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In the official poster for the semi-centennial observance, the "I Will" Maiden shows the
way to the brighter tomorrow that awaits those brave and bold enough to build it. In
addition to the many other commemorative activities organized by the Chicago Association
of Commerce, the Chicago Safety Council distributed a myriad of pamphlets, posters, and
buttons publicizing "No accident--No Fire Week," while former Olympic athlete and future
president of the International Olympic Committee Avery Brundage officially deemed all
high school soccer and football games played on October 8 the "Semi-Centennial Games."
There were at least two fiftieth anniversary songs, and, in addition to the
Association-sponsored historical pageant in Grant Park, city's Bureau of Parks, Playgrounds, and
Beaches produced a second commemorative play in Humboldt Park, titled The Seven
Fires: A Masque of Chicago. Synopses of both works are in the Library for this chapter.
Local merchants like Marshall Field's also had various tie-ins, although the Mandel Brothers
store decided not to display the Armitage painting of the relief efforts out of concern that its
complimentary depiction of England rallying to Chicago's rescue might offend customers
of Irish descent.
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Onward to the Centennial 