User:James dohren/Major Lenox R. Lohr

INTRODUCTION Major Lenox Riley Lohr (1891-1968) was a significant contributor to the development of Chicago's lake front; master organizer of exhibitions including the Century of Progress and Chicago Railroad Fairs; long-time president of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and active promotor of civic and charitable causes. In addition from 1934-40, Major Lohr was president of NBC.

EARLY YEARS Lenox R. Lohr was born in Washington, D.C. on August 15, 1891 to Gustavus and Margaret Lohr. He was a cousin of John Phillip Sousa. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1916 and took a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

WWI

 Lohr served with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France where he was advanced to the rank of major. He was awarded a Siver Star for gallantry in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. 

THE 1920s

 From 1922-29 Major Lohr worked in various capacities for the Army from 1922-29. He served as the executive secretary of the Society of American Engineers and was editor of its journal "The Military Engineer". In 1929 he resigned from the Army when he was hired as general manager of Chicago's world fair,"A Century of Progress by Rufus C. Dawes. 

THE 1930s

 Major Lohr supervised the construction, finances, and day-to-day operation of the Century of Progress. It is one of the very few world's fairs which pays all its investors back in full, but closes with an operating surplus. After the fair closes, Lohr is hired as president of the NBC network. He fills this position from 1935-1940. As president he urges NBC to begin using transcribed material and to establish a creditable news service to combat rival CBS. He is also involved in the litigation which results in NBC divesting itself of its Red Network.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

 In 1940 Major Lohr was named to succeed Rufus Dawes as the third president of the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago's lake front. As president he transforms a moribund institution into one of the world' most popular museums. He has the vision to change the emphasis of the museum form history to industry by restricting strictly historical exhibits to just 10% of the floor space. He also brings to the museum the concept of elaborate exhibits which are financed by business concerns in exchange for marketing notice. His also brings the concept of more and more hands-on exhibits. Suring his tenure the museum iconic exhibits including Christmas Around the World (1942); the elaborate Santa Fe Railroad model railroad (1943); the display of the U-505 WW II German submarine (1954); the Colleen Moore Fairy Castle (1949)and the walk-through human heart (1952). He remains president of the museum until his sudden death in 1968.

CHICAGO RAILROAD FAIRS

 Lohr is appointed to organize the Chicago Railroad Fair in February of 1948. In only five months he brings together 39 railroad companies and finds private funding. He supervised the construction of five miles of railroad track along in an area roughly the same as that of the Century of Progress. He oversaw the collection an unprecedented amount of historical and contemporary railroad equipment and other transportation related vehicles. A main stage is constructed where an elaborate pageant is staged four times a day using hundreds of actors to tell the history of transportation in America from pioneer days to the present. In addition there is a ski and water show on nearby Lake Michigan. The fair is an immediate success with critics and the public. It is so popular that it held over for an extended second season in 1949.  
  
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