

· Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition name used for the last time

· April 5, 1904 - Voters approved $125,000 purchase by City of Dallas for Fair Park and the annual fair
· Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition reorganized as the State Fair of Texas

· New Exposition building ($90,000 - 75,000 sq. ft. - 3,500 seats)
· State Fair of Texas acquired all statues from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair
· The Trail (Midway) renamed The Pike
· New Carousel opens
· Figure 8 side friction roller coaster opens at Cycle Park
· Estimated 300,000 attendance

· George Kessler commissioned to redesign Fair Park after St. Louis World's Fair
· New guest entrances constructed along Grand Ave.
· Sidewalks paved for guests
· 10 acres of land purchased (border extended east to Pennsylvania Ave.)
· Scenic Railway roller coaster installed
· Shoot-the-Chutes, Captive Balloon and Double Whirl amusement rides installed

· Athletic events moved to Gaston Park
· Skating Rink opened in the Machinery Hall
· Figure 8 side friction roller coaster open on the Fairgrounds
· US Vice President, Charles Fairbanks visited the fair

· New Textile and Fine Arts building ($37,000 - 125ft. glass dome)
· 16 day run with estimated 800,000 in attendance

· Dallas Arts Association moved into the Textile and Fine Arts Building
· Alamo replica built on fairgrounds
· William Taft, US President visited the fair

"Silver Jubilee Anniversary"

· First Jim Crow laws enacted on fairgrounds
· New Coliseum opened
· New Dairy Building opened
· Estimated 900,000 in attendance

· 7.4 acres purchased on east side of grounds
· Racing Coaster built ($30,000 - 2 trains at 5,000ft. long)
· Elk's Arch thought to have been moved to Fair Park from Downtown Dallas after a mob
lynching&

· New Restaurant Row built for $35,000
· UT Austin and OU played first annual game in Gaston Park
· 900,000 estimated attendance

· City of Dallas purchases Gaston Park (14 acres) for $12,000
· 750,000 estimated attendance

"A Different Fair"

· Miniature Railroad removed
· Dentzel Carousel opens

· Coin operated toilets installed
· Camp Bell opens on fairgrounds for the 28th US Army Infantry
· 776,260 estimated attendance

· The Whip installed
· First day attendance of 82,110
· 1,000,000 estimated attendance

· Royal George ride destroyed in fire
· Mountain Range replaces Royal George
· New Bandshell constructed
· Prohibition bans alcohol on fairgrounds

· 13-day run
· Camp Bell becomes Camp Dick and closes in December

"Victory Fair of 1919"

· 14-day run
· 161,790 attendance in a single-day

"Fair Without an Equal"

· 14-acre Cycle Park (Gaston Park) annexed
· Figure 8 roller coaster demolished
· Figure 8 (Cycle Park) roller coaster demolished
· 1,023,563 estimated attendance

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1921-1934

· W.R.R. Radio station starts broadcasting
· 15,000 seat stadium constructed
· Dipper roller coaster constructed
· Traver Circle Swing and new large Carousel installed
· 650,000 estimated attendance

· New Automobile Building and Manufacturer's Building constructed
· Butterfly ride and Broadway Whirl installed
· 700,000 estimated attendance

· Horse Racing returns
· Several K.K.K. rallies held throughout the fair's run

· Exposition Building remodeled
· Harry Houdini appears at the fair
· Lightning roller coaster, built by John Miller, opens (3,000ft. long - 60ft tall - $0.25 per ride)
· Lightning Jr. roller coaster, built by John Miller, open
· Old Mill opens

· Fair Park Auditorium (Music Hall at Fair Park) constructed for $500,000
· "California" style funhouse opens
· 731,933 estimated attendance

· Fair Park Swimming Pool opens along Grand Ave.&
· Grand Ave. extended to eastern edge of fairgrounds
· Horse racing cancelled
· Dr. Pepper makes first appearance at the fair
· 542,872 estimated attendance

· Henry Gaston died January 24, 1927 at 86
· Livestock pavilions burned

nbsp; No Entries in Database

· Construction of the new stadium begins
· Dungeon Railroad and Lindy Loop rides installed
· UT Austin and OU annual game resumes after 6 year hiatus
· Goodyear Balloon explodes over fairgrounds

