The New York World's Fair
The New York World's Fair
Are you ready? It's here!! The long-awaited New York World's Fair, which took four years to create, opens its doors to the first of 70,000,000 expected visitors. Dominated by the Fair's symbol The Unisphere (which means peace through understanding) the billion dollar baby of Robert Moses covers 646 acres. You'll stumble across all sorts of staggering statistics as you travel the 40 miles of walkways that wind through this City of Enchantment lined with 139 pavilions. Five crystal-clear fountains oscillate 10 million gallons of water through 5,000 nozzles -- illuminated by 2.5 million watts. There are enough telephones at the Fair for a city of 200,000. (See what we mean by staggering statistics....) Opening day is marred by rain. President Lyndon Johnson makes the opening speech. Approximately 100,000 Spartan souls braved the soggy weather for their first glimpse of what some say is "the experience of a lifetime". From the air...from the ground....here are some highlights of the World's fair -- theme of which is worth repeating "Peace through understanding". For the historically minded: America's first fair was held in New York in 1853. New York, NY The New York World's Fair grounds, people walking around and flags of all nations line each side of the street. MCUS - The 12-story stainless steel Unisphere. MCUS - On a rainy day people walking down a wooden bridge some with rain caps and umbrellas. Aerial shot - The Unisphere is sitting in a pond of water, dead center. MS - In spite of the rain, the opening day parade still takes place. MS - In the parade a group of people pass the camera holding a banner from Pakistan. MS - Chinese people dancing with their dragon. MS - President Lyndon Johnson pulls up in a limousine, gets out and walks up to the fairs president Robert Moses and shakes his hand goes over to the podium and makes a dedication speech. President Johnson, "This fair represents the most promising of our hopes, it gathers together from 80 countries, the achievements of industry, the help of nations, creations of man. This fair shows us, what man at his most creative and constructive is capable of doing. And so I took my leave of what Ogden Nash has called 'the Promise Land, of Mr. Moses.' Hoping and trusting that in the future it will not take anyone forty years to reach it. Thank you very much..." (Applause) The attending crowd in the stadium. President Johnson is in a good mood smiling and shaking hands with the people. MS - A building shaped like a pagoda, and little trams moving people around. MS - International Plaza. Maybe taken from a people tram of all the buildings lit up. Dancing lighted fountains. The Unisphere all lighted up, a fire works display. The silhouette of two people standing together looking on to the lit up Unisphere