1964 New York World's Fair
Hey, ho, let's go to the Fair! The New York World's Fair, that is.
How's this for an impressive sight? It's the Chrysler pavilion's "one million horsepower", walk-thru engine (55 feet high and 100 feet long) where guests would see a writhing dragon with snapping jaws, which drives pistons weighing nearly a ton apiece. A turbine engine developed by Chrysler is on display, and a montage shows the sources of energy that may drive engines of the future. Also visible is the giant tire Ferris wheel, from U.S. Rubber, and the cratered moon dome of "Transportation and Travel" pavilion, where one could watch a color motion picture made by Cinerama is projected on a concave screen that encircles the audience. The 18-minute film takes the view from the infinite reaches of outer space into the nucleus of the atom.
Here's another view with the Travel and Transportation pavilion to our left; if we could magically look to our right, the huge General Motors "Futurama" building would be there. In the distance (to our right) is the Missouri pavilion, and past that is the New York State pavilion with the "tent of tomorrow" (in yellow" and the twin observation towers (notice the yellow elevator on the outside of one). Look at all those luminaires, too!
There's something you don't see every day! A motorcycle climbs a wire cable while a man hangs from a mysterious contraption below. Who thinks of this stuff?? I can find other photos of high-wire performers at this Fair, but so far haven't found much actual information about them. It must have been a thrill to watch, though.
And finally here's a photo looking down on the "Main Gate" at the north end of the Fair, as scores of visitors walk from the subway station and IRT on a hazy day. The blue building with the zig-zag roof is the Long Island Railroad station. The flags don't appear to belong to various nations, but instead seem to be a variety of colors and patterns - presumably to add color and movement to the area.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the New York World's Fair!
21 comments:
Major-
These images sure make me wish I had seen the Fair. (And that red/white striped dress with the black anchors, in Pic #1).
Thanks, Major.
I like how the woman walking behind the cars (second pic) seems to be oblivious to what is going on above her on the high wire.
Sue, did you and your family go to this World's Fair, by chance? I hope Lou is still continuing to feel better. I loved his photos from yesterday's post, even though I didn't comment!
It’s interesting how so many of the pavilions at the fair seemed so futuristic and forward , while others , like the giant Chrysler Engine seem like an idea from the 1930’s.
I was born four years after the 64 Fair but growing up i was well aware of it . I had postcards of the pavilions and some records from my grandparents two trips there passed on to me from my uncles. I remember hearing references about that fair on TV and even overhearing adults talk about it. Seeing slide shows was a big thing at diner relatives and I can remember seeing the fair in those slides shows . I think it was in the early 80’s I discovered very little of it survived and thinking “ how can this amazing place and all theses fantastic buildings NOT exist anymore ??”
These are so cool! I wish I had seen it, but my two year old self probably wouldn't have appreciated any of it. "A million horsepower engine? Meh."
I DID go to the Hemisfair in 1968, though. I remember very little of it.
I have a few pics, but nothing real interesting.
Thanks Major!
I was hoping to spot me and my brother David in one of these great photos, but no dice. What I remember most, is the Ford Pavilion, and the Polynesian Pearl Diving pool. Go figure. David and I got matching id bracelets with the Unisphere on them. But we mostly were interested in the pretty girls. David was quite the ladies man even at 9. So many great memories, thanks Major. I also hope Lou is feeling better.
I wonder how loud of a backfire a million HP engine would make?
I didn't go to the Fair because we lived on the west coast is my excuse.
Is Clark Kent, in front of the helicopter, smoking a Tiparillo? I hope nothing bad goes down cause I don't see a phone booth anywhere near.
And that car behind the giant engine doesn't look like a Chrysler product but I could be wrong about that.
Thanks, Major
I never got to visit this fair either, did see the Seattle fair though.
A walk-in engine beats a walk-in closet any day. And a Ferris wheel shaped like a tire.
Tomorrowland is definitely modeled on this type of event. I wonder why I never realized that as a kid.
“Travel is Entertainment”, truer words, etc.
I see signs touting free displays. Did some pavilions have extra admission? The Army has a wide range of topics to show.
That last slide is a tribute to vexillologists everywhere.
JG
Such great photos. One of my time travel stops would be the '64 World's Fair. Specifically the Futurama exhibit.
Thanks for today's post Major. Perfect for my "Fair" frame of mind. My band just happens to be playing the Orange County Fair today. Although I'd rather be sporting a Beatle cut and playing the 1964 NYWF. :)
Love the pic of Chrysler pavilion's walk-thru engine. It brings to mind comics artist Bill Finger and his 'giant' props he used in the Batman comics of the 1940's. Thanks, Major.