· Fair Park Stadium (Cotton Bowl) opens
· New Dairy Building erected for $60,000

· Planning for 1936 Texas Centennial begins
· 21-member "Centennial Committee" created

"Festival of Light"

· Municipal swimming pool closed
· Television exhibited and demonstrated

"Recovery Fair"

· Beer sold on Midway again since 1915

· State Fair of Texas won right to be central hub for 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration
· Dallas Rams of the America Professional League played in Fair Park Stadium (Cotton Bowl)
· 900,000 estimated attendance

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Texas Centennial

· George Dahl named Technical Director of Fair Park Centennial preparation
· State Fair of Texas gave up all rights to Fair Park until 1937
· Fair Park is leveled, all buildings and attractions are torn down except:
      · Agriculture and Exposition Building
      · Auditorium
      · Automobile Building
      · Fair Park Auditorium
      · Fair Park Stadium
      · Livestock Coliseum

· 26 acres acquired on southwestern border for 'Civic Center' section
· Fair Park rebuilt and renovated for estimated $25,000,000
· New structures included:

      · Cavalcade of Texas
      · Catholic Exhibit
      · Chinese City
      · Christian Science Monitor Building
      · City Services and W.R.R. Radio
      · Communication and Electrical Building
      · CONOCO's House of Hospitality
      · Curiosity Shop
      · Dallas Museum of Fine Arts
      · Dallas Museum of Natural History
      · Days of Real Sport
      · Dreyfuss & Son Store
      · Esplanade of State
      · Federal Building
      · Ford Motor Building
      · Gulf Oil Corporation Radio
      · Hall of Agriculture
      · Hall of Aquatic Life
      · Hall of Foods and Beverages
      · Hall of Horticulture
      · Hall of Negro Life
      · Hall of Religion
      · Livestock Building No. 1
      · Livestock Building No. 2
      · Magnolia Oil Lounge
      · Milling Industries Building
      · Model Homes Group
      · National Cash Register
      · Open Air Amphitheater and Bandshell
      · Petroleum Building
      · Poultry Building
      · Rio Grande Valley Exhibit
      · Skillern Pavilion
      · Texas Hall of State
      · Tony Sarg's Marionettes
      · Transportation Building
      · Varied Industries Building

· Lightning and Lightning Jr. roller coasters demolished
· Triple Racer roller coaster, designed by John Miller, constructed

Texas Centennial Exposition - "An Empire on Parade"

· June 6, 1936 opened the 178-day Texas Centennial Exposition
· Franklin D. Roosevelt visited June 12, 1936
· 6,353,827 estimated final attendance

"Greater Texas and Pan-American Exposition"

· State Fair of Texas regained control of Fair Park
· Hall of Negro Life demolished
· First Cotton Bowl Classic played on January 1, 1937 in Fair Park Stadium
· June 12, 1937 opening day for the exposition
· "Cavalcade of Texas" renamed and re staged as "Cavalcade of the Americas"

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1938-1960

· Fair Park Swimming Pool re-opened
· Temporary structures from the Centennial Exposition were demolished
· All buildings remolded and renovated
· Hall of State reopened as a museum
· 50 year time capsule placed at main entrance
· 1,000,000+ estimated attendance

· Many shows from the 1938 New York World's Fair appeared
· W.R.R. Radio moved into the General Exhibits Building
· The "Coney Island" hot dog was introduced
· 1,036,708 estimated attendance (attendance never dropped below 1,000,000 again)

No Entries in Database

· Bandshell renovated
· Livestock Arena converted into an Ice Arena
· UT-Austin / OU annual game sold out for the first time
· State Fair ran it's first independent Midway
· 1,252,527 in attendance on the last Sunday, designated as "Million-and-a-Quarter Day"

· Automobile Building destroyed in fire (1922 building and 1936 addition) on February 10
· Fair cancelled due to World War II
· Neil and Carl Fletcher introduce Corn Dogs on the Midway, original building still stands
· Midway operated during summer and fall

Fair Cancelled

Fair Cancelled

Fair Cancelled

· New Automobile Building constructed
· 1,639,936 estimated attendance

· Automobile Building opens
· Glass containers banned from Fair Park Stadium
· Triple Racer roller coaster demolished
· Comet roller coaster constructed by Charles Paige and National Amusement Device (NAD)

