Seattle "Century 21 Expo", 1962
I've had some scans of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair (aka the "Century 21 Exposition") in a folder on my computer for a long time, and by gum, it's time to use them! The Expo ran from April 21, 1962 through to October 21, 1962, in case you needed to know.
First up is this photo of people milling around near the tori gate entrance to the Japanese Village, part of the "Show Street" section of the Expo - ostensibly themed more for adults. In other words, "pants optional"! Well, that's my theory, anyway.
In the lower part of this EXCITING photo is the familiar Saul Bass Bell System logo - the Bell Pavilion had a film called "Century 21 Calling...", which was so incredible that it eventually was shown on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". I like those decorative poles (what else can I call them?) with the colorful acrylic (?) panels. It reminds me of stuff that an Eames-inspired toy that I had when I was a kid, you would combine colored plastic pieces to see how the resulting mixed hue. Notice the top of the helicopter just over the roofline, presumably what the photographer was trying to capture.
Next, we're inside part of the United States Pavilion, looking out at those unusual sculptural elements - the "Cathedral of Science". The U.S. Pavilion was designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, who, not long afterwards, was chosen to design the World Trade Center in New York.
In this vintage photo at the base of one of the towers, you can perhaps see some similar design aesthetics.
I believe that this was part of the Hawaii Pavilion, which was on that nutty "Show Street" adult section - a vintage advertisement mentions "Tahitian Dancers; Hula Dancers; Sword & Fire Dancers". Plus "The Fine Harmony of the Hilo Hawaiians".
This next picture appears to show a large backlit transparency from NCR - National Cash Register. Ka-ching! (I just really wanted to say "ka-ching"). A mystery woman in purple admires stacks and stacks of punch cards, the latest in technology. "If only I could find a man who loved punch cards as much as I do...", she dreams wistfully. The fellow to the right wishes she would notice him.
The last two scans feature The Water Ski Show, sponsored by Olympia Brewing Company. There's nothing like a water ski show that consists mostly of an expanse of dirt. Always keep them guessing, that's what I always say. An oval canal surrounded that wonderful dirt, and that's where the magic happened. Speed boats pulled daring water skiers behind them, and there were death-defying ramp jumps, shark jumps (well, I hope so anyway), and... other stuff?
As we have learned, an easy way to add color and movement to any area is to use flags of the world. LOTS of them. And looking at that relatively narrow canal, I can't help wondering if there were any nasty waterskiing accidents during the run of the Expo? Seems likely.
Well, there you go, I'm glad I finally used these scans. I hope you found them edifying and entertaining! I'll have more from the Century 21 Expo in Seattle - when the mood strikes.
19 comments:
How did that lady get up there on the ledge of the Hawaiian Pavilion? Or was she an animatronic "Barker Lady"?
@ TM!-
"How did that lady get up there on the ledge of the Hawaiian Pavilion?" Why, she's wearing a 'magical lei'-!!
Major-
That is indeed the Hawaiian Pavilion - which was almost exclusively devoted to tourism. "Guests could sample Hawaiian foods and beverages, enjoy entertainment from hula dancers, and buy a wide range of souvenirs - including leis and colorful clothes".
I'm unaware of any accidents surrounding the Water Ski Show. It should be noted that one show featured the Hanna-Barbara cartoon characters, including Quick Draw McGraw and his faithful sidekick Baba Louie. The large open 'dirt area' in the center of the stadium was used for a variety of shows, including several performances by Western movie star Roy Rogers; but for most of the fair, it was home of Circus Berlin. (A movable bridge was needed to get the performers across the water-filled moat).
Thanks, Major.
The 1962 Seattle World's Fair holds a special place in my heart. We were there in June of '62 when I was 9, or 10 (I had my birthday on that trip). At that age, I was amazed by all things futuristic... still am. And this Fair had plenty of that!
1) I don't remember this arch at all. But we were only at the Fair for one day, so I'm sure there were lots of stuff we missed. The Japanese are known throughout the world for their pan fried chicken. :-\
2) When we first entered the fair, I stopped and looked at one of these "decorative poles" while my family moved on without me (they didn't know I had stopped). After half a minute or so I looked around and didn't see anybody I recognized. Two minutes into the Fair and I was lost! But pretty soon my mom showed up and scolded me and told me to "keep up!". Like I said, I was nerding out on all the cool stuff I was seeing, and was already experiencing sensory overload.
3) Those graceful white arches were/are one of my favorite things at the Seattle Fair. We didn't arrive at this part of the fair till about 9:00 PM. It was already dark and the arches were all lit up. The Science Center (Is that the same thing as the U.S. Pavilion?) next to the arches was already closed for the day so we couldn't go in. It would have been right up my alley: Push buttons to push, cranks to turn, levers to pull... [sigh]. Oh well, perhaps NOT seeing it is what stimulated my life-long interest in science and mechanical things.
