75 Years Ago Today, The World of Tomorrow Opened

[N2NH]

Otherwise known as the 1939 New York World's Fair. The whole fair was done in Art-Deco style with all the buildings being colored so that you could tell where you where. I don't know how well that worked, but on the eve of World War 2 as well as the tail end of the Great Depression, it still managed to look and feel upbeat.


On April 30, 1939, a very hot Sunday, the fair had its grand opening, with 206,000 people in attendance. The April 30 date coincided with the 150th anniversary of George Washington's inauguration as President in New York City.

WIKI page on 1939 New York World's Fair. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair)

From the PBS special with Jason Robards on the 1939 World's Fair (Video is mostly in color)...

http://youtu.be/J3g7T3RfUio

PT 2 LINK (http://youtu.be/W29n3ELykmU)

PT 3 LINK (http://youtu.be/pYOXjt25Jk0)

PT 4 LINK (http://youtu.be/s8y5fK0SkAk)

PT 5 LINK (http://youtu.be/nOQ_CkbDbCw)

PT 6 LINK (http://youtu.be/dI3M951XvjY)

http://i62.tinypic.com/10mtu37.jpg

[n2ize]

When i was a kid I remember my Dad had a few souvenirs from that Worlds Fair. I remember one was an ash tray fitted in to a small rubber tire courtesy of B.F Goodrich. I went to the 1964-65 Worlds Fair. I remember visiting General Motors "Futurama" which was supposed to be giving us a glimpse of what the future held in store for us... much of which never materialized as presented. IBM was also there giving people a glimpse into the latest computer tech of that time as well as a glimpse into what future computer technology would bring forth.

[K7SGJ]

Otherwise known as the 1939 New York World's Fair. The whole fair was done in Art-Deco style with all the buildings being colored so that you could tell where you where. I don't know how well that worked, but on the eve of World War 2 as well as the tail end of the Great Depression, it still managed to look and feel upbeat.



WIKI page on 1939 New York World's Fair. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair)

From the PBS special with Jason Robards on the 1939 World's Fair (Video is mostly in color)...

http://youtu.be/J3g7T3RfUio

PT 2 LINK (http://youtu.be/W29n3ELykmU)

PT 3 LINK (http://youtu.be/pYOXjt25Jk0)

PT 4 LINK (http://youtu.be/s8y5fK0SkAk)

PT 5 LINK (http://youtu.be/nOQ_CkbDbCw)

PT 6 LINK (http://youtu.be/dI3M951XvjY)

http://i62.tinypic.com/10mtu37.jpg


Hey, that's where Carlo and I met.

[W9JEF]

.



Can't remember if I was there or not--was only 12 days old at the time.

[NQ6U]

Hey, that's where Carlo and I met.

Yeah, and I thought we'd all be flying autogiros and speaking Esperanto by now.

[W3WN]

When i was a kid I remember my Dad had a few souvenirs from that Worlds Fair. I remember one was an ash tray fitted in to a small rubber tire courtesy of B.F Goodrich. I went to the 1964-65 Worlds Fair. I remember visiting General Motors "Futurama" which was supposed to be giving us a glimpse of what the future held in store for us... much of which never materialized as presented. IBM was also there giving people a glimpse into the latest computer tech of that time as well as a glimpse into what future computer technology would bring forth.I remember a few things about the 64/65 World's Fair. That was the first demonstration of the microwave oven; sampled some once-frozen spaghetti & sauce... bleh.

Mom still has a copper table that was bought by Dad at one of the African nation exhibits. He asked the price; the seller said (he thought) "60". Dad replied, "Did you say 60?" "60! Ten, eleven twelve, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty!" "SOLD!!" (for $16)

And I still have a little wooden tsotchke, a miniature burial mask, from another exhibit, hanging in the shack.

Dad worked for RCA at the time, so we never had to wait in line at any of the RCA or NBC exhibits; his employee ID got us to the front of the line. Don't recall too much about them, though.

[K7SGJ]

I remember a few things about the 64/65 World's Fair. That was the first demonstration of the microwave oven; sampled some once-frozen spaghetti & sauce... bleh.

Mom still has a copper table that was bought by Dad at one of the African nation exhibits. He asked the price; the seller said (he thought) "60". Dad replied, "Did you say 60?" "60! Ten, eleven twelve, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty!" "SOLD!!" (for $16)

And I still have a little wooden tsotchke, a miniature burial mask, from another exhibit, hanging in the shack.

Dad worked for RCA at the time, so we never had to wait in line at any of the RCA or NBC exhibits; his employee ID got us to the front of the line. Don't recall too much about them, though.

And the rest of us in line hated you for it. :stickpoke:

[n2ize]

I remember a few things about the 64/65 World's Fair. That was the first demonstration of the microwave oven; sampled some once-frozen spaghetti & sauce... bleh.

