Vanderbilt Cup Races

My father, James Melton, collector of antique cars and known as “America’s Favorite Tenor,” participated in the 1939 World’s Fair.

While the theme of the Fair was progress and modernity, the American Jubilee pageant, largely sponsored by Studebaker, celebrated what we’d come from—America’s past glories. My father provided ten antique cars to be driven in the pageant four times a day. The cars on display ranged from an 1896 Ofeldt steam car to a 1916 Packard Twin Six, seven-passenger automobile.

The American Jubilee pageant was an extravaganza, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a kaleidoscope of American social and political history, from George Washington to “the next president” who would be elected in November 1940. The revolving stage on which the pageant unfolded was 270 feet in diameter, large enough to accommodate horses, buggies, and cars; it was complete with details like real flowers growing in real earth in real gardens.

There were 350 performers in various vignettes about George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and “the next president.” Cars from the collection of James Melton were featured in a section called “The Struggle Buggy Days,” which included a tableaux about financier and gourmand “Diamond” Jim Brady and turn-of-the-century singer Lillian Russell. The venue for this exhibit alone held 7,000 people. Admission was 40 cents.

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From Howard Kroplick

Margo, thanks for sharing the wonderful stories about your father James Melton…who was truly ” America’s Favorite Tenor.. and Automobile Collector”. Enjoy, Howard

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

This is an amazing article and some excellent research! I never knew about this race and I was fascinated by this account. Thanks for such an enjoyable article.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Hi Howard,  I want to personally thank you and Greg for a Fantastic day touring your “Museum of Exotic Cars” . This was a personal thrill for me and my brother John. You were so gracious giving us a tour and I enjoyed it very much.  I hope to see you again in the future. You are very knowledgeable and you have a great story for every car.  Thank you Howard.
Mario

From Upcoming car shows, concours and exhibits for the Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection: Updated 5/3/26

So much here I didn’t know. When there were some proposals for an NYC Grand Prix at the former Fair grounds in the 80s my Dad mentioned there had been a race at the 39 Fair but he couldn’t recall any details. He would have loved your feature!
That photo of the race cars divided by those columns is truly fantastic.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Here’s a photo from the Brooklyn Eagle of one car being prepared for the race.

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Great look at the past, Gram!  Excellent research!

From InstaGRAM Report: The Surprising Connections Between the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and Automotive History

Pretty cool that the wrought iron fence is still there 120 years later.

From Mystery Friday Foto #56 Solved: The #19 White Racer in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’m looking forward to the article as its always good to spread the word about the Long Island Motor Parkway and the Vanderbilt Cup Race.  Thanks go to John Hanc for helping to do this.  Three photos below of my Parkway memorabilia now located 600 miles away in my North Carolina home.  I’m almost 100% positive that its the only collection of Parkway material south of the Mason-Dixon line!  lol

From An upcoming cover article on Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates and Vanderbilia

You all do good work Keep it up!

From An upcoming cover article on Long Island Motor Parkway License Plates and Vanderbilia

Hugh, Do you know where your sign came from? Please forward a Jpeg. Howard

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property

Also, the first limited access highway.

And, he had plans to extend the LIMP to the Hamptons.  Never built.  You can see his plans in his notebooks at the Vanderbilt Museum.  (You have to ask as they are not usually available to the public.  The notebooks also have loads of photographs of every inch of the LIMP.)

From The Significance of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Greg, For a short while tolls were collected at the Petit Trianon Inn. As far back as when it was to be the Motor Parkway Inn the plan was to collect tolls here. There were no plans for a Ronkonkoma Lodge early on. That all changed when it was discovered that westbound traffic could enter the Parkway at Rosevale Ave and get off at the Brentwood Lodge before paying a toll. When the Bentwood lodge was closed (and it was quite often), one could ride free all the way to Route 110 in Melville. I believe it was Kienzle that brought the scenario to Vanderbilt’s attention and suggested the creation of what became the Ronkonkoma Lodge.

From The Significance of the Long Island Motor Parkway

1. Race Car & Driver:
  The White Steamer driven by Walter White.
2. Exact Location:
  Guinea Woods Turn.  Here the left front tire was lost. 
3. The Date:
  October 14, 1905
4. Identify major mechanical problem:
  Left front tire lost.  In addition, not shown the car was having engine problems.
Fun Fact:
The White was the only steamer to ever compete in a Vanderbilt Cup Race.

From Mystery Friday Foto #56 Solved: The #19 White Racer in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your collection with others.

From The Howard & Roz Kroplick Collection

I have a sign about like it from the Brinks Detective Company as in Brinks Armored trucks. I think it is on the wall in my shop building.

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property

That’s the #19 White Steamer racer being driven by Walter C. White. He is heading south on Lakeville Road in Lake Success at the eastern border of Willie K.‘s Deepdale Estate (iron fence in background). Photo was taken on October 14, 1905 during the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup race. White’s left front tire has come off the wheel.

From Mystery Friday Foto #56 Solved: The #19 White Racer in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Howard, Good find on locating the properties owned by Vanderbilt in the vicinity. The sign now makes some sense. I would like to think that a bridge maybe just a footbridge, was built connecting the westerly parcel to Idle Hour.

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property

I’m attaching another image of the same sign that Mitch Paluszek provided a few days ago. I downloaded this from the Southside Sportsman’s Club site that shows the sign on a shelf in the Guide’s Closet in the clubhouse at Connetquot River State Park.
The origin seems convincing to me.

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property

Yea, but Billy K. (as he was known by, did not “own and occupy ” nor was it a private park. More to this story ?

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property

Steve, You & I didn’t have access to another sign; but we were on the right track. Sportmens Club is just north of Idle Hour.

From Mystery Foto #55 Likely Solved: A William K. Vanderbilt, Sr. "No Trespassing" Sign located on his Oakdale "Private Park" Property