4) Oh yes, definitely a family resemblance between the two structures.
5) Like Tokyo!, I was gonna ask how the lady got up there on that balcony... but now I can see a piece of the door behind her. More of a hatch, really.
6) Office drama. Later, the two of them went off and made punch cards together.
7) Water ski show. Another thing we didn't see. Although, I'm glad we skipped this one. Sorta like watching a parade at Disneyland instead of going on the rides.
8) Olympia beer's slogan was "It's the water", hence the sign. There were a whole lotta other flags next to the International Fountain; state flags?
Thanks, Major. I had fun reliving the Seattle Fair.
Nanook, if her lei was one of those special magical ones, then it all makes sense.
Actually, upon taking a closer look at that photo, I now see a little door behind her. It blends in pretty well with the rest of the wall.
Major, these are very nice indeed. I have some vague memories of visiting this Fair, but seeing those dates, I know why they are vague, I was very young indeed.
I do recall those lacy towers, a ride on the monorail, and the view from the Space Needle. I have some scanned memorabilia from that trip I could share if you would like. Might be a supplement to a future post.
I learned FORTRAN years later punching Hollerith cards. I wish I had saved a card or two, a whole program weighed 10 pounds.
Maybe they did Monster Trucks or Demolition Derby in that dirt field. The Hawaiian lady is like a flagpole sitter, she has to stay up there for the whole Fair.
Thanks for these!
JG
Nanook, were some of those local "Hawaiian" foods Spam Musabi and Loco Moco? Or was it Hawaiian Punch? How about a nice Hawaiian punch? KAPOW!!!
My favorite structure, even surpassing the Space Needle were the Cathedral of Science structures for the Science Pavilion. So beautiful, even in person to this day.
Thanks, Major.
"In other words, "pants optional"! Well, that's my theory, anyway."
Major, so does that mean Donald Duck. Winnie the Pooh, Fiddler Pig and Fifer Pig were welcome into the "Show Street" section of the Expo? No bare bum for Practical Pig as wore overalls. I assume that's because he's practical.
TokyoMagic!, the lady isn’t a barker, she’s more of a meower! Man, that joke is so good I should send it in to Reader’s Digest to win a $15 prize.
Nanook, I would have wanted to go to Hawaii to sample that delicious Hawaiian Punch that I’ve heard so much about. It’s like a tropical vacation in a can! Interesting about the Hanna-Barbera characters in a version of the ski show, I didn’t see anything about that. I assume they must have worn costumes that were quite different from the “walk around” theme park kind - imagine one of those falling into water. They’d absorb 20 gallons!
JB, very cool that you went to this Fair; even with the photos that I have, it’s hard for me to get a feel for what it was like there. With the New York Fair, I’ve read so much and seen so much that I get the flavor of it, even if it is faint. Hey, I used to get “Tokyo Fried Chicken” as a side dish at our local sushi place, it was delicious! Funny about you looking at something so intently that your family left you behind, that happened to me at Disneyland when I watched the Matterhorn climbers. Next thing I knew, my family was gone! I loved science museums when I was a kid, the way they made them so interactive. Even the one in L.A. has exhibits like that, you can hardly get near them because of the 11 children crowding around. Darn kids! Don’t they know I am an important blogger?? I think the Hawaii pavilion should have had a fat white guy in jorts dancing up on that platform. “Gee, why doesn’t anybody come into this place?”. I would think that there would be flags of many nations next to the International Fountain?
TokyoMagic!, speaking of leis, for some reason many graduates were wearing them at my nephew’s graduation up in San Luis Obispo. WHY? Maybe it’s some sort of tradition that I don’t know about. The local Ralphs was selling leis in the flower department (only $30!!).
JG, wow, cool that you also went to this Fair! Maybe you walked right past JB. I wasn’t sure the laws of physics would allow JB and JG to be in the same place at the same time. I went to Seattle a few years back (and met Nanook!), my GF and I took a ride on the Monorail, it was a thrill for me. Maybe not such a thrill for her? It’s amazing at the advances in computer technology that have happened in our lifetimes, I remember seeing punch cards (no longer in use) at an office where I used to work. They did mud wrestling in that dirt field! Most popular attraction at the Fair.
K. Martinez, coincidentally I’ve been wanting to make Spam Masubi at home! It’s pretty easy, and I have the sheets of nori, I just need to make the sauce. Hey, I mentioned Hawaiian Punch to Nanook too!
K. Martinez, those lacy arches are very pretty, but, having finally been up to the top of the Space Needle, that was an experience I will never forget.
K. Martinez, those characters are always welcome, even without pants! For some reason they get away with it, while I get shocked looks.
