1939 New York World's Fair

World's fair held in New York City November 2022 September 2024 Universal 2 Joseph Binder's poster for the 1939 New York World's Fair.jpg Poster by Joseph Binder 1939 New York World's Fair The World of Tomorrow 1202 acre ha off Grover Whalen 62 1,400 45 million United States New York Flushing Meadows–Corona Park 40 44 39 N 73 50 40 W type:city_scale:25000_region:US 1939 04 30 (first season)1940 05 11 (second season) 1939 10 31 (first season)1940 10 27 (second season) Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne Paris Exposition internationale du bicentenaire de Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince Specialized Expositions Second International Aeronautic Exhibition (1938) Helsinki International Exhibition on Urbanism and Housing (1947) Paris Golden Gate International Exposition Exposition internationale de l'eau in Liège The 1939 New York World's Fair (also known as the 1939–1940 New York World's Fair) was an international exposition held at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, United States. The fair featured exhibitions, activities, performances, films, artworks, and food presented by 62 nations, 35 U.S. states and territories, and more than 1,400 organizations and companies. Slightly over 45 million people attended across two seasons. Themed to "the world of tomorrow" and promoted with the slogan "Dawn of a New Day", the 1202 acre on fairground was divided into seven color-coded zones and two standalone focal exhibits, with approximately 375 buildings. Plans for the fair were first announced in September 1935, and the New York World's Fair Corporation (WFC) began construction in June 1936. The fair officially opened on April 30, 1939, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the first inauguration of George Washington. Four months after the fair’s opening, World War II began in Europe, prompting several exhibitions to close or scale back. Although the fair ultimately drew more than 45 million visitors, it recouped only 32% of its original cost. When the exposition closed on October 27, 1940, most pavilions were demolished or removed, while others were relocated or reused during the 1964 New York World's Fair. Throughout its run, the fair hosted a wide array of cultural programming, including themed celebration days for participating nations, states, businesses, and organizations. Musical performances, sculptures, and visual artworks were displayed throughout the grounds and within individual pavilions. Numerous restaurants and concession stands operated across the site, and a variety of consumer products such as new household appliances and early electronic devices were showcased to the public. The exposition stimulated significant spending within New York City and contributed to the broader development of Queens. Many artifacts from the fair survive in museums and private collections, and the event has been referenced or dramatized in film, television, and other media. Development New York City had hosted the United States' first world's fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, in 1853–1854.September 23, 1935 First World's Fair Opened at London; Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 Was a Notable Financial Success. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/09/23/archives/first-worlds-fair-opened-at-london-crystal-palace-exhibition-in.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times The city did not host another world's fair for 85 years.Dalton Dudley 9 Feb 1964 Flushing Hopes for a New Boom The New York Times R1 115677931 The site of the 1939 World's Fair, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, was originally a natural wetland straddling the Flushing RiverAppendix: The History of Flushing Meadows Corona Park https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_flushing_meadows/presentation/07appendix.pdf live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_flushing_meadows/presentation/07appendix.pdf October 9, 2022 November 12, 2017 New York City Department of Parks and Recreation 52 before becoming an ash dump in the early 20th century.Steinberg 2015 212 New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses first conceived the idea of developing a large park in Flushing Meadows in the 1920s.Caro 1974 1083 Although the neighborhoods around Flushing Meadows contained residential developments, the meadow itself remained undeveloped and isolated.Renaud Ralph E. December 13, 1936 New York Lays Plans For 1939 World's Fair The Washington Post B7 150752879 Meanwhile, the 1933 Century of Progress exposition in Chicago had boosted that city's economy, prompting businesspeople in New York City to consider a similar fair.Stern Gilmartin Mellins 1987 . 729Cramer Robert S. April 24, 1938 Two American Gateways Set Elaborate Stages for 1939 Fairs The Washington Post B6 151083799 Planning thumb|The fairground site, which was an ash dump before the fair opened The New York Times writes that the civil engineer Joseph Shadgen came up with the idea for the World's Fair in 1934, while talking with his daughter.Doty Robert C. September 9, 1963 World's Fair Gains Impetus Despite Snubs https://www.nytimes.com/1963/09/09/archives/worlds-fair-gains-impetus-despite-snubs-150-pavilions-rise-road.html August 18, 2024 The New York Times By early 1935, a group led by the municipal reformer George McAneny was considering an international exposition in New York City in 1939. Though the date coincided with the 150th anniversary of George Washington's first inauguration,September 23, 1935 Huge World's Fair Planned for 1939 On Site at Flushing: McAneny Heads Group to Map 40-Million Celebration of First Inaugural of Washington 1,000-Acre Park Tract Is Proposed Roosevelt, Lehman and LaGuardia Approve It New York Herald Tribune 1 1329290149Stern Gilmartin Mellins 1987 . 727 Moses said the date was "an excuse and not the reason" for the fair. That September, the group announced plans to spend $40 million to host an exhibition at the 1003 acre on Flushing Meadows site.September 23, 1935 New York Plans 'Greatest' Fair in '39 and '40: Committee of Notables Formed; Site Picked. Chicago Tribune 15 181674779 none; September 23, 1935 Great World Fair for City in 1939 on Site in Queens; Cost to Be $40,000,000 https://www.nytimes.com/1935/09/23/archives/great-world-fair-for-city-in-1939-on-site-in-queens-cost-to-be.html July 24, 2024 The New York Times none; September 23, 1935 World's Fair on Flushing Bay Planned for 1939 https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-worlds-fair-on-flushing-bay/151967110/ July 25, 2024 Times Union 1, 7 The Flushing Meadows site had been selected because of its large size and central location,March 5, 1936 Site in Flushing Definitely Picked for Exposition https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-site-in-flushing-definitely/152004601/ July 25, 2024 Times Union 9 and because the city already owned 586 acre nearby.Bernstein Victor H. July 5, 1936 World's Fair Project in Construction Stage; Though Financing and Planning Have Still to Be Arranged, Workmen Are Preparing the Site https://www.nytimes.com/1936/07/05/archives/worlds-fair-project-in-construction-stage-though-financing-and.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times The New York City Board of Estimate approved the use of Flushing Meadows as a fairground on September 23,September 24, 1935 City Grants Use Of Flushing Site For World Fair: Estimate Board Speedily Backs Move to Bring 40 Million Project Here New York Herald Tribune 20 1330222757 none; September 24, 1935 City's Fair Assured of Widespread Aid; Business is Elated; Board of Estimate Votes Full Backing for 1939 Project – Financial Help Likely. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/09/24/archives/citys-fair-assured-of-widespread-aid-business-is-elated-board-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times and Moses directed municipal draftsmen to survey the site.September 25, 1935 Surveying is Begun at World Fair Site; Moses Details Staff to the 1,003-Acre Tract in Queens – May Start Swamp Job. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/09/25/archives/surveying-is-begun-at-world-fair-site-moses-details-staff-to-the.html July 24, 2024 The New York Times Mayor Fiorello La Guardia pledged financial support for the fair that October,October 4, 1935 Mayor Fledges City's Cash Aid To World's Fair: Wants 1939 Exposition to Stress Re-establishment of Port's Foreign Trade New York Herald Tribune 44 1223259322 none; October 4, 1935 Mayor to Mobilize All City for Fair; Says He Will Call on Every Business, Art and Scientific Centre for Aid in 1939 https://www.nytimes.com/1935/10/04/archives/mayor-to-mobilize-all-city-for-fair-says-he-will-call-on-every.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times and the New York World's Fair Corporation (WFC) was formed to oversee the exposition on October 22, 1936.October 23, 1935 World's Fair Sponsors File To Incorporate: Six Directors Designated, but Board Will Later Be Increased to Twenty-one 109 City Leaders Sign Financial Plans Are To Be Adopted at Early Meeting New York Herald Tribune 13 1243474284 none; October 23, 1935 1939 World's Fair Now a Legal Fact; Court Approves Incorporation Papers With Names of 109 Prominent New Yorkers https://www.nytimes.com/1935/10/23/archives/1939-worlds-fair-now-a-legal-fact-court-approves-incorporation.html July 24, 2024 The New York Times The WFC elected McAneny as its president,November 21, 1935 World Fair Corporation Elects M'Aneny as Head: Woll's Nominee Is Chosen Unanimously by Directors New York Herald Tribune 23 1222035615 none; November 21, 1935 M'Aneny Elected World's Fair Head; Directors, at First Meeting, Also Make H. D. Gibson Finance Chairman https://www.nytimes.com/1935/11/21/archives/maneny-elected-worlds-fair-head-directors-at-first-meeting-also.html July 24, 2024 The New York Times and two contractors were hired that December to conduct preliminary surveys.December 7, 1935 Contract Is Let For Survey of World Fair Site: Madigan & Hyland, Under Fire at Relief Inquiry, Gets $90,000 City Job Action Starts Board Clash Mayor, Lyons and Harvey in Warm Argument New York Herald Tribune 12 1330116412 none; December 7, 1935 Mayor in Flare-up Over World's Fair; Misunderstands a Remark and Threatens to Call It All Off – And Then Cools Down. https://www.nytimes.com/1935/12/07/archives/mayor-in-flareup-over-worlds-fair-misunderstands-a-remark-and.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times State lawmaker Herbert Brownell Jr. introduced legislation in January 1936, which allowed the WFC to lease Flushing Meadows from the city government.January 3, 1936 Brownell Offers a Bill For World Fair in City: Albany Measure Provides Leasing of Park Lamb in 1939 New York Herald Tribune 4 1330118482 none; January 3, 1936 Bill for World's Fair Offered in Assembly; Measure Allows Leasing of Park Lands and Control of Tourist Camps Near Flushing. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/01/03/archives/bill-for-worlds-fair-offered-in-assembly-measure-allows-leasing-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times By then, the fair was estimated to cost $45 million.January 25, 1936 World's Fair Not His Affair Moses Asserts: Says Park. Department Is Responsible Only for the Basic Improvements Galls Plan Unimpressive McAneny Sees Flushing Exposition in '39 a Success They Sound a Discordant Note in W. P. A. Theater Project New York Herald Tribune 14 1267757042January 25, 1936 Moses Attacks Delay in Fund for Fair Land https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-moses-attacks-d/152003157/ July 25, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 3 none; January 25, 1936 Moses Again Warns of World Fair Delay; Wants to Know Whether He Shall Prepare Flushing Site for Exposition or a Park. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/01/25/archives/moses-again-warns-of-world-fair-delay-wants-to-know-whether-he.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times To oversee the fair's development, McAneny organized a committee,February 9, 1936 McAneny Tells Women Of World's Fair Art Plans New York Herald Tribune 6A 1221765583 none; February 9, 1936 Architectural Unity is Stressed for Fair; McAneny Reveals Committee to Coordinate Beauty – Highways to Have Special Lights. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/02/09/archives/architectural-unity-18-stressed-for-fair-mcaneny-reveals-committee.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times which initially advocated for a single massive building. The project remained stalled during early 1936,March 24, 1936 '39 World's Fair Halted as Board Awaits Grants: No Money, No Action, Say Directors, in Effect, Deploring Official Delays New York Herald Tribune 17 1222069230 none; March 24, 1936 New York Fair Board Awaits Public Funds The Christian Science Monitor 3 513970700 none; March 24, 1936 Fair Plans Halted by Delay in Grants: Directors of Project Vote to Hold No More Sessions Till State and City Act https://www.nytimes.com/1936/03/24/archives/fair-plans-halted-by-delay-in-grants-directors-of-project-vote-to.