To see a recent poster, click here.
To see information on availability of a notable collection of photographs, click here.
Thinking that almost everything was on the Web, one day I searched for the New York World's Fair of 1939 and 1940, but I didn't find it. [That was in 1995 or 1996, before the several sites dedicated to this topic appeared.] So I made this page, and here it is. Why? Maybe because I have more server storage space than I need at the moment. But there is something more than that to it. Perhaps only those, such as I, who went to THE FAIR as children will understand fully why I took the time to celebrate this symbol that remains bright in a dwindling number of minds.
To go to this fair was to have your life changed forever. It was there that I was amazed by a device that measured the thickness of my hair, by a General Motors vision of 1960 (I asked my parents whether I'd still be alive at that distant time in the future), by mighty Railroads on Parade and Railroads at Work, by climbing up to look into the cockpit of a real airplane, by witnessing for the first time something called television; and I was chilled by the sight of a gas mask, as if I realized that here was a sign of what soon would dash or delay many of the hopes that THE FAIR expressed.
During more than half the years since THE FAIR closed I have taught philosophy, religion, and sometimes history (really always history, since everything is part of the story of how we have struggled and sometimes soared in making what may be progress). But I have never forgotten THE FAIR. I think that it has given me a better perspective than I could have had on human beings as dreamers, aspireers, hopers, builders than I could have had if there were not somewhere in me memories of THE FAIR. There was much of it that I didn't see, didn't understand, didn't appreciate. Probably one could make a case for portraying it as a lot of nonsense or a tawdry attempt to make a buck in the midst of a depression. I haven't studied it enough to know to what extent such claims could be justified. But, whatever the motivation behind any or all of THE FAIR, there was something very good about it. Moreover, I believe that a world that could give rise to THE FAIR must have something pretty good at its heart.
For me THE FAIR was something of a dream, as well as an actuality that spoke of the future, "the world of tomorrow." It remains a monument to those who dream and who "dare to do their dreams" (as I would discover in the words of Samuel Silas Curry decades later). I have spent much of my life learning about the New Thought movement, which is dedicated to turning dreams into actualities; perhaps having something of THE FAIR deep within me has helped me to appreciate it and similar movements of aspiration.
So this is my little tribute to THE FAIR. Creating it has been a respite from my usual efforts to understand the nature of things. THE FAIR and memories and influences of it are data to be considered in attempting to discover what is real, and to be enjoyed irrespective of how much one may reflect on them.
What does this site do? Basically, nothing. It just sits here, occupying space that probably could be put to better use in any number of ways. What might it do? Perhaps it will attract some other gray-headed people who share something of my feeling about THE FAIR, or some youngsters (people under 50 or 60 or whatever age you may specify) who come upon the representation of the Trylon and Perisphere and wonder why anybody saw fit to put it here. Maybe people with e-mail addresses who want to correspond about it will want me to list them here. I'd be willing to do that.
If you have any reactions to any of this, I'd be glad to hear from you. I might even answer. Use the e-mail address below or follow the links above to find me.
Celebration, not education, is the major emphasis here, but it may be appropriate to mention that there are tons of material about THE FAIR, including souvenirs, photographs, and writings (one might start with probably the most recent, David Gelernter's 1939: The Lost World of The Fair, published by The Free Press in 1995). I claim no great familiarity with any of this. I am no expert on THE FAIR. I simply appreciate it. That seems like enough reason to point to it by putting this site onto the Web.
I wrote the above material in April 1996.
UPDATE. Much as I have resisted making this site conventionally educational, I have pursued my searching and have discovered some Web sites related to THE FAIR (but nothing that makes this site superfluous), so I am adding the following links. Since there are several references to THE FAIR on the Web, it would be appropriate to have a central location for listing them, and this seems to be it.
The Iconography of Hope: The 1939-40 New York York World's Fair
Images from the '39 NY World's Fair, featuring extremely interesting postcards, advertisements, and comics, and linked to other historical material
The 1939 New York World's Fair Page, new in February 1997
I Have Seen the Future! 1939-1940 New York World's Fair site with questions and answers.
"The Great World's Fair: The Planners' Failure" by Jeffrey Hart
Review by Jeffrey Hart of The Lost World of the Fair
The 1939 New York World's Fair. Contains various quotations, citations, and links.
"Anesthesia at the 1939 New York World's Fair" accepted Anesth. Analg. 1993
Session proposal on "Corporate Power and Leisure 1851-1939"
Parachute Jump photograph and information on it from Museum of the City of New York
World's Fair photography by Howard Frank, "Night Diver" at Aquacade, "The Fair at Night," "Bus Stop," and many others. The photographer still is active and sells his photographs. See his site.
Museum of the City of New York exhibition, which opened Aug. 21, 1966, Drawing the Future
The "Pic of the Month" of the Henry Ford Museum Online for January 1996 was of a poster showing the Trylon and Perisphere from above. The caption explains, "The emblem of the New York World's Fair, the modernistic Trylon and Perisphere, was reproduced on 25,000 items between 1939 and 1940. Among these was the poster pictured here. The museum also has many other items from World's Fairs including programs and post cards." The poster pictured can be found in Larry Zim, Mel Lerner, and Herbert Rolfes, The World of Tomorrow: The 1939 New York World's Fair (Harper & Row, 1988), at p. 194; the poster at the top of this site at p. 219.
William Grant Still Exhibition, at Special Collections Library, Duke University, devoted to the composer of music adopted by NYWF.
1939 World's Fair Photograph Collection of photographs of Virginia exhibited at NYWF.
February 2, 1998, Concert of 1939 World's Fair music. See also here.
Reference to a birthday at NYWF
Ad for newsreel showing television at NYWF
An ad for memorabilia
Another ad for memorabilia
Another ad, with valuable descriptions
Ricardo Alcos has a proposal to rebuild the Trylon and Perisphere. His site has several images of NYWF photographs and posters.
VARIOUS FAIRS AND SIMILAR PLACES
The World's Fair Collectors Society wfcs@aol.com
The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, an award-winning site.
New York's World's Fair, 1964-1965.
Expo 67 (Montreal).
A list of American World's Fairs.
Links to Fairs, mostly state fairs and related sites.
Other links are to be found at various places below. I have left links that no longer work, in order to give some indication of what once existed, and might be found elsewhere.
COMMUNICATIONS: QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, and OBSERVATIONS
From time to time I have received queries about various matter related to THE FAIR. To the extent that I have had answers I have given them, but I have not had some answers. I shall list here questions for which I do not have adequate answers. If I receive answers, I shall pass them along to the inquirers. If I judge them of general interest, I shall put the information here. If you would like to have your own words of questions or answers printed here, please say so. If you have a preference as to whether you would like your name and address to remain confidential or to be made public, please indicate this. If you do not say otherwise, I shall not put your exact words and identity here.
If you have any recollections of THE FAIR or any thoughts about it that you would like to have quoted here, they would be extremely welcome.
QUESTIONS
1. Are there any books giving the current prices of memorabilia?
2. Are there any Web sites not given here directly related to either THE FAIR or the 1964-1965 one at the same location?
3. Are there motion pictures of THE FAIR or was THE FAIR used as a background for any motion pictures?
SOME ANSWERS, OTHER INFORMATION, AND OBSERVATIONS in addition to various unprinted communications expressing thanks for this site and telling of the fascination and inspiration that some young people devive from the optimism expressed by THE FAIR. Many thanks to you.
A May 1996 highly informative message:
Thank you for creating this site. I happen to be addicted to World's Fairs to the extent that half of my home is decorated in World's Fair. The last price guide that I have seen on the World's Fair was the Richard Friz book that was published in the 1980's. Many of the prices are outdated. Common antique/collectible books such as Schroeders and Kovel's have pages devoted to World's Fairs. A book in the 1970's was published on World's Columbian and I believe a recent book has been published on 1904 St. Louis but I have yet to see it. Other than the wonderful documentary on the 1939 World's fair which was narrated by Jason Robards there is a old movie with a scene in which a couple gets stuck in the Parachute Jump at the 1939 WF. The name and actors escape me at the moment. There is an exhibit at Flushing Town Hall on the 1964 World's Fair that also contains info and memorabilia on the 1939 Fair. Hurry because the exhibit closes in June. The Queens Museum of Art in Flushing has an ongoing exhibit on both Fairs. The Stony Brook Museums on Long Island had or may still have an exhibit on Robert Moses which also contained Fair info. A documentary on the 1964 Fair is currently being prepared and I am proud to say I am assisting the folks in charge with research. They have a small site which I access at http://members.aol.com/bbqprod/bbqprod.html.
An additional May 1996 message from the same writer:
You may reprint any portions of this or my former letter. Here are a
few more details: The documentary narrated by Jason Robards is called "The
World of Tomorrow." It is shown on PBS from time to time, and is also shown,
and for sale at the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadow Park (the New
York City Building at the Fairs). The Queens Museum has a permanent exhibit
on the Fairs. Robert Moses and the Shaping of New York was an exhibit that
was shown at the Paine Webber Gallery in NYC and the Museums at Stony Brook
(516) 751-0066. It was due to close May 12 but perhaps it was extended
or is being moved somewhere else. They had held an all day symposium on
Moses which I attended. For those of you who may not remember, Moses was
Parks Commissioner during the 1939 Fair, and President of the 1964 Fair.