Major-
"Interesting about the Hanna-Barbera characters in a version of the ski show, I didn’t see anything about that. I assume they must have worn costumes that were quite different from the “walk around” theme park kind - imagine one of those falling into water. They’d absorb 20 gallons!"
You'd think so, wouldn't you-? But the characters seem to be well-shielded from 'falling danger'. LOOK HERE.
It appears that 'movable bridge' is in-place, allowing water-free access to the central area of the arena.
Major-
I just finished watching the [entire] 36-second film clip (okay, I'm lazy) and see the characters actually do take to the water, in-costume.
Blogger and my phone ate my comment and all of my homework as I was rotating back to the page to add my final piece of research after sitting in the Lowe’s parking lot for 45 minutes working on it. I will never, EVER comment on my phone again. Back later when I can get to a real computer.
Major, "I would think that there would be flags of many nations next to the International Fountain?"
I thought of that right after I hit the Publish button. Yes, one would think they would be flags of the nations. And one would probably be right. One might also think that I am not remembering it correctly. I said above that I was 9 or 10 when we went to the Fair. I should have said 8 or 9, since I was born in June '53.
Since we're talking about my faulty memory, as I stood there looking at the "decorative poles" (and getting lost), I seem to recall thinking that maybe this colorful pole might be the "Tower of the Four Winds" that Walt told me about on The Wonderful World of Color. The thing is, would Walt have been talking about the TotFW as early as 1962? Seems doubtful. Somehow, at the time, I must have gotten the two Fairs mixed up in my mind. Still, the memory seems strong. Hmmm.
Fun stuff. Thanks Major
MS
So cool to see that several Junior Gorillas attended this Fair. I have only wandered amongst the ruins, gazing upon its bones bleaching in the bright Seattle sun.
My dad went to this fair. His parents and younger sister picked him up after he finished a six-week training camp for Air Force ROTC near Mount Rushmore and they headed to the West Coast to the Fair and Disneyland. His family misread the promotional materials and thought that Show Street was pants required. They felt pretty silly when they showed up without any shirts, but they rolled with the punches and adjusted. The family photos look pretty odd with them wearing their pants over their heads.
The Bell System logo on display here is actually a simplified version of the 1913 logo. The Saul Bass-designed version didn't go into service until 1969. If you look at photos of Tomorrowland '67 taken right after it opened, you can see the old logo proudly displayed on the America the Beautiful building. Some of those photos were still being used in guidebooks well into the '70s; my 1974 guidebook from my childhood features one.
So this is where Disney got the idea for putting boats in a canal at a World's Fair...
JB & Major, yes, those are international flags. Left to right: Mexico, South Korea, Italy, West Germany, Colombia, Republic of China, Brazil, Argentina, USA, maybe Tanganyika (this was a stumper; they were represented at the Fair, gained independence in 1961, were members of the Commonwealth, but I'm not sure when the flag changed), US again on the tall pole, maybe Belgium, Canada (the Maple Leaf Flag won't be approved until 1965), Lebanon, probably Denmark, maybe Sweden or the UN, France, India (or maybe South Africa), and Japan.
Thanks again, Major!
The lady with the punch cards is contemplating swapping 2 of them and causing a bank error in her favor and collecting $1000.
TokyoMagic!, speaking of leis, for some reason many graduates were wearing them at my nephew’s graduation up in San Luis Obispo. WHY? Maybe it’s some sort of tradition that I don’t know about. The local Ralph's was selling leis in the flower department (only $30!!).
Major, I don't know the reason for the leis! The first time I ever saw that, was about 15 years ago. A coworker was showing me photos of her daughter's graduation from high school, and she was wearing a lei. I questioned her about it, even though my coworker was actually born and raised in Hawaii, but her daughter was born and raised in California. She told me that it was a tradition for graduates to wear leis. I had never heard of that, and I just assumed that it was some kind of a tradition in Hawaii and that she FORCED her daughter to wear one! Well, since that time, I have seen many other photos of graduates wearing them, but I still don't know how the tradition got started. ODD!
$30 for a lei? Who does Ralph's think they are.....Disney? I hope those leis come with a Zinger! Actually, I guess if Disney was selling fresh flower leis, they would be more like $50 or $60 dollars. But at least we know for sure that their leis would include a Zinger!
Well, I should have looked this up before my last comment. Apparently, the tradition of giving a lei to a graduate did originate in Hawaii and was/is common. It's a gesture of wishing the graduate "luck, joy and success" in the future. The tradition has gradually spread across the country, but I couldn't find out when it started to become popular on the "mainland." Supposedly, you can also give a graduate a lei made out of candy or money (often folded to look like flowers). I think I will go into the lei making business next year, around graduation time. But the leis that I make and sell will be made out of Zingers. The Zingers will all be "unwrapped," so I will suggest that the graduates don't hug anyone while wearing them.
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