So instead, I surfed around a little bit looking for an interesting video that I could shove in here, but nothing seemed to capture the feelings that I held for the place- at least nothing within the first thirty seconds or so- which is how much time I give a video to capture my interest before I move on.
I came across the video below which seemed to hold some promise, but there were two problems right off the bat. First of all, this video is advertised as “Rare”. I’m not sure, but it seems to me that once you post something like this on the internet, you lose any right to call something “rare”. If I had the original film of this stashed away in my basement, then yes, maybe that film is rare. But once I post an exact copy of it on the internet, I don’t know. It doesn't seem right to me.
The second problem I have is the opening music. It seems out of tune and sounds like it keeps changing speeds. It’s kind of like when I would see a movie in my old elementary school auditorium- a teacher and her A.V. pet would constantly be adjusting the speed of the film right up until the film stalled. Then it would melt while it was projected on the screen (Ha! Good times!). The thing is though, if you can get past the music to the part where Edwin Newman starts talking, everything sounds normal (at least for the first thirty seconds that I bothered to watch).
The other thing about the music is the increasingly frenetic pace- like whoever's playing it is slowly losing their mind. All I could think of was that closing scene in The Bad Seed, where the little girl is speed walking at night in the pouring rain to retrieve the gun she had thrown off the dock- only to get blasted by a bolt of lightning. Luckily for Mr. Newman, the music ends without the lightning.
It’s a catchy tune though, I’ll give it that.
So anyway, about the fair- I don’t remember a lot. I was about nine when we went. But here, in no particular order, is what I do (and in some cases, don’t) remember:
We stayed at a real hotel (not motel) in the city. I remember that the hotel didn't have a thirteenth floor, but there was an ice machine and soda machine down the hall.
I have no recollection at all of what or where we ate. I’m pretty sure we did eat though- unless Mom and Dad left us locked in the hotel room when they went out to eat.
Speaking of Mom and Dad, they went to the fair alone together before the entire family went. This fair took place for a few months in 1964 and then for a few months in 1965. They went in 1964, we all went together in 1965. I don’t remember who baby sat for us, but I remember when Mom and Dad came back, they brought me an official World’s Fair pocket knife. Not sure what they were trying to instigate, but I liked it.
I remember that while walking from the hotel to the subway, a pigeon pooped on Dad’s head and he wiped it with one of his ever present handkerchiefs.
And I remember that the subway made me uncomfortable- too many strange people packed into too tight a place. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone. The inside of the subway cars were plastered with these weird posters above the windows of an upside-down cartoon girl (years later I realized these posters were advertising Barbra Streisand on Broadway).
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| I couldn't find the actual poster but this is close enough. |
I remember the Fair had these cool strollers that looked like miniature cars. And I also remember that I was told I was too old to ride in them. However, apparently the same rules didn't seem to apply to my three year old (or something like that) sister. I still carry the scars... and the resentment.
I remember the Kodak building had a roof that looked like a big cloud. I went up there with my little sister and held her up so she could look down through one of the openings to see the people below- until some old know-it-all told me to be careful because I might drop her. Like that would ever happen.
I remember seeing a movie at the Johnson Wax Pavilion (I’m not making that up). I don’t remember the movie, but I think we saw it twice.
I remember standing in line for what seemed like forever to see Michelangelo's Pieta. I don't remember being impressed. I remember being hungry.
The only ride I have fairly strong memories of was at the General Motors Pavilion. You got to sit down in moving seats and listen to speakers by your head (or in my case, way above your head) as the host described the wonders that awaited mankind as you circled around a giant diorama of the future. That was pretty cool. Plus, you got to sit down. (***Late update: See special bonus video below! No extra charge!)
I'm not sure if we saw the Abraham Lincoln animatronic figure at the fair. I know it was there, but it was also forever being plugged on the Wonderful World of Color, so I may be remembering it from that show. In any case, whether I saw it on the show or at the fair, I was thoroughly unimpressed. For all the publicity, you would think that the robot get up and at least do a tap dance or something. But all it did was stand up and blink every so often while it droned on and on about God knows what. Even I could do that. Still can.
I remember having to go back to the hotel with Dad and Laura while my mom, brother and other two sisters stayed at the fair and had fun. I remember waiting and playing with the little flip flashlight that Dad got me at the fair. It was about the size of a disposable lighter and when you pulled back on the switch, the little flap at the end would flip up and the light would shine. When you closed it, the plastic collar around the bulb glowed in the dark. Not just a normal green glow, but the more rare blue glow. I remember watching it as I fell to sleep. I thought this was a really big deal, I think I may have had more fun with the flashlight than I would have had if I stayed at the fair with the others. So there. Plus, they ended up getting caught in the rain as punishment for trying to have fun without me. However, it was a lesson that didn't stick.
And that's about it. For all we must have done, that's about all I remember from fifty years ago. So, watch the video if you want. If you like it, there are apparently five more "rare" parts floating around YouTube somewhere. Sit back and enjoy the promise of the future, from fifty years ago.
I wonder whatever happened to that flashlight.
And for those of you who have read this far, here, as promised is the Special Bonus Video- for tonight only!
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