BOOKS
on the Subject of
SPECIFIC EXHIBITIONS
Books here discuss specific exhibitions other than world's fairs. Some general fairs may be included in these books, as well as some world's fairs but they are not the main subject. Many also discuss the impact of these presentations on history, society, architecture, technology, etc.
For general books on Fairs, go to General Fairs Books.
For books on World's Fairs, go to the main Fairs Books table of contents.
See also: Videos and The CEC Midway Exhibition Grounds.
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AS PRESENTED AT INDUSTRIAL FAIR, TORONTO, 1886 (1886)
By (No Author Credited). Presumably an overview of the exhibits
of the 1886 Toronto Industrial Exhibition (later, The CNE).
*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
S.l.
ISBN:
Price:
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BECOMING MODERN IN TORONTO (1997)
"The Industrial Exhibition and the Shaping of a Late Victorian Culture"
By Keith Walden. This profiles The Canadian National Exhibition's
early years as The Toronto Exhibition (1879 - 1903) with an eye
toward social attitudes. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
University ofToronto Press
ISBN: 0-8020-0885-2
Price:
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BLUE RIBBON: (1990)
"A Social; and Pictorial History
of the Minnesota State Fair"
By Karal Marling. *(Not Revieded.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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CALIFORNIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION ( ?? )
*(No Further Information.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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CANADA'S GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION (1981)
By Joseph H. Stiles. This fair was held in 1896 from May 24th to
October 31st. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION ( ? )
By (No Author Credited). This is a catalog of the fair held in 1886.
*(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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DOIN' THE PUYALLUP (1991)
By Val Dumond. A book about The Western Washington Fair from 1900
onwards. Shows the Bollinger family and the rides including the
coaster, carousel, and "Old Mill".
*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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DOMINION EXHIBITION (1980)
By (No Author Credited). This gives a prize list awarded at The
Dominion Exhibition under the auspices of the Agricultural & Arts
Association of Ontario. This fair was held in Ottawa, from September
22nd, through the 27th, 1879. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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DOMINION EXHIBITION (1980)
By (No Author Credited). This book gives the prize list and general
regulations of the third annual agricultural, industrial, and
mechanical exhibition of the Dominion of Canada. It was held in
Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Royal Exhibition Building and Grounds
(then situated between Tower Road and Robie Street), from September
21st to the 30th, 1881. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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DOMINION EXHIBITION (1980)
By (No Author Credited). This shows a classified alphabetical list of
exhibitors and exhibits at the Dominion Exhibition held in Halifax,
Nova Scotia in 1881. It includes a map and guide to city. *(Not
Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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THE EX (1973)
"A Picture History of The Canadian National Exhibition"
By James Lorimer. This short (136 pages) book starts by giving a brief
history of fairs in and around Toronto leading up to a permanent
Toronto Exhibition as The CNE was first called. It then goes on to
display pictures with captions that describe the Ex's buildings and
attractions over the years with most attention given to the
architecture of the various buildings that have come and gone, and
those that have been extensively modified. A chapter is devoted to the
proposed changes that the directors wanted to exact brought on by an
unfavourable comparison to Expo 67. The final chapter is an opinion by
the author on those changes, where the CNE is heading, and what he
feels is wrong with that direction. *(Being a short book, not all
subjects are well detailed and there are things not covered. However,
the pictures and maps do give a pretty good overview of The EX
throughout the years. Amusement ride fans should be aware that little
is given here about the midway save for a few pictures of The "Scenic
Auto Dip" & "Royal Ascot Racer" coasters, an early ferris wheel, and
some overall shots of the midway from the 1910s through the 1960s.)