"Something for Everyone is an exhibit at Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern
Blvd, Flushing (718) 463-7700. It is mostly about the 1964 Fair but also
includes artifacts and information on the 1939 Fair. Hurry, the exhibit
closes June 15. They are also sponsoring Walking Tours of Flushing Meadow
Park on the first of June.
. . . I am also looking for any info such as personal experiences,
films, photos, slides memorabilia etc. from the Fairs. . . .
If you have fond memories about the 1939 Aquacade you may or may not
want to visit Flushing Meadow Park. It's being demolished. Thanks for putting
together this site.
From Leigh Block, 76073.717@compuserve.com, who would enjoy corresponding
with others.
A message received on July 13, 1996:
Dear Alan,
Once again thanks for your much-appreciated Web site on the Fair. I am writing as I have come across a good link that I think you should include:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gschtml/gottintr.html [URL revised May 15, 1997]
It is part of the American Memory series of the Smithsonian, and this page is devoted to the Gottscho-Schleisner collection of photographs, a vast record of the country in the 30's and 40's; among subjects they photographed was the Fair, and there are 587 pictures one can access, 188 of which are in color. A great resource for us Fair fans! (Use "World's Fair" or "World's Fair color" in the keyword search).
I also understand that the Museum of the City of New York will exhibit a show of World's Fair design drawings beginning August 21, 1996, should you wish to post this.
Thank you again for my absolute favorite web site and feel free to use any of my comments.
Best regards
Curt Gathje
July 1996:
FTR, Direct Cinema distributes THE WORLD OF TOMORROW on home video. I want to say the movie with the couple on the Parachute Jump is Hitchcock's MR. & MRS. SMITH, but not only can I not say for sure, I'm not sure whether or not the scene didn't take place at Coney Island, where the PJ ended up. I think your page is superb.
B. Baker
July 1996:
Alan,
I'd be honored if you put my message on your site. I forgot to mention
that the World's Fair Show and Sale is held in Brooklyn. I'll send you
a flyer when I get one. Also, The Queens Museum of Art puts out a brochure
of World's Fair memorabilia from their Museum Shop. You can get on the
mailing list by writing to:
Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, New York 11368
(718) 592-9700
Best,
Dennis
On February 28, 1997, I received a message from Betty Abramowitz, Museum Shop Manager, requesting that anyone wishing to sell memorabilia to the shop contact her at (718) 592-9700 Ext. 238.
If people would like to send messages to numerous others who have written to me, they could send the message to me with something like "for everyone" in the subject line, and I'll forward it to the others, whose addresses I'll put into the blind carbon copy category, so their names and addresses will not be revealed unless they reply with a message similarly categorized.
Feb. 21, 1997 message from Eckart Dissen:
Dear Alan,
My little book is in process and progress! Meanwhile I got enough information
from printers to see that I can do it, and I am sending out a pre-announcement
to investigate if- and in what size I may have to adjust the planning of
the printing. . . . :
THE CZECHOSLOVAK ISSUES FOR THE
1939 - NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR - 1940
PRE ANNOUNCEMENT
Introduction
Fall 1997 we intend to publish a book and catalogue on the Czechoslovak
Issues for the New York World's Fair of 1939 and 1940. Aim of this publication
is to make the information concerning the Czechoslovak Participation at
the Fair available to the public, and reveal a little peace of 'histoire
disparu'. In international publications and all of the American publications
on the Fair no information whatsoever on the Czechoslovak participation
and Pavilion is brought forward. It seems as if Czechoslovakia was not
there at all. This is not so. Although Czechoslovakia was already occupied
by Nazi Germany, the Czechoslovakian Community in the United States and
the Czechoslovak Government in Exile, in cooperation with the Czechoslovak
Embassy in New York, created the initiative to keep the Czechoslovak Pavilion
at the Fair open to the public, as a clear demonstation against the German
occupation and as a demonstration for the liberation of the Czechoslovak
Sovereign State. This effort led to the re-issue of Czechoslovak postage
sheets of 1937 and 1938, with a distinctive overprint with the Text: CZECHOSLOVAK
PARTICIPATION / NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR 1939. In 1940, the year in the overprint
became of course 1940. These sheets were sold in the Czechoslovak Pavilion,
net proceeds were used for the maintenance of the building. This initiative
has been very successful, and altogether nearly 400 different overprints
have been made and sold to the visitors, with a grant result of more than
US $ 26.000,-. In those days a considerable amount.
Content
1. Historical Perspectives / The near War period
2. On the World's Fair of 1939 and 1940
3. The Czechoslovak Issues
4. Catalogue of the twelve Issues for the NYWF and the six prepared
issues for the Canadian National Exhibition of 1939, Toronto, also sold
at the NYWF in 1939.
5. Some other filatelic activities of the Czechoslovak community in
the US, war period.
6. List of literature in the fields of related History, The Fair and
the Czechoslovak Postal History.
7. References.
Format
The introductory texts will appear simultanuously in Dutch, English
and German language, with an additional summary in Czech Language. In the
catalogue part this is integrated. The book will be published in an appr.
Size of 15 x 21 cms., 120 pages, and ±50 illustrations. Cover in
three colors, inside black and white. A limited amount of books with an
original overprinted sheet of 1939 can be obtained by subscription only.
Depending on the interest, the book will be published in quite a small
amount. Planned is to limit this to 500 or 750 numbered copies.
Price
Public price of the regular edition, dependant on the amount of printing,
is estimated at: US $ 24,95. The subscription issue with one original overprint
will be appr. US $ 38,75.
Inquiries / pre-orders E=mc2 publishers, P.O.B. 11514, 1001 GM Amsterdam, Netherlands Tel./Fax: *31 - 20 - 622 48 25, e-mail: perspex@worldonline.nl
A March 6, 1997, message Eckart Dissen:
As you did not publish the amount of viositors, I can give you these
numbers:
1939-1940 New York World's Fair
Number of visitors: 44.932.978 (three times the dutch population of
today!)
Dept in US $: 18.723.222
Size: 4.923.175 square meters
open: two seasons
Compared to some other Fairs:
1851 London, Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations
(Chrystal Palace)
visitors: 6.039.195
profit in GB pounds: 186.437
open: 4.8 months
Chicago 1893, World's Columbian Exposition
visitors: 27.529.400
profit in US $: 807.000
open: 6.1 month
Of the other World Fairs only Montreal 1967 got 50+ million visitors, and Osaka 1970 even 64+ million. Loss in Montreal 73+ million $, profit in Japan 19.4+ billion yen!
So New York World's Fair, own its own fair place in world history.
Reading the article of Jeffrey Hart, a link from your sitepage, I quite
get the feeling of excitement and sentiment, I remember myself from visiting
the 1958 Brussels Fair, with 40+ million visitors in 6 months, on a ground
space of 1/2 the size of the NYWF a good succeeder.
Hart brings the NYWF in a splendid context of culture and society,
and makes some rather funny remarks. For me interesting: no attention towards
the Czechoslovak Pavilion.
A March 1997 comunication from the Manager of the Museum Shop of Queens Museum of Art, referred to above, indicates that among the items likely to remain available for sale there are:
Remembering The Future catalog - 1939-1964 New York World's Fair, $27.00 plus $5.00 additional for shipping within the U.S.
Dawn Of A New Day - 1939 New York World's Fair, $15.00 plus $4.00 shipping within the U.S.
The World Of Tomorrow Video - The 1939 New York World's Fair, $37.75 Plus $4.00 shipping within the U.S.
The Middleton Family at the 1939 New York World's Fair - Video, $25.00 plus $4.00 shipping within the U.S.
"To The Fair" Video The 1964 New York World's Fair - by Lowell Thomas, $25.00 plus $4.00 shipping within the U.S.
Sheet of 54, 1939 New York World's Fair Poster Stamps, $15.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling within the U.S.
Assorted 1964 Posters, 28 x 42 inches, $200.00
Assorted 1964 Posters, 11 x 16 inches, $30.00
A message received March 22, 1997:
Alan,
Love your NY World's Fair page. Perhaps you can help us. My wife and I are reseaching the Fair through the experiences of its participants. We would like to correspond with people who have attended the 1939 Fair or sons/daughters who can recount their parents' experiences from stories, etc. Please post our appropriately named e-mail address nywf@erols.com for us. We hope to get a variety of folks contacting us. Thank you very much.
Ron McCandless
A May 24, 1997, message on movies relating to THE FAIR:
Alan, your site is great. I just found a copy of the official guide
to the fair today at a yard sale (missing its covers, alas), which is why
I web-searched for info, and found your place. I Remember a " Ma &
Pa Kettle go to the Fair" film, and a few Warner Brothers cartoons on the
subject. One cartoon I recall, was a variation on the country bumpkins
go to the city theme, with a carload of Okies heading for the 1939 worlds
fair, and their mis-adventures there. I'm sure there are many more. The
fair was an incredibly hot topic at that time.
