More From Expo 67

Let's go back to August 1967, and take a visit to Montreal's Expo 67! I have a lot of pictures from this fair, but my knowledge of the thing is not very deep, and the references that I have aren't especially helpful. But I'll do the best I can, and any smart readers can feel free to pitch in.

This first photo was taken on the Ile Notre Dame (the Fair took place on three islands in the Saint Lawrence River). Up above us is the Minirail (not a monorail!), which would have been a great way to get the lay of the land. The building in the background with the diamond-shaped lattice work is the Steel Pavilion, while the stylized green "trees" were part of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Industry building. What could be more exciting than pulp and paper? Nothing, that's what.


Looky, a boat ride! That's some boat, it appears to be built from PVC pipe and tarps. You won't see any animatronic hippos or elephants on this river (animatronic elephants are extinct in Canada).


And another boat ride... this time it's a strange outrigger thing with a sail made out of an old wool baby blanket.


In the foreground is a "giant size molecular abstraction that gleams in the sun by day and takes on an aura of mystery by night" - part of the Polymer exhibit. Behind it is the Pavilion Du Telephone: "Canadian telephone companies tell the story of Canada and communications within the context of Man and his World". In the brown cylindrical portion of the building, guests could view "Canada 67", a thrilling Walt Disney film in "Circle-Vision 360˚".


Over to the left is what I believe to be the "Man the Producer" pavilion. The exhibits were divided into three sections, "Resources for Man", "Progress", and "Man in Control?". Expo '67 was the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with over 50 million visitors. Most photos don't look particularly crowded...


.... but just look at the queue waiting to get in to see the Circle-Vision 360˚ film!!