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Description
View of exhibit floor shows variety of auto design of the day. Signs advertise local businesses. The First Annual San Jose Auto Show was held February 17 - 20 at the Auditorium Rink located on Market Street in downtown San Jose. The Auditorium Rink was a precursor to the modern arena, providing 30,000 square feet of floorspace for a variety of shows, meetings, balls, indoor sports and other activities. The auto show featured displays from almost all of the county's automobile dealers and garages. The Santa Clara County Automobile Club took an active role in the show by organizing a parade and a race from San Francisco to Monterey. The Club also served refreshments in their "Rest Room" in the exhibit hall. The Brohaska Orchestra provided music throughout the four-day event. The show capitalized on the automobile enthusiasm that had grown in the Valley over the first decade of the 20th century. For the first time, the general public was invited celebrate the amazing new cars being produced throughout the country. Few citizens of the County could afford these vehicles, but everyone could marvel at them and their promises of freedom and excitement. Detail Views of First Annual Auto Show, San Jose Exhibitors showed off the newest models from Thomas Flyer, Studebaker, Ford, Reo, Chalmers-Detroit, Buick, Oldsmobile, Sunset, Winton, Rambler, Regal, Cadillac, Peerless, Pierce, Apperson, Franklin, Mitchell, Baker Electric, Stevens-Duryea, and Woods Electric. Many of the automobile show exhibits featured new cars surrounded by potted plants, flowers and even carpets. These added an air of luxury and exoticism to the show. Souvenir Program First Annual Auto Show, San Jose '09 The program's cover design was drawn by Lyle Bush, a local automobile dealer. The lady is wearing her driving attire with a full scarf to protect her head and face and goggles to protect her eyes. Her gauntlet gloves prevent dust from blowing up her sleeves. Tools and gears are featured, though most women did not wield wrenches. Program advertisers included automobile dealers, garages, tire and rubber companies, automobile accessory stores, insurance agencies, and hotels. The event committee was George Osen of the Osen & Hunter Auto Company, chairman; Harrison P. Smith, a dealer of Reo, Stoddard-Dayton, and Kisselkar; Lee Wallace, a Rambler dealer; and Auditorium Rink manager V.A. Hancock.
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