Hope this was helpful.
Email to Epalmer@rocketmail.com
Thanks, Eric.
Aug. 18, 1997
Dear Alan,
My great grandparents went to the 1939 Fair, and they brought back a coin. I have recently heard that there are three World's Fair artifacts that are worth more than others: 1893, 1904, and 1939-1940. I was wondering if you had any information on its value, or where I might find some.
It's a gold colored coin. The front of it says: IN 1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR. It has the background of the tall thin column and the round ball that looks like a sun with rays coming out of it. It has a patent on the bottom. It says: DES. PAT. 107424 Under that it has EPCO.
The back of the coin depicts the inauguration of George Washington. The top of the coin has the wording: SOUVENIR OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY and the bottom of the coin says: GEORGE WASHINGTON'S INAUGURATION.
The coin is in very good condition. Any information you could give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Karen Shoemaker
Albemarle, NC
jwshoemaker@CTC.Net
On September 4, 1997, The New York Times published a review of the National Tennis Center at the fair site.
Sept. 5, 1997:
I didn't see a reference to it in any of the pointers of your Web page, so if anyone is interested there was a novel written in 1985 by E.L.Doctorow (author of the more well known "Ragtime") called "World's Fair". The jacket cover shows the Trylon and Perisphere. Unfortunately, the Fair does not play as big a role in the plot as the title would imply. Some of its attractions are described, however.
PS. Thank you for your considerate and prompt reply to my earlier E-MAIL.
A Fan of the Fair,
Paul Walorski
Columbus, IN
In late August 1997 someone e-mailed me about considerable memorabilia, but the message has been lost in my computer, so I'd appreciate a re-sending of it. Thanks.
October 20, 1997:
Hello, I'm not sure if you are who I should be contacting, but I'll
give this a try. I have three booklets, two from the 1933 Chicago Worlds
Fair, and one from the company that created the exhibits for the 1939 w.f.in
NYC, (Messmore and Damon). This 24 pg booklet shows the exhibits for the
fair and also shows how alot of them were built. I haven't been able to
find anyone else who has seen these booklets. They are: "The History of
Torture", from the Chicago W.F. 1933........"The World a Million Years
Ago", also from 1933. Both were written by Leon Morgan..........The third
is "Super-Feature Exhibits for the New York World's Fair" which was printed
up by the maker of the exhibits, Messmore and Damon. Feel free to post
this message to anyone who might be interested. Any info. would be helpful.
Thank you. John A.Crino
Brooklyn NY.....718 383 7218 crno@erols.com
October 22, 1997
Hello Mr. Anderson,
I'm really interested in both of the fairs that took part at Flushing Meadows. Your site has a great deal of info and I really enjoyed my many visits to your site. I've never been to the grounds where the fair took place, but I someday hope to go there.... to explore what is left... to wonder and imagine...
Here's the address to a site that you or visitors to your site may enjoy- http://members.aol.com/worldexpos within the site, there are a few pages on the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair
c-ya,
Nick
A Nov. 25, 1997, communication:
Mr. Anderson:
Please post this message on your wonderful website. I am a reporter
working on a story about how automobiles have shaped our lives and landscape.
I am especially intrigued by a passage in the book "Divided Highways" that
describes the General Motors Futurama exhibit. I would like to get first-hand
accounts from folks - including yourself - who attended the Fair and the
GM exhibit. While not essential, interviews with Utah residents would help
localize my story as I write for The Salt Lake Tribune. If you or anyone
reading this message would like to discuss their impressions of the Futurama
and the legacy the car has left us, please call or e-mail me ASAP and no
later than Jan. 1.
Thanks for all you help.
Linda Fantin
lfantin@sltrib.com
On Monday, January 26, 1998, The New York Times published in its "Taking in the Sites," by Howard Fountain, "A Virtual Trip to World's Fairs of the Past." The printed version, at page D6, has only one picture, the graphic at the top of this site, whereas the cyber version omits that, but includes a 1964-1965 New York World's Fair graphic and a Coney Island graphic. The story is followed by 11 links, including the one to this site. The printed version omits the "'s" of "World's."
Jan. 26, 1998
Alan: My mother, Doris Varvel, won a gold medal for first prize for
the state of Nebr. in poetry at the 1940 NY World's Fair. The poem was
called Springtime Birth. We have the medal and a certificate. We are looking
for a copy of the booklet that the poem was printed in. At the time it
sold for just a couple dollars and Mother couldn't afford the purchase.
I would love to find a copy to purchase. You may add this query to your
Web site.
Sondra Lord
Nslord@aol.com
Jan. 26, 1998
Mr. Anderson:
I'm a fan of the three major fairs of the '30's: Chicago's Century
of Progress, San Francisco's Golden Gate, and NY's World Fair.
Clearly, NY's trylon and perisphere are the most recognizable of any
fair symbols. Yet, when I try to find copies of NY Fair posters, I come
up empty! Originals can be found for about $3,000 -- but I've yet to find
less expensive copies. The other fairs have numerous fair posters available.
Are you aware of any '39 NY Fair poster copies that are available?
I'd appreciate any information you might have about this.
David Moorshead
Chicago
ClassCover@aol.com
On January 26, 1998, The New York Times published "A Virtual Trip to World's Fairs Past" by Henry Fountain, with URLs to this site and to sites dealing with the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, Freedomland U. S. A., Boblo Island, World's Columbian EXposition, Coney Island, Palisades Amusement Park, Yesterland, and Florida's Forgotten Tourist Attractions.
On Feb. 11, 1998, Bob Hafstrom On Feb. 12, 1998, he added:
More on the three phase arc: The high voltage end of each transformer
bank was connected to an insulated stand with a pin wheel on the top. Each
end of the pin wheel had a different salt in it. Table salt sodium chloride
made the arc orange color, Iron salts produced a green arc etc. With three
pinwheels (six colors) the spectacular arcs form and rise up because they
heat the air and then blow out when they get too long.
Just a note: I left GE in 1940 to teach and obtain an MS degree at Iowa
State, When the war broke out I moved to Washington to do research at the
Naval Research Laboratory. After the war I was an Asst. Professor of Electrical
Engineering at the University of Wisconsin. In 1951 I left the teaching
profession to go back into the defense industry. I retired from my own
company a few years ago but still manage to keep busy. I've gone the route
from "slide rule" to "computer" and have enjoyed all the challenges along
the way.
Bob Hafstrom
From Tom Ciavarella, June 25, 1998
Hi Alan:
A wonderful web site! Congratulations!
The New York Worlds Fair-1939. Where do I begin? As they say about Philadelphia, I spent a weekend there one night.
What do I really remember about those experiences, both good and bad, which will always be a part of my memories?
1. My father insisting on having a salomi sandwich and a glass of wine.
2. Tiny small Italian cars.
3. Huge cakes of cheese behind display windows
so clean that my brother almost walked
through one and that's no joke.
Without boring you to pieces, I'd just quite to quickly mention some exhibits with my recollections. Remember, I was only 10.
China-- women with extremely skilled hands making dolls
with beautifully painted faces and excellent
flawless coiffure.
Switzerland-- eating at an outdoor cafe; and the menu was Swiss sausages, something this kid never saw before.
General electric-- our first glimpse of television; watching a demonstration where a postcard containing some text was held up to a camera and then going outside the building and seeing it on a television monitor. Absolutely nothing short of fantastic in those days.
The Perisphere and Trylon ( I hope I have that correct)--
Riding up the escalater through the trylon and up to the huge interior of the Perisphere. Anyone who was there and saw it surely remembers what a site that was; a viewing platform around the inner circumference of the sphere and the entire " world of tomorrow" covering the entire bottom hemisphere. Buildings, roads, rivers; you name it.
That was one line worth waiting in.
??? Building-- my brother and I being chased away from a display containing a series of pictures depicting the month by month evolution of a baby. My, how times have changed.
Pennsylvania railroad building-- a huge network of model trains which you viewed from bleachers; surely the greatest " under Christmas tree" display I will ever see. And of course, there was the real live locomotive outside the building, a real state of the art machine that was built right here in the Altoona PRR shops. Needless to say, my father was all smiles. And I got to go up into the cab.
Souvenirs which we brought back included one of those glass table weights containing the Perisphere and Trylon and "snow". We shook it to death for years.
Sixty years is a long time and I'm getting tired of typing and correcting. I'm sure there are some other memories but you are surely bored by now if you got this far.
Thanks for listening to one who will never forget that depression ending occasion.
Tom Ciavarella
Altoona, Pa
(Forgive all typos, please)
Jackie Lennon, July 2, 1998
On July 23, 1998, The New York Times published an "A Return to the Future, 1939 Style,", by Michael Pollak, on the fair, with URLs to this site and to the University of Virginia the very impressive site of John C. Baran.
