Progressland, NYWF 1964
Today I get to combine two of my favorite subjects; the New York World's Fair, and Disney. Here are two great photos from General Electric's Progressland!
In spite of the long line (and it is long!), the sign says that there is only a 20 minute wait. That's nothing! And look, the show itself is 45 minutes. How can you resist? A graveyard of strollers and wheelchairs sits by the sign. The domed building looks even more impressive up close, with all of those curves that just weren't possible with older modes of construction. The whole thing makes you excited for the future - - particularly the next 45 minutes or so! 
Well, for all of that futurism outside, the "Carousel of Progress" spends quite a bit of time in the past. Here's a rare interior from the 1940's segment of the show, with its kitchen full of great vintage General Electric appliances that made life better for everyone. Father sits at the Formica table eating a sandwich (liverwurst says I!). The curved scrim to the right has painted details that probably looked pretty convincing when not lit by a camera flash; when the lights went down on stage and ON behind the scrim, the cloth became all but invisible and revealed a scene with Mother putting up wallpaper. Or was it daughter Jane at her exercise machine?
12 comments:
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow is just a dream away...
WOW! Did this photographer take anymore interior shots? This was my favorite attracton at DL. I say, bring COP back to DL and restore it to it's original version!
Chris, unfortunately the only other interior shot was very dark (it was from the 1920's era). I should try to scan it and see if I can adjust it enough, but it might just be too grainy.
Chiana, that's one of the best songs ever!
There's a problem when an attraction sign advertises the line isn't as long as it looks, and it does so twice. I guess too many people were looking at the mob and just walking by.
The 40's kitchen is cute, but remember A LOT of people were still washing with wringers, and had that style of cabinets in their home in the 60s.
Who else remembers that style of Arrowhead Mountain Water dispenser, with the drip catch with the long flume that emptied into the waste bucket? And who used to let the water run just to watch the water show?
Oh, and if Anonymous "JG" sees this message, write me at katellagate@gmail.com. I want to talk to you about the flooring at the Skull Rock Grotto.
The line for GE was LONG! You can see some examples on my site at http://www.worldsfairphotos.com/nywf64/general-electric.htm
It was well worth the wait though.
Just absolutely fantastic pictures Major! Beautiful! Man this Fair must have been awesome.
Great stuff. Love that interior - how about the dark one, too!
such a beautiful shot of the sign...one of my favorite attractions as well, worth the wait no matter how long it is.
of course, its not so long these days, but neither is the show. we never miss it when we visit WDW
thanks for a nice post :-)
Katella, my grandmother had a Sparkletts water dispenser in the 1970's just like what you described. And to think those bottles were all glass back then.
Major, would love to see the other interior shot sometime....even if it's dark!
Remember how some people planted plants in the bottles in the 70s?
The Carousel of Progress was one of the great DL attractions. I love hearing the opening music and seeing the light wall go red for "the sound of a rocket"!
OK, I'll try scanning that other slide, and if it turns out OK you'll see it on my next World's Fair post (in about a week)!
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