1940s Day

Programming Schedule

10 a.m.

• Free Chip Wheelies to the first 100 guests (Graeter’s Ice Cream Shop)
  Free Ice Cream Sandwiches handed out in America’s first integrated USO!
• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.

10 a.m. to noon

• Ezzard Charles Trivia (Cincinnati History Museum)
  Ezzard Charles was a local boxing legend in the 1940s. Test your knowledge of our local Cincinnati Cobra!
• Victory Garden Posters (Museum of Natural History & Science)
  Growing food was a national past time in the 1940s. Come create a Victory Garden inspired poster of your own.
• Kenner Toys (Our Shared Story Exhibit)
  Kenner Toys were created in the 1940s and went on produce classic toys like Star Wars figures, Ghostbusters and more.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Vintage Newsreels and Films (Newsreel Theater)
  Get your news from the front and enjoy a classic film in our historic theater.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Casablanca Vintage (Rotunda)
  A selection of 1940s clothing and accessories for sale.
• Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library
  Show off your sweet threads at the library bookmobile–themed selfie station.
• CMC Curator of History Objects & Fine Art (Rotunda)
  Discuss Cincinnati’s broadcasting history while checking Crosley radios from the pre-war, wartime, and post-war era.
• CMC Curator of Photographs, Prints & Media (Rotunda)
  In a time when folks were just entering WWII, polio had ravaged the country, and uncertainty was abounded, learn how wheelchair user Kay Irion provided “hope” for those who needed it most.
• Greater Cincinnati Chapter Tuskegee Airmen (Rotunda)
  GCCTAI inspires and motivates young men and women toward careers in aviation and aerospace so that they may carry forward the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
• Kinetic Vision (Rotunda)
  David Lombardi’s The Lost Concourse – Walk through the Cincinnati Union Terminal Concourse by experiencing a Virtual Reality program which recreates, in detail, the impressive 450 ft. Art Deco concourse ensconced with mosaic tile murals.
• LST-325 (Rotunda)
  Making port on Mehring Way this weekend, learn about the last fully operational WWII Landing Ship Tank.
• Lunken Cadet Squadron – Civil Air Patrol (Cincinnati History Museum)
  Learn more about the official United States Air Force Auxiliary based out of Lunken Airport.
• Maria Eckhoff, author of I’m Doing in Fine. Don’t Forget to Write! (Rotunda)
  Discuss and purchase your own copy of the book. View authentic Navy and civilian memorabilia from the WWII era. Questions are most welcome.
• Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center (Rotunda)
  Join ROMAC’s mission to celebrate, advance and preserve African American culture and achievement.
• WMKV (Rotunda)
  Your radio station playing music and shows of the 1940s and partnering every week with Cincinnati Museum Center---tell your 1940s story at WMKV’s table!
• Vintage cars & jeeps, weather dependent (Fountain Gallery)
  Get your selfie sticks ready as you cozy up to these historic beauties.

10:30 a.m.

• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.
• Broadcast to the Past (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  Demonstrate your acting chops (or your sound-making abilities) as you learn how they made popular radio entertainment in the 40’s and beyond!

10:30 to 11:45 a.m. (every 15 minutes)

• American Chemical Society: Nylon making (STEM Classroom)
  From fashion to war efforts, learn how nylon become of the most important fibers in the 1940s. And then look under the hood as chemists make nylon in front of you!

11 a.m.

• Storytree Time with Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library
  Join Miss Jill for a 40s focused storytime
• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.

11:30 a.m.

• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.
• Cohen (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  A fun, 15-minute stage show about the innovations in metals, machinery, and recycling in the 1940s and how that all compares to modern techniques!

Noon

• Daniel Bennett & The Dirty Shirley (Premium Experience)
  Cincinnati jazz combo so good you’ll wanna smack Sinatra’s mama!
• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.
• Cohen (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  A fun, 15-minute stage show about the innovations in metals, machinery, and recycling in the 1940s and how that all compares to modern techniques!
• LaVerne Summerlin, author of Gems of Cincinnati’s West End: Black Children and Catholic Missionaries 1940-1970 (Rotunda)
  A local artist shares her book of personal stories of 100 African American alumni of the nine Catholic schools that were in existence in the West End during the 1940’s.

12:30 p.m.

• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.
• Cohen (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  A fun, 15-minute stage show about the innovations in metals, machinery, and recycling in the 1940s and how that all compares to modern techniques!

1 p.m.