A July 26, 1998, communication:
On August 1, 1998, I received the following account, from which I have removed the names:
On June 25, 1999, I received the following, from Elaine Quilici, EE@quil.reno.nv.us, related to the immediately above account:
Hey Alan...I know you are a very busy guy but my father asked me to do something for him and so I shall. My father is X the Texan. He is not on line so a friend gave him a copy of your info on the WF. Your story on him is accurate except the lines I have corrected in bold print. He is 78 yrs old and his memory is incredible. He is also very modest and did not want anyone to read inaccurate info in regards to his accolades...thus the correction. He is also in the process of correcting a misprint in another book about a successful return to his carrier after his plane was hit 200 times by the Japs. It was supposed to read 2. Thanks for your patience. If you never correct it ...no prob....Elaine...a dutiful loving daughter.
[As given above] On August 1, 1998, I received the following account, from which I have removed the names:
X is a Texan. When he was 18 he decided to go to the NYWF. He told his mother about his plan to hitch hike from Texas to New York. She didn't give her permission but told X to see his father in Dallas. When he saw his father, his father asked him how much money he was taking. X admitted to two dollars. His father reached into his wallet and pulled out two more dollars and told X to go to the Fair and live it up. Four days later X arrived in New York City. When he arrived at the Fair he found a way in under the fence. For four days he visited exhibits and slept in the back seats of some cars that were to be given away in a drawing. On the fourth day he decided to hide his small suitcase behind some bushes next to an exhibit hall. When he walked away he found himself surrounded by security police which had been following him around for some time. The security police tossed the luggage into a pond because they expected it to be a bomb. X explained that the suitcase had his clothes and his camera inside. They let him wade into the pond to retrieve the suitcase. The newspapers carried the story and X became a bit of a hero. He managed to get a job with American Express operating one of their little taxis. The camera still worked after he dried it out and he took a lot of photos . . .
When the war started X ended up as an aviator in the Navy flying patrol planes and bombers in the Pacific. [The incorrect material found above:] In 1945 X was credited with sinking more ships than any of the Navy pilots. (It was 46 ships sunk or damaged). He retired years later from the Navy and settled in San Diego.
June 30, 1999:
July 1, 1999:
A Sept. 1, 1998, communication:
On Sept. 23, 1998, I received the following:
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Another Sept. 23, 1998, communication, from Carol Johnson Shedd:
On Oct. 12, 1998, I heard from Leonard Levitan, of Levitan Design Associates, telling me about
a series of posters on world's fairs, including particularly one of
the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair, that he has created as a result of two years of
research and work. They can be seen at his website. One should click on "posters."
The one of chief interest is this:
The size is 25 1/2" x
38 1/2" on 100 lb. paper, and Mr. Levitan refers to it as "the only accurate full color aerial image of exactly what
was there." From examining the original, I can say that it is the next best thing to being at the fair.
This poster can be ordered for $40.00 plus $5.00 for shipping, from Levitan Design Associates, Inc., 39 West 29th St., 8th floor, New York, New York 10001. Up to three weeks should be allowed for delivery.
The October 16, 1998, New York Times obituary of radio announcer Tony Marvin, 86, mentions: "In 1937, he was hired by WNYC as the station's chief announcer and later was made the official 'voice' of the New York World's Fair."
Although not directly related to the NYWF, The New York Times of Nov. 8, 1998, has a story and link to The Triumph of Grand Central".
A November 17, 1998, communication:
I'm trying to find out where the Homer Laughlin China exhibit was
exactly at the 39/40 Fair.
A November 19, 1998, comunication:
My name Fred Peterson. I was a Visitor to the 64-65 NY World's Fair. I have a lot of Memorabilia from time I visited. I was one of the 51 million that went just before the Fair closed. There were 3 rolls of film shot during our visit. 2 were color and 1 black and white (the B&W ones were shot by me at 9 years old). There are 65 in all (53 color & 12 black and white). There are also 3 1/2 reels of 8mm film that was shot. I have 21 Post Cards (one is oversized) , and 3 Visitors Guides. Among them are the Formica "World's Fair House", the Sinclair "Dinoland", and a NYC Transit Authority "World's Fair Subway Map". I also have a 7'' colored vinyl record of "The Triumph of Man" from the Travelers Insurance Company. It has the dialogue from the exhibit and a 6 page color cover. I also have the "NY World's Fair Pictures" card set made by Ed-u-cards in the original box. The last 2 items are related items, a "Flintstones at the New York World's Fair" comic book and a real 1964 New York State World's Fair license plate (# U-7444). All are available, but not for sale. I would gladly scan the images and send them to you. I could also send copies of the 8mm film on video and the audio from the Travelers record. I also made a short video of my return to the Fair site in 1990. Half was accidentally erased, but about 20 mins exist, looking at what was left of the Fair. If you are interested e-mail me at edspines@pcfl.net.
In January 1999 I was informed of some very interesting sites, mostly new:
World's Fair Mania, containing links to sites dealing with world's fairs from 1851 to 2005.
Scouting at the World's Fair[s]
Images of the 1939-40 New York World's Fair
MaloneysOnline Antiques and Collectibles Resource Directory
On March 5, 1999, I received the following from Calvin Keli Lunny, lunny@davesworld.net:
A March 6, 1999, New York Times music review by Allan Kozinn begins:
A March 11, 1999, message from Russ Wilkins, rwilkins@ikansas.com:
Dear Alan, my grandmother passed away last year and my mother recovered an
old desk lamp that was about to fall off the edge of g-ma's nightstand. It
is a pink or rose colored lamp about 15 inches tall. It is on a glass stand
and the top looks like the planet saturn, with ring. It also has the moon
and stars all over the saturn globe. It still works perfectly and is very
beautiful. My mother does not remember how g-ma got the lamp or any history
of it. I have been told that it was called an "Art Deco 1939 Worlds Fair
Saturn Lamp". I was wondering if you or anyone else could provide any info
on this lamp, like who made them. The lamp is not for sale so I'm not
looking for a value, but I told mother I would try to find out something
about it before it drives her nuts. She does not remember going to the
fair, but she would have been very young. Any assistance would be greatly
appreciated. FYI the lamp is now sitting on an antique buffet in my
mother's living room in Abilene Kansas, Home of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thank
you for any assistance you can be. My mother and I eagerly await a reply.
An Apr. 7, 1999, message:
I am writing my master's thesis on the 1939 fair and would love to
hear from people who attended about their impressions of the
Democracity and Futurama exhibits. My study focuses on how these
exhibits were a departure from previous fairs, especially in their
use of multimedia techniques and their emphasis on controlled
circulation. All correspondence appreciated.
You can reach me at kscullin@hotmail.com
A message of April 25, 1999:
An April 30, 1999, request:
Another message on the memorable date of April 30, 1999, selected because it was the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington:
"The Century" segment of ABC Nightly News on Friday, May 28, 1999, dealt with the 1939, but not 1940, presentation of the NYWF.
The online introduction to it says:
World’s Fairs Highlight Future
The timeline says of our fair:
NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, NY.
Each fair is given one link; that for the NYWF leads to Images from the '39 NY World's Fair.
On May 29 and 30, 1999, I received from George Daleo, georgedaleo@worldnet.att.net,
messages that I have combined and slightly abridged as follows:
I was 4 and 5 years old when I enjoyed the Fair. My family had season ticket
books each year (those little tickets used each time for admission). We
lived in East Elmherst so it was a short trip. I still vividly remember
many of the Fair sights.
I forgot to tell you that at one time I had
some of the cars (the little ones) which ran on a track that were used in
the GM display. My father knew a man that worked for GM at the fair. I sure
wish I could find them now.
On August 9, 1999, I was notified by Gary Katz of his fascinating CBC News article, which "went up in mid-April," at
www.cbcnews.cbc.ca/news/indepth/worldfair39/index.html.
On August 21, 1999, Martin Packer notified me of his impressive The Festival of Britain site, which contains information on the royal visit to THE FAIR, as well as a link to the World's Fairs Collectors Society, P.O. Box 20806, Sarasota, FL 34276-3806 (WFCS@AOL.COM).
The Sept. 26, 1999, Travel section of The Boston Sunday Globe, has a Jon Marcus article titled "Yesterday's tomorrow," about the site of the 1939 and 1964 fairs. In part, it says:
Crossing the original wooden boardwalk built to carry visitors from the elevated station, you can imagine the Trylon and Perisphere, the central symbol of the 1939 World's Fair, down the Avenue of Commerce and across the Court of Nations . . .
Last year the museum [which had a $15 million renovation in 1994, and has a gift shop with memorabilia] added scale models of 13 pavilions from the 1939 fair built by a Flushing man who roamed the grounds and collected bricks from structures that had been demolished.
It is not clear whether any 1939 building but the New York City Building, later to house the UN General Assembly and now a museum largely dealing with the fairs, survives. It is open Wed. through Fri., 10 to 5; Sat. and Sun. 12 to 5. The suggested donation is $4 for adults and $2 for children. For information call 718-760-6565. The Hall of Science (the Hall of Education of the 1964 fair) is open Mon. through Wed. 9:30 to 2, and Thurs. through Sun. 9:30 to 5. Two "trolleys" go from the Willets Point/Shea Stadium IRT subway station to the attractions Fri. through Sun. 10 to 6. For information call 718-699-0005. The cost is $1 for unlimited one-day use.