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times 25 101915501April 4, 1936 Political Buck Passing, Lack of Authority Delay N. Y. World Fair The Billboard 3, 63 48 14 1032089018 but the New York State Legislature ultimately voted in April to allow the city to lease out Flushing Meadows.Harrington John W. April 5, 1936 World Fair Plans Pushed at Albany; Legislature Authorizes Lease of Flushing Meadows Park and Weighs State Aid https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/05/archives/world-fair-plans-pushed-at-albany-legislature-authorizes-lease-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times Grover Whalen replaced McAneny as the WFC's chairman in April 1936April 23, 1936 Whalen Appointed Chairman of N.Y. World Fair Group The Christian Science Monitor 3 514123340 none; April 23, 1936 Whalen at Helm of World's Fair; Elected Chairman of Board – Number of Directors Is Increased From 21 to 35. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/23/archives/whalen-at-helm-of-worlds-fair-elected-chairman-of-board-number-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times and was later elected as the agency's full-time president.October 9, 1937 Whalen Named To Presidency Of World's Fair: Quits as Schenley Chairman to Give Full Time to Preparing 1939 Exposition New York Herald Tribune 29 1243577880 none; October 9, 1937 Whalen Elected World's Fair Head; Becomes President on Full Time Basis-Resigns AH Outside Executive Posts https://www.nytimes.com/1937/10/09/archives/whalen-elected-worlds-fair-head-becomes-president-on-fulltime.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times J. Franklin Bell drew preliminary plans for the fair,May 3, 1936 '39 World Fair Begins to Take Shape on Paper: Col. J. F. Bell Draws Up Preliminary Suggestions on Buildings and Layout New York Herald Tribune J1 1352660273 and the WFC appointed seven menThe committee was composed of Stephen F. Voorhees, Gilmore D. Clarke, William Delano, Jay N. Downer, Robert D. Kohn, and Walter Dorwin Teague. to devise a plan for the fairground.Stern Gilmartin Mellins 1987 . 729–730May 22, 1936 7 Are Chosen As Designers Of World Fair: Voorhees, Clarke, Delano, Downer, Teagne, Shreve and Kohn Become Board New York Herald Tribune 21 1237468680 none; May 22, 1936 Board of Design is Named for Fair; S.F. Voorhees Chosen Chairman of Group of 7 Experts to Map and Direct Construction https://www.nytimes.com/1936/05/22/archives/board-of-design-is-named-for-fair-sf-voorhees-chosen-chairman-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times At the end of the month, the city government announced plans to sell $7 million in bonds, and the state pledged $4.125 million for the project.April 28, 1936 City Asks Right to Sell World's Fair Bonds The Wall Street Journal 11 128892929 none; April 28, 1936 $7,000,000 Is Voted by City for Fair; Action Is Based on Assumption State Will Give $4,125,000 Toward Project https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/28/archives/7000000-is-voted-by-city-for-fair-action-is-based-on-assumption.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times none; April 28, 1936 $7,000,000 Voted by City for Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-7000000-voted-by-city-for/152004774/ July 25, 2024 Times Union 3 In addition, the WFC issued $26,862,800 in bonds.29 June 1942 40 Cents Gross On Dollar Paid On Fair Bonds: Final Payment of 3½% to Bondholders; 40.18% Total Includes Interest New York Herald Tribune 13 1266858992 none; 29 June 1942 "World's Fair" Will Bow With Final Payment Of Debentures June 29: Owners of 4% Certificates Will Receive 3 % of the Original Principal Amount The Wall Street Journal 5 131395749 The New York City Board of Estimate appropriated $308,020 to begin landscaping the site that May,May 2, 1936 $308,020 Voted To Begin Work On World's Fair: Estimate Board Assures '39 Opening With Fund Toward Preparing Site New York Herald Tribune 10 1257818931 none; May 2, 1936 World's Fair Funds Voted by Board; $308,020 Appropriated to Begin Work – Moses's Plans to Fill Swamp Land Approved. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/05/02/archives/worlds-fair-funds-voted-by-board-308020-appropriated-to-begin-work.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times none; May 2, 1936 City and Whalen Join Hands to Speed World Fair Project https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-city-and-whalen-join-hands-t/152005974/ July 25, 2024 Times Union 15 and city officials acquired another 372 acre through eminent domain.May 15, 1936 Condemnation Of World's Fair Land Is Begun: Lockwood Authorization for City Action on 372 Acres Sets Record for Speed New York Herald Tribune 15 1222071615 none; May 15, 1936 Lets New York Condemn Land For World's Fair The Baltimore Sun 8 540703601 The WFC dedicated the fairground site on June 4, 1936,June 4, 1936 World Fair Site Duly Dedicated In Champagne: Whalen Breaks '23 Bottle on Observation Tower in Presence of Directors New York Herald Tribune 23 1330794602 none; June 4, 1936 Site is Dedicated for World's Fair; 11 Officials, Atop Tower in Meadows, Accept Ash-Laden Tract at Ceremony https://www.nytimes.com/1936/06/04/archives/site-is-dedicated-for-worlds-fair-11-officials-atop-tower-in.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times shortly before the city finalized its lease of Flushing Meadows to the WFC.June 18, 1936 Commission Votes World Fair Lease; Sinking Fund Group Approves Transfer of Flushing Land to New Corporation. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/06/18/archives/commission-votes-world-fair-lease-sinking-fund-group-approves.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times Construction Work on the World's Fair site began on June 16, 1936,June 16, 1936 Work at Fair Site Begins Without Ceremony; 700 Job-Seekers on Hand, 500 to Be Hired https://www.nytimes.com/1936/06/16/archives/work-at-fair-site-begins-without-ceremony-700-jobseekers-on-hand.html September 25, 2024 The New York Times and a groundbreaking ceremony for the fairground took place on June 29.June 30, 1936 Lease Is Signed For World Fair, Ground Broken: LaGuardia and Bray Use Ancient Spade, Modern Shovel at Ceremonies New York Herald Tribune 9 1222125791 none; June 30, 1936 New York Breaks Ground For 1939 World's Fair The Christian Science Monitor 2 514102906 none; June 30, 1936 La Guardia Runs a Steam Shovel As Work Starts on World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1936/06/30/archives/la-guardia-runs-a-steam-shovel-as-work-starts-on-worlds-fair-my.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times The WFC established seven departments and thirteen committees to coordinate the fair's development. The fair was planned to employ 35,000 people.Harrington John Walker November 8, 1936 The 1939 Fair Rises Bit by Bit: Dreamers Plot, Engineers Build And Gradually It Takes Shape New York Herald Tribune A5 1222354319 The construction of the fairground involved leveling the ash mounds, excavating Meadow and Willow lakes, and diverting much of the Flushing River into underground culverts.Caro 1974 1085; Steinberg 2015 213.Siegel Sarah 2006 Flushing the Meadows – Relaxing a post-World's Fair Urban Landscape http://iflaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IFLA_2006_Winners.pdf live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://iflaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IFLA_2006_Winners.pdf October 9, 2022 March 31, 2017 International Federation of Landscape Architects 3July 8, 1936 Task of Filling World's Fair Site Will Be Pushed Night and Day; Moving of 7,000,000 Cubic Yards of Ashes and Soil Will Be in Full Swing Next Week – Two Lakes to Be Dug as Part of Work to Last till Next March https://www.nytimes.com/1936/07/08/archives/task-of-filling-worlds-fair-site-will-be-pushed-night-and-day.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20180725215424/https://www.nytimes.com/1936/07/08/archives/task-of-filling-worlds-fair-site-will-be-pushed-night-and-day.html July 25, 2018 March 27, 2017 The New York Times The dirt from the lake sites was used as additional topsoil for the park.December 6, 1936 Vast Queens Park Rising on Fair Site https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/06/archives/vast-queens-park-rising-on-fair-site-moses-says-improvements-in-are.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073023/https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/06/archives/vast-queens-park-rising-on-fair-site-moses-says-improvements-in-are.html April 7, 2021 April 4, 2017 The New York Times Workers also transported soil from Westchester County, New York, to the fairground.September 29, 1938 Fair's Use of Soil Irks Westchester; Harrison Sues to Enjoin Group of Contractors From Shifting Loam to Flushing https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/29/archives/fairs-use-of-soil-irks-westchester-harrison-sues-to-enjoin-group-of.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Four hundred fifty workers were employed on three eight-hour shifts.October 11, 1936 'Cut and Fill' Grading of World's Fair Site Reported More Than One-Third Complete https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE6D7143DE33BBC4952DFB667838D629EDE&legacy=true live https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105823/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE6D7143DE33BBC4952DFB667838D629EDE&legacy=true March 28, 2017 March 27, 2017 The New York Times The rebuilt landscape was to be retained after the fair.Bernstein Victor H. August 16, 1936 Dump and Swamp Areas Reclaimed for Fair; Steam Shovels and Trucks Work Day and Night in Giant Effort to Prepare a 1,130-Acre Site for the 1939 Exposition https://www.nytimes.com/1936/08/16/archives/dump-and-swamp-areas-reclaimed-for-fair-steam-shovels-and-trucks.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times Patterson 1939 . 20 The city, state, and federal governments also worked on 48 infrastructure-improvement projects, such as highway and landscaping projects, for the fair.Whalen 1939 . 28 To promote the fair, the WFC established advisory committees with members from every U.S. state.December 30, 1936 New York Seeks Aid of Every State In 1939 World Fair The Christian Science Monitor 2 514301549 none; December 30, 1936 World Fair Asks Aid of All States; Advisory Committees Named to Organize Exposition on National Basis https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/30/archives/world-fair-asks-aid-of-all-states-advisory-committees-named-to.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times Several baseball teams wore patches promoting the fair during the 1938 Major League Baseball season,Tofel R.J. https://books.google.com/books?id=CHkTAQAAIAAJ A Legend in the Making: The New York Yankees in 1939 Ivan R. Dee 2002 978-1-56663-411-3 G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series 59 while the businessman Howard Hughes named an airplane after the fair and flew it around the world in 1938.Marrett G.J. https://books.google.com/books?id=hXkADAAAQBAJ&pg=PA35 Howard Hughes: Aviator Naval Institute Press 2016 978-1-68247-037-4 35July 12, 1938 Hughes Nearing Moscow On a World Flight After 16½-Hour Dash to Paris New York Herald Tribune 1A 1244377360 none; July 12, 1938 Route of Hughes is Disclosed Here; 3 Stops Are Planned on Trip From Moscow to New York Via Alaska and Canada https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/12/archives/route-of-hughes-is-disclosed-here-3-stops-are-planned-on-trip-from.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Helen Huntington Hull led a women's committee that helped promote and develop the fair.July 14, 1937 Women Planning Widespread Part In New York Fair The Christian Science Monitor 5 514430153 New York license plates from 1938 were supposed to have slogans advertising the fair,December 21, 1937 Board Starts to Issue New Car License Plates: All Bear 'New York World's Fair 1939' Sign New York Herald Tribune 21A 1223337076 but a city judge deemed the slogans unconstitutional.January 28, 1938 Holds World Fair Tag Invalid https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/28/archives/holds-world-fair-taq-invalid.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times New York license plates from 1939 and 1940 also advertised the fair.For the 1939 plates, see: February 10, 1938 Car Fair Ads to Continue; 1939 Auto Plates Also Expected to Bear Protested Legend https://www.nytimes.com/1938/02/10/archives/car-fair-ads-to-continue-1939-auto-plates-also-expected-to-bear.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times For the 1940 plates, see: March 28, 1939 1940 Plates to Retain World's Fair Legend https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/28/archives/1940-plates-to-retain-worlds-fair-legend-special-to-the-new-york.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times Local retailers also sold more than $40 million worth of merchandise with World's Fair motifs,March 12, 1938 Fashions to Show World Fair Motif; Wide Range of Themes https://www.nytimes.com/1938/03/12/archives/fashions-to-show-world-fair-motif-wide-range-of-themes-perisphere.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times and the U.S. government issued stamps depicting the fair's Trylon and Perisphere.Byrnes Robert D. March 12, 1939 N. Y. World's Fair Stamp First Day Sale April 1: Will Be Same Size As Golden Gate Exposition Stamp --Nine Foreign Governments Participating Will Issue Commemoratives Philately The Hartford Courant SM10 559177181 none; March 12, 1939 Stamp for World's Fair; Trylon and Perisphere Appear in Design-- Paris Issues—The Philatelic Truck https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/12/archives/stamp-for-worlds-fair-trylon-and-perisphere-appear-in-design-paris.