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!
10 comments:
Major-
Let's not forget polyester, in the long chain of inventions from DuPont. (Wise readers will catch the 'long chain' reference...)
This fair never ceases to impress.
Thanks, Major.
Nanook, is that because the composition of polyester is a "long chain" of chemicals? I took Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, but I only remember the "benzene ring," and also some kind of chemical (whose name escapes me) that absolutely had to be worked with under a ventilation hood, otherwise it would have killed the entire classroom. Oh, and of course I remember everything that Adventure thru Inner Space taught us!
I hope the Jordan Pavilion gave out free samples of those pastel-colored candy coated almonds!
@ TM!-
Actually, I'm referring to 'long chain polymers', including nylon, polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene. And all of them tied to the genius work of DuPont chemist, Wallace Carothers.
Hmm, Blogger isn't publishing my comment. I'll try later.
I have an uncle who was a chemist for Du Pont. He developed a new kind of automotive paint that was going to revolutionize the industry. Unfortunately, in wind tunnel tests it peeled away from the primer at speeds of more than 25 mph. My aunt tried to cheer him up by pointing out there would still be a market for the product among people who needed to change their car color quickly - for example: bank robbers.
Not sure where that second photo was taken, either (don’t think I didn’t want say “Flushing Meadows”). I pulled out my 1964 map of the Fair, but that didn’t help because it isn’t detailed enough to show how the streets were divided into multiple parallel walkways. Based on this photo I think it may have been taken along the Avenue of Commerce, the curved street just above the center of the photo, but I’ve not been able to match up any of the buildings in the background.
Hopefully Bill Cotter will check in and set us all straight.
In that second pic, are those lockers over to the right? If so, maybe the locker locations are designated on the maps of the Fair?
TM!, I thought about that and looked for lockers marked on my map, but no such luck. The 1965 guidebook says “2,500 lockers are located near gates and along main malls where, for 25¢, Fairgoers can leave personal belongings and packages,” so that’s not much help, either.
DuPont makes some of my favorite construction products, with their acquisition of Dow, even more. I love the long chain light fixtures at the perimeter of the pavilion. At least I think that is what those are.
Also seeing some Worlds Fair trash cans, more than a “hot-dog-munch” spacing, and a fairly commonplace mail box. Theming may not have been a priority at the Fair.
OK, the Johnson Wax architect needed to be reined in a bit. This building is quite weird. I guess it made sense to someone. I’d love to know how wax promotes brotherhood. Must be a short movie.
And the Kingdom of Jordan should complain about their walkways, or lack of same. Bad show there to just climb the dirt slope.
Wild stuff today Major! Thanks for giving us the vibe of the Fair with so many new (to me) buildings.
JG
Just tried posting again... nope.
Major-
"There's one of those cool Jaguar (?) strollers..." Make those 'cool Corvette's'.
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