If anyone has personal knowledge of any of this, it would be welcome here.
On Oct 27, 1999, I received the following message:
Obviously, the rest of us also would appreciate receiving such information.
On Nov. 4, 1999, I received the following:
Thanks so much for maintaining your terrific site-I hope you can find the
time to keep it up for all of us world's fair devotees. I wanted to report
that a few years ago I republished the original, advance edition catalogue of
Licensed Merchandise from the 1939 World's Fair. It contains an 18 page index
of the original licensees, organized by product type, and full page ads by
over 60 companies, with pictures and detailed descriptions of the
merchandise. It's a great research tool and I love seeing all the
stuff---although unbelievably just a small portion of what ultimately was
produced!. When I found a deteriorating copy of the original in the NY
Public Library, I had them microfiche it for me before they discarded
it(SOB!)--and years later I published this book (in black and white) from the
microfiche. If anyone's interested in ordering, they can email me at
worldoft@aol.com. Thanks again for a wonderful site. Judy LaPook
On Nov. 7, 1999, I received the following:
Dear Mr. Anderson,
On Nov. 13, 1999, Michael Sipos gave me a link to the Museum Shop of the Queens Museum of Art. The Shop sells memorabilia and ephemera of both fairs held at its location. THe New York City Building, in which the museum is located, is referred to as "the only major structure remaining" from the fairs.
On Nov. 14, 1999, I received the following:
Dear Alan, I'm hoping that you can lead me to the answer of a question that
is rather important to me about the 1939 NY World's Fair. I am a fan of the
fair and also of the poet Alan Ginsberg. There is a much-published
photograph of him with his mother and father posing at the base of one of the
hugh sculptures called "The Four Freedoms". I am trying to find out which
one of the freedoms this particular statue depicts. It is a giant male
figure, with one hand raised towards his mouth as he calls out into the air.
He is standing on some sort of bulbous base which is surrounded by other
figures. It is the only one of the four statues that has such a cloud-like
base surrounded by other figures. If you stood at the Trilon and Perishpere
and looked down the pond toward the four figures, this would be on the left,
behind another. I believe that the calling-out pose of the figure could make
it "Freedom of Speech", or the collection of figures at the base could make
it "Freedom of Assembly". I wonder if there is a source that could answer
this for me definitively -- or perhaps this is an elementary fair question
that you could answer with ease. I would greatly appreciate any help you can
give me. Thanks in advance, Marvin Schneider marvinschn@aol.com
On Nov. 28, 1999, I received from Ken Arromdee a review of Fair-related comic books. I have placed it on a new Annex to this site.
On Dec. 13, 1999, after receiving an earlier message from Ruud de Lange, larufe@kabelfoon.nl, of
Maassluis,
Holland,
requesting that I contact the writer of a Sept. 1, 1998, message, in the hope that the manual to which he referred might contain relevant information, and being unable to contact that writer, I received the following summary:
On Dec. 16, 1999, I received:
I enjoyed your website, for your information I am a drilling and boring contrator currently doing subsurface investigations at and on the old ampitheater site. As you know the structures on the deck have been demolished but the decking and pool still remain. Also many of the old pumps and piping are still intact.The Parks dept. currently wants to cap the structure with soil building a new playground on top.Would you know of any full size pictures of the original aquacade? Or any info on this specific subject? My e-mail address is
On Dec. 19, 1999:
Alan , feel free to post my e-mail on your site, as a footnote we are currently excavating the old monorail footings that are located in the area, they are interested in the condition of the original pilings for use in the new playground foundation. Paul
On Jan. 4, 2000, in response to my invitation for an update:
Hi Alan, just completed last round of soil borings at the site. It looks
like construction may begin as soon as this spring. This project is being
funded and parks is in a rush to begin so they don't lose the funding. From
what I hear more pilings are going to be sunk and the exsiting deck is going
to be capped with soil. This is more economical than tearing down the
complete deck.If I get a layout of the new playground I'll scan it and
e-mail you .I will keep you updated on the progress, Paul
On December 25, 1999, I received the following:
Dear Alan,
Saturday, December 25, 1999
What'll 21st Century Be Like? 'The Jetsons'
Television: Space-age animated family got many things right, enough to merit
a marathon on Cartoon Network.
By SCOTT MOORE, Washington Post
A Feb. 16, 2000, message:
Dear Alan
A reference to the parachute jump that was at THE FAIR. The paper version of the article is accompanied by a photograph of the area, including the parachute jump; the online version includes an artist's rendition of the proposed stadium with the parachute jump at the far end.
March 2, 2000, New York Times:
A message received Mar. 5, 2000:
Dear Alan:
Fifty Years After the Fair
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 18:58:11 -0500
From: Franklin Jones
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 12:48:19 -0400
From: Susan Grunmeier On April 18, 2000, I learned that this site is quoted, without exact identification, by A. E. Jeffcoat, in his book, Spirited Americans: A Commentary on America's Optimists--From the Puritans to the Cyber-Century. (Bainbridge Island, WA: Winslow House Books, 2000, pp. 178-79):
At this point I received at least two inquiries that I was going to post here, but I had various computer difficulties. If those who requested these postings would contact me, giving them again, I would be glad to post them now.
On August 16, 2000, I received the following query:
On Oct. 22, 2000, CM Publishing notfied me:
On Nov. 4, 2000, I received from D. Baker a correction on the words of a song,
Fifty Years after the Fair.
On Nov. 16, 2000, I received the following:
On Dec. 5, 2000, I received the following question:
In February 2001, I received word of a CD containing 271 photographs from the 1939 NYWF, from PM Photo & Computer Service, PO Box 2681, Sparks, NV 89432-2681, for $19.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling.
I bought a copy, and am delighted that I did.
Art Hofman sent me, on March 4, 2001, a link to a model train exhibit in relation to the 1939 fair, at the
Eli Whitney Museum. The museum also has material
of interest to those of us who remember the A. C. Gilbert company.
On April 28, 2001, I received the following:
Just thought you'd like to know that the World's Fair got into some
regular comic books of the time, as well as having special editions.
All-American #18 included a Green Lantern story explicitly set at the
New York World's Fair, and several of the attractions, including the
Marine Transportation exhibit, found their way into the background. The
story climaxes with a hand-to-hand fight on top of the Perisphere!
The May 14, 2001, New York Times has a story, Visions of Olympic Glory in New York, about a proposal for the 2012 Olympics, with illustrations, one of which has the caption,
"Meadow Lake and Willow Lake in Queens, created for the 1939 World's Fair, would be joined in a $164 million center for rowing, canoeing and kayaking."
To see a list of world's fairs held in the Americas, and for some additional links, click here.
I received the folowing on May 31, 2001:
31st May 2001.
Mr and Mrs G.S. Gieg
On June 1, 2001, Peter Dekany, of Hungary, notified me:
I received the following on June 18, 2001:
I just stumbled on your site by accident - wow - great site. I am 41 years old and obviously have no recollection of the 1939 worlds fair. However I recall seeing the PBS documentary "World of Tomorrow" many years ago and being somewhat fascinated with it. I am currently working on a documentary film here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada about the great Dance Halls of Lake Winnipeg - Winnipeg Beach and Grand Beach, the "Moonlight " trains, the rollercoaster(which by the way was designed by arthur jarvis of Coney Island fame), the amusement park etc etc. So far we have collected over 800 photographs and 12 minutes of old 8mm film footage as well as memorabilia from the Dance Halls. If any of your many visitors have any information of either Dance Hall (Winnipeg Beach 1902-1967) (Grand Beach 1915-1950) or stories of the Moonlight trains etc. please send them our way. Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!!!!
Received on Oct. 24, 2001:
RStolling@aol.com
In 2002 two Princeton University students started a movement to have a world's fair in New York City in 2012. They have Web pages Alan Anderson
Latest update Aug. 20, 2002. This update is far from complete. My thanks to all who have supplied material that has made this site vastly more valuable than if it contained nothing but my recollections, and my apologies
to people who have supplied information that I have failed to include. If you have sent anything that you would like to see here, or have contacted me about anything and have not received a reply, please try again. Perhaps I'll find more time for tending this little project than I have in the past. I have so many other pages (most of them linked to New
Thought Movement Home Page) that none gets enough attention. One that may be of interest to people who like this site is Nostalgia Plus.
During the winter before the fair, the transformers for the General
Electric exhibit were being tested in Pittsfield, Mass. There were six
350,000 volt transformers that were built for the three phase arc They
were arranged in stacks of two transformers (one on the floor and the second
one on an insulated pillar. The voltage at the top of the stack was about
700,000 volts above ground. The voltage between stacks was gradually raised
to about 1,000,000 volts when the arcs occurred between three pinwheels
that had various salts that colored the arcs. As a "testman" (member of
a group of about 500 engineering college graduates) I was fortunate enough
to be in Pittsfield when these transformers were tested. When the fair
opened testmen were assigned to the fair location to run the exhibit. I
wasn't one of them but my fellow testmen invited me to the control booth
the day I came down to the fair from Schenectady where I was on a different
test assignment. The other part of the exhibit was a 10,000,000 volt lightning
show similar to the one that was also at Pittsfield. Watching the audience
react during the show was a show I will never forget (even at 82) General
Electric does not have the test program anymore that I was fortunate to
participate in. I am retired now but I still do some consulting. I enjoyed
your home page.