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times World leaders delivered "greetings to the fair" as part of the "Salute of the Nations" radio program,December 15, 1938 Broadcast Series For World's Fair Broadcasting, Broadcast Advertising 28 15 12 1505619738 none; December 12, 1938 Royalties to Boom World Fair by Radio The Christian Science Monitor 5 514734466 and the WFC also broadcast 15-minute-long "invitations to the fair", featuring musical entertainments and a speech by Gibson.Spiegel Irving October 27, 1940 Airing the Fair; Radio Has Spent $14,000,118 in Pick-Ups From Flushing Meadows, Report States https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/27/archives/airing-the-fair-radio-has-spent-14000118-in-pickups-from-flushing.html September 25, 2024 The New York Times In addition, the WFC distributed a promotional film, Let's Go to the Fair.Wasson 2012 . 91 1936 and 1937 thumb|upright|Souvenir booklet The WFC's board of design reviewed several proposed master plans for the site,July 16, 1936 Fair Designers Roam Cosmos For Ideas on 1939 Ground Plan New York Herald Tribune 19 1237424340 and the corporation had relocated the last occupants of the fairground site by August 1936.August 4, 1936 Lehman Makes Appointments For World Fair: Names 6 Commissioners to Fill Group of 16 on State's Participation New York Herald Tribune 16 1237414061 none; August 4, 1936 Evicters' Big Day Ends in Waterloo; Sheriff's Men Oust Tavern, Gas Station and Houseboat From World's Fair Site. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/08/04/archives/evicters-big-day-ends-in-waterloo-sheriffs-men-oust-tavern-gas.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times The WFC launched a design competition for several pavilions that SeptemberSeptember 10, 1936 Contest Starts For World Fair Building Design: $4,250 in Prizes Is Offered in Attempt to Bring to Light Unknown Talent New York Herald Tribune 25 1222092642 none; September 11, 1936 Fair Opens Contest; Architects Are Invited to Offer Designs for $1,000 Prize. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/09/11/archives/fair-opens-contest-architects-are-invited-to-offer-designs-for-1000.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times and selected several winning designs two months later.November 11, 1936 World's Fair Building Contest Awards Made: G. L. Paine, Jr., Gets First Prize For Design Typifying 1939 Fair Women's Wear 6 53 94 1653943149 none; November 11, 1936 World Fair Awards Made for Designs; G.L. Paine Jr. Gets $1,000 – First Prize Withheld Because of Collaboration https://www.nytimes.com/1936/11/11/archives/world-fair-awards-made-for-designs-gl-paine-jr-gets-1000-first.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The WFC announced details of the fair's master plan that October, which called for a $125 million exposition themed to "the world of tomorrow".October 9, 1936 World's Fair to Cost About $125,000,000 The Wall Street Journal 4 128793649October 9, 1936 World's Fair Theme To Be The World of Tomorrow: Plans for $125,000,000 1,200-Acre Blueprint of Future of Mankind Are Approved by Directors New York Herald Tribune 1 1240271438 none; October 9, 1936 Fair of 1939 Will Depict The 'World of Tomorrow' https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/09/archives/fair-of-1939-will-depict-the-world-of-tomorrow-125000000-plan.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times none; Weer William October 9, 1936 Model of Exposition Shown to Directors https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-model-of-exposi/150428301/ July 25, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 12 Later that month, the WFC signed construction contracts for the fairground's first building.October 22, 1936 Contract Signing Marks Start Of 1939 World's Fair: Preview of the New York World's Fair of 1939 The Christian Science Monitor 7 514199372 none; October 22, 1936 First Contract Let for Fair Building; Whalen Signs for Erection of Administration Structure to Cost $900,000. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/22/archives/first-contract-let-for-fair-building-whalen-signs-for-erection-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times At that point, only a small number of fairground buildings had been approved. In November 1936, France became the first nation to announce its participation,November 6, 1936 Philip Benson Named to Board of World's Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-philip-benson-n/152068375/ July 26, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 21 none; November 6, 1936 France to Exhibit at 1939 World Fair: Her Announcement Through an Official at Dinner Here is First by Any Nation. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/11/06/archives/france-to-exhibit-at-1939-world-fair-her-announcement-through-an.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and the city government began selling bonds for the fair.November 24, 1936 Sale Of World's Fair Bonds In N.Y. Under Way: 2,000, Comprising "Who's Who" Of New York's Retail, Financial, Industrial Worlds, Attend Formal Launching. Women's Wear Daily 2, 31 53 103 1653967501 none; November 24, 1936 New Yorkers Urged to Buy $27,829,500 World Fair Bonds The Christian Science Monitor 2 514206321 none; November 24, 1936 City Drive Opened for Bonds of Fair; Leaders Declare Investment Sound Financially and in Community Spirit. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/11/24/archives/city-drive-opened-for-bonds-of-fair-leaders-declare-investment.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The International Convention Bureau endorsed the 1939 World's Fair, allowing the bureau's 21 member countries to host exhibits there.December 5, 1936 N.Y. World Fair Named as Official Exposition in 1939: Invitations Go Abroad Building Requirements Nations Signify Plans The Christian Science Monitor 2 514250483 none; December 4, 1936 World's Fair Wins International Aid; Gets a Clear Field for 1939 From Bureau of 21 Nations, Whalen Announces https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/04/archives/worlds-fair-wins-international-aid-gets-a-clear-field-for-1939-from.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times Lehman also invited the governors of other U.S. states.December 1, 1936 Lehman Invites States to Join in World's Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-lehman-invites-stat/152070875/ July 26, 2024 The Brooklyn Citizen 3 none; December 1, 1936 All States Invited to Join 1939 Fair; Lehman Urges Exhibit by Each in Letters to Governors, Asking Their Participation https://www.nytimes.com/1936/12/01/archives/all-states-invited-to-join-1939-fair-lehman-urges-exhibit-by-each.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times By the beginning of 1937, eleven hundred concessionaires had applied for concessions at the fair,January 16, 1937 Heavy Demand for World's Fair Space The Billboard 3 49 3 1032130797 and nine buildings were under construction.February 2, 1937 Designs Asked for Four World's Fair Buildings: Architectural Contracts Now Total $4.350.000 New York Herald Tribune 19 1222255704 none; February 2, 1937 4 Fair Contracts Made for Designs; Whalen Signs With Firms of Architects to Draw Plans for $1,475,000 Buildings https://www.nytimes.com/1937/02/02/archives/4-fair-contracts-made-for-designs-whalen-signs-with-firms-of.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The WFC unveiled a model of the fairground at its Empire State Building headquarters that March.March 25, 1937 Uniforms May Come And Go—But The World's Fair Already Has Model Selected Women's Wear Daily 24 54 58 1653733297 none; March 30, 1937 World's Fair Opens in Miniature Form; Complete Model of Grounds and Building Exhibited at Empire State Corner https://www.nytimes.com/1937/03/30/archives/worlds-fair-opens-in-miniature-form-complete-model-of-grounds-and.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times Workers had finished grading and filling the World's Fair site by April,April 15, 1937 New York World Fair Site Filling and Grading Done The Christian Science Monitor 2 514311583 and they began planting trees.April 3, 1937 3 Sycamores First Trees Set For World Fair: 30-Foot Specimens From Bird in Hand, Pa., Here in Special Motor Trucks Group of 30 Purchased 10,000 To Be Planted Before Exposition Opens New York Herald Tribune 32 1337028922 none; April 3, 1937 3 Rare Sycamores Set at Site of Fair; 40-Year-Old Trees Brought From Pennsylvania Are First of 10,000 to Be Planted https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/03/archives/3-rare-sycamores-set-at-site-of-fair-40yearold-trees-brought-from.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times That month, AT&T became the first company to lease a pavilion at the fair,April 27, 1937 A. T. & T. Signs 1st Contract for Fair Exhibit Site: Gifford Gives Whalen Check for $48,790 for Parcel Fronting on Theme Plaza New York Herald Tribune 17A 1240320660April 27, 1937 World Fair Space Leased by A. T. & T.; Gifford Turns Over $48,790 Check on First Contract for an Exhibit Site https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/27/archives/world-fair-space-leased-by-a-t-t-gifford-turns-over-48790-check-on.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and work officially began on the first building, the administration structure.April 28, 1937 Notables See First Stone Laid for '39 Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-notables-see-fi/152074741/ July 26, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 8 none; April 28, 1937 Cornerstone Laid for First Fair Unit; 1,000 Ignore Rainy Weather to Attend Ceremony Starting Administration Building https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/28/archives/cornerstone-laid-for-first-fair-unit-1000-ignore-rainy-weather-to.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times In addition, the WFC began auctioning off the fairground's concession spaces,April 13, 1937 New York Fair Plans Auction For Concessions The Christian Science Monitor 2 514310117 none; April 13, 1937 World Fair to Let Vast Concessions; $50,000,000 Enterprises to Be Awarded to High Bidders 5,000 Seek Space https://www.nytimes.com/1937/04/13/archives/world-fair-to-let-vast-concessions-50000000-enterprises-to-be.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and workers also began planting trees in early 1937.Patterson 1939 . 87 Whalen announced plans in June 1937 for a 280 acre on amusement zone at the south end of the fairground,June 4, 1937 Fair Will Offer Carnival Zone Of 280 Acres: Amusement Facilities for 250,000 at One Time Planned at Queens Site New York Herald Tribune 44 1322398659 none; June 4, 1937 Fair Amusements to Cover 280 Acres: Vast Loop Will Enclose Lake and Midway Atmosphere of Past Will Be Barred https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/04/archives/fair-amusements-to-cover-280-acres-vast-loop-will-enclose-lake-and.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and work on the first non-commercial pavilion, the Temple of Peace, began in July.July 23, 1937 Site is Dedicated for Peace Temple; Ground Broken at the World Fair for First Building for Cultural Purpose https://www.nytimes.com/1937/07/23/archives/site-is-dedicated-for-peace-temple-ground-broken-at-the-world-fair.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times By then, 89 buildings were under construction,August 17, 1937 Theme Center's Site Dedicated for World Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-theme-centers/152131011/ July 27, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 26 and 86% of the fairground sites had been leased.August 17, 1937 'Theme Center' Site Dedicated For World Fair New York Herald Tribune 17 1323023566 none; August 17, 1937 World Fair Space is 86% 'Spoken for'; Whalen Reveals Wide Backing at Dedication of the Plaza for Theme Center https://www.nytimes.com/1937/08/17/archives/world-fair-space-is-86-spoken-for-whalen-reveals-wide-backing-at.html July 24, 2024 The New York Times Utah became the first U.S. state to lease space in the fair's Hall of States that September,September 26, 1937 Utah First to Take Space In Fair's Hall of States: Italians Among Visitors to Flushing Meadows Site New York Herald Tribune 30 1318551425 none; September 26, 1937 Utah First State to Take Fair Space; Signs Contract With Whalen--$37,500 Already Voted for Its Exhibition https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/26/archives/utah-first-state-to-take-fair-space-signs-contract-with-whalen37500.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times while Missouri was the first state to lease space for a standalone building.September 16, 1937 Missouri Signs N.Y. Fair Contract The Christian Science Monitor 5 514452994 none; September 14, 1937 Whalen Returns, Hopeful of Peace; Reports Results of His Trip to Europe in Interests of World's Fair Here https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/14/archives/whalen-returns-hopeful-of-peace-reports-results-of-his-trip-to.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times Whalen also traveled to Europe to invite European countries to the fair.September 14, 1937 Earle Believes Europeans Do Not Want War New York Herald Tribune 3 1222260948 none; September 14, 1937 Whalen Returns, Hopeful of Peace; Reports Results of His Trip to Europe in Interests of World's Fair Here https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/14/archives/whalen-returns-hopeful-of-peace-reports-results-of-his-trip-to.