Saturday, August 15, 2009

Century 21 Expo, Seattle - August 1962

I've got puh-lenty of slides from various World's Fairs to share, so today I am posting four more from the Century 21 Expo in Seattle. This fair looks like it was relatively small in size, and yet it inspires strong memories in the folks who were able to see it.

First up are these soaring, open arches, part of the six acre United States Science Pavilion. The arches are designed in what was called "space gothic" architecture (pretty cool!) in the official guide book, which is in keeping with the Fair's theme, "Man's Life in the Space Age". The colorful plastic panels gives them an "Eames" quality that I like.


Here's an odd one showing some of the Fair's many vendors, in this case "Teleflora" and "Budget Rent-A-Car". Guess you could send mom a bouquet with the note, "Having fun at the World's Fair!".


There's the Washington State Coliseum. This building enclosed the state's theme show, a dramatic concept of 21st century man's environment presented in a unique cube structure rising above the Coliseum floor. On the floor level are industrial (RCA, General Motors, etc.) and governmental exhibits.


Here's the International Fountain, "symbolizing man's effort to ascend to the heavens and to explore the reaches of outer space".It was the product of an international competition won by two Tokyo architects. The jets of water could shoot up to 100 feet into the air. Behind it you can see the "Boulevards of the World", the "shopping center of the Fair". "Stores, stands and kiosks displaying the goods and gifts of a dozen nations line the gay and colorful thoroughfare..."

8 comments:

  1. The Science Pavillion is still there! The Coliseum and International Fountain are still there too, but both have been completely redone. I LOVE Seattle!

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  2. the space-age/Tomorrowland-style architecture of the 60s....love it!

    i hear that Seattle is beautiful, and im hoping to see it one day :D

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  3. Just went to the Science Center last week, where the arches are and after got wet at that fountain.

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  4. Great pictures Major. One of my favorite world fairs.

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  5. I ask you, doesn't this place look like fun?

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  6. I NEVER get tired of seeing photos of this fair. So much fun.

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  7. TMC just played the Elvis pic "It Happended at the World's Fair" (MGM 1963)over the weekend and many of the these same venues were featured, including in the big finale. It's worth a look for the scenary and not much else. Loved Elvis' music, never cared much for most of his films.

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  8. "Happended?" I meant to do that.

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