THE LOST DIORAMA - The Story of a Unique Czechoslovak Exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City
Abstract
The young Czechoslovak Republic had wanted to showcase its cultural and economic success at the 1939 New York World's Fair, but the Nazi occupation of the country in March 1939 dealt a fatal blow to this plan. In spite of numerous obstacles and thanks to the efforts of a new exhibition committee, the Czechoslovak pavilion opened its doors to the public and remained in service for the duration of the extended fair as a reminder of occupied Czechoslovakia.
One exhibit that aimed to show off Czechoslovak artistry and engage visitors of all ages was an enormous diorama titled The Inauguration of George Washington in New York on 30 April 1789. The diorama was the brainchild of Hugo Vavrečka, the Czechoslovak commissioner general of the exhibition committee.
Funding was provided by factory owner Jindřich Waldes and the diorama was created by artists Václav Fiala, Minka Podhájská, Václav Nejtek and Evžen Březinský. In addition to a realistic rendition of the New York City waterfront, the nearly nine-meter-wide diorama presented more than 200 puppets crafted based on period engravings.
The diorama was to be donated to the Museum of the City of New York at the end of the fair, but this is where we lose trace of the exhibit - to this day we have no idea where it was moved.