The square tower of Blarney Castle rose over the Shamrock Isle, an Irish village with two theaters that stood across the street from Toyland at the Zone's bend. The public did not care much for Irish singing and clog dancing. The war made it impossible to bring over any real exhibits of Irish life and industry, and even the jaunting cars drew few riders, though they were useful in parades.
The concession was reborn as the Streets of All Nations, with Turkish bass drummers, dancers and a 'walk-over', a raised platform that the crowd had to climb over to get in. Todd saw it work on crowd psychology. People at the back watched those in front mount the steps and pay, and they followed for fear of being left out. The Callicott brothers, Floyd and Jack, were its spielers. As a business it did much better, 'but it was no longer Irish.' Next door the educated horse Captain drew some of the biggest crowds on the Zone.
At a glance
- Originally an Irish village with two theaters under a Blarney Castle tower.
- Converted during the season to the Streets of All Nations.
- Todd cites its 'walk-over' entrance as proof of the herd instinct.
Afterward
Demolished with the Zone in 1916.
Sources
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. I (1921), p. 170 (Shamrock Isle across from Toyland)
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. II (1921), ch. XXIX, p. 155 (Blarney Castle)
- Frank Morton Todd, The Story of the Exposition, vol. II (1921), ch. LXIV, p. 354; ch. LXV, pp. 358-359
- Map of the Zone concessions, spring 1915 (reproduced in 'Let Me Get There', USC Scalar), Spring 1915 map of the Zone concessions