• Remembering Those Great GM Motorama Shows

      Known as one of the most influential and exciting shows in automotive history, General Motor’s Motorama was made popular during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. The journey of Motorama shows started in 1950, at the prestigious Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. For many who attended the great shows over the years, it was exciting, amazing, and even thrilling to look into the future of automobiles. Visitors could see a vision of what the potential American sports car looked like or take a tour of a beautiful showroom with cars that one could only dream of. It was the best of times in this country and General Motors, led the way with many great stage shows and production cars which visitors thoroughly enjoyed.


      One year, General Motors used the public as a guide to the future and themed the show of the future “Looking at You.” It was a colorful and very exciting stage show that was said to be “Just like a Broadway hit!” by Mrs. Santarsiero, who attended the show in 1954.

      On December 3, 1953, Mr. Harlow H. Curtice, GM's President said " We wish to give as many people as possible an opportunity to see our 1954 products, which we regard as the finest in General Motors history, assembled under one roof…. But we feel as strongly as ever that a show of this type should be far more than product display…. Therefore the 1954 Motorama will include an exceptionally complete array of engineering and research exhibits".


      The shows continued to offer great stage entertainment, orchestra music, and a fashion show which were all featured at various Motorama display areas. As the public looked on with amazement upon the exciting displays at the Motorama shows, it was a magical and exciting moment in time. To be seen by thousands and thousands of people, Motorama became a tremendous success. The Motorama shows ran from 1950 to 1961 and were held everywhere from New York, to Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco capturing the hearts of many who attended.


      While dream cars and production vehicles were the stars of the show, the revolutionary "Kitchen of Tomorrow", designed by the talented GM styling department and engineers of the Frigidaire Division, allowed ones observation to journey 20 years into the future. The “Kitchen of Tomorrow” showcased household appliances and many other innovative features as well.

      In 1956, the show was called GM Motorama of 1956 - "The Greatest Motorama". The show featured the electronic "Highway of Tomorrow" where cars steered themselves on a radar-controlled highway, while the drivers watched television.


      The popular Firebird II show car, known as the family vehicle of tomorrow design, was introduced along with the Aero train of tomorrow display which many people thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, in 1957 General Motors was forced to cancel the Motorama shows for that year. However the shows did resume in the 1959 and 1961 automotive model years

      The 1959 General Motors Motorama show began its journey at the Waldorf- Astoria in October of 1958. Although not many Motorama show cars were introduced to the public during its later years, there was one special show car featured in the Motorama show of 1959, the Firebird III model design. The Firebird III model design was a very unique gas-turbine concept which introduced seven sharp fins as part of its unique design along with a bubble canopy. Some GM advertising representatives called it "Imagination in Motion". There were three Firebird models that General Motors produced and each one was a great representation at the Motorama shows. The Firebird I -1954, Firebird II-1956, Firebird III-1958, were all designed under Mr. Harley Earl’s design leadership.


      The fifties was a period of fundamental change within the automobile industry and General Motors was a big part of that great excitement by introducing their great Motorama shows to the American public. As a final point, the last Motorama shows were held in 1961, at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles from January 28th to February 5th. It was there visitors could see all the new'61 GM cars. Another show was held at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium, January 7 thru 15.


      Mr. Chuck Jordan, who helped create some of the fantastic designs like the (Centurion) for the shows, once said, "That period was the golden age of automotive design". Many automotive historians have also said that the Motorama shows of yesterday, were a great look at tomorrow and will always be apart and have a great legacy within automotive history for many generations to come.


      A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. (Bibliography: Temple W. David. GM's Motorama The Glamorous Show Cars Of A Culture Phenomenon. 2006.
      General Motors- Motorama Press Releases, December 3,1953.)

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