Our State Fair is a great State Fair, Dont miss it, dont even be late! Its dollars to doughnuts that our State Fair Is the best State Fair in our state! Oscar Hammerstein II, 1945 The State Fair. Its a grand old institution, spanning the United States for over a century and a half. Inspired by European agricultural fairs, a State Fair at summers end provided breathing room after a busy growing season and an opportunity for friendly competition. Attendees vied for blue-ribbon recognition in livestock exhibitions, the display of varied crops, and the demonstration of such skills as jam-and-jelly-making, needlework, gardening, and baking. Ever since, agriculture, livestock, and handicrafts have continued as major elements in the State Fair makeup. But somewhere along the way, entertainment entered the equation. Soon, the State Fair wasnt just a place to compete; it was a place to have fun! A carnival-like atmosphere helped establish the State Fair identity we know and love. Theres the Mighty Midway, with its scream-inducing Loop-O-Planes and Cyclone Coasters, its goose-fleshy haunted mansions, and rib-tickling fun houses. For the more sedate, there are leisurely spins on the merry-go-round, and stately twirls on the Ferris wheel. How about those games of chance? (Chances are, youll end up spending more than that enormous teddy bear is actually worth.) The side shows are still pretty jaw-dropping, even if the Alligator Boys and Baby Dumpling Fat Ladies of bygone days have been replaced by todays fire eaters and human pincushions. And oh, that delicious, description-defying fair food! An ever-varied lineup of tempting indigestibles is offered up, from Honey Fried Walleye On A Stick (thanks, Minnesota!) to Fried Coca-Cola (and thanks to you too, Texas!) It wouldnt be Fair Day without them. There just had to be a musical lurking somewhere amidst all this hoopla, and there was. But first, there was a book: Phil Stongs State Fair, which made its way to the movie screens in 1933 as a non-musical starring Will Rogers. The storyline follows the Frake family, taking time off from the farm for a sojourn at the Iowa State Fair. Adventure and romance await. Will Blue Boy, Abels prize boar, take home a blue ribbon? How about Melissas mincemeat, liberally (and unwittingly) liquor-spiked? Will daughter Margy find true love with a brash young reporter? And what about son Wayne? Will he win the heart of that snazzy nightclub singer? Waiting for the answers (yes, yes, yes, and no -- Wayne wises up to the charms of the girl back home) had 1930s moviegoers sitting on the edge of their seats. State Fair was a hit! And, by the 1940s, Rodgers and Hammerstein, fresh off the all-American stage successes Oklahoma! and Carousel, found this down-home story ripe for musicalization. Their 1945 movie musical version of State Fair was an overwhelming smash, with It Might as Well Be Spring winning the Oscar for Best Song. A 1962 remake, with additional all-Rodgers songs (Hammerstein had died several years prior), moved the setting to the mammoth Texas State Fair. Featured in the cast: Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Ann-Margret, and Alice Faye. In 1996, a full-blown State Fair stage musical finally arrived on Broadway, the movie score augmented with little-known R & H tunes. State Fair was the last musical produced by David Merrick; headliners included John Davidson and Kathryn (Mrs. Bing) Crosby. Fans of traditional musicals ate it up as quickly as a deep-fried Twinkie (an Indiana specialty), and the show continues as a community theater favorite. State Fairs. In an instant, were transported back to carefree days of childhood. Once more, the balloons sail skyward, the scent of popcorn and cotton candy fills the air, the merry-go-round whirls, and the rollercoaster roars. Down the pike we stroll, our arms laden with oversize plush pandas, caramel apples, and maybe a corn dog (or two). Our State Fair. Dont miss it. Dont even be late! Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann. All photos by Donald-Brian Johnson. Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous Schiffer books on design and collectibles. Hes a longtime attendee of the State Fair in his home state of Minnesota, where most of these photos were taken. Please send inquiries (or extra Tom Thumb donuts) to: donaldbrian@msn.com.