· Fair Park Stadium receives new upper deck on west side of stadium, increasing capacity to 67,000
· \"Kiddie Town\" added to the Midway
· WBAP-TV televised the annual UT-Austin / OU game
· Comet Jr. roller coaster constructed by National Amusement Device (NAD)
· 1,892,327 estimated attendance

· Fair Park Stadium receives new upper deck on east side of stadium, increasing capacity to 75,000
· 2,000,000+ estimated attendance

· Fair Park Auditorium renovated with Air Conditioning
· 100ft tall Sky Wheel added
· 2 Midway Arches added to the Midway major entrances
· 2,176,519 estimated attendance

"It's A Son of a Gun in '51"

· 16-day run
· New open air livestock pavilion opens (3,500 capacity)

"It's a LuLu in '52"

· Big Tex debuted
· Tower Building renamed the Electric Building
· Dallas Texans played 1 season in the Cotton Bowl

"More to See in '53"

· Women's Building (Grand Place) constructed
· New Livestock barns built
· Horticulture Building renovated into Garden Center
· Big Tex talked for the first time
· 2,500,000 estimated attendance

No Entries in Database

· First school fair ticket given out for "Fair Day"
· Sky Wheel accident, one 15 year-old girl died after falling 100 feet, 3 others injured

· The $125,000 Trailblazer Monorail constructed from Cotton Bowl Plaza to International Blvd.
· Street car service to Exposition entrance ends in January
· "The Champ", Big Texs' 12 foot "pet" cow debuts
· 26,500 saw Elvis perform in the Cotton Bowl
· Fair Park Auditorium renamed State Fair Music Hall

· 13 acres purchased along Pennsylvania Ave. for parking
· Trailblazer Monorail (State Fair Monorail) opened

· Globe Theater and Grandstand demolished for new Coliseum
· Electric Building renovated with Air Conditioning
· Big Tex received a "make-over"
· 6.5 acre amusement park "Grand Ol' Texas" planned for northwest quadrant of fairgrounds

· Fair Park Coliseum opens
· US Vice President Richard M. Nixon opens the 1959 State Fair
· Grand Ol' Texas amusement park dropped due to lack of funding
· 2,801,305 estimated attendance

· Fair Park Swimming Pool demolished
· Dallas Texans (AFL) and Dallas Cowboys (NFL) played in the Cotton Bowl

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1961-1980

"Exposition of Music"

· Rogers & Hammerstein's "State Fair" re-make filmed on location
· US Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visited the fair

"Exposition of Nations"

· Small paddle boat explodes on lagoon
· 800ft. "Space Needle" planned for Fair Park after Seattle's World's Fair

"Exposition of Our American Heritage"

· 16-day run
· Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City
· $3.5 million Space Needle turned down, Angus Wynne of Six Flags opted for his park in Arlington
· Museum of the American Railroad opens (Age of Steam)
· 2,906,446 in attendance

"Exposition of Lights and Flowers"

· Trailblazer Monorail (State Fair Monorail) dismantled
· Swiss Skyride Aerial Gondolaway, built by Von Roll, opens

"Exposition of the Americas"

· 16-day run
· Fair Park Coliseum retrofitted with ice rink

"Exposition of Young America"

No Entries in Database

"Texas\International"

· $12.6 million given for fairground expansion

"America '68"

· Superslide and Speelunker rides installed

"Moon Year Exposition"

· $1.50 entry price, first admission increase in 30 years
· Buttered Corn takes off as a popular food item

· $400,000 Astroturf installed in the Cotton Bowl
· Dallas Cowboys played last season in the Cotton Bowl
· 3,000,000+ estimated attendance

"EXPO\TRANS\PORT"

· State Fair Music Hall expanded
· State Fair of Texas purchased the Swiss Skyride Aerial Gondolaway for $300,000
· 3,134,646 estimated attendance

"The Dazzling Thirties"

· Electric Building renamed the Better Living Center
· State Fair Music Hall renamed the Fair Park Music Hall
· 3,000,000+ estimated attendance

"World Gateways Exposition"

· Theme Pavilion renamed "The Embarcadero"