@ zach-
I'm thinking that vehicle is a 1965 Chrysler Newport, perhaps-?
Unfortunately, I did not make it to the fair. When I get lost on roads on the other side of the East River, for some reason I seem to go round and round and round around Flushing Meadows and see the Unisphere multiple times from multiple angles. Maybe one day I will stop and see it up close now that it is officially a NYC landmark. So many people still have fresh and fond memories of the fair. It was a very big deal. After some research I discovered that the Unisphere was placed upon the same footings as the ball and spire of the 1939 Fair with some amendments. As a kid in Disneyland I would see photos of the Carousel of Progress at the fair in an amazing building and I was rather underwhelmed with the Disneyland version which wasn't as elaborate. However, it still has been one of my favorite attractions of all time! When America Screams made its appearance..I shed a bit of a tear. Later when I went to WDW and they changed the music...I shed another tear. Back to the fairs...I too think it's odd to spend so much money, time, energy, etc. to build buildings to knock them down later. Growing up in LA, a lot gets knocked down. There were those "EXPO" fairs too...there was some very very loose ties to the EXPO in Vancouver- which also I never made it to- but I hear it was cool. Then there was Seattle- never made it there, but I love the monorail and the tower. Back in the pre 1955 days there were press releases saying that Disneyland would be a kind of "permanent" Worlds Fair. Thanks for posting the photos, I had a lot of fun reading about the NY Worlds Fair on my way to work! Now onto Freedomland USA! That is (was) an odd place also with some strange Disney ties.
I swear, the sofa cushions on the porch of my Grandma's cabin on the lake were covered in that exact same stripes-and-anchors fabric the lady in the first picture is wearing.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to fire the Army's latest rifle before going up the ramp to blow my thirty-five cents at the cafeteria.
@ Melissa-
I wonder if that was the M16 rifle you went a few rounds with-? Well, thank goodness that pattern was put to good use. It's so stripy and nautical - all at the same time.
"The 18-minute film takes the view from the infinite reaches of outer space into the nucleus of the atom."
I instantly thought about the Eames film "Powers of Ten" that was produced in 1977.
On a Google journey, I learned a lot about the 1964 fair film which was called "To the Moon and Beyond" which was sponsored by KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines and was narrated by Rod Serling. According to Wikipedia the film was made by: "Graphic Films Corporation, a company run by former Disney animator Lester Novros."
Nice pics of the NYWF.
JG - most exhibits were free since they were sponsored by corporations. Some live shows charged admission, though. If I remember correctly "To Broadway With Love" and Sid and Marty Krofft's saucy puppet show had separate admission.
Bu - at least the original song is back at WDW's CoP, even if the building and show itself is changed. Disney seems to like the "permanent World's Fair" moniker, since it was also used to describe EPCOT Center.
I can't figure out where that motorcycle picture would have been taken. There's no place where I'd expect to see the ramp with the guard rail that we see in the background. Maybe I need to reach out to Bill Cotter.
BTW - the Mold-a-rama machines made famous at this and the Seattle fair are still well known as continuing at at MISI in Chicago, but I just learned that there are also a few examples at Universal Studios Florida's Jurassic Park store.
Dean, I was at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois, about a month ago. They have [some of] the original Disney Mold-A-Rama's from the 1964 New York World's Fair. See HERE!
I paid to make some (now $10.00 each), though some of the machines were screwing up...Donald's head pulled off in the mold...and Mickey's head didn't completely fill with wax. But, I was able to get some really nice ones, anyway. (I did get reimbursed for the bad ones.)
Melissa, you DO know how to have fun! May I please join you?
TokyoMagic! No, we didn't go to this fair, unfortunately.
And, yes(!), my dad is doing better - he's getting stronger and (sort of) sitting up in his wheelchair, now. I spent time with him today...he loved everyone's comments from yesterday, and was talking a lot, like his old-self (and was in a very good mood). To encourage him to use his hands and arms more, I brought him a Dunkin Donuts iced 'caramel craze' coffee to drink by himself and he did pretty good. Physical Therapy started today, so, hopefully, he'll keep improving. Let's hope and pray he doesn't have to go back to the hospital.
I asked my dad if he had any message to pass on to all of you Jr. Gorillas, and he said, "Thank you!, I'm so glad you're still enjoying my pictures!"
Sue, Glad to see that Mold-A-Ramas live on in IL.
@Dean Finder, thanks for the information!
I got a Mold-O-Rama of a sea otter at Marineland of the Pacific, a long, long time ago. What a great entertaining way to make a souvenir!
Sue, glad to hear your news about your Dad, and that you got a Mold-O-Rama too!
JG
Major- Great pictures. =. Dennis,L.I., N.Y.
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