The 10,000,000 volt lightning display at the fair was a dressed up
copy of the lightning equipment in the high voltage laboratory in the General
Electric Pittsfield, MA large transformer plant. The 10,000,000 volts was
obtained by charging up a bank of capacitors that were connected in parallel
with each other and then switching the capacitors so that they were in
series. The 10,000,000 DC voltage sets up an electric field between two
terminals connected to the ends of the capacitor bank. When the space between
the contacts is reduced the electric intensity reaches a point where the
air breaks down. When that happens a stroke of lightning occurs that would
have made Ben Franklin happy. In Pittsfield, research was being conducted
on the effects of the lightning on miniature buildings, etc..
But with the fair, I received a lifetime of wonderful memories in only two or three days.
How my Italian, immigrant father ever succeeding in taking five of us on such an excursion at the tail end of the depression with, probably, less than $50 in his pocket was truly a magnificent accomplishment and one which will always be a mystery to me. But it was probably the greatest $50 investment he ever made when you consider the return to all of us.BR>
My father was a railroad worker in Altoona Pennsylvania, although the word " work " defined a scarce commodity in those days. I won't bore you with details of the great depression since most people of this generation are sick of us older folks talking about it.
There were three children in our family. I had a brother who was 12, a sister of seven and I was about 10.
One fortunate advantage we had was that we could ride the Pennsylvania railroad on a free pass. What a break that was.
Enough of this boring background information.
I remember the run down hotel where we stayed. We walked up to the second or third floor. There were sand buckets in the hallway painted red with the word " fire ". My brother and I were to sleep in a room down the hall from the one in which my mother, father, and sister were to sleep. After ten minutes or so, my brother and I were so frightened that we quickly retreated to our parents station. Would you believe that five people could sleep in one double bed? Sure they can! If they sleep crosswise and three of them are children.
I remember the next morning when my father went down to the street to buy our breakfast from a street vendor. This was truly room service. Several large bunches of grapes were all that we needed. After all we were depression kids.
I remember the subway, the overwhelming crowds, and the mystery of the turnstiles; and only a nickel. I still can't recall how we got to the subway station but, I'm quite certain that we must have walked, if only by choice. I recall having the Empire State building pointed out to us and how " awesome " it was; if you'll pardon the use of an overworked "90"s" word.
I don't know how good my memory really is anymore but I recall it costing about 75 cents to enter the fair.
Of course, there was no way one could see all of the buildings and exhibits; many of the lines were blocks long it seems and we knew our time was limited. My brother and I collected tons of brochures and pamphlets which we hauled home and saved for years. I only wish we had them now.
Of course my father's favorite building was the one from Italy. I remember it quite vividly. It was tall and there was a series of, maybe 10 steps, beginning and ending up high on the building. Water cascaded down over these steps after which it fell the remaining long distance; a huge waterfall that ended in a beautifully landscaped pool at the bottom front; near the entrance as I recall.
Things that I remember inside:
My brother and I each got "Buck Rogers" pocket watches. Do you remember them?
I produce a public access community TV show and do research on African American history. I would appreciate any
information on Negro Week at the 1939 World's Fair. I believe it was housed in the Soviet Pavilion after the Soviet
left due to the war. Many African American celebrities were present there and noted on a plaque. I need any
writings, films, ads, etc. Please email me at jackieco@juno.com
Dear Mr. Anderson:
One of my fond recollections is the birthday party my mother had for me during
the fair.Iwas born May 22, 1933, and I remember the decorations on the table
was reflecting the Worlds Fair. The blue and orange decorations held me
spellbound even to this day.
I did go to the fair with my mother and father quite often as we lived in
Manhattan and would go on Sundays. One of the things was the greyhounds
people movers. This was a train like affair to move you around the fair.
Even at six years old I remember the Trilon and the Perispere going inside it
and seeing the city of the future.
The Heinz pickle exhibit. I still have the little pickle pin. It was glorious
the whole thing.
I don't think any fair ever came close to that one.
Merrillfla@aol.com
X is a Texan. When he was 18 he decided
to go to the NYWF. He told his mother about his plan to hitch hike from
Texas to New York. She didn't give her permission but told X to see
his father in Dallas. When he saw his father, his father asked him how
much money he was taking. X admitted to two dollars. His father
reached into his wallet and pulled out two more dollars and told X to
go to the Fair and live it up. Four days later X arrived in New York
City. When he arrived at the Fair he found a way in under the fence.
For four days he visited exhibits and slept in the back seats of some
cars that were to be given away in a drawing. On the fourth day he
decided to hide his small suitcase behind some bushes next to an exhibit
hall. When he walked away he found himself surrounded by security
police which had been following him around for some time. The security
police tossed the luggage into a pond because they expected it to be a
bomb. X explained that the suitcase had his clothes and his camera
inside. They let him wade into the pond to retrieve the suitcase. The
newspapers carried the story and X became a bit of a hero. He managed
to get a job with American Express operating one of their little taxis.
The camera still worked after he dried it out and he took a lot of
photos . . .
When the war started X ended up as an aviator in the Navy working off
a carrier in the western Pacific. [See correction below with regard to the immediately following statements.] He became an ACE in 1945 when he sunk
more ships than any of the other pilots (I think it was 146 ships). He
retired years later from the Navy and settled in San Diego.
Thanks for writing back...and so quickly. By all means go ahead and use the
letter. My dad Art Elder, will love it. He is really proud of his career.
My mom on the other hand, is sick to death of WW2 and all the reunions he
goes to each year. Of course the numbers of friends from old squadrons are
diminishing. Art is a horse though! He will be the last one standing I am
sure.
Hey Alan, I spoke with my Dad this am and he was delighted that you were
willing to make corrections. While on the phone he told me a story (that I
had never heard before) and I thought I would share it with you. When Art
left Dallas to go to the NYWF his father was a journalist making $169 a
month, supporting a family of 6. When he got to the Fair he heard he could
make as much as $600/month working as a guide for American Express. When he
called his father to tell him he had gotten a job with AE and how much he
was going to make he replied "No one can make that much money honestly!
Come home immediately...you must be dealing with crooks!" Well my dad
stayed and did make $600/mo.
Thanks to a reprint in the local paper from the NY Times, I logged into
your site. Lots of interesting memories, but how would you like the
real McCoy?
I was a guide for the NY Worlds Fair Corp. (not for Greyhound or any
other concession), and I have loads of official memorabilia, but most
important is an "Information Manual, New York World's Fair 1939
Incorporated" the size of a Manhattan telephone book. Anything you want
to know about the fair or any of its exhibits is in that manual.
My son became fascinated with this first summer job of mine and has
given me all sorts of video tapes and booklets dating from that era,
including all the hokey GE, Westinghouse and At&T presentation (they
were just as hokey then as they are now, at least to the guides who were
a pretty sophisticated bunch, making more money than they would make
again until after the war).
Anyway, if there are any particulars that you would like to get into
relating to what has become a cult, I'll be delighted to help. I don't
know about walking tours of the old fairgrounds, most of it is now the
National Tennis Center. All of LaGuardia's plans for developing the old
meadows after the fair came to nought; the place fell into disrepair,
not even fun to walk, but I taught my wife to drive there. . . .
Please post this messade on your World's Fair Site.
I work as a Researcher for the Queens Botanical Garden in New York
(which is very close to the site of the 1939-40 World's Fair in
Flushing Meadows Corona Park). We are currently trying to gather
information for our archives on an exhibit for the 1939-40 World's
Fair called "Gardens on Parade". The Queens Botanical Garden's
origins are linked to this exhibit, so it is very important to us that
we find out all there is to know about it. Eventually we would like to
reproduce one or two of the fifty gardens which were part of "Gardens
on Parade".
If anyone knows anything about this exhibit, has photos or articles
relating to it, or knows where I might find this information, I would
greatly appreciate it if you would let me know. I would also be very
interested to hear anything anyone remembers about this exhibit from
being there.
Sincerely,
Julie Fortier
Queens Botanical Garden
jozee1972@yahoo.com
I was 9 when the World's Fair opened and my sister and I would go out
whenever we could from the Village [Greenwich Village] where we lived. I loved best a site that
had you walking through streets of yesterday. We had no money so went to
whatever was free and there seemed to be lots of free shows. I think it was
Westinghouse that made lightning - fascinating to a kid, But what I
remember most is wanting to go on the parachute ride and not being able to
afford it. However we always made enough money to go back to the fair by
collecting coke bottles from the trash. We would smuggle them out and cash
them in for the 2 cents and have enough for another time. One day we were
going throught the pavillion to get the tiny little Heinz gherkin when a
kindly woman asked us what was in our bag. We were scared of getting in
trouble and said 'our lunch'. When she asked if we wanted ketchup for
sandwiches we were paranoid about being found out and scooted away as fast
as we could. I also remember, I think, that a family lived in a 'modern '
house for a certain length of time at the fair - I guess as a typical
American family. I thought that would be great!
