Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 romantic musical film which tells the story of a happy American family living in St. Louis as they anticipate the wonders of the 1904 World's Fair. It stars legendary actors such as Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake and Marjorie Main. The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who interestingly enough met his future wife, Judy Garland, on the set. In the film, Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,"which both became big hits after the film was released. These are just a couple of fun facts many may not know about the movie.
As a city, while St. Louis does appreciate its acknowledgment, being "put on the map" so to speak, more importantly, Meet Me in St. Louis allowed the city to share its memories of the historical 1904 World's Fair with the rest of the world. It was the site of much laughter and excitement as many families explored the many attractions the fair had to offer. It unveiled to the world new ideas, products and scientific advances that enthralled thousands of visitors. Even great minds like Thomas Edison were on hand. It was the fair that predicted the development and mass use of electricity and the x-ray, not to mention the infant incubator, the private automobile and a number of other everyday staples of the 20th and 21st centuries. However my personal favorite remains the invention of the ice cream cone.
On a nice day when I relax in Forest Park (site of the 1904 World's Fair) I always find myself thanking Meet Me in St. Louis for exposing others to the many traditions of St. Louis' past. Still surrounded by some of the very architectural structures constructed for the fair, I am very appreciative that the movie was able to share some of these aspects of St. Louis with its viewers. Forest Park is St. Louis' jewel, much like the movie.
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