• Al Miller, 99 year old Holocaust Survivor (Reakirt Auditorium)
  Come listen to Al’s story and first-hand account as a survivor of the Holocaust.
• Dolores Raye Sings (Premium Experience)
  Big Band/Swing, jazz, standards, in the style of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Doris Day, and more. Bring your dancing shoes, and memories of days gone by.
• Costume Contest Sign up and Staging (Collett Gallery)
  Sign up to show off how decked out your duds are. Women, men, children, and groups are all invited!
• Cohen (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  A fun, 15-minute stage show about the innovations in metals, machinery, and recycling in the 1940s and how that all compares to modern techniques!

1 to 4 p.m. (start every 30 minutes)

• Free Union Terminal Tours by Cincinnati Heritage Programs (Rotunda)
  Discover Union Terminal during a 45-minute tour of the 1933 train station, docents explain the architecture, construction, and art of one of the finest examples of the Art Deco style. These limited capacity public tours are first come, first served.

1 to 5 p.m.

• Urbanist Media (UTPO)
  Join Urbanist Media for "Lost Voices of the 1940s," an interactive experience to learn about local people who lived during the 1940s.
• TriState Warbirds Museum (Rotunda)
  Celebrate America’s avian history by acknowledging the ingenuity, commitment, & sacrifice made by the people of the United States, particularly during World War II

1:30 p.m.

• Queen City Sisters (Corbett Theater, the Children’s Museum)
  A trio of a cappella ladies singing favorite 40s standards for kids (and adults)!
• Cohen (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  A fun, 15-minute stage show about the innovations in metals, machinery, and recycling in the 1940s and how that all compares to modern techniques!

2 p.m.

• 1940s Day Costume Contest (Reakirt Auditorium)
  Show off how decked out your duds are OR come and watch all the beautiful styles of the 1940s on parade and see who wins best of each group!
• Queen City Sisters (strolling throughout the Museums)
  A trio of a cappella ladies singing favorite 40s standards as they stroll throughout the museums.

2 to 4 p.m.

• Miro Masterpieces by Cedric Michael Cox (KidSPACE, the Children’s Museum)
  Join us as we create a communal art piece inspired by Juan Miro in 1947 for the Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati.

2 to 5 p.m.

• Ezzard Charles Trivia (Cincinnati History Museum)
  Ezzard Charles was a local boxing legend in the 1940s. Test your knowledge of our local Cincinnati Cobra!
• Victory Garden Posters (Museum of Natural History & Science)
  Growing food was a national past time in the 1940s. Come create a Victory Garden inspired poster of your own.
• Kenner Toys (Our Shared Story Exhibit)
  Kenner Toys were created in the 1940s and went on produce classic toys like Star Wars figures, Ghostbusters and more.
• Vintage Newsreels and Films (Newsreel Theater)
  Get your news from the front and enjoy a classic film in our historic theater.

2:45 p.m.

• Jazz Renaissance (Premium Experience)
  Local 7-piece jazz band playing music that was popular in the 1940s

3 p.m.

• Meet & Greet with Laverne Summerlin, author of Gems of Cincinnati’s West End: Black Children and Catholic Missionaries 1940-1970 (Newsreel Theater)
  Come learn about the beauty and the positive impact of diversity that came to mind when writing about the stories of the 100 alumni of the nine West End Catholic schools where African American children were educated in the 1940’s.
• Broadcast to the Past (Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Science Stage)
  Demonstrate your acting chops (or your sound-making abilities) as you learn how they made popular radio entertainment in the 40’s and beyond!
• Ration Samples (History in the Making Classroom)
  During the 1940s many technological advancements hit the global stage. Let’s talk about the less mentioned: food! During this time industrialized food processes allowed for longer preservation of food. In addition, new methods allowed for economical foods to take the center stage as rationing affected every household.

4 p.m.

• Allan Howey (Premium Experience)
  Performs the top hit songs of World War II (trumpet and vocal).
• Ration Samples (History in the Making Classroom)
  During the 1940s many technological advancements hit the global stage. Let’s talk about the less mentioned: food! During this time industrialized food processes allowed for longer preservation of food. In addition, new methods allowed for economical foods to take the center stage as rationing affected every household.
• Voices of Cincinnati – West End Podcast (Newsreel Theater)
  Check out the short film Urbanist Media made for the ArtsWave Truth & Reconciliation grant showcase at the Freedom Center! The photos used were shared by the Robert O'Neal Multicultural Arts Center (ROMAC) archives

*Programs, times and locations are subject to change.