John
jshoaf@access.k12.wv.us
Fred Peterson
Dear Alan,
My father using one on his movie business contacts was able to get my mother on television, back then she was a part-time model and dancer, age twenty. This appearance on television was performed in the first weeks of the earliest pioneer commercial/experimental television transmissions ever made. It is believed this was an RCA production. The broadcasts were between studios in Newark, NJ and the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York City, NY, it consisted of her and seven other dancers in ethnic Hungarian costumes. Two of the other dancers were her brother Joey Tulai and a sister Margie Tulai. They performed old county Hungarian dance routines. This troupe played for many charity event's during this period. It is said my father watched as my mother and her brothers danced, he was standing on a street sidewalk in New York City, he and others peered through a plate glass window into a store with a television set displayed to the public. The screen on this "TV" set was four inches wide. When asked if he see her face, his reply was no... however, he recognized her legs! . . .
What I am really searching for is a record of these television broadcasts.
Explorations of Paul Bowles, the early works of Leonard Bernstein and music of the 1939 World's Fair have shown Jonathan Sheffer and his Eos Orchestra to be both enterprising and serious, and having established that, the musicians let their hair down. In a program called "Out There," at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Thursday evening, Sheffer offered weirdly humorous works by Ives, Gyorgy Ligeti and David del Tredici, and a sampling of Spike Jones's parodistic zaniness.
Dear Mr. Anderson,
I am a junior in high school researching "science, technology, and
invention in American history" for a school project. I've become interested
in the World's Fair, and am narrowing my focus to a specific event. I'd love
to hear anything you or visitors to your site remember about new technologies
displayed at the '39-'40 fair that you were particularly impressed by. Any
information you could share with me would be appreciated. Thank you for your
time.
Andrew Crakes
Andy582@aol.com
Hello Mr. Anderson:
I am the associate producer for a History Channel documentary about the
history of summer vacations entitled, "Are We There Yet? American Families
on Vacation."
One of the sections of our documentary will focus on the 1933 Chicago Worlds
Fair and the 1939 New York Worlds Fair. We plan to portray both fairs in a
positive light and inform the public about the rich history of Worlds Fairs
in general.
During my research, we ran across your helpful web page. Is is possible to
get a message out to your viewers? We would very much appreciate any help
they could give us with our documentary.
We are looking for individuals or families that have fond memories, HOME
MOVIES and photos of their visits to Chicago and New York WORLDS FAIRS during
1930's. We are also looking for archival promotional films, historic
photographs and other ephemera from the Fairs.
Also, if you could suggest any other archives, research materials or contacts
in the WORLDS FAIR community -- I would appreciate it.
A brief description of our documentary project follows:
“Are We There Yet?: American Families on Vacation” is a 2-hour documentary
special for the History Channel celebrating the American family’s historic
passion for the Summer Vacation. Using first person interviews, home movies
and family photo albums, scrapbooks and postcards, we’ll resurrect real
summer vacations through the points of view of the families themselves with
an eye to learning what the vacation meant to American culture from a social
context. From the dude ranch to the Catskills resort, from the beach to
WORLDS FAIRS, we’ll bring to life those unforgettable and often unexpected
travel experiences from the 1920's through the end of the 1960's. “Are We
There Yet?” will retrace the happy journey from getting there, to being
there, to remembering.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Kevin Richard Lee
Two Roads Media
(212) 691-7851; fax (212) 337-8530
kevin1lee@aol.comy
Dear Alan,
Today is the 60th Anniversary of the Fair's opening day. I would like to
take this opportunity to
congratulate you for creating such a special website. It is so rewarding to
read the letters that people send you. I hope the site keeps giving you
pleasure to maintain.
I have included your website on my links page; I am currently working on
a NYWF 39 web project that I hope you will find the time to visit. The
primary mandate of the site is to recreate the Fair in Virtual Reality
(VRML). To start, I have created a VR model of the Trylon and Perisphere
that the visitor can walk around. It is possible to walk up the Helicline
and on to the bridge and then look down
into the reflecting pool. - - the only problem is that the VRML portion
requires a plugin to be loaded beforehand...and the VRML file takes a while
to download (a 3 meg file)....patience is required!
Anyway, the project is called "2039, the New York World's Fair revisited"
and is located at:
http://www.2039.com.
Hope you will visit!
Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Ian House,
April 30th, 1999
ihouse@2039.com
The world’s fairs and expositions of the
20th century were exciting parks where
millions of people went to marvel at the
advances of modern technology. Come
explore our interactive timeline of some of
the expositions in the 20th century.
New York wanted to build the
"World of Tomorrow," and made
progress the central theme of the
fair. Hundreds of countries
participated but the fair was marred
when word came that Germany had
invaded Poland, beginning WWI.
Also remember we stayed many nights to see the brilliant fireworks.
Now, after seven years of renovations, the Flushing Meadows park foreseen in 1939 has finally emerged. Better yet, it has incorporated many of the most familiar elements from both world's fairs, whose layouts - their roads and plazas - and a surprising number of their landmark buildings, fountains, sculptures, even exhibitions, had been left intact, preserved less by intention than neglect. Amazing structures rise from the Queens landscape, many of them newly restored or under reconstruction: rocket ships and heliports, huge lighted fountains, amphitheaters, and the freshly fashionable abstract metal Unisphere, polished to a youthful shine.
I am interested in any photos or memorabilia someone may have in connection
with television at the 1939 Fair. Please have them contact me at
SKosareff@aol.com. In particular I am looking for "You have been televised"
card from the RCA exhibit. Thank you.
STEVE KOSAREFF
Just discovered your site on The 1939-40 New York World's Fair. It
brought back a lot of memories for me. Thanks for the time you spent in
constructing this site.
I was not fortunate to visit the 1939-40 World's Fair but I had an uncle
who did. He brought back a spoon for his 2 nieces and 1 nephew. They are
all different but we have kept them and treasured them all of these
years.
Nowhere have I been able to find out more about them. Mine had a picture
of the Food Exhibition Building and on the handle near the top it has,
under the date, Theme Building. On the back it has Wm. Rogers Mfg.
Company. The other two spoons have different pictures. We have not been
able to find these shown or listed. Would you have any idea where we
could find more information on these?
These were special because they were from an Uncle who we did not see
often. We were just a farming family in Central Ohio and so these spoons
were precious gifts for us. I was born in 1931, my brother in 1928, and
my sister in 1926. Amazing that we have held on to them for so long.
Thank you for any consideration you give this email.
Velma (Dotson) Scott
Dear Alan,
Thank you for answering my request for more information about the
Dutch/Netherlands pavillion at the NYWF'39.
I am presently writing the history of the Company I used to work for. I say
"used to work for' because I have been retired
since 1995, and know the company quite well, as I have worked there for more
than 25 years.
The company built and supplied 2 displays, most probably to be exhibited at
the Netherlands pavillion, not in the hall of Fame, which I
understand was the commercial part of the show.
One display was a cone type of thing, about 3 feet high, which illustrated
the Dutch democratic way of government, so the Queen
on top, below her the Parlement, and so on down with the various layers of
responsibility untill the "people "at the bottom.
The other display was a rather large model of the netherlands, which showed
the continuous struggle against the sea. This
model actually worked by immersing part of the country every now and then,
which was programmed. This display was returned
to Holland and arrived just before the putbreak of the war in April '40.
Since then it was on show at a permanent exhibition
here and I actually saw it working inthe early nineties. It has been
scrapped in 1992.
What more can I tell you?
Yes please put it on the web: maybe someone can tell me something more
detailed about the Dutch pavillion in general
or "our" displays in particular.
Thanks and regards
Rudy
I thought of your web site when I read the following story in the Los Angeles
Times. I thought it was important to get noted that the 1939 World's Fair
influenced a long-running television series.
I was furious though that the story referred to the fair as the 1936 World's
Fair. I write for both the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post and hoped
and thought at least one editor would catch the mistake.
This is such a busy time of the year for me. Hopefully I will have time to
write soon about how the 1939 World's Fair is part of my memories, even
though I was born in 1961.
Sincerely,
Steven Herbert
P. S. You may share this with everyone on your web site.
Everything you need to know about the future can be learned from
quarter-century-old episodes of "The Jetsons."
And come New Year's Eve, the 1962 visionaries of the future are going to
party like it's 1999.
Cartoon Network gives Hanna-Barbera's animated series its due with a
millennium celebration that stretches from 10 a.m. Thursday to midnight
Friday.
Michael Lazzo, the cable network's senior vice president of programming
and production, cites "The Jetsons" as one of the most referenced shows in
television: "People tend to use 'The Jetsons' as society's technological
milepost, and it's amazing how accurate the show was in predicting the
different gadgets that have actually come into existence."
For those who have been on another planet, "The Jetsons" was the 21st
century equivalent of "The Flintstones."