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times Various fairground buildings were being developed, as well as the Trylon and Perisphere, the fair's icons.November 7, 1937 Fair Building Nucleus Rapidly Takes Shape https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-fair-building-nucleus-rapidly/152136921/ July 27, 2024 Daily News 130December 6, 1937 Acres, Acres of Men at Work https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-acres-acres-of/152184001/ July 28, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 13 That December, the Ford Motor Company became the first automobile manufacturer to lease space at the fair;December 8, 1937 Ford Reserves Plot for Exhibit at Fair; Auto Company Contracts for 298,718 Square Feet, the Most for One Concern https://www.nytimes.com/1937/12/08/archives/ford-reserves-plot-for-exhibit-at-fair-auto-company-contracts-for.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times by then, the WFC had received commitments from 60 nations.December 21, 1937 N.Y. Fair Space Taken By 60 Nations Already The Christian Science Monitor 6 514506362 none; December 20, 1937 60 Nations Accept World's Fair Bids; League Is Included in Those Signing Contracts or Asking for Space Reservations https://www.nytimes.com/1937/12/20/archives/60-nations-accept-worlds-fair-bids-league-is-included-in-those.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times 1938 and 1939 thumb|The General Motors pavilion The WFC awarded the first fair concession in January 1938.January 17, 1938 Nickel Drinks Will Be a Nickel At World's Fair: Coca-Cola Contracts for 59 Stands and Will Serve Other Soft Beverages New York Herald Tribune 3 1337043993 none; January 17, 1938 World's Fair Lets First Concession; Coca-Cola Company Rents 59 Carbonated Beverage Stands and Big Exhibit Space https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/17/archives/worlds-fair-lets-first-concession-cocacola-company-rents-59.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times At that point, Whalen was making plans for the fair's opening ceremony.February 3, 1938 World's Fair To Mass Troops Of All Nations: Whalen Says 50,000 Will Parade; Exposition Will Have Preview in' 3 Months New York Herald Tribune 1 1242864859 none; February 5, 1938 World Fair Opening to Rival Coronation; Whalen Outlines Plans to Make Ceremony Here Example of Pomp and Grandeur https://www.nytimes.com/1938/02/05/archives/world-fair-opening-to-rival-coronation-whalen-outlines-plans-to.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times Whalen wanted to have 100 buildings under construction by the end of April,February 15, 1938 10,000 to Get Work Soon at World's Fair: 100 Buildings To Be Under Construction by End of April in Speed-Up Plan New York Herald Tribune 15 1250603314 and the WFC planned to spend $10 million upgrading the utilities.April 15, 1938 New York's Great Fair Rising In Setting of Lavish Artistry: Preview of New York World's Fair The Christian Science Monitor 3 514781950 Work on the Perisphere, the fair's theme building, began in early April,April 9, 1938 1st Rivet Driven In Perisphere At World's Fair: Whalen, Stettinius, Aided by Catcher and Backer-Upper, Work Machinery to Start Theme Structure New York Herald Tribune 9 1242883982 none; April 9, 1938 Fair Starts Work on Theme Center; Construction of Perisphere Begun as E. R. Stettinius Rivets First Bolt https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/09/archives/fair-starts-work-on-theme-center-construction-of-perisphere-begun.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times along with work on the first foreign-government structure.April 8, 1938 1 st Cornerstone Of Foreign Unit At Fair Is Laid: Farouk's Uncle Officiates at Egyptian Pavilion Ceremonies; Work Starts Today on Perisphere and Trylon New York Herald Tribune 21 1242970268 The same month, the WFC leased out the last vacant sites in the fair's Government Zone.April 15, 1938 64 Nations to Exhibit: Several Designs Approved A Carillon Tower The Christian Science Monitor 3 514813608 none; April 15, 1938 Four More Nations Join Worlds Fair; Eire, Venezuela, Lithuania and Sweden Sign Contracts for Exhibition Space https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/15/archives/four-more-nations-join-worlds-fair-eire-venezuela-lithuania-and.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times The city hosted a parade with one million spectators on April 30, 1938, exactly a year before the planned opening,May 1, 1938 Million Watch Motorcade in Preview for World's Fair New York Herald Tribune 1 1242903554 none; May 1, 1938 1,000,000 Watch Preview Parade; Line Route as the Motorcade Winds From Battery Place to World Fair Site https://www.nytimes.com/1938/05/01/archives/1000000-watch-preview-parade-line-route-as-the-motorcade-winds-from.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times and the WFC hosted a fireworks show the next week.May 9, 1938 300,000 View Fair Fireworks, Week Late, Without Traffic Jam New York Herald Tribune 1 1244635602 none; May 9, 1938 Fireworks Dazzle 600,000 at Fair Site; Throng Quarter-Mile Deep Is Described as One of Largest Ever to Assemble Here https://www.nytimes.com/1938/05/09/archives/fireworks-dazzle-600000-at-fairsite-throng-quartermile-deep-is.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times That May, the WFC began allowing visitors to inspect the fairground on weekends for a fee.May 14, 1938 Fair Grounds Now Open Only On Week Ends: Admission To Be Charged to Pay Cost of Handling Visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays New York Herald Tribune 6 1244193559 none; May 14, 1938 Westchester Soil is Stripped by Fair; Village Officials Protest at Making Potential 'Dust Bowl' of Wide Tracts https://www.nytimes.com/1938/05/14/archives/westchester-soil-is-stripped-by-fair-village-officials-protest-at.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times The structures were all supposed to be completed by the end of March 1939, giving one month for exhibitors to fit their pavilions out.October 15, 1938 General Outdoor: N. Y. World's Fair Amusement Zone Over Twice Size of Chi's; Officially Titled "The Loop" The Billboard 60 50 42 1032170337 The WFC awarded contracts to 30 amusement-ride operators in June 1938, following months of disputes over the concessions.June 18, 1938 World's Fair Body's Contract Okehs Presage Fun Zone Start The Billboard 3 50 25 1032159863 The WFC continued to issue concessions for eateries and amusement rides.August 27, 1938 Fairs-Expositions: Much Midway Space Is Taken At World's Fair The Billboard 46, 48 50 35 1032161767 By late 1938, workers were painting murals on buildings, and the subway stations serving the fairground were being completed.September 11, 1938 World's Fair Building Progress From Blueprints to All Colors New York Herald Tribune A3 1243091894 That October, the Heinz Dome became the first commercial exhibit to be completed,October 16, 1938 First Display Unit Completed at Fair; H. J. Heinz Company Hails Construction of 150-Foot Dome in Flushing https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/16/archives/first-display-unit-completed-at-fair-h-j-heinz-company-hails.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times and 80% of the fairground's 3 e6ft2 of exhibit space had been leased.October 9, 1938 World Fair Space Nearly All Sold; Only 600,000 of Its 3,000,000 Square Feet for Exhibits Remain, Whalen Says Byrd to Reproduce Camp https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/09/archives/world-fair-space-nearly-all-sold-only-600000-of-its-3000000-square.html August 23, 2024 The New York Times Leasing lagged in the amusement zone; by that December, only two-thirds of the ride concessions had been leased.December 3, 1938 Fairs-Expositions: New York World's Fair May Be Busy Holiday for P. A.'s The Billboard 35, 39 50 49 1032169240 Whalen announced in January 1939 that the fairground was more than 90% complete, though work on one-third of the amusement concessions had not started.January 15, 1939 Whalen Says World's Fair Is 90% Ready: To Open 15 Weeks From Today; Exhibit Area Is Just About Complete New York Herald Tribune 1 1243107723 none; January 15, 1939 N. Y. World's Fair is 90% Completed: All Space in Main Exhibit Area is Allocated, Grover Whalen Reports Costs of Construction Cut 20% Under Original Estimates, He Says The Baltimore Sun 6 543092013 The fair had attracted 1,300 industrial exhibitors and 70 concessionaires. In addition, 62 nations and 35 U.S. states or territories had leased space at the fair. That March, Whalen announced plans to spend $1 million on shows and miniature villages in the Amusement Area.Compere Thomas March 12, 1939 Fair Will Pep Up Its Amusements With $1,000,000: Adopts More Liberal Policy Plans Foreign Villages New York Herald Tribune 2 1257476186 The lights on the fairground were first turned on three weeks before the fair's scheduled opening.April 11, 1939 Lights Gleaming in Mist Test Enchantment of Fair The Christian Science Monitor 2 514924806 none; April 11, 1939 World's Fair Lights Turned On, Make Site a Dreamland of Color: New Systems of Many-Hued Fluorescent Tubes, Especially Developed to Carry Out Effects of Exposition, Have First Large-Seale Try-Out Fountain of Flame in World's Fair Lagoon of Nations New York Herald Tribune 1A 1244864830 In conjunction with the fair, La Guardia issued a proclamation declaring April 1939 as "Dress Up and Paint Up Month" in New York City.April 9, 1939 World's Fair at Hand, Mayor Warns, Calling City to Spruce Up: April Set Aside As 'Dress Up, Paint Up Month LaGuardia's Proclamation Urges Public Particularly to Clear Vacant Lots New York Herald Tribune 24 1243015920 none; April 6, 1939 Ford Off for Home After Fair Rites https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-eagle-ford-off-for-home-after-f/154230498/ August 29, 2024 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 9 Sixteen thousand workers were putting final touches on the site by mid-April,April 18, 1939 16,000 at Work on World's Fair, Pay Roll Now $900,000 a Week: Concessions Rise Almost Like a Traveling Circus New York Herald Tribune 1 1247822956 none; April 18, 1939 16,000 Workers Rush Job on World's Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-star-16000-workers-rush-jo/154231287/ August 29, 2024 The Standard-Star 13 and foreign nations were delivering $100 million worth of exhibits to the fair.April 20, 1939 Treasures Arrive for World's Fair; Most of the Foreign Exhibits, Worth $100,000,000, Are Already at Scene https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/20/archives/treasures-arrive-for-worlds-fair-most-of-the-foreign-exhibits-worth.html August 29, 2024 The New York Times Thousands of additional workers were employed toward the end of April.April 28, 1939 Rush Final Touches To World's Fair: Thousands Of Extra Workers Prepare Plenty To See, In Addition To Sunday's Gala Spectacle Women's Wear Daily 1, 6 58 83 1728692619 Operation The fairground ultimately cost 156,000,000 1939 -6 no, and Whalen anticipated that 60 million people would visit.May 1, 1939 $156,000,000 Show: Eleven Gates Ready to Swing at the N. Y. World's Fair: Spectacle Newsweek 46, 49 13 18 1796267678 Five major newsreel companies were hired to provide newsreel coverage,July 7, 1937 Pictures: Newsreels to Bally N.Y.'s '39 World Fair Variety 4 127 4 1505646066 and the Crosley Corporation and WNYC both had radio broadcasting studios there.Robertson Bruce May 1, 1939 Television Motif Marks New York Fair Broadcasting, Broadcast Advertising 20–21 16 9 1014928343 The WFC hired Exposition Publications to print a guidebook, souvenir book, and daily programs,December 12, 1938 Contract Let For Three Fair Publications: New York Company to Put Out Official Guide, Daily Program and a Souvenir for Exposition Visitors Parachute Jumps to Thrill Visitors to Fair New York Herald Tribune 17 1260673578 none; December 12, 1938 Contracts Signed for Fair's Books; Exposition Publications Is to Put Out Guide, a Souvenir Volume and Daily Program https://www.nytimes.com/1938/12/12/archives/contracts-signed-for-fairs-books-exposition-publications-is-to-put.html August 23, 2024 The New York Times and it promoted 17 other books and news stories about the fair.December 24, 1938 World's Fair Lists 17 Publications on Aspects of Exhibit: Whalen Announces Works of Educational and Scientific Type New York Herald Tribune 16 1258613666 none; December 25, 1938 17 New Books Win Approval of Fair; List Includes Official GuideBook, Study of New York in Time of Washington Sponsored Volumes Listed Educational Features Discussed https://www.nytimes.com/1938/12/25/archives/17-new-books-win-approval-of-fair-list-includes-official-guidebook.html August 23, 2024 The New York Times The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) retroactively recognized the 1939 World's Fair as an official World Expo, even though the BIE's rules permitted official Expos to run for only one year.Caro 1974 1092 Whalen agreed to hire only union laborers to install exhibits on the fairground; in exchange, several trade unions agreed to buy the WFC's bonds.June 19, 1939 Unfair at Fair?: New York Unions Are Accused of Shaking Down Exhibitors Newsweek 21–22 13 25 1796831853 Free emergency services were provided on site by dozens of doctors and nurses,October 20, 1938 Fair to Provide Free First Aid Medical Care: Intoxicated visitors to Get Hangover-less Remedy 6 Stations Will Be Ready for Emergency Cases New York Herald Tribune 42 1256797402 none; October 20, 1938 Long Island Plans 10c Ride to Fair; Facilities to Be Taxed https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/20/archives/long-island-plans-10c-ride-to-fair-facilities-to-be-taxed.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times and there were six first-aid stations, a mobile X-ray machine, and five ambulances.April 30, 1939 6 First-aid Units on Guard at Fair; Free Treatment Is Ready for Victims of Accidents—Five Ambulances on Duty https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/6-firstaid-units-on-guard-at-fair-free-treatment-is-ready-for.