GM Powerama??

[Matt Mersereau]

Ive seen and read a lot of information about GMs Motorama shows back in the 50s, but I cant seem to find anything about the Powerama show, or shows. Im particularly interested in Powerama, Chicago 1955. The reason is a bit silly, but Ive got this small triangular key fob that my mother gave me, that she got when my dad and she went to the show. Its about 1.6" x 1.6" x 1.5", molded in gold plastic. One side reads GM- General Motors- Powerama- 1955, and the other side reads GM- Fabricast- cast for progress. If I remember correctly, I was told it came from one of those injection mold while-you-wait souvenir machines that I recall sticking quarters into at the Museum of Science and Industry as a kid.

Anyhoo, if anybody has any information about Powerama, Id love to hear it.

Thanks,
Matt

[Robt.Vonheck -via SunDiego Calif.]

Hello dear Matt:   -try Auctioning your Moms rare keepsake on Ebay, the Ferrari-Dino Keyfobs are going for $1.8k (two in past 10-days); --those in the know like the Italians understand manufacturing of the cars is just a clever-ploy so as to ultimately realize a huge profit via the Keyfobs, unfortunately, seems the General is somehow under the gross-delusion that profit is to be found in making of the cars....   ~Bob vH

[Matt Mersereau]

Hi Bob, Too bad my folks were not (and are still not) part of the elite crowd. Perhaps they would have gotten a Prancing Horse fob or two back in the day.

[Bruce Berghoff- #1476]

Hello Matt...  Powerama was GMs first and only "Worlds Fair of Power". Held in the summer of 1955 on 30 acres of Chicagos Soldier Field parking lot and extending across Lake Shore Drive up to Lake Michigan, it featured the products of GMs non-automotive divisions. Products that included diesel, agricultural, marine, aircraft, off road, rail, mining, refrigeration, guided missile, atomic and stationary power applications. On a giant outdoor stage GM teamed earthmovers and bulldozers against elephants in a synchronized dance in the dirt. Choreographed by Edie and Dick Barstow of Barnum & Bailey Circus fame this show held kids and their folks spellbound. That was after the sizzling opening when the MC arrived from backstage in Harley Earls favorite Motorama Dream Car, the 51 Buick LaSabre.
   The only other passenger cars displayed at Powerama were six 1955 Motorama Dream Cars plus the 1954 Firebird I.
   The gold plastic key fob was a general handout from Fabricast Division that was probably delivered to over one million spectators. A second keyfob, identical in size but investment cast in stainless steel and polished to a beautiful high luster, was produced in limited quantity for a few Corporate officials and guests. These were made to show off Fabricasts capability to produce pricision vanes for jet engine rotors and variable pitch transmissions. I have one of these treasures!
   When Buick discontinued offering Dyna-flow transmissions Fabricast merged with GMs Central Foundry Division.
        You asked for it ! (That was my first show for GM )

[Matt Mersereau]

Bruce,
Wow!, thanks for the abundance of information. Its true, ask and ye shall receive. Ill have to re-ask my parents about the fob, perhaps my own imagination is where I came up with the idea that they were cast in a machine "while you wait". I did have several brightly colored plastic animals as a child from the earlier mentioned museum machines.
You mentioned that Powerama was your first show for GM. I took that to mean more than you were merely in attendance. If Im not wrong in that assumption, would you mind me asking what role you played in this and other GM shows? Id love to hear any stories you have to tell if and when you have the time.

Thanks again for filling me in on the Powerama show.

[Bruce Berghoff - CLC #1476]

Matt... You guessed right! 1955 is the year I left Grad School at Wayne University in Detroit and went to work as a Production Coordinator with the H.B.Stubbs Co., the general show contractor for GMs super shows including the Powerama and all of the Motoramas. If you really want to get the inside story of these shows find a copy of my out of print book, "The GM Motorama-Dream Cars of the Fifties" published by Motorbooks in 1995. Its available thru Amazon on the internet, but sometimes for big-bucks! I have a chapter with photos of Powerama.Some libraries, like the Automotive Archives section of the Detroit Public also have this book on their shelves. BB.

[Bill Podany]

Bruce Berghorff knows what he is talking about; I have purchased the GM Motorama book from him, and it is fascinating, and he is a great guy to talk to on the telephone regarding the glory days of Cadillac.  He also has a plethora of accessories and parts for sale--a good contact to have in your address book.

Bill Podany
Green Bay, WI