Futurama, the model city of 1960, designed by norman bel geddes for the general motors exhibit at the new york worlds fair in 1939. The most memorable exhibit was the general motors pavilion, and the most memorable feature in the general motors pavilion was a ride called the futurama. General motors futurama exhibit let visitors view the world of. Collection of documents about the 1939 worlds fair. Futurama was an exhibit and ride at the 1939 new york worlds fair designed by norman bel geddes, which presented a possible model of the world 20 years. Oct 22, 20 courtesy of the edith lutyens and norman bel geddes foundationharry ransom center. Futurama ride at 1939 worlds fair celebrated boing boing.
Donated to nyhs in may of this year, the paul gillespie collection of new york worlds fair materials pr 283 contains a large number of amateur photographs that present a view of the fair from the perspective of. The worlds fair developed a longstanding tradition in showcasing architecture as the largest exhibits and to house exhibits. Trylon, perisphere and helicline photo by sam gottscho. Nov 06, 2017 the famous theme of the 1939 new york worlds fair was the world of tomorrow. It has been added to my 1939 mercury dime bank in my smalls case. A second capsule was created for the 196465 new york worlds fair and was buried ten feet north of the first. That was the year when a living vision of the future instantly becameto.
Jf ptak science books post 1461 the 1939 worlds fair in nyc famously exhibited a spherical. The 193940 new york worlds fair was a worlds fair held at flushing meadowscorona park in queens, new york, united states. African americans and the world of tomorrow newyork. Proclaimed by many as the most memorable world s fair ever held, it predicted wonderful times were ahead for the world even as the clouds of war were gathering. All the exhibitors were ready to give everyone a crystal ball view into the future. The 193940 new york worlds fair, and those that followed, took a different approach, one less focused on technology and aimed more at cultural themes and social progress. Photo from new york public librarys worlds fair 1939 and 1940 incorporated records archive. Publication date 1939 topics new york worlds fair 1939 1940. It captured the fancy of the public and critics alike, with journalists competing to find adequate words to convey bel geddes ingenuity, daring, showmanship and genius. I was probably 14, says hesdorfer, referring to the spring day in 1939 that he and a classmate spent at the new york worlds fair. This was designer bel geddes masterpiece the futurama exhibit in gms highways and horizons pavilion at the worlds fair, that.
He staged circuses, developed equipment and techniques for the armed services, and wrote books on many subjects. Visitors to the 1939 world s fair in new york wait in long lines outside the general motors futurama exhibit, a ride across the face of america as it might appear in 1960. One part of that world, another theme showcased throughout the fair, was electrification the growing use. Jun 19, 2012 this summer marks the 73rd anniversary of the 1939 world s fair, an event that would change the new york dining world forever. It is difficult to overestimate the impact of the 1939 world s fair. General motors was at the forefront with a huge pavillion and show called futurama. The 193940 new york worlds fair, which covered the 1,216 acres 492 ha of flushing meadowscorona park also the location of the 19641965 new york worlds fair, was the second most expensive american worlds fair of all time, exceeded only by st. Building gm futurama display for ny worlds fair youtube. New york worlds fair 1939 40 transatlantic perspectives. Futurama was an exhibitride at the 1939 new york worlds fair. This photograph shows an elevated view of the huge model of a futuristic city with widely spaced skyscrapers, doubledecked streets with moving cars representing traffic patterns, and parks and landing pads for.
Nov 18, 2011 a rich collection of photographs from the 193940 new york worlds fair is newly available to researchers at the nyhs library. May 01, 2019 a smoking robot ruled the 1939 worlds fair with the world of tomorrow as its theme, the 1939 worlds fair opened in queens, new york in april, and was visited by 40 million people before. See more ideas about world s fair, world and new york. It was the second most expensive american worlds fair of all time, exceeded only by st. Nov 01, 20 futurama, the model city of 1960, designed by norman bel geddes for the general motors exhibit at the new york world s fair in 1939. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people attended its exhibits in two seasons.
Views of the new york world s fair by new york 1939 world s fair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Futurama exhibit at the new york worlds fair 1939 with images. For instance, the theme of the 1939 fair was building the world of tomorrow. Oct 1, 2014 1939 new york world s fair, souvenir brooch. Aug 03, 2017 futurama, the model city of 1960, designed by norman bel geddes for the general motors exhibit at the new york worlds fair in 1939. The new york worlds fair of 1939 and 1940 promised visitors they would be. The legacy of the 1939 worlds fair seventy years after the closing of the 1939 new york worlds fair, the daily show writer elliott kalan looks back at its past vision of. The futurama exhibition was subsequently presented as one of the 1939 new york world fairs main attractions, as it was the numberone hit show. The futurama exhibit was one of the most popular pavilions in the 1939 worlds fair.
