NFT: The 1964-65 World’s Fair

I remember It's a Small World, the Mustang and for some reason, I was captivated by the Japan Pavilion and brought home a silkworm cocoon. I was 8 in '64 and have been fascinated by Asia ever since.

I spend quite a bit of time in Flushing and smile a little every time I see the Unisphere.

Thanks for the link.

what a great idea to bring peoples together and learn about each other's culture

They're still around. Called Expos. I went to the one in Korea a couple of years ago. Next year's is in Italy.

here is a picture of my siblings and me at the fair




I distinctly remember seeing The Pieta at the WF.

The thing that stands out in my mind is this green plastic dinosaur that my dad bought me. They had them made up on a machine right in front of you and if my memory is correct it was still warm when they handed it to you. I got a bronto saurus.

It's a small world there, but it was the first time to see Disney's Carousel of Progress.

thanks for posting that pic. Made me go into an old album I've got and lo and behold, there are some color shots of my sister and me with Alice in Wonderland and the Rabbit. Also a T-Rex and a stegosaurus. Shots of a couple of pavilions and the Unisphere. We're smiling so we must have had a great time.

In comment 11626409 Clearwater Joe said:

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It's a small world there, but it was the first time to see Disney's Carousel of Progress.

I sure did see it.


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but went to it and went to expo a few years later. Do they still have world fairs.

we went in 64'.

enough times taking 2 boys to Disney World for years. The song still grates on my nerves.

My Dad took me plenty of times. Of course I remember "Its a Small World" - that was the Pepsi pavillion I believe. Also I got a Dino the Dinosaur from the gas company whose name escapes me) mold I helped to make with a really cool machine. Man the world was a place of wonder back then...

I'd bet big bucks that the oil company was Sinclair. Their mascot (if that's the right word) was a brontosaurus. And yes, It's a Small World was in the Pepsi Pavilion.

but my Dad spoke fondly of it over the years.

btw I'm away to young for this but I love history like it...

of Sinclair Oil. I had an uncle who collected antique signs and had a Sinclair Oil sign.

from That Said above.

I remember sitting in Shea Stadium and waiting for Soupy Sales. I don't know if that was part of the World's Fair, or just happend to be occuring at the same time. Funny... I don't remember the show though. I also remember the very cool displays of a phone booth of the future. It resembeled what we would call a mini video chat room today.

In comment 11626420 ctc in ftmyers said:

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we went in 64'.

Same here. I remember "Futurama" which was GE or GM, not sure which. No one predicted the internet coming along in the future. But it was very cool.

I remember Its a small world, I also remember the GE exhibit with the talking robots, which at the time was a big deal. There was also the Chryster exhibit which took you around in a Plymouth that was very good about the cavemen. Seems like another time and another age.

In comment 11626434 Jon from PA said:

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btw I'm away to young for this but I love history like it...

Holy...yes thats it. Wow...Im 6 yrs old again...

I was wrong, that was Ford not Chrystler. Boy I guess I was young and it is so long ago.

and have very vague memories of the actual fair. My clearest memory was of the massive traffic jam around Shea Stadium as we were leaving due to the Beatles playing there. Pissed my dad off.

in '64. I was able to walk to it from my house and sneak in through a hole in the fence. I remember Belgian waffles.

if you're feeling really nostalgic and have an extra $15K, you can actually still buy one of those mold-a-rama machines...
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but I used to love exploring the ruins of the WF as a teenager. It was almost like some sort of post-apocalyptic abandoned NYC.

at The Top Of The Fair, which had been the WF heliport

Meet me at the the Smoke Ring (yes it had the word the twice).

At Tad's steaks.

In comment 11626587 liteamorn said:

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Meet me at the the Smoke Ring (yes it had the word the twice).

wow, had not thought of that in decades. Yes, I remember it having the word "the" twice - do you know why that was?

Loved it. I look at the web-sites that feature the dilapidated remnants. I contrast with my memories of them when they were new. Michelangelo's Pieta , off-set lighting and blue curtain background was a religious experience for me.

The T rex and brontosaurus are now at Dinosaur Valley State Park here in Texas.

I loved the ford exhibit where you sat in an actual car ragtop of course and went through the exhibit. The Uniroyal tire Ferris wheel, it's a small world and the Pieta. They had Mario Andretti's race car on display. I liked the Aqua Shows also. My family made two trips so that we could get to see everything, we lived close by so it wasn't a hassle to travel.

to mention, my Grandfather was an Iron worker and was one of the welders who assembled the Landmark Uni-sphere.

we were both 17. She hated it, btw. Not a fan of crowds.

at age 6. Remember Michelangelo's Pieta, the James Bond 007 car, of course the Unisphere. My dad was quite fond of the Schaefer Beer Center...

is the kitchen of the future ... and the food court with countries from around the world

and loved every minute of it. My Dad took 8mm film of the Pieta and filmed my Mom and sisters from the top of the tower when we went up there. I remember Baked Alaska, the Mustang, and losing my sister lorraine for ten minutes. My sister Ann and I wanted to leave her there.....lol

Which one are you in the family photo? Standing or sitting?

but I clearly remember sitting in the convertable Mustang.

I am the girl sitting. Don't you like our matching outfits? The worst part is I got to wear it twice with the hand me downs. We still cringe over those outfits.

worked at the '64 Worlds Fair. They were 17 and 22 at the time and were living in Corona at the time. They really enjoyed it.

As for me, my connection was moving to Forest Hills from SF in '86 as a little kid and seeing the yellow towers while driving on the Grand Central. I wanted to go up there so much. I still do.

So disappointing to see it was abandoned. There were talks of fixing it up and bringing it back.

I believe they still do inspect and maintain the structures for safety reasons. It isn't entirely free just leaving them there. Demolishing it would be cheaper in the long run.

Holding out hope!


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