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times The fairground was covered by a temporary New York City Police Department (NYPD) precinctApril 13, 1939 Valentine Sets Up New Police Precinct for Fair Area: Detail Reports Saturday for Duty in Corona Quarters in Schoolhouse; Exposition's Own Force to Onerate on Grounds New York Herald Tribune 13 1263346746 none; April 13, 1939 Police-precinct Set Up for Fair; To Be Known as 110-A, It Will Occupy Former Corona School --Opening Set for Saturday https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/13/archives/policeprecinct-set-up-for-fair-to-be-known-as-110a-it-will-occupy.html August 7, 2024 The New York Times and a temporary New York City Fire Department (FDNY) battalion.September 2, 1938 Mayor Sets Up Special Body of Fair Firemen New York Herald Tribune 13 1244525037 none; September 2, 1938 Fire Unit to Serve Fair Grounds Only; Battalion of Four Companies Will Have 20 Officers and 98 City Firemen https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/02/archives/fire-unit-to-serve-fair-grounds-only-battalion-of-four-companies.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times In addition, the Queens County Court was temporarily expanded to hear criminal cases relating to the fair.February 15, 1939 Queens Court to Expand For World's Fair Cases: Out-of-Town Judges Invited to Sit in Extra Session New York Herald Tribune 9 1257058837 none; February 15, 1939 Wheels of Justice to Whirl for Fair; Special Bureau Will Assure Swift Trials for Visitors, Queens Prosecutor Says https://www.nytimes.com/1939/02/15/archives/wheels-of-justice-to-whirl-for-fair-special-bureau-will-assure.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times 1939 season Preparations and opening thumb|King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom visited the fair in 1939.June 11, 1939 Lack of Time Causes Drastic Curtailment of Reception at the World's Fair The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/11/archives/lack-of-time-couses-drastic-curtailment-of-reception-at-the-worlds.html September 16, 2024|alt=King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, who are photographed waving during a visit to the fair For the 1939 season, the WFC charged 75 cents per adult and 25 cents per child; the agency also sold season tickets, multi-visit tickets, and souvenir ticket books.February 16, 1939 75 Cents Admission to the Fair For Adults; Children 25 Cents New York Herald Tribune 1 1247094172 none; February 16, 1939 Admission to Fair Fixed at 75 Cents; Cost to Children Will Be 25 Cents, With One Day a Week Set Aside at a Dime https://www.nytimes.com/1939/02/16/archives/admission-to-fair-fixed-at-75-cents-cost-to-children-will-be-25.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Manhattan's borough president, Stanley M. Isaacs, had wanted the WFC to give students free admission, but Moses opposed the proposal.June 17, 1938 Free Tickets to Fair for Pupils Opposed; Proposal by Isaacs Draws Fire of Moses and Lyons https://www.nytimes.com/1938/06/17/archives/free-tickets-to-fair-for-pupils-opposed-proposal-by-isaacs-draws.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Whalen began selling discounted advance tickets in February 1939,February 24, 1939 No Fair Passes, Mayor Says as He Buys Ticket: Even Officials of Exposition and City Will Have to Pay; Advance Sale On Today New York Herald Tribune 17 1247544481 none; February 25, 1939 New York World's Fair Bans Free Tickets The Christian Science Monitor 4 515014104 which were sold by 1,000 retailers in the New York metropolitan area.March 4, 1939 1,000 Stores Offer Tickets for Fair; Advance Sale Extended to Retail Outlets Throughout Metropolitan Area https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/04/archives/1000-stores-offer-tickets-for-fair-advance-sale-extended-to-retail.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times Journalists could visit the fairground free of charge, but no other free tickets were distributed. The WFC had to print additional souvenir books due to high demand.April 22, 1939 Advance Sale of Fair Tickets Ends Today Except $15 Ones New York Herald Tribune 7 1255482888 none; April 23, 1939 Advance Sale Extended On World Fair Tickets https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/23/archives/advance-sale-extended-on-world-fair-tickets.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Though there was an upcharge fee for some of the exhibits and attractions, three-fourths of the original attractions did not charge any extra fees.April 3, 1939 Sightseer at World's Fair Can Pass a Week Covering Only Free Attractions: Entertainment On a Vast Scale Open to Guests New York Herald Tribune 6 1255013146 On April 30, 1939, exactly 150 years after Washington's first inauguration,October 9, 1936 Washington Gave Slogan for Fair; Inaugural Speech in 1789 Spoke of 'Pursuit of Public Good,' Chosen as Theme. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/09/archives/washington-gave-slogan-for-fair-inaugural-speech-in-1789-spoke-of.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times the fair formally opened with a speech by President Roosevelt.May 1, 1939 Gay Throng of 600,000 Jams World's Fair for Opening https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-gay-throng-of-600000-j/154235089/ August 29, 2024 The Buffalo News 10 none; May 1, 1939 Address Opens World's Fair: 600,000 Attendance Is Disappointing Exposition Theme Hailed in Talk Daily Boston Globe 1 817042199May 1, 1939 Half Million See World's Fair on Opening Day; Roosevelt Calls It Symbol of the Will to Peace New York Herald Tribune 1 1247102690 The fair received 600,000 visitors on its first day, far short of the one million visitors that the WFC had predicted. Many major attractions in the Amusement Area were incomplete,May 1, 1939 Play Area's Gala Opening Put Off For Two Weeks: Whalen Decides on Second Try After Tour Reveals It Still Far From Complete New York Herald Tribune 14 1247103281Schoenfeld Joe April 26, 1939 Outdoors: Analysis of the Midway Slows That Phase of N. Y. Fair Furthest Behind Variety 47 134 7 1505713328 and only 80% of the structures were ready.Hughes Alice Alice Hughes (journalist) April 30, 1939 A Woman's New York: The World's Fair Is 80 Per Cent Ready . . . And That's Considered a High Figure The Washington Post S10 151210445 The fair accommodated one million visitors in its first four days.May 5, 1939 Bride Honored at Fair As Its Millionth Visitor: Dutch and Finnish Pavilions Formally Opened New York Herald Tribune 1 1244879624 none; May 5, 1939 One Millionth Visitor Hailed at World Fair: Bride of 20, on Honeymoon, Welcomed by Whalen at Show Pavilions of the Netherlands and Finland Are Dedicated The Baltimore Sun 3 543083512 By mid-May, the fair was 90% finished, but many of the amusement attractions were still incomplete.May 8, 1939 Whalen's Marvel: President Pulls the Curtain on Mammoth N. Y. World's Fair Newsweek 15 13 19 1797082869 The WFC's operations department oversaw the remaining work.May 20, 1939 World's Fairs: New York World's Fair – Operations Dept. Assumes Duties of Construction The Billboard 30 51 20 1032193160 May to October In early May, the WFC began selling 10-cent children's tickets once a week,May 4, 1939 Poland Opens Pavilion at Fair First School Class Goes In Free: Attendance Holds Up Despite Cool Weather Initial Dime Day for Children Will Be Held Tomorrow; Finland and Netherlands on Parade Today New York Herald Tribune 1 1244875120 none; Porter Russell B. May 4, 1939 Poland's Pavilion at the Fair Dedicated by Count Potocki https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/04/archives/polands-pavilion-at-the-fair-dedicated-by-count-potocki-envoy.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times which helped increase children's attendance significantly.June 19, 1939 Fair 'Over the Top,' Whalen Holds, Predicting Unparalleled Success; Reply to Critics Is Seen in Report It Is 'Firing on All Cylinders'--Attendance Said to Run Within 1 Per Cent of Estimates https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/19/archives/fair-over-the-top-whalen-holds-predicting-unparalleled-success.html September 16, 2024 The New York Times24 Aug 1939 World's Fair Visited By 1,806,237 Children: 399,049 Came for 10 Cents; More 'Bargains' Urged New York Herald Tribune 11 1319988075 At La Guardia's behest,April 25, 1939 Fair to Admit School Pupils Of City Free New York Herald Tribune 1 1255498158 the New York City Board of Education operated guided tours in which school classes could visit the fair for free.Porter Russell B. June 29, 1939 Jersey Dedicates Fair Exhibit Recalling Revolution Role https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/29/archives/jersey-dedicates-fair-exhibit-recalling-revolution-role-new-jersey.html August 1, 2024 The New York Times The WFC opened more restaurants late that May.Porter Russell B. May 18, 1939 Russian Envoy Open Nation's Pavilion at Fair as a 'Good Neighbor' of U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/18/archives/russian-envoy-open-nations-pavilion-at-fair-as-a-good-neighbor-of.html July 29, 2024 The New York Times Several exhibitors alleged that labor unions had charged exorbitant prices for labor at the fair,Essary J. Fred 7 Jun 1939 Union Demands Beset Foreign Shows at Fair: Some Exhibitors Submit Lest Outcries Strain U. S. Relations Protest by New York Judge Against Actions Unavailing The Baltimore Sun 1 543079936 none; May 24, 1939 Fair Is Seeking To Cut Costs to Mollify Nevada: New Construction Bids Will Be Asked; Connecticut Joins Protest on Strikes New York Herald Tribune 16 1263426317 and, due to concerns over sexually explicit content, several of the fair's shows were raided.May 30, 1939 Censor Descends Upon 'Sexy' Shows; Fair Official Orders Five to Erase 'Vulgarity' and Tone Down Various Scenes https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/30/archives/censor-descends-upon-sexy-shows-fair-official-orders-five-to-erase.html September 16, 2024 The New York Times That June, the WFC established a committee to oversee the amusement area,28 June 1939 World's Fair Picks Comdr. Lammers to Head Committee Controlling Amusements: Move Climaxes Tightening Up On Play Center Shows Will Be Supervised Closely, and Broadway Standard Will Prevail New York Herald Tribune 11 1252002256 none; June 28, 1939 New Head Named for Amusements; Commander H.N. Lammers Is Expected to Maintain Same Standards as Broadway https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/28/archives/new-head-named-for-amusements-commander-hn-lammers-is-expected-to.html September 16, 2024 The New York Times and amusement concessionaires agreed to offer discounted ride tickets once a week.June 20, 1939 World's Fair Announces '5 and 10 Cent Days' for Children, Beginning Tomorrow New York Herald Tribune 13 1247836545 The WFC also sold discounted 50-cent tickets to organizations and businesses.August 12, 1939 Railroads Offer 50c Fair Gate Fee; Out-of-Town Guests May Buy Excursion Tickets Reducing Fare and Admission Rates https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/12/archives/railroads-offer-50c-fair-gate-fee-outoftown-guests-may-buy.html September 17, 2024 The New York Times12 Aug 1939 World's Fair Reduces Admission to 50 Cents for Rail Excursions of 500 or More: Roads Will Sell Tickets to Help Weekday Gate Exposition Prepares More Free Shows for Second of 50-Cent Week Ends New York Herald Tribune 26 1322112646 Lower-than-expected attendance prompted Whalen to fire hundreds of employees in July 1939,20 July 1939 New York World's Fair Slashes Pay of All Executives 10% Chicago Tribune 1 175589676 none; 19 July 1939 Fair Cuts Staff in Economy Move: Information Service Curtailed—Dismissed Guides Hold Celebration Tear Gold Braid, Badge From Uniforms and Wade in Pool The Baltimore Sun 1 543079427July 19, 1939 Fair Drops Hundreds of Workers; Cadets Leap Into Pool as Protest https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/19/archives/fair-drops-hundreds-of-workers-cadets-leap-into-pool-as-protest-all.html September 17, 2024 The New York Times and there were also proposals to reduce performers' salaries.Jul 19, 1939 Legitimate: Equity Now Likely to Scale Down Minimum Salaries at World's Fair Variety 40 135 6 1475961216 The same month, the WFC began selling discounted "combination tickets" with snacks and admission to multiple attractions,July 18, 1939 Fair Offers $1 Bargain Ticket, Worth $2.25 New York Herald Tribune 1 1252147099 none; Adams Frank S. July 18, 1939 $1 Bargain Ticket is Offered by Fair; Has $2.25 Week-End Value in Gate Fee, Food, Concessions --Plan on Trial This Week https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/18/archives/1-bargain-ticket-is-offered-by-fair-has-225-weekend-value-in-gate.html July 31, 2024 The New York Times as well as "bargain books", with food vouchers and admission tickets.July 25, 1939 Whalen Reports Satisfaction at Result of Plan New York Herald Tribune 7 1321995346 none; Adams Frank S. July 25, 1939 Utah at Fair Hails Mormon Pioneers; Observing Utah's Day at the World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/25/archives/utah-at-fair-hails-mormon-pioneers-observing-utahs-day-at-the.html August 1, 2024 The New York Times At the request of amusement-ride operators,17 July 1939 Whalen May Cut Admission To N.Y. World Fair to 50 Cents The Christian Science Monitor 2 515262894 none; July 16, 1939 Fair's Exhibitors Ask 50c Gate Fee; Attendance Rises; Committee Joins Play Zone in Urging Reduction to Serve as