Posted by  Alan G. Wasenius on February 19, 2003 at 21:34:51:

In Reply to:  The World's Fair Revisited posted by Jonathan Bydlak on April 25, 2002 at 20:23:30:

Hello out there;
Yes, World's Fairs are known for their architecture. With such examples as the Eiffel Tower in Paris (the Paris World Exhibition), the Space Needle (1962 Seattle World's Fair), and the Unisphere (1964 New York World's Fair) there is an abundance of World's Fair Architecture that proves there's a history of the architects art in these exhibitions. If I don't get any suggestions as a posting, I will add my E-Mail at a later date.

I am a returning student and have about three college degrees. There is one thing I would like to ask the members of this forum. You see, these fairs were not only known for architecture, but for showmanship. I am asking all of you architecture majors how a group of theater majors can become involved in this movement. Most of the people I meet are in their late teens and early twenties. I am asking because I want to know what would make stimulate younger minds to join such a movement. Keep in mind that these are theater people and not architectural people.

I would like to say that the fair should be for all, both young and older. I also have faith in the intelligence and wisdom of the younger minds. However, I am old enough to remember the 1964 New York World's Fair. When I pass Flushing Meadow Park on the Long Island Expressway, I note all of the structures that I remember from the fair like the New York State Pavilion, and the Unisphere. However, when I also remember songs like It's a Small World, which is from the Pepsi Pavilion. I also remember a show called the Carousel of Progress, which was the G.E. Pavilion. The Kodak Pavilion also had a Circlevision 360 Theater, where a movie played on nine screens over your head. If you really want to experience the fair, you must go to Disneyland or Disney World for these were produced by Walt Disney himself. After the fair closed, Disney decided to move these attractions to Disneyland, where they found a permanent home, and copies were made in Florida.

It's amazing the technologies that came from past world's fairs. In the 1890s there was the Chicago World Exhibition. It was at this exhibition that Mister Otis demonstrated the elevator and Mister Ferris demonstrated his "Observation Wheel". There's one of those wheels in almost every amusement park. During this fair an ice cream vendor asked a waffle maker if they could make a product together and the ice cream cone was born. Television was first demonstrated at the 1939 New York World's Fair. The 1964 New York World's Fair brought push button telephones, and, well, the "Disney Puppet". They were always looking toward the future and with technology at the forefront.

I have been waiting for decades for someone to start a movement to get another fair into Flushing Meadow Park, and we need it today. Mister Bydlak and Mister Kingsley are correct in the sense that after September 11, 2001 we need to look to the future. Today more than ever, we need a World's Fair, because we need to look to the future. We should do it with happy shows, and great buildings.

Responses:

Post a Response -