"Exposition of the West"

· New walkways built from Big Tex circle to Cotton Bowl Plaza

"The Yankeedoodle Dandy"

· New Livestock Sale Pavilion and Cattle Arena constructed
· Tickets introduced on the Midway for rides
· 3,176,028 estimated attendance

"October Magic"
· President Gerald Ford opened fair
· Comet Jr. roller coasters purchased by the State Fair of Texas for $135,000
· Comet receives $165,000 in renovations
· Comet Jr. roller coaster ceases operation

"The Great Food Round-Up"

· Comet Jr. roller coaster demolished
· Better Living Center renamed the Tower Building
· 3,178,455 estimated attendance

"Celebration-Texas Style"

· Texxas World Music Festival debuted

"Good Neighbors"

· Accident on the Swiss Skyride Aerial Gondolaway the final day of the fair, 1 killed and 15 injured

"Around the World in '80"

· 17-day run
· $1 million given for Cotton Bowl and Comet roller coaster renovation
· Swiss Skyride Aerial Gondolaway removed in early 1980

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1981-2000

"Going Places, Doing Things"

· Rolling Stones played two consecutive sell-outs at the Cotton Bowl (80,000/night) during the fair

"Texas at it's Most"

· Old Gas Building renovated into Information Center

nbsp;"Best of Shows"

· New entry gates constructed at Grand Ave. and Martin Luther King Blvd.
· $250,000 renovation for the Creative Arts Building
· New 1,200 parking lot constructed on south end of fairgrounds
· Accident on the Enterprise, 1 killed and 2 injured

"OctoberBest"

· Sparkletts Splash, an Arrow Dynamics Log Flume, constructed at center of the Midway for $300,000
· 24-day run
· CPSC supported new State Fair safety reporting and requirements
· 2,931,691 estimated attendance

"Something New for You"

· Automobile Building gutted and renovated back to 1936 specifications
· $18 million facelift for Fair Park begins
· $9.4 million budget for museum renovations
· 1936 mural restoration project begins
· 212 foot Texas Star Ferris Wheel, built by S.D.C., constructed
· Coupons required for all ride and food purchases
· 2,841,820 estimated attendance

"Texas 150"

· 31-day State Fair of Texas and Texas Sesquicentennial
· Comet roller coaster closed due to lack of an insurance carrier
· Final Sunday, October 26, marked the 100th year for the State Fair of Texas
· 3,959,058 estimated attendance

"The Big Splash"

· 17-day run
· State Fair of Texas gave up all rights to Fair Park to the City of Dallas
· State Fair of Texas becomes a paying tenet at $700,000 / year in rent
· Lagoon sculpture constructed

"The Winning Ticket"

· Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheater constructed and opens for a cost of $10,000,000
· Ground broken for new African American Museum

· Comet roller coaster torn down February 9, 1989
· 24-day run
· $53 million needed for Fair Park renovations
· 3,500,000+ estimated attendance

"Showing Off"

· 3,411,235 estimated attendance

"Standing Proud"

· 3,067,523 estimated attendance

"Spirit of Discovery"

· 3,418,761 estimated attendance

"The Big Tex Round-Up"

· State Fair of Texas holds a yard-sale of old materials and ride parts

· Fair Park picked as a host site for the 1994 World Cup Soccer Match
· Cotton Bowl receives $11 million rehab for World Cup '94 Soccer matches
· Fair Park receives over $25 million for rehab and facelift for the World Cup '94 tournament
· 3,298,010 estimated attendance

"Riding High"

· New Midway entrance gates constructed along Pennsylvania Ave.
· 3,600,000+ estimated attendance

"Stars & Stripes"

· Tiger Island hosts tigers from Marine World USA (now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)
· T.I. Founders IMAX Theater opens adjacent to the Science Place I

"Thrill of it All"

· 47 acres purchased for overflow parking
· $400,000 shade structure built along the Midway's main game strip
· New Pan-American entry gate constructed near Livestock Pavilions
· 3,400,000+ estimated attendance

"Puttin' on the Glitz"

· Mikhal Gorbachev visits the fair
· Mind Scrambler torn down
· 3,400,000+ estimated attendance

"Going Global"