Inducement to Crowds https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/16/archives/fairs-exhibitors-ask-50c-gate-fee-attendance-rises-committee-joins.html September 17, 2024 The New York Times the WFC also considered reducing admission prices.July 29, 1939 World's Fair to Decide Monday on Cutting Admission Price to 50 Cents: Slash Favored By Concessions And Exhibitors Attendance, Despite Bargain Tickets, Is Disappointing; Maryland Has Its Day New York Herald Tribune 5 1324019681 none; Porter Russell B. July 29, 1939 Action Expected Monday on Cut in Fair's Rates https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/29/archives/action-expected-monday-on-cut-in-fairs-rates-decision-seen-near-on.html July 31, 2024 The New York Times At the beginning of August, admission was reduced during weekends,7 Aug 1939 Fair's 2-Day Paid Gate 400,473 On Its First 50-Cent Week End: Carnival Crowds Enjoy Pleasant Sunday Weather, Hear Swing Music All Over Grounds; Committee to Study Figures, Discuss All-Week Cut New York Herald Tribune 1 1324999284 none; August 7, 1939 Week-end Throngs Exceed Fair's Goal; Lower Fee Draws Crowd-- Long Lines Wait Before Popular Concessions https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/07/archives/weekend-throngs-exceed-fairs-goal-lower-fee-draws-crowd-long-lines.html September 17, 2024 The New York TimesAug 12, 1939 World's Fairs: New York World's Fair – Hope Fading for Full-week 50-cent Gate The Billboard 28 51 32 1032198816 and the WFC started selling discounted tickets at night. With daily attendance averaging 129,000—less than half the original estimate of 270,000—the WFC was unsure if the fair would run for another season.9 Aug 1939 Attendance Slim at World's Fair: Drawing Power Only Hull of What Promoters Predicted Daily Average 141,000 Below Estimate—Second-year Run Uncertain The Baltimore Sun 1 538578766 By mid-August, the WFC was asking bondholders to lend more money,16 Aug 1939 World's Fair Asks To Use Funds Held For Debentures: Also Proposes That Holders Waive Next $2,800,000 Accruing Under Indenture Contractors' Bills Overdue The Wall Street Journal 2 131214072 none; August 16, 1939 Fair Bonds Slump Sharply in Market; Break Follows News That Show Needs Cash for Debts https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/16/archives/fair-bonds-slump-sharply-in-market-break-follows-news-that-show.html September 18, 2024 The New York Times and the bondholders agreed to forgo their right to collect a portion of the fair's admission revenue.30 Aug 1939 World's Fair Debenture Holders Agree to Waive Payments Under New Fiscal Plan New York Herald Tribune 11 1319968323 none; August 30, 1939 Bondholders Back Fair's Fiscal Plan; 54% Waive Rights to Profits, and Proposal Goes Into Effect Immediately https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/30/archives/bondholders-back-fairs-fiscal-plan-54-waive-rights-to-profits-and.html September 18, 2024 The New York Times A writer for Variety magazine said local residents tended to avoid the fair's restaurants and that the amusement area deterred visitors with more refined tastes.Green Abel Aug 23, 1939 Restaurateurs' Private Probe on Why Class Spenders Shun N.Y. World's Fair Variety 1, 40 135 11 1475948859 In September 1939, the WFC began inviting foreign exhibitors to return for the second season,3 Sep 1939 Fair To Continue Year If Foreign Exhibits Remain The Hartford Courant C8 559228261 none; September 3, 1939 Fair in 1940 Revealed as a Certainty in Spite of the War Situation Abroad https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/03/archives/fair-in-1940-revealed-as-a-certainty-in-spite-of-the-war-situation.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times and it notified the city government of its intention to extend its lease.26 Sep 1939 Fair Will Start '40 Machinery Rolling Today: Will Tell Moses It Intends to Renew Lease and Move to Sign Up Exhibitors New York Herald Tribune 1 1258221519 none; September 26, 1939 Fair Will Take Up 1940 Option on Site; Board Meets Today to Renew Rights to Grounds—Formal Notice Deadline Is Oct. 1 https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/26/archives/fair-will-take-up-1940-option-on-site-board-meets-today-to-renew.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times The Carrier Corporation was the first industrial exhibitor to renew its lease.September 11, 1939 World's Fair Crowds Reflect War Influence by Flocking to Foreign Ceremonies: First Exhibitor Renews Space For Next Year New York Herald Tribune 13 1324138965 none; Shalett Sidney M. September 11, 1939 1940 Fair Receives Its First Renewal From Trade Area; Delighted by Increased Sales, Carrier Corporation Plans to Expand Its Display https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/11/archives/1940-fair-receives-its-first-renewal-from-trade-area-delighted-by.html August 2, 2024 The New York Times 11 Sep 1939 N.Y. World's Fair Officials Plan Second Year Program The Christian Science Monitor 2 515319659 While numerous foreign exhibitors curtailed their operations,September 12, 1939 Rhodesia Shuts Fair Exhibit as Result of War: France Curtails Operation of Her Pavilion 3 Hours Daily in Economy Move New York Herald Tribune 19 1325006175 none; Shalett Sidney M. September 12, 1939 Southern Rhodesia Quits World's Fair; Pavilion Is Closed on Orders From Government as the First 'War Casualty' https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/12/archives/southern-rhodesia-quits-worlds-fair-pavilion-is-closed-on-orders.html July 29, 2024 The New York Times Sep 30, 1939 New York World's Fair: 1940 Session Talk Continues, With 50c Gate Indicated The Billboard 26 51 39 1032201266 Whalen traveled to Europe, asking exhibitors to return for the following season.17 Sep 1939 Whalen Sails for Europe to Enlist Nations' Participation in World's Fair Next Year: Mayor at Dock, Asserts He May Make Tour, Too Trip to South America Not 'Definite'; Fine Weather Brings Big Attendance New York Herald Tribune 32 1259752892 none; Sep 23, 1939 World's Fairs: New York World's Fair – Paid Attendance The Billboard 28 51 38 1032210657September 17, 1939 Fair Lures Crowds From Hinterlands; Out-of-Town Visitors Increase as Exhibition Enters Its Final Six Weeks of 1939 https://www.nytimes.com/1939/09/17/archives/fair-lures-crowds-from-hinterlands-outoftown-visitors-increase-as.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times In the final weeks of the 1939 season, visitors increasingly came from outside the New York City area. The final week was celebrated with a Mardi Gras–themed festival.24 Oct 1939 World's Fair Begins Colorful Grand Finale With a Mardi Gras Week: Merry Parade For Children Sets the Tempo Torchlight Procession and Strolling Clowns Provide Atmosphere of Carnival New York Herald Tribune 17 1254172469 none; 23 Oct 1939 Week of Mardi Gras To Close New York Fair: League Plans for 1940 24,382,436 Admissions The Christian Science Monitor 3 514987136 When the first season ended on October 31, 1939,November 1, 1939 Fair Closes, 79,482 in Rain Say Au Revoir: Last Hardy Sightseers and Bargain Hunters TurnOut at Quiet Finale New York Herald Tribune 1 1267842853 none; Shalett Sidney M. November 1, 1939 1939 Fair Closes; Seen by 26,000,000; Plans Laid for '40; Last Day is Quiet https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/01/archives/1939-fair-closes-seen-by-26000000-plans-laid-for-40-last-day-is.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times the WFC had recorded 25,817,265 paying guests.October 28, 1940 Paid Total Exceeds 45.000,000: Season's Admissions Pass 19,000,000; Fun Zone Has 54-Minnle Blackout, Willi Parachutes Stalled 5 Minutes; Last-Day Crowds Gay New York Herald Tribune 1 1320080591Traube Leonard Jan 4, 1941 Fairs-Expositions: New York World's Fair The Billboard 44, 50 53 1 1032246303 Attendance had exceeded 100,000 on 114 days,9 Nov 1940 New York World's Fair The Billboard 31 52 45 1032227139 and the fair employed up to 25,000 people during that season.Shalett Sidney M. October 29, 1939 Fair Prepares to Hibernate; As Its First Year Draws to a Close, New York's Exposition Faces Many Tasks Before Reopening on May 25, 1940 Schedule Mapped Keeping Roads Open Storing the Exhibits From Foreign Countries https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/29/archives/fair-prepares-to-hibernate-as-its-first-year-draws-to-a-close-new.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times At the end of the first season, the WFC owed bondholders $23.5 million, and it had $1.13 million on hand.1 Nov 1939 World's Fair Cash On October 29 Totals $1,328,000, Says Gibson: Expects No Financial Problem to Interfere With 1940 Opening New Plans Underway The Wall Street Journal 9 130481799 none; 1 Nov 1939 'World of Tomorrow' Owes $23,000,000 but Is Success The Christian Science Monitor 1 515465669 In addition, the fair had handled 8.52 million phone calls and 3.3 million pieces of mail.1939-11-16 Fair Used Plenty of Water—Over 547,321,500 Gallons https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-eagle-fair-used-plenty-of-water/155152087/ 2024-09-12 Brooklyn Eagle 3 Around 150 fairgoers had been arrested during the first season,Sources variously cite the fair as having recorded 146,November 6, 1939 Mayor is Gratified by 'Crimeless Fair; Praises Police and Exposition for Low Number of Arrests https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/06/archives/mayor-is-gratified-by-crimeless-fair-praises-police-and-exposition.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times 147, or 158 arrests in 1939. only one of whom was charged with a felony.November 4, 1939 Only One Felony Reported at Fair; Queens Grand Jury Is Discharged https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/04/archives/only-one-felony-reported-at-fair-queens-grand-jury-is-discharged.html September 12, 2024 The New York TimesHughes Alice 15 Nov 1939 A Woman's New York: World's Fair Has Record of Only One Felony The Washington Post 15 151106961 none; 1939-11-04 Only 1 'Bad Egg' in Fair's 32 Million https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-eagle-only-1-bad-egg-in-fair/155151942/ 2024-09-12 Brooklyn Eagle 7 Off-season thumb|View of the fairground After the 1939 season ended, many exhibits were removed for safekeeping and the fairground's utilities were turned off.Compere Thomas 5 Nov 1939 World's Fair Quickly Folds Up Its Exhibits, Puts Them Away In Wait for the 1940 Season: Shows Operating Profit, Despite $24,000,000 Obligation New York Herald Tribune A4 1243147272 Most of the fair's 2,800 employees were reassigned to other positions, though the WFC hired a skeleton crew and allocated $3.3 million to maintain the fairground during the off-season. The FDNY and NYPD watched over the fairground, and many exhibitors also hired their own security guards.27 Oct 1939 Fair's $75,000,000 Property To Have Strong Winter Guard New York Herald Tribune 22 1252696086 Because of lower-than-expected attendance,Goodman Peter 15 June 1980 Dawn of a New Day,' exhibition of hove Newsday B19 964511165 the WFC agreed to reduce adult admission prices to 50 cents.November 2, 1939 World's Fair to Charge 50 Cents When It Reopens for '40 Season New York Herald Tribune 21 1319988416 none; Shalett Sidney M. November 2, 1939 50-cent Fair Rate is Fixed for 1940; Brazil to Return; Gibson Formally Announces Plan After a Conference With Concessionnaires https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/02/archives/50cent-fair-rate-is-fixed-for-1940-brazil-to-return-gibson-formally.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times The WFC agreed to redesign the Amusement Area to emphasize the rides there.21 Oct 1939 Fair Plans More Free Entertainment and Lower Prices for 1940 Amusement Area: Gibson Asserts Play Zone Will Be Made Gayer Sim Valley to Raise Scaling Capacity to 8,000; Town of Tomorrow to Return New York Herald Tribune 28 1319980584 none; October 21, 1939 World's Fair Aspires to the Title of 'People's Playground' Next Year https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/21/archives/worlds-fair-aspires-to-the-title-of-peoples-playground-next-year.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times none; Nov 4, 1939 World's Fairs: New York World's Fair – Fun Area Will Be Re-designed; New Head for Acc Soon The Billboard 30 51 44 1032207444 The corporation also tried to attract visitors within an overnight drive from New York City, rather than guests from further afield.Dec 26, 1939 World's Fair Busily Engaged In Preparations For 1940: Appeal Believed Likely To Be Concentrated On Drawing Patronage From Nearby Areas—To Facilitate Merchandise Tie-Ups. Women's Wear Daily 32 59 123 1653739369 At the requests of several U.S. state exhibitors,3 Oct 1939 Fair Exhibitors Seek Rent Cut The Christian Science Monitor 2 515321882 none; 6 Oct 1939 Fair Gets Plea By Exhibitors to Cut Rents in '40: Lack of Executive Committee Quorum Delays Action on Request by the States New York Herald Tribune 23 1257983497 the WFC halved rent rates for U.S. state pavilions during the second season.October 10, 1939 World's Fair Cuts Rentals for State Exhibits by Half for 1940 New York Herald Tribune 17 1254042233 none; Shalett Sidney M. October 10, 1939 Fair Rent Cut 50% for States in 1940; Exhibitors' Association Wins Demand—Move Is Held a Sign of Other Slashes https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/10/archives/fair-rent-cut-50-for-states-in-1940-exhibitors-association-wins.html August 1, 2024 The New York Times Despite the uncertainty caused by the ongoing war, many European countries expressed interest in returning.22 Dec 1939 Europe in the 1940 N.Y. Fair The Christian Science Monitor 6 515557035 none; Dec 29, 1939 Whalen Finds General Support In Europe For N. Y. World Fair Women's Wear Daily 6 59 126 1677144592 In January 1940, Finland became the first country to agree to reopen its pavilion,January 31, 1940 Finland Renews Fair Contract, First Nation to Sign Up for '40 New York Herald Tribune 1A 1243020377 none; January 31, 1940 Finland Joins the Fair, First From Abroad; Dec. 19 Agreement Withheld Because of War https://www.nytimes.com/1940/01/31/archives/finland-joins-the-fair-first-from-abroad-dec-19-agreement-withheld.