Mom still has a copper table that was bought by Dad at one of the African nation exhibits. He asked the price; the seller said (he thought) "60". Dad replied, "Did you say 60?" "60! Ten, eleven twelve, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty!" "SOLD!!" (for $16)

And I still have a little wooden tsotchke, a miniature burial mask, from another exhibit, hanging in the shack.

Dad worked for RCA at the time, so we never had to wait in line at any of the RCA or NBC exhibits; his employee ID got us to the front of the line. Don't recall too much about them, though.

I lived in Brooklyn at the time so getting to the Worlds fair was a short ride for us. As a result we went both in `1964 and 65.

I vividly remember visiting the U.S Marines exhibit at the 64/65 Worlds fair. The man running the show was a Marine in uniform and the first thing he did as we entered with our parents was he ORDERED all us kids to sit up front right in front of the film screen. Our parents had to sit in the back. We obeyed his orders without question, I was in the very front row and they showed us this great film of the latest military hardware in action. One of the scenes was footage of this awesome tank moving forward and mowing down and running effortlessly over anything that was in it's path. He probably could have recruited us all into the Marines that day right there on the spot. Wonder how many of those kids wound up joining when they were of age.

[K0RGR]

My father worked at the '39 World's Fair. He was a 'pyrotechnic engineer', and he was one of a large crew that set off the fireworks each night. A number of his coworkers were killed one day when a barge load of fireworks exploded - I think it was hit by lightning. The program mentioned Robert Moses the 'Master Builder' of New York. Dad's sister was married to Moses' top assistant, and I suspect that may have had something to do with Dad getting the job. Dad joined the Navy in 1940 after the fair closed.

[N2NH]

My neighbor Jack in the building where I grew up swore this was the best fair and that the '64 World's Fair was not even close to it. He went a few times and said that at night the colors on the buildings and fountains were beautiful. He ended up a belly gunner in World War 2 and after getting shot up came home to recover and helped with the war drive.

[W9JEF]

.




For the RR buffs:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Vxu2A9_GhbU/TIF0jAUxo_I/AAAAAAAAB1o/5lPXn24LFVc/s450/PRR%20S1%20steam%20engine_tatteredandlost.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZjOljBZgkiYAX8xCLhTvXLJG7Rwo6h9cBwYMy5aqcfk?feat=e mbedwebsite)

http://tatteredandlostphotographs.blogspot.com/2010/09/big-engine-prr-s1-at-1939-worlds-fair.html

[n2ize]

1939 IND Worls Fair Transit Line

http://nycsubway.org.s3.amazonaws.com/images/i75000/img_75917.jpg

[K7SGJ]

That's interesting. No 1st or 2nd track, just the third rail. Who Gnu?

[n2ize]

That's interesting. No 1st or 2nd track, just the third rail. Who Gnu?

Actually that isn't the 3rd rail. It's on the motorman's side. The 3rd rail is blocked by the platform and can be on the engineers or fireman's side pending location. The homeballs are wayside.

[K7SGJ]

Actually that isn't the 3rd rail. It's on the motorman's side. The 3rd rail is blocked by the platform and can be on the engineers or fireman's side pending location. The homeballs are wayside.

My homeballs are wayold.

[NA4BH]

My homeballs are wayold.

I've seen pictures of this, it will make you vomit.

[K7SGJ]

I've seen pictures of this, it will make you vomit.

Bushtit

[NQ6U]

Bushtit

Say no more.

[W9JEF]

. . . . . . . . .^ ^ ^ Is this not getting a bit OLD? ^ ^ ^

[WØTKX]

Just relax, Bumper-Boo-Boo.

http://cdn2.maxim.com/maxim/files/2010/01/12/18/topiary_fullsize.jpg

[KG4CGC]

Say no more.

You've said it all.

[N2NH]

Say no more, say no more, know-what-I-mean, know-what-I-mean, nudge-nudge, wink-wink.

[K7SGJ]

Just relax, Bumper-Boo-Boo.

http://cdn2.maxim.com/maxim/files/2010/01/12/18/topiary_fullsize.jpg

Wow, you CAN actually see her bush.

[KC2UGV]

Just relax, Bumper-Boo-Boo.

http://cdn2.maxim.com/maxim/files/2010/01/12/18/topiary_fullsize.jpg

Now THOSE are some bushtits!

[NQ6U]

Now THOSE are some bushtits!

Here's a nice pair for you (NSFW):

http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.12434793.1244/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

[K7SGJ]

Here's a nice pair for you (NSFW):

http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.12434793.1244/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

Would that be two Bushtits snuggling?

[KG4CGC]

12191

[N2NH]

Here's a nice pair for you (NSFW):

http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.12434793.1244/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

Nice cleavage. :yes: