DuPont Sign, New York World's Fair - March 1964
Today I am sharing the third and final (for now) blog post from the 1964 World’s Fair, showing the installation of the sign in front of the DuPont pavilion. Go back and look at the first two posts if you've forgotten about them!
This first shot is from the upper "terrace" of the DuPont building, looking toward the Unisphere (with the Republic of China building just to the right of it). Down below, roadways are full of worker's cars as they push themselves to complete the Fair for opening day, only a month after these pictures were taken (it opened on April 22, 1964). The building closest to us, to the right, is the "Spain" pavilion, with the saw-toothed roof of the "Indonesia" pavilion beyond that.
OK, back to the sign. I admit that the last three are not quite as interesting as the views from the previous two posts, but this is what I've got; one of the three identical signs appears to be in the process of being hoisted into place. In the background we can see the upper level of the DuPont building, where the first picture was taken.
The two remaining sides of the triangular sign still sit on the truck that brought them all the way from Baltimore.
It looks like this might be the final piece, on its way up. Weirdly, there was no photo of the finished product in this batch. BUT... I have another group of slides, it's been a while since I've looked at them, but I believe that we might get a few additional views of things like the Unisphere under construction, the Fairgrounds blanketed in snow between seasons, and more!
I hope you have enjoyed these NYWF scans!
9 comments:
Major-
That "deep pink" (probably in Tampico Red) is a 1959 Buick - and based on what little I can see of the trim, I believe it's a 'Le Sabre' hardtop coupe. Behind it is a 1955 Oldsmobile, probably in Frost Blue. And next to the 'Hot Coffee' truck is a 1958 Chevrolet - most-likely an Impala (can't quite make-out enough detail on the taillights for absolute ID-ing).
Thanks, Major.
1) A neat shot! I love the misty atmosphere. Oh my... is that a dead sea turtle decomposing next to the sawhorse? ;-p
2) The grille of that 'mystery car' looks like a plaid, or houndstooth blanket. I guess that's the DuPont sign(s) being hoisted into place behind the mystery car?
3) Typical of 1964, that worker, operating heavy machinery, has a cigarette hanging from his mouth... Or maybe it's a Tootsie Pop.
4 & 5) That must be a young "Whomping Willow" tree in the foreground. They've got it all trussed up so as to not cause any damage or injury to people and vehicles that may pass too close.
Nanook, what is that 'circle V' logo on the grille of the '59 Buick?
It's kinda neat seeing these signs being made and installed from start to finish. Thanks, Major.
@ JB-
"... what is that 'circle V' logo on the grille of the '59 Buick?"
It's all about the V-8 engine, baby-!
Buick was a 'little late to the party' [1953] in offering a V-8 engine (as opposed to their 'straight-eight' engine). Although a few V-8 engines were around early in the 20th century, (fer instance Cadillac: 1914-1935), it was Ford with the introduction of their famous 'flathead' V-8 engine in 1932, that really started the ball rolling.
And that structure closest to us in the first pic, will become the sign for the 7-Up pavilion. (Major, you had mentioned that in one of your other two posts).
These posts have been an interesting study in the DuPont Pavilion's signage. Thanks, Major!
Thanks, Nanook! I kinda thought it must have something to do with the V-8 engine but I didn't see and "8"?
Tokyo!, Weren't there several of those 7-Up clock tower signs scattered around the fairgrounds?
Tokyo!, Weren't there several of those 7-Up clock tower signs scattered around the fairgrounds?
JB, I don't know for sure, but here's a shot showing the one in the first pic. We can see the Spain pavilion (as Major pointed out in his first shot) in the foreground, and the DuPont Pavilion in the background
Spain, 7-Up, and DuPont
Okay, before publishing this comment, I did a search. Supposedly, there were twelve other smaller versions of this sign with clocks attached, scattered around the fair. But only this one was this size. Plus, we can see the 7-Up International Sandwich Gardens below the sign. Major pointed out in a previous post, that is the where "fresh sandwiches (hot and cold) grew on trees." :-)
I was just in the Spain Pavilion last month! It’s the first few floors surrounding the East Tower of the Hilton at the Ballpark in St Louis. You really have to know what you are looking for to see it today, as the original inlaid wood decor was removed decades ago.
Thanks, Major, for another interesting excursion!
I do love construction photos, and I’m always impressed by how familiar Major and GDB are with the Fair buildings. I can’t stay oriented even when I know what I’m looking at. I feel like one of those folks who label pictures of the county fair as “Disneyland” because they are on the same roll.
I particularly like the HOT COFFEE van in the background. Take care of the luxuries and the essentials take care of themselves, as Frank Lloyd Wright would say.
And so many great cars too! Thanks Major for these signs of the times.
JG
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