This talk post concentrates on just on one aspect of the fair. Bel geddess signature contribution to the 193940 new york worlds fair was the futurama exhibit he. The installation was sponsored by the general motors corporation and was characterized by automated highways and vast suburbs. Apr 30, 2016 visitors to the 1939 world s fair in new york wait in long lines outside the general motors futurama exhibit, a ride across the face of america as it might appear in 1960. After her whirl through the 1893 chicago exposition, jbf assistant editor maggie borden is now taking us back to 1939, when the new york worlds fair ran for six months in flushing meadowscorona park, and where a young mimi sheraton delighted in new flavors and futuristic sights. Remembering futurama at the 1939 new york worlds fair. Grover whalen, president of the fair, participated in the sealing. See more ideas about worlds fair, world of tomorrow and world. Nov 26, 20 visitors to the general motors highways and horizons exhibit at the 19391940 new york worlds fair proudly wore this i have seen the future pin after stepping out of the futurama, a ridelike feature of the exhibit that traversed several levels of the pavilion, and extended for a third of a mile.
Mar 11, 2010 2010 marks 70 years since the closing of the 1939 new york world s fair, a far more significant event than its opening. The term can also refer to the golden gate international exposition, which was held in san franciscooakland at the same time as the new york worlds fair. Book, futurama, 1939 objects collection of cooper hewitt. Here s a look back at all the wonderful things that the visitors to. Not everything they saw there came true, but plenty was close. Aug 23, 2016 visitors to general motors futurama exhibit at the 1939 worlds fair, which promised to show visitors the world of tomorrow, from comfortable moving sound chairs while touring a vast scale. It is largely an autobiographical novel of a boy, edgar, growing up in the bronx in the 1930s. Color photos of the 1939 new york worlds fair the atlantic.
Masterpieces of art at the new york worlds fair 1939. For an overview of worlds fairs, see the general section. At the 1939 new york fair, modernist architecture in the form of structures called the trylon and perisphere were also the central symbol of the event. Apr, 2014 the 1939 fair in queens laid out a glorious automotive vision, with general motors futurama exhibition depicting the highways of the future. I found this souvenier booklet and lapel pin this weekend. A look back at some of the coolest attractions at the 1939. Designed by norman bel geddes, the huge diorama presented a section of.
Through vintage photographs, most never published before, the 1939 1940 new york world s fair recaptures those days when the eyes of the world were on new york and on the future. Official guide book of the new york worlds fair 1939, third edition. Seventy years after the closing of the 1939 new york worlds fair. The instructions accompanying the second capsule asked that it be opened on the same day as the 1938 capsule, in 6939. The concept was born in the middle of the great depression, and it was truly a mark of sincere perseverance and hope that the fair actually came to fruition and was such a massive success. Norman bel geddess futurama exhibit, dedicated to building the world of tomorrow, proved to be a step into bob hesdorfers future before. Apr 30, 2019 80 years ago today, april 30 1939, the new york worlds fair opened at flushing meadows.
Futurama new york worlds fair exhibit 1939 britannica. Mar 26, 2008 general motors promotional film follows a young boy as he rides the futurama 2 ride at the 1964 65 new york world s fair. Futurama was an exhibit and ride at the 1939 new york worlds fair designed by norman bel geddes, which presented a possible model of the world 20 years into the future 19591960. Paul gillespies 1939 new york worlds fair collection new. In norman bel geddes designs was the general motors futurama building and exhibit at the new york worlds fair 1939 40. In honor of our role in expo milano 2015, were taking a look back at the history of food at worlds fairs. Apr 10, 2020 the 193940 new york worlds fair was a worlds fair held at flushing meadowscorona park in queens, new york, united states. Jun 17, 2010 this fascinating book might be retitled the life and times of the 1939 new york world s fair, as it gives an extensive history of the fair itself but also adds in the critically important context of the era, including the ramping up of the world towards global war, the aftermath of the great depression, and albert einstein s tragic, messy exile from his homeland and tangential association. Although not officially sanctioned by the bureau of international exhibitions as a class one fair, it none the less deserves a place in history as one of the best of these types of fairs. Apr 29, 2011 just in time for the 72nd anniversary of new yorks 1939 worlds fair which opened on april 30th, 1939 the newyork historical society has received an extensive collection of photographs and other memorabilia documenting this momentous event. When cars ruled the worlds fair the new york times. Australias exhibit, the story of wool, was designed to illustrate the. This photograph shows an elevated view of the huge model of a. A smoking robot ruled the 1939 worlds fair history.
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