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times while West Virginia was the first U.S. state to lease additional space.January 24, 1940 West Virginia Renews Lease on Fair Pavilion: Enlargement to Care for 12 Additional Exhibits New York Herald Tribune 21 1242942722 none; January 24, 1940 West Virginia Signs 1940 Fair Contract; First State to Take Advantage of 50 Per Cent Rent Cut https://www.nytimes.com/1940/01/24/archives/west-virginia-signs-1940-fair-contract-first-state-to-take.html August 1, 2024 The New York Times More than thirty nations had agreed to return by the end of the next month,27 Feb 1940 Fair Expecting 46 Nations in Foreign Section: 32 Already Signed, Success Is Assured, Says Whalen Finns and Poles to Show New York Herald Tribune 1 1267892570 none; February 27, 1940 Big Foreign Area Assured for Fair; 49 Exhibitors Due; 33 of Governments That Took Part in 1939 Have Accepted Bids, Whalen Discloses https://www.nytimes.com/1940/02/27/archives/big-foreign-area-assured-for-fair-49-exhibitors-due-33-of.html September 13, 2024 The New York TimesFebruary 25, 1940 31 Nations Accept World's Fair Bid The Christian Science Monitor 1 515525230 though 11 nationsMay 2, 1940 Fair Will Have 45 Exhibitors In Foreign Area: League and Pan American Union Included Europe Is Sending War Displays New York Herald Tribune 20 1264087284 and nine U.S. states withdrew.12 May 1940 Many Changes Greet Visitors to Court of States: 9 of 1939 Exhibits Gone, but Throngs Return to 12 Remaining in Area New York Herald Tribune 32 1242959026 Most commercial exhibitors agreed to reopen their exhibits.14 Nov 1939 New York Fair Of '40 Assured Of Big Displays The Christian Science Monitor 3 515586776 none; November 14, 1939 15 Big Exhibitors Sign for 1940 Fair; the World's Fair Gets Off to a Flying Start for the 1940 Season https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/14/archives/15-big-exhibitors-sign-for-1940-fair-the-worlds-fair-gets-off-to-a.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times Almost all major exhibitors with their own pavilions renewed their leases for the 1940 season, while most of the exhibitors who had withdrawn were more likely to be renting space from the WFC.January 13, 1940 Fair Confident Big Exhibitors Will All Return: 95% of Those Having Own Buildings Already Signed; New Play Area Planned New York Herald Tribune 9 1242911542 The fair was rebranded as the World's Fair 1940 in New York for its second season.9 Mar 1940 Now It's World's Fair 1940 in New York New York Herald Tribune 13 1335119437 The WFC decided to focus more heavily on amusement attractions,Schwartz Jerry April 23, 1989 N.Y.'s 1939 World's Fair: A Look Then at World We're Living in Now Los Angeles Times 2 280741436 and it added theaters and free shows.24 Feb 1940 Fair Planning Three Arenas For Jitterbugs: Merrie England to Go Collegiate, Old New York to Become Old New Orleans New York Herald Tribune 13 1243086631 The Amusement Area was reduced in size8 Dec 1939 Fair Planning Fun Center No One Can Miss: Midway Theme Scrapped; Smaller but Brighter Is Motif;' Chute Jump to Move New York Herald Tribune 21 1320022702 and rebranded as the "Great White Way", a reference to Broadway theatre.March 9, 1940 'Great White Way' New Fair Feature; Center of Fun in Amusement Zone to Be Brighter, More Colorful, Gibson Says https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/09/archives/great-white-way-new-fair-feature-center-of-fun-in-amusement-zone-to.html August 16, 2022 The New York Times March 9, 1940 Flanigan Says Exhibits at Fair Will Surpass '39: Announces New Attractions and Improvements Upon Displays and Buildings New York Herald Tribune 13A 1335119347 The transportation zone was renovated for more than $2 million.Compere Thomas 5 May 1940 Transportation Area at the Fair Gets $2,000,000 'Face Lifting' New York Herald Tribune A1 1243155648 Several exhibits were added or expanded,13 May 1940 Major Industrial Exhibitors of 1939 Back This Year With Added Features: Their Shows Brought Up to Date in Line With Rapid Scientific Developments The Wall Street Journal 7 131255344 none; Britten Dudley March 3, 1940 World's Fair Yawn's and Stirs; Shrouded Flushing Meadows, Preparing for Opening on May 11, Is Alive With Odd Rumors, Mysteries and Some Workmen https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/03/archives/worlds-fair-yawns-and-stirs-shrouded-flushing-meadows-preparing-for.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times and some pavilions were repaired.March 13, 1940 Boy Scouts to Aid at the Fair Again; Will Maintain Own Service Camp on Two-Acre Plot at the Exposition https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/13/archives/boy-scouts-to-aid-at-the-fair-again-will-maintain-own-service-camp.html August 1, 2024 The New York Times Low-cost eateries were also added.Le Tour M. April 19, 1940 New York World's Fair Soon to Reopen: Greenery in 'The World of Tomorrow' The Christian Science Monitor 3 515558146March 1, 1940 1940 Fair Stresses Low-cost Menus; 80 Restaurants, Cafeterias, Snack Bars to Serve Meals 'for Every Pocketbook' https://www.nytimes.com/1940/03/01/archives/1940-fair-stresses-lowcost-menus-80-restaurants-cafeterias-snack.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times The fair's construction superintendent estimated that the upgrades would cost $8 million.11 Mar 1940 $8,000,000 Being Spent on Fair; 3,000 Work on Improvements: Exposition Allots $3,000,000 to Construction and Alteration, Exhibitors $5,000,000; Lighting in Amusement Area To Be 'Ten Times' Brighter New York Herald Tribune 1 1259052517 The WFC began selling one million souvenir ticket books on April 11, 1940,11 Apr 1940 Mayor Will Buy First Tickets For Fair Today: Advance Sale of Family Books for $2.50 Beginning Throughout Country New York Herald Tribune 25 1243058843 none; April 11, 1940 U.S. Exhibit at Fair to Stress Housing; Separate New Display in Home Center Building to Be Ready for Opening May 11 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/11/archives/us-exhibit-at-fair-to-stress-housing-separate-new-display-in-home.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times and the next week, it began selling discounted tickets to students across the U.S.18 Apr 1940 School Tickets To Fair Go on Sale Thursday: Ten-Admission Book To Be Sold to Children for $1, Junior Season Pass$3.50 New York Herald Tribune 16 1258265560 none; April 18, 1940 Nation's Students Get Fair Bargain; Country-Wide Sale Announced --Reduced-Rate Tickets to Be Available Here Tuesday https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/18/archives/nations-students-get-fair-bargain-countrywide-sale-announced.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times By the end of April, all of the attractions in the Amusement Area had been leased,April 29, 1940 Fair Amusement Zone Sold Out, 90 Concessions on Its New List: Director Reports All Space Taken; Area Will Offer 3 Major Shows, 18 Smaller Ones and 15 Rides Among Other Attractions New York Herald Tribune 1 1266874326 none; April 29, 1940 Play Zone at Fair is '100% Sold Out'; Revitalized Great White Way Offers Livelier and Gayer Section Than Last Year https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/29/archives/play-zone-at-fair-is-100-sold-out-revitalized-great-white-way.html July 31, 2024 The New York Times and half a million advance tickets had been sold or ordered.30 Apr 1940 Advance Sales Of Fair Tickets Ahead of 1939: Million Family Books Are Half Sold; Out-of-Town Orders Increased 15% New York Herald Tribune 13 1254975041 none; April 30, 1940 Lively Ticket Sale Heartens the Fair; Advance Buying Far Ahead of 1939—New Plumbing Pact Expected to End Trouble https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/30/archives/lively-ticket-sale-heartens-the-fair-advance-buying-far-ahead-of.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times 1940 season Originally, the second season was supposed to open on May 25, 1940,18 Oct 1939 World Fair '40, Month Shorter, To Open May 25: Mardi Gras Next Week Will Climax '39 Season With 'Big Blaze,' Gibson Says New York Herald Tribune 1 1252349608 none; October 18, 1939 Fair to Shorten Its Season in 1940; Will Open on May 25 and Close on Oct. 27, or 29 Fewer Days Than This Year https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/18/archives/fair-to-shorten-its-season-in-1940-will-open-on-may-25-and-close-on.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times but following requests from organizations, the WFC agreed to open the fair two weeks earlier.7 Dec 1939 Fair Advances 1940 Opening Date to May 11: Gibson Announces Change From May 25 to Favor Delegates to Conventions World's Fair Welcomes 1940 a Few Weeks in Advance New York Herald Tribune 18A 1258409544 none; December 7, 1939 World Fair Opening Date Is Advanced to May 11 https://www.nytimes.com/1939/12/07/archives/world-fair-opening-date-is-advanced-to-may-11.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times The fair's police force was downsized due to low crime rates,30 Apr 1940 Fair Will Have Police Force of 300 This Year: Decrease of 200 Laid to Record of Few Crimes and Accidents in 1939 New York Herald Tribune 13 1254967669 and the overall number of staff was reduced to 5,500.1 May 1940 Fair Will Place 2,500 at Work Before May 11: All Jobs Are Now Filled; Stall for Opening Set at 5,500, Majority Rehired New York Herald Tribune 10 1255390776 According to Gibson, at least 40 million visitors needed to attend during 1940 for the WFC to break even.30 Apr 1940 World's Fair Bonds The Wall Street Journal 8 131265797 none; April 30, 1940 40,000,000 Attendance at 1940 Fair Needed To Pay Bondholders in Full, Gibson Says https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/30/archives/40000000-attendance-at-1940-fair-needed-to-pay-bondholders-in-full.html September 20, 2024 The New York TimesNichols Herbert B. 10 May 1940 New York Fair Goes 'Folksy' in Second Year Bid for Popular Acclaim The Christian Science Monitor 8 515258672 In contrast to the more formal atmosphere that had characterized the first season, the second season had a more informal, "folksy" atmosphere.Shalett Sidney M. May 19, 1940 Folksy World's Fair Off to a Good Start; 1940 Edition Shows Many Contrasts, With 1939 Formality Abandoned, But Old Favorites Carry On https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/19/archives/folksy-worlds-fair-off-to-a-good-start-1940-edition-shows-many.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times Additionally, the international area included exhibits from 43 countries, plus the Pan-American Union and League of Nations. Adults paid 50 cents, while children paid 25 cents;10 May 1940 Facts About the World's Fair New York Herald Tribune 16 1253151121 children's admission was reduced to 10 cents on "Children's Days". To entice people to attend the fair, several local business groups and hotels randomly gave 170 automobiles to visitors.April 27, 1940 Auto Is Offered As Daily Prize To Fair Visitors: N. Y. Hotels and Business Organizations Sponsors of 'Golden Key' Contest New York Herald Tribune 9A 1320021240 none; April 27, 1940 Fair to Give Away 170 Cars, One Daily; Biggest Crowd-Luring Device So Far to Use Millions of Keys as Prize 'Tickets' https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/27/archives/fair-to-give-away-170-cars-one-daily-biggest-crowdluring-device-so.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times The World's Fair reopened on May 11May 12, 1940 Rush to the Fair Taxes All City's Traffic Systems: Subways and L. I. Road Tag 5,175 Through in 1st 10 Minutes Parking Lots Busy Snip and the World's Fair of 40 Is Officially Open New York Herald Tribune 31 1242959008 none; Porter Russell B. May 12, 1940 '40 Fair Gets Off to Lively Start; 191,196 on Hand; The World's Fair of 1940 Opens, Dedicated to Peace and Freedom https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/12/archives/40-fair-gets-off-to-lively-start-191196-on-hand-the-worlds-fair-of.html July 3, 2024 The New York Times and recorded 191,196 visitors on that day.Rice William Cornish Dick 1940-05-19 Fair Throng Hears Ickes Draft F.D.R. https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-fair-throng-hears-ickes-draft/156012167/ 2024-09-25 Daily News 306 none; Porter Russell B. May 12, 1940 '40 Fair Gets Off to Lively Start; 191,196 on Hand; The World's Fair of 1940 Opens, Dedicated to Peace and Freedom https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/12/archives/40-fair-gets-off-to-lively-start-191196-on-hand-the-worlds-fair-of.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times Early in the 1940 season, the WFC sold off most of its outstanding debt from the previous season.29 May 1940 New York World's Fair 16-Days' Loss $10,631: Gibson Say's Results Satisfactory Considering Weather $650,000 of1939 Bills Liquidated The Wall Street Journal 5 131254649 none; 29 May 1940 Gibson Reveals Fair's Healthy Fiscal Position: $800,000 in Bank, Loss in Period of Bad Weather $10,163 Best Days Ahead New York Herald Tribune 5 131254649 By the end of June, revenue was lagging projections,Bird Robert S. June 29, 1940 Shake-up of Staff is Planned by Fair; Reduction in Personnel Not 'Wave of Economy,' Only Good Business, Gibson Asserts https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/29/archives/shakeup-of-staff-is-planned-by-fair-reduction-in-personnel-not-wave.