* * *
Heading this middle-class family of the future was George, a
well-meaning but occasionally bumbling Everyman (voiced by George O'Hanlon)
who worked for a hot-headed boss at Spacely Space Age Sprockets. Jane, his
wife, kept the Sky Pad together and dealt with the problems of teeny-bopper
daughter Judy and their boy Elroy. Adding comedy were dog Astro--whose speech
was dominated by Rs--and literal but efficient robot maid Rosie.
During its original 24-episode run on ABC's Sunday night lineup, "The
Jetsons" was prophetic in its depictions of future life. (The 41 episodes
made in 1984-85 and the 10 in 1987 can only be praised for their effect on
sweetening the series' attractiveness for syndication and eventual run in
perpetuity on Cartoon Network.)
It was much easier to draw moving sidewalks, video telephones, tanning
machines, oxygen bars, wrist televisions, talking computers and online news
and gambling sites than to invent them. But producer Joe Barbera said the
gadgets used on the show were designed to solve everyday problems.
"We thought of ways to make our everyday lives easier and to create what
we thought was a better lifestyle," Barbera said in a Cartoon Network
interview.
The Jetsons' Sky Pad Apartments--housing 2,000 tenants and sporting a
sky lawn--were based on remnants of the 1936 World's Fair in New York City.
"I saw round buildings kind of on a pedestal," Barbera said. "I decided
to add hydraulics to the pedestal so you could lift the apartment above the
smog of clouds into the fresh, clean air."
"The Jetsons" also had a few harbingers of doom: "buttonitis," a
forebear of carpal tunnel syndrome, and "the Uniblab," an electronic
surveillance system to monitor employees' work habits.
Of course, that was a three-hour workday. Whatever happened to that
idea?
Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times
I am writing for information about steam locomotive #169 which was supposedly part of an exhibit at the 1939-40 world's Fair.
The Alamosa Chamber of Commerce is the proud owner of narrow gauge Engine 169, built in 1881 for the D&RG. We have local newspaper accounts of the engine being refurbished at the Denver shops and of it reurning to retire here.
I'd like to know if people have photos, memorablia, memories, etc. of the 169. We are preparing to restore her to operation so any help we can get with her story will be greatly appreciated.
I can be contacted as follows:
e-mail: holden@fone.net
Mail: Holly Y. Felmlee, Exec. Dir.
AURA
Cole Park
Alamosa, CO 81101
phone: (719) 589-3681, ext. 103
fax: (719) 589-1773
Thanks for the help! I look forward to hearing from folks.
Holly
Yet Another New Stadium, if Giuliani Has
His Way
By CHARLES V. BAGLI
In Coney Island, the steel skeleton of the Parachute Jump stands like a
250-foot-tall grave marker to bygone glory. On Staten Island, a muddy
parking lot sits at the water's edge next to the dilapidated St. George ferry
terminal.
In each place, Mayor Rudolph
W. Giuliani wants to build a
publicly financed minor league
baseball stadium: a $31 million
ballpark in Brooklyn for the
Mets and a $71 million complex
on Staten Island for the
Yankees. . . .
My name is Andrew Maltz, My company Amaltz Designs restores, and mfrg
custom made decorative hardware: Through the trade a company from CA. called
and asked if I would be interested restoring the ticket booth from the 1939
worlds fair:
I said yes, last Monday and we are about to work on it starting
tommorow.3/7/00 My facility has a complete in house polishing, plating,
maching,& fabricating: I have been known to take unusual job: enough said
about me:
Would you by any chance
have a photo of the ticket booth: of course I have taken photo's, and will do
so thru
the restoration, but seeing what it did look like originally would be
interesting.
I forgot to mention that the unit is made of wood, clad in aluminum: and we
are going to polish, and repair the dents . . .
Thank you
be well
Andrew Maltz
Gh178@aol.com
A November 4, 2000, communication provides the following link to the song.
Probably the most inspiring metaphor for hope in the future during the latter part of the thirties was The New York World's Fair in 1939 and 1940, with its theme, "The World of Tomowwow". Even though the depression still lingered and the flame of war was licking at Europe, this great fair embodied dreamlike optimism and an almost childlike belief in the perfectibility of modern life. "To go to this fair was to have your life changed forever," wrote the site's creator, a professor of philosophy in Milton, Massachusetts.
After my curosity got the best of me, I finally went to the net to see if
anyone who attended the 1939 W. Fair saw the booth from the state of New
Hampshire?
My husband's father was the artist there and it would be interesting to know
if anyone has a painting done by Bertram C. Mason or perhaps met him at the
fair.
He died when my husband was 13, so any memontoes would be wonderful or
conversation. Thank you. - Joan Mason, Joanymason@aol.com
We wanted to let you know of Miles Beller's article ["The Day Tomorrow Died"] about the end
of the 1939-40 New York World's Fair [closed Oct. 27, 1940] running in The City section of
today's New York Times. Mr. Beller recently wrote a novel about the Fair,
DREAM OF VENUS (OR LIVING PICTURES).
My twin sisters, Judith and Emily, were born prematurely in June of 1939. Being the only source of support for
the family, my mother did not have the wherewithal to pay the cost of incubators. Her
doctor asked her if she would be willing to put them on exhibit in the Fair. The incubators
would be free and she would get some free baby food etc. And so she did. Both sisters are
alive and well today and both have little silver cups with their names and the Trylon &
Perisphere inscribed. My mother told me that each day when she got home from work we would
make the trek to the Fair, to visit the twins, which was not easy in those days, as we
lived in downtown Brooklyn. I was 18 months old at the time, so obviously I don't recall it.
Many times in the fifties I tried to persuade her to try and get on "What's My Line" but
she never did.
R. L. Barr
Milbank, SD
Have you ever seen any detailed publication or writing about the
Town of Tomorrow, a layout of experimental homes designed for the Worlds
Fair? Maybe this question could go on your site, as an open request for
info. You are welcome to give my email address for people to contact if
you wish--jpley@erols.com.
For those who can't afford original Golden Age comics, the story was
reprinted in the Golden Age Green Lantern Archives.
Maven
#6-1330 Markham Road,Winnipeg,
Manitoba,Canada,R3T4E5.
Tel.1-204-832-2606
E-Mail : grahamgieg@hotmail.com
Dear Mr Anderson.
My great uncle Leland Abbott(Eskimo Abbott),with Hector Despins of The Pas,Manitoba,drove a team of 7 sled-dogs from Northern Manitoba to the 1939 New York World's Fair. They drove on snow as far as St.Paul,Minnesota, where they switched the sleds to runner for rubber car tires. They sold photographs of trapping and wildlife along the way to help pay for their trip. In addition, they received funding from Ducks Unlimited and a dog food company. they arrived some days ahead of the April 30th 1939 opening day.
We believe from current research that they carried with them back to Winnipeg greetings from the Mayor - Mr Fiorella Le Guardia in 1940 of New York to the Mayor of Winnipeg Mr John Queen.
We further believe that they received a lot of amazement from onlookers on their way to the fair. In further research it is stated that they read somewhere whilst on a summer trip to Churchill - North West Territories - about persons bicycling to the Fair and that others were walking a great distance - and they thought that they would be different and they decided to take a team of dogs to the Fair.
Does anyone have any information as to which publication that write up appeared in prior to the 1939 World Fair. These two gentlemen when they undertook this expedition were aged 30 and 23 respectively at that time.
The two gentlemen further said that they hoped to get jobs in one of the shows in the Fair's amusement zone, but stayed to see the Fair anyway.
My wife Anne and I are researching a book on Leland and Hector's trip to the Fair and their experiences with the dogs and the people they met enroute to the Fair. I would like to ask you and your readers for any information,photographs or recollections that may have about these adventurers.
We can be reached at the above given address and telephone number.
Thank you very much for your time and understanding.
Yours faithfully
Mr and Mrs Graham Gieg.
I thought you might be interested about movie clips that could be
found at. ( In the case you didn't know about it.)
http://www.archive.org/movies/
Many great color films can be found here related to the FAIR.
Joe Myles
harryvest@hotmail.com
P.S. Have you ever thought of contacting one of the Burn's brothers Ken or Ric about possibly suggesting to them a new documentary in thier amazing style on the 1939 worlds fair- i think that would be simply wonderful. Have you ever seen Ric Burns film "Coney Island" on PBS??? Not to mention Ken Burns "Civil War" "Baseball" "The West" "Jazz" or Ric Burns " The Donner Party" "The Way West" "New York".
Alan,
Many thanks for creating & maintaining the 1939-40 NY World's Fair site!
I am gathering details on the Parachute Jump and would like to hear from
anyone who rode it and can remember the experience. As the NYWF parachute
jump was later operated at Coney Island, one's experience on it need not be
limited to a ride at the fair. I'd appreciate a message fom anyone who rode
it at Coney as well.
Thanks again for all you have done, and continue to do, to maintain this
site!
Rus Stolling
Clovis, CA
E-Mail: alan@neweverymoment.com
Phone: (727) 934-2585
Visits since April 29, 1996