THE EX
(Continued)
Published By:
James Lewis & Samuel Publishers
Egerton Ryerson Memorial Building
35 Britain Street
Toronto, Ontario
ISBN: 0-88862-054-3
Price:
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HULL FAIR - FUN FOR ALL (19 )
"An Illustrated history of Hull Fair in the 20th Century"
By Vanessa Toulmin. Details the fair from its beginnings, through
location changes, to the present day. Many photographs show the fair,
its rides, side shows, boxing events, and waxworks. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
World's Fair Publications
2 Daltry Street
Oldham, UK
OL1 4BB
ISBN:
Price:
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INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION ASSOCIATION OF TORONTO EXHIBITION (1981)
By (No Author Credited). Gives a list of premiums, and rules &
regulations for the first annual exhibition held in the new Exhibition
Park in Toronto, September 1st through the 19th. $20,000 in prizes
were offered with the competition open to exhibitors from other
countries. *(Not Reviewed. I don't have a year for this fair but
all evidence points to it as being the start of The Canadian
National Exhibition, in which case it took place in 1879.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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NOTTINGHAM GOOSE FAIR ( ?? )
By Peter Wilkes. *(No Further Information.)
Published By:
Trent Valley Publications
Dalebrook Road
Winshill, Burton-On-Trent
England
DE15 0AD
ISBN: 0948131 25 6 63
Price:
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ONCE UPON A CENTURY: (1978)
"100 Year History of The `Ex' "
By John Robinson/various authors. One of the few books dealing with
The Canadian National Exhibition. Began in 1879 on grounds that
were once occupied by a French trading post and where sporadic
fairs had been held, The CNE has become a Canadian Institution.
This book has a series of essays that begin with the history of
the Ex and then additional chapters discuss the buildings,
transportation, communications, sports, the big band era etc.
etc. A chapter details the military participation in the fair
and their use of the grounds during World War II when the fair did
not operate. *(This book has lots of photos and some good
write-ups, especially the chapter on the history of early
exhibitions leading up to the CNE. However the chapter on The
Midway may not contain enough information for the typical reader
of this website.)
ONCE UPON A CENTURY:
(Continued)
Published By:
Robinson Publishing
1255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Canada
ISBN:
Price:
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THE PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY (1982)
By David Breen and Kenneth Coates. This was put out to celebrate
the 75th anniversary of the famous exhibition from its conception
in 1907 and opening in 1910 through the early 1980s. *(A quick
overview of this fair is given with lots of photographs including
maps and poster/brochure reproductions. While not as detailed as I
would like, it still gives one a sense of where this fair came from
and how it progressed. My main complaints are a scarcity of exact
dates for some things and virtually nothing on Playland, which has
been the midway for the fair since 1958.) Thanks to Dianne Bollinger
of Portland, Oregon for suggesting this book.
Published By:
University of British Columbia Press
ISBN: 0-7748-0167-0
Price:
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PENINSULAR EXHIBITION (1981)
By (No Author Credited). This gives the prize list of the Peninsular
Exhibition held at Chatham, New Brunswick October 2nd, through the
5th, 1888. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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THE ROMANCE OF THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION (1936)
By Oswald Withrow. This small and older book gives a detailed look
at the history, finances, site, administration, art, music, and
shows of The CNE over the years. It also lists entertainment,
sports winners, revenues and other statistics up until 1935.
* (This is not of great interest to most of the readers of this
site as there is a lack of midway discussion save for one
illustration showing the grounds which contain an early roller
coaster, and a shot of the midway taken in the 1920s or 30s.
However, the history section is good and the discussion of fairs
before The CNE got started is interesting.)
Published by:
Reginald Saunders
Toronto, Canada
ISBN:
Price:
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THE ST. GILES FAIR 1830 - 1914: ( ? )
"Popular Culture and the in 19th Century oxford
By Sally Alexander. *(No Further Information.)
Published By:
Oxford
London, England
ISBN:
Price:
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TORONTO INDUSTRIAL FAIR (1895)
"An Illustrated Souvenir of Canada's
Great Exhibition, September 2nd to 14th, 1895"
By (No Author Credited). Contains descriptions and illustrations of
some of Toronto's chief industries and institutions of that era.
*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
F. Smily
Toronto, Canada
ISBN:
Price:
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THE TRAIL OF THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION" (1925)
"An Illustrated Historical Souvenir"
By V. Roberts. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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VANCOUVER'S FAIR:" (1925)
"An Administrative and Political History
of the Pacific National Exhibition"
By David Breen and Kenneth Coates. A book on the British Columbia,
Canada fair.*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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WINNERS: 150 YEARS OF THE PETERBOROUGH EXHIBITION (1995)
By Elwood Jones. This book details the Ontario, Canada fair.
*(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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