The 'Trip to the Moon' and Other Early Spaceflight Simulation Shows, ca. 1901-1915: Part 2

摘要

Part 1 of this paper documented the history of the 'Trip to the Moon' lunar flight simulation attraction created by Frederic Thompson and presented first at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, in 1901, then at the seaside resort of Coney Island, New York, where it appeared between 1902-1907 and from 1910-1912 as 'A Trip to Mars by Aeroplane.' Part 2 covers carnival and other incarnations of the Trip to the Moon shows up to 1915. These highly popular shows were simple, non-scientific, and technically primitive productions compared to what is possible in our high-tech, computerized age today. Yet they demonstrate that there was a remarkably high interest in spaceflight during the early part of the century which was spread into both small and large towns throughout the U.S. and Canada and therefore offer us a new perspective in the history of spaceflight and popular culture. By the same token, it is seen that this period was part of the fantasy phase of astronautics, although it involved mechanical and electrical scenic effects, and that a Part 3 of this study is now contemplated that may help us better define the evolution of popular concepts of astronautics from fantasy to the introduction of the idea of the space rocket into the public consciousness from the 1920's by the work of Robert H. Goddard and others. The author also wishes to take this opportunity to thank Barbara Fahs Charles of Alexandria, Virginia, for granting permission to search through and use her collection of material on the Charles W. Parker carnival shows.