There's just something wonderful about this picture, with the huge T. Rex looming over unconcerned crowds. Behind him you can just see a sliver of the Brontosaurus as well (this was pre-Apatosaurus!), the mascot of Sinclair Oil. "Sinclair Dinoland" contained nine life-sized models of familiar dinos such as Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Ankylosaurus (as well as a few less-familiar thunder lizards).
To the right, two towers from the New York pavilion can be seen...these still stand today. Remember them from "Men in Black"?
U.S. Royal Tires giant tire/ferris wheel was one of the many icons of the Fair. "Visitors soar 80 feet in the air around a giant auto tire for a spectacular view of the Fair. Twenty-four gondolas seating four people each move around the circumference of the wheel. The tire, floodlighted at night, stands in a landscaped area."
Hey now! This tire still stands, although it is essentially just a road sign along a Detroit, Michigan Interstate highway, since the ferris wheel ride was removed.
Love the NY World's Fair pix as I was there ... but too young to remember it! I've past that giant tire in Detroit a few times but never knew it was used for the fair.
ReplyDeleteI also attended the 64 Worlds Fair but was too young to remember. Somewhere my parents still have the grainy out of focus 8mm home movies of that family outing.
ReplyDeleteI pass Flushing Meadow park all the time, it's a sad to see the attractions that were left behind rotting away.
Anyway, Great pictures!! Hope you have more.
PV
I have tons of slides from the '64 World's Fair...the reaction seems to be pretty lukewarm. But who's blog is it, anyway? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI will post more, probably sooner than later.
When the "64 World's Fair took place, I was not quite born yet, so I can't look at WF pictures with the same feelings of nostalgia that I can a Disneyland pic. That being said, I find these pictures facinating for a whole different reason. Attraction history is cool! Whatever the venue.
ReplyDeleteWow, those look great. I remember growing up and my father would tell me about the fair. How it gave such hope for the future and inpsired him to dream of the impossible. As a kid I was always hoping to go to one myself but as we know there hasn't been one in a while. I'm thinking 2020 would be a great year to hold a one.
ReplyDeleteThis book just came out which I found was great, really captured the time and what the fair represented, The End of the Innocence: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair
http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/fall-2007/end-innocence.html
Hey Everyone, although I am an 80's baby from the first Disney Movie I had (Cinderella) I have been in love with most if not all things Disney, especially vintage Disneyana. I am particularly interested in The Worlds Fair 1964 New York, When the Pepsi Exhibit in partnership with Disney sold souvenir It's A Small World Doll. i have since been collecting them I have only come across one I bought about 15 years ago and since then only have seen three on ebay and was wondering if anyone had any for sale or know of anyone who has any for sale. I would appreciate any and all information you may have.
ReplyDeleteThanks a Bunch
PG
my father was the manger of the better living building, he helped with construction of the fair and was given the job to be manager of the better living building i was six years old at the time and attended trhe fair everyday it was opened , my mom was my fathers secreatary and i was able to view the fair with vip status ,it was awesome and left a great impression on me, disney debued alot of his attrations including lincoln, ge carousel of progress and its a small world, and i believe he helped with the ford pavillion, i have great memories of the fair.
ReplyDeleteI went to the 64 WF when I was 6. It was a big family vacation that included a trip to the Statue of Liberty (yes, we climbed all those stairs). The things I remember most at the WF was the giant globe, the dinosaurs and the ferris wheel. I live in the Detroit area and on occasion pass the giant wheel on I94 (it's just west of Metro airport).
ReplyDeleteOddly enough 1964 was also the year we survived an F4 tornado that went through the Chesterfield, MI area.
Definitely a year to remember!
The man who designed & built the dinosaurs lived up the road from my Aunt & Uncle in Claverack, NY. Mr. Jonas was his name. I was 6 or 7 and loved to watch the crew put these giant creatures together. When the Brontosaurus was finished and standing outside, my dad wanted to get a picture of my mom & I standing under it. I was so scared, thought the thing was going to sit on us.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the company my dad worked for designed the gardens and many other things for the Fair. The companies name was Clark & Rapauno.
Thank you for all of the great info, Anon!
ReplyDeleteMy father worked for Clarke and Rapauno for his entire career...I went to the 1964 Worlds Fair about 30 times...and would love to see more pictures. I own some memorabilia from the fair.but I don't really have any photos.
ReplyDelete