· TXU Energy Extravaganza debuts on the Esplanade
· 3,500,000+ estimated attendance

"Celebrating the 21st Century"

· Women's Museum opens in old Coliseum building
· Fair Park Bandshell completely dismantled, renovated and restored to 1936 specifications
· Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheater renamed Smirnoff Music Centre

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2001-2009

"Food & Fun"

· 4,000,000 estimated attendance

"World In Motion"

· Pibb X-Tra Thrillway opens
· Screamin' Skycoaster from Fiesta Texas installed as the Skycoaster
· Comet station and Monster Mash dark ride torn down
· 4,100,000 estimated attendance
· PAX Design roller coaster planned and designed for fair never built

"Taste & See"

· Fair Park Redevelopment plan introduced to Dallas residents
· "Texas Garden Railway" debuts at the Texas Discovery Gardens
· Nestlé Splash renamed Sparkletts Splash by new sponsorship contract
· "Spirit of The Dance" returns for daily shows in the Coliseum
· A record $24,663,770 is spent on food and amusement rides
· Magnolia Lounge renovation completed

"Great Food, Great Fun"

· "Texas Garden Railway" returns to the Texas Discovery Gardens
· Embarcadero interior returned to 1936 specifications and air conditioning added
· Esplanade of State fountains renovated and repainted to 1936 specifications
· Phantom's Great Scare Haunted House debuts in Fair Park Coliseum
· "Jesus Christ Superstar" returns as the annual State Fair Musical
· $23 million spent on food and rides
· Largest one-day total reached $2.3 million on Saturday October 16th

"Let Yourself Go!"

· "Texas Garden Railway" returns to the Texas Discovery Gardens
· "The American Music Scene" exhibit debuts in the Hall of State
· Embarcadero building repainted back to 1936 color specifications
· Hallway of Embarcadero / Creative Arts Building repainted to 1936 specifications
· Stone tablets on exterior of the Embarcadero sandblasted
· "Wicked" debuts as the annual State Fair Musical
· Sparkletts Splash entry way and viewing platform totally rebuilt
· $23,750,000 is spent on food and amusement rides
· A record one-day total of $2,042,364 spent on food on Saturday October 8th
· "Wicked" sells out 23 of 24 performances to gross $4.5 million revenue

"Big Tex and the City"

· $1 million spent on Embarcadero mural restoration & recovery plan
· Pan American Arena spire restored and repainted to 1936 specifications
· $20 million spent on Cotton Bowl upgrades
· "Texas Garden Railway" returns to the Texas Discovery Gardens
· "Big Texatron", new 83'x57' HD video/scoreboard installed in the Cotton Bowl
· Science Place(s) and Museum of Natural History, renamed Museum of Nature and Science
· A record $26,500,000+ is spent on food and amusement rides
· A record one-day total of $2,503,069 spent on food on Saturday October 7th
· Construction begins on DART Rail Green Line
· "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" debuts as the annual State Fair Musical

"The Sky's The Limit"

· 2,002ft. long "Texas SkyWay" aerial tramway (built by Doppelmayr), opens
· Texas Discovery Gardens renovated back to 1936 specifications
· $29 million spent on Cotton Bowl seating bowl renovation, restoration and repainting
· "Texas Garden Railway" returns as "Big Tex Railway" at Big Tex Circle
· The Contralto & Countertenor pylons rebuilt along the Esplanade
· "The Lion King" returns as the annual State Fair Musical
· Sparklett's Splash Log Flume repainted
· Lumalusion exterior repainted
· Tower Building interior mural restoration & renovation begins
· A record $29,000,000+ spent on food and amusement rides
· $1.6 million in revenue and 250,000+ rides given on the new Texas SkyWay

"Ignite Your Senses!"

· Smirnoff Music Centre renamed SuperPages.com Center (January 30, 2008)
· "The Color Purple" returns as the annual State Fair Musical
· 200ft. FunTime Industries StarFlyer added
· TXU Illumination Sensation returns to the Esplanade of State

"T.B.A."

· DART Rail station opens at original 1936 Centennial entrance (Perry & Exposition)
· Cotton Bowl Classic played for the last time on January 1st
· $4 million 400 foot "Top of Texas" Art Deco Sky Tower planned

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