New York World's Fair, August 1964

I'm continuing a look at some scans from the 1964 New York World's Fair! 

First up is this nice view of the Du Pont pavilion. Du Pont (autocorrect, stop changing it to Du Pong!) created many wonders such as neoprene, nylon, teflon, mylar, lycra, Tyvek, and retsin. Well, OK, not retsin, but what if they had?? From the official NYWF guidebook: Show business and science are artfully combined in this big, circular pavilion. A musical revue called "Wonderful World of Chemistry," which was written and produced by the Broadway composer Michael Brown, is presented simultaneously in two theaters by two casts of performers. After the show is over, audiences watch a modern-day alchemist perform feats of wizardry through chemistry.

Here's a view, I'm not exactly sure where it was taken, but it shows visitors taking a break after walking for miles around the Fairgrounds. There's one of those cool Jaguar (?) strollers, I'm not sure if they were only found in the Transportation Zone, or if one could be had anywhere in the Fair.

Here's an unusual view from the IBM pavilion, looking down on the wretched souls waiting for their chance to sit in grandstand-style seats that were drawn up into the theater. An amusing 12-minute show, projected on 15 screens, shows how computers and the human mind solve problems in much the same way. Amusing? I thought it would be erotic!

Next is this nice view of the Johnson's Wax pavilion. Entirely made from the wax from old candles! Truly incredible. This pavilion, a great gold disk which seems to float 24 feet above the ground, is supported by its surrounding columns. It houses a 500-seat theater in which a documentary movie dramatizes the theme of brotherhood.

As you can see, the golden disc "floats" above the ground. Because of the candle wax. I'd explain it, but it is very scientific.

And finally, take a look at this pavilion for the Kingdom of Jordan, whose land is the seedbed of many civilizations and religions, is represented by one of the most striking buildings at the Fair. It is a multi-peaked-and-domed structure covered with gold mosaic and sparkling colored glass. The undulating roof surfaces swoop to the ground, forming Arabic arches: They shade the stained-glass windows that make up two sides of the building and walls with bas-reliefs that make up other sides. Inside the building diverse exhibits - including a scroll from the Dead Sea area - reflect some of the cultures that rose in this region of ancient Palestine.

Stay tuned for one more installment from this batch!