Friday, January 31, 2020

More Fun at the Fair!

It's time for more "Fun at the Fair"... the 1964 New York World's Fair, that is. We've already seen some nice surprises from this batch of slides (check 'em out HERE and HERE). And there's one more goodie today!

First up is this neat photo from outside the Ford pavilion - there's one of the transparent tubes that the late-model Ford automobiles traveled through as part of the "Magic Skyway" attraction. On the walkway in front of us are some previously-seen Disney luminaries, including Ken Anderson (turning in our general direction), with Les Clark and Blaine Gibson to the right of Ken. It's neat to think of these longtime employees getting to see the big Disney-produced exhibits at the Fair! Presumably they didn't have to wait in that long line.


Next we're on the roof of the "Better Living Center", which was right next to "It's a Small World". And who look who is also there - Annette Funicello! She's looking cute in her pink coat. 

Note the helicopter in the upper right, those things show up in a surprising percentage of Fair pix.


I'm still unsure of the identity of  the gentleman to the left, though it has been suggested that it could be Paul Hartley. Other than Annette, the ladies remain a mystery to me. I'm pretty sure the man next to Annette is Van Arsdale France, and Blaine Gibson and Les Clark are to the right.


Here's an elegant 1964 portrait of Annette; isn't she lovely? She was 21 years old, and nearing the end of her time with Disney (though she did The Misadventures of Merlin Jones that year, and The Monkey's Uncle in '65).


There are still a few additional slides with some Disney friends enjoying the Fair, although those are not as amazing as the ones I've already shared. You'll see them anyway!

13 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-
"Disney friends enjoying the Fair". That should've been a coloring book available for sale to the kiddies. What a missed opportunity-!

Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

Awwwwww, Annette! These photos are a very special treat. Thanks for sharing them, Major!

Blaine Gibson looks like he might have a camera around his neck. And two other people in that group are holding cameras. I wonder what happened to their photos!


JC Shannon said...

Annette is sporting a babushka,and making it work. It must have been a windy day. Thanks for sharing these great snaps of the fair.

Andrew said...

Yes, they got to cut the line, but Walt (who also probably took all of these photos) soon went back to wait the full two hours. ;) Thanks Major - these pictures really are something!

DrGoat said...

Seems like every Friday there's a special treat and this is certainly one of them. Everyone loved Annette. Especially in our family. She was Italian, and that was good enough for my parents.
Thanks Major!

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, it’s hard to think of a time when people might not have heard the word “Imagineer”; now we know many of their names and faces 50+ years later.

TokyoMagic!, I wonder how that meeting went down? “Hey guys, Annette is here today! Wanna go say hi to her?”. She was certainly one of Disney’s biggest stars at the time, how could they pass up such an opportunity? And yeah, just imagine what Blaine Gibson’s Fair pix were like, I’ll bet with his artist’s eye he took some great ones. Maybe the Gibson family still has them?

Jonathan, yes, I’d wager that it was windy up on the roof of the Better Living Center. I assume that the Disney folks didn’t get the area cordoned off for just them, so some rando might have had a chance to see the most famous Mouseketeer in person.

Andrew, if Walt put on a shabby sweater and beat up hat, he probably could have waited in line with nobody even recognizing him!

DrGoat, I generally try to save something a little better for Fridays, though it doesn’t always happen. Seems like a good way to end the week. Annette seems to be one of those rare celebs where I’ve never heard a bad word about her; as you said, everyone loved her!

Anonymous said...

These are very special photos, indeed, Major.

Thanks for sharing them and identifying the principal people.

I recognize some names, but for the most, am drawing a blank on their identities.

I really like that first pic with the glass tube for the cars, would have loved to seen that. I see the "crown roast" building in the far background too.

This Fair was near the airport, correct? Helicopter shuttles were probably pretty regular, if their destination wasn't the Fair, then heading to the city beyond. On our recent trip this past Fall, we saw Uber Helicopter shuttles from JFK to Midtown and back advertised for amazingly small sums. Not for me, though, taxis that don't leave the ground are just fine.

I'm not big on celebrities, but the photo of Annette is very nice. It has that "glamour photo" look that was so common before photoshop. Star Trek always did a great job with those, showing the actresses' best sides in these fuzzy halo's. It's a very 60's look to me.

JG

Alonzo P Hawk said...

Wow, Annette from Bundled up Babushka babe to red hot Glamour Girl. Hubba hubba. Talk about diversity in this set. Sadly we sometimes forget just how beautiful she was. Excellent post Major, thanks for sharing. Happy Friday everyone.

MIKE COZART said...

In regards to Walt could probably blend in with guests Un- noticed : that happens all the time at Disneyland . Walt and some imagineers would often go into the park in casual “civilian” clothes too always get the guests point of view. Many of you probably have heard the stories of how often - while standing next to Walt , people always thought John Hench was Walt Disney!! ( Hench always was in a suit)

I wonder how many people have Disneyland guides and ticket booths signed “Walt Disney” - by John Hench!!

Melissa said...

How will I know my love?
How will I know my darling?
Please, Mister Moon up above,
How will I know my love?

TokyoMagic! said...

Melissa!!! Where have you been? Sory, I don't mean to be nosy....it's just that you've been missed (again!) I hope all is well! :-)

"Lou and Sue" said...

TM! You beat me to it! I was just going to say the same thing to Melissa, too!

Melissa - We missed you!!

Mike C. - that's interesting!!

Great post, Major!

Sue

Dean Finder said...

Very late to the party, but the helicopters you see in so many NYWF pics came from the Port Authority building. There were shuttles between the Fair and Manhattan as well as bird's-eye tours.
The building survives as a catering hall today, but no more helipad.
http://nywf64.com/poraut01.shtml