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times so the WFC dismissed 500 employees.1940-07-04 Fair Drops 200, to Ease Strain of Slow Gate https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-fair-drops-200-to-ease-strai/156015638/ 2024-09-26 Daily News 20 none; Bracker Milton July 4, 1940 Turnstiles at Fair Click Record Tune; 'Supergirl and Superboy' at the Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1940/07/04/archives/turnstiles-at-fair-click-record-tune-supergirl-and-superboy-at-the.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times Due to an increase in federal tax rates, amusement concessionaires increased ticket prices.Bracker Milton July 1, 1940 Tax Rise Affects Fair's Play Zone; Levy Will Not Be Retroactive on Advance Sale of Tickets With Concession Rights https://www.nytimes.com/1940/07/01/archives/tax-rise-affects-fairs-play-zone-levy-will-not-be-retroactive-on.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times The fair's restaurateurs elected to pay the extra taxes rather than raise food prices.July 2, 1940 Most Bars at Fair to Absorb Tax Rise; Increase Generally Considered Too Small to Pass On https://www.nytimes.com/1940/07/02/archives/most-bars-at-fair-to-absorb-tax-rise-increase-generally-considered.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times On July 4, 1940, two NYPD officers investigating a time bomb at the British Pavilion died when the bomb detonated.5 July 1940 Bomb At World's Fair Kills Two, Five Hurt: Policemen Slain Removing Device The Hartford Courant 1 559343541 none; July 5, 1940 Police Die in Blast – Timed Device Explodes After It Is Taken Out of Pavilion https://www.nytimes.com/1940/07/05/archives/police-die-in-blast-timed-device-explodes-after-it-is-taken-out-of.html September 6, 2020 The New York Times Later the same month, the WFC began surveying the fair's buildings, with plans to demolish them.20 Jul 1940 Officials at Fair Begin a Survey For Demolition: Urge Exhibitors to Speed Contracts for Removal; Find Many Are Signed New York Herald Tribune 28 1255129646 In large part due to inclement weather, some concessionaires considered closing their attractions that August.Bird Robert S. August 10, 1940 Boom in Play Zone Heartens the Fair; Concessionnaires Hope to Do Better in Closing Months Than in All 1939 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/10/archives/boom-in-play-zone-heartens-the-fair-concessionnaires-hope-to-do.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times Attendance lagged by nearly 3 million compared with the previous season.Bird Robert S. August 3, 1940 Fair Starts Drive at Half-way Mark; Middle of Final Season Will Be Reached Tomorrow—Huge Poster Campaign Under Way https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/03/archives/fair-starts-drive-at-halfway-mark-middle-of-final-season-will-be.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times Bondholders agreed to waive $14.5 million of the WFC's debt.August 30, 1939 World's Fair Debenture Holders Agree to Waive Payments Under New Fiscal Plan New York Herald Tribune 11 1319968323 none; August 30, 1939 Bondholders Back Fair's Fiscal Plan; 54% Waive Rights to Profits, and Proposal Goes Into Effect Immediately https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/30/archives/bondholders-back-fairs-fiscal-plan-54-waive-rights-to-profits-and.html July 31, 2024 The New York Times The WFC also began selling off materials and memorabilia from the fair.Bracker Milton August 1, 1940 Fair's Equipment Put on Sales Block; Wealth of Unusual Material Cost $2,000,000 and Took 4 Years to Assemble https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/01/archives/fairs-equipment-put-on-sales-block-wealth-of-unusual-material-cost.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Daily attendance increased gradually, reaching 10 million visitors by the end of August;August 26, 1940 1940 Fair Exceeds Ten Million Mark; Cool Day Draws Third Biggest Throng for a Sunday This Year Despite Clouds https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/26/archives/1940-fair-exceeds-ten-million-mark-cool-day-draws-third-biggest.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times by then, Gibson said the fair had made over $2.5 million.September 7, 1940 $2,565,665 Profit Reported by Fair; Gibson Cites Figure to Refute Charge of Moses, Who Still Contends It Is 'Busted' https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/07/archives/2565665-profit-reported-by-fair-gibson-cites-figure-to-refute.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times The WFC had drawn up detailed plans for clearing the site by the beginning of October,October 4, 1940 Mall at the Fair to Remain in Park; Esplanade From Theme Center to the Court of Peace Will Not Be Demolished https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/04/archives/mall-at-the-fair-to-remain-in-park-esplanade-from-theme-center-to.html July 29, 2024 The New York Times and the corporation's executive leadership oversaw the site-clearing process.Sep 14, 1940 World's Fairs: New York World's Fair – Exec Branch in Charge of Teardown Job The Billboard 31, 61 52 37 1032238544 To promote the fair, hundreds of American newspapers printed discounted tickets;4 Oct 1940 Fair's Newspaper Day To Offer Ticket Bargain: Clippings to Entitle Holder to $1.50 Value Sunday New York Herald Tribune 20 1260785193 none; October 5, 1940 Bargain Ticket Offered; Special Program for Newspaper Day at Fair Tomorrow https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/05/archives/bargain-ticket-offered-special-program-for-newspaper-day-at-fair.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times the promotion attracted nearly 350,000 visitors on a single day.October 7, 1940 Cut-rate Tickets Jump Fair Crowds; a Sellout at a World's Fair Parking Lot https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/07/archives/cutrate-tickets-jump-fair-crowds-a-sellout-at-a-worlds-fair-parking.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times The city government also provided free tickets to adults who were receiving welfare payments through the Home Relief program.12 Oct 1940 Adults on Relief To Ride Free to Fair, Get In Free: Subway and Gale Tickets Will Go to 246,500 on City Rolls Next Week New York Herald Tribune 1 1320026228 By the middle of that month, the fair's second season had recorded a $4.15 million net profit.9 Oct 1940 Fair Has Profit Of $4,150,792 On Operations: Sets Aside SI, 635, 651 To Be Paid to Bondholders After Exposition Closes New York Herald Tribune 27 1261249892 none; October 9, 1940 Fair is Operating at $4,150,792 Gain; Gibson Says Trustees Hold Additional $1,635,651 to Retire Debentures https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/09/archives/fair-is-operating-at-4150792-gain-gibson-says-trustees-hold.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times In the fair's last week, the WFC hosted extravagant shows such as fireworks displays.20 Oct 1940 Fair Will Shut Gates Forever Next Sunday: Arranges 'Blaze of Old Glory Week to Crown World's Greatest Show Will Offer Biggest Fireworks Exhibit Trims Admission Costs; Razing Begins Oct. 28; Financial Picture Dark New York Herald Tribune A1 1247314716 none; October 19, 1940 Fair is Preparing a 'Week of Glory'; Series of Dazzling Events to Mark Its Final Days, With All Boroughs Taking Part https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/19/archives/fair-is-preparing-a-week-of-glory-series-of-dazzling-events-to-mark.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times The fair had 537,952 visitors on its final day, October 27, 1940.October 28, 1940 New York Fair Ends in Glory: Record Attendance of 537,952 Reported During Closing Day Los Angeles Times A 165220065; Shalett Sidney M. October 28, 1940 Rush as Fair Ends Brings Out 537,952, Its Biggest Crowd; Farewell to the Fair: Closing Scenes at the End of a Two-Year Run https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/28/archives/rush-as-fair-ends-brings-out-537952-its-biggest-crowd-farewell-to.html August 2, 2024 The New York Times The day afterward, passersby were allowed to tour the grounds for $2.27 Oct 1940 Fair Closing Tonight; Best Saturday Ever New York Herald Tribune 1 1243057250 none; Shalett Sidney M. October 27, 1940 Fair Closes Today on Festival Note; Grounds to Be Open Tomorrow to Visitors for $2 Fee—Big Throng Hears Willkie https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/27/archives/fair-closes-today-on-festival-note-grounds-to-be-open-tomorrow-to.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times In total, the fair had recorded 19,115,713 visitors during 1940, and attendance had exceeded 100,000 on only 59 days. The fair had attracted just over 45 million visitors across both seasons.Wood 2004 8 The 1940 season also recorded little crime, with 96 arrests; the July 4 bombing had been the only violent crime.October 28, 1940 High Standard Shown in Fair Police Record; No Discourtesy Charges Ever Made by Exhibit Visitors https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/28/archives/high-standard-shown-in-fair-police-record-no-discourtesy-charges.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times Fairground thumb|Map showing exhibit locations and transportation access The fairground was divided into seven geographic or thematic zones, five of which had "focal exhibits", and there were two focal exhibits housed in their own buildings.Monaghan 1939 46–47 The plan called for wide tree-lined pathways converging on the Trylon and Perisphere, the fair's symbol and primary theme center. The Trylon and Perisphere were the only structures on the fairground that were painted completely white;Conklin William R. July 10, 1938 New Sights at Fair; Visitors Now See, in Rising Structures, the Suggestions of Beauty That Is to Be Color Effects Police Are Guides Exhibition Buildings The Theme Center https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/10/archives/new-sights-at-fair-visitors-now-see-in-rising-structures-the.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times the buildings in the surrounding zones were color-coded.Robbins L. H. May 1, 1938 It Begins to Look Like a Great Fair! https://www.nytimes.com/1938/05/01/archives/it-begins-to-look-like-a-great-fair-out-on-transformed-flushing.html August 7, 2024 The New York TimesBletter Rosemarie Haag https://books.google.com/books?id=xpvSQ4w78IUC Remembering the Future: The New York World's Fair from 1939–1964 Queens Museum Rizzoli 1989 978-0-8478-1122-9 2 The fairground had 34 mi of sidewalks and 17 mi of roads, in addition to dozens of miles of sewers, water mains, gas mains, and electrical ducts. About 850 phone booths were scattered across the fairground.May 7, 1940 Fair's Phone Booth Fans, Too Popular in '39, Gone https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/07/archives/fairs-phone-booth-fans-too-popular-in-39-gone.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times There were 11 entrances to the grounds during the 1939 season, and 13 entrances during the 1940 season. Landscape features From the start, Moses wanted to convert the site into a park after the fair,May 15, 1939 Moses Visualizes Park After Fair; How World's Fair Site Will Look After It is Turned Into Huge Public Park https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/15/archives/moses-visualizes-park-after-fair-how-worlds-fair-site-will-look.html September 8, 2024 The New York Times and the fairground's landscape architect, Gilmore David Clarke, had designed the fairground with this expectation in mind.Stern Gilmartin Mellins 1987 . 730 The central portion of the old ash dumps became the main fairground, while the southern section of the dumps became the Amusement Area. The fairground used up to 400000 yd3 of topsoil, as well as salty, acidic soil dredged from the bottoms of the lagoons. The fairground included 250 acre of lawns and a wide range of topiary and deciduous trees.Patterson 1939 . 87–88 Around 10,000 trees were transplanted to the fairground,February 25, 1937 500 Large Trees Due This Spring On Site of Fair: Corporation Opens Bids for Moving, Replanting Job to Cost $100,000 55-Foot Elms on List Specimens Within 100 Miles Are Catalogued for Site New York Herald Tribune 12 1222252601 none; February 25, 1937 10,000 Live Trees Sought for Fair; Vast Forest to Be Transported to Barren Flushing Site Within Next 2 Years https://www.nytimes.com/1937/02/25/archives/10000-live-trees-sought-for-fair-vast-forest-to-be-transported-to.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times of which more than 97 percent survived the 1939 season.Johnston J. W. October 20, 1939 World's Fair Already at Work On Its Floral Displays for 1940 New York Herald Tribune 15 1258523692 There were no evergreen trees because it was not open during the winter, and the site also did not have rare plants.Patterson 1939 . 88 The fairground contained one million plants, one million bulbs, 250,000 shrubs, and 10,000 trees. The site had 7,000 American camassias, 48,000 scillas, and 50,000 narcissi, and there were several formal gardens as well, with roses, yew, and other plants.Harrington John W. March 27, 1938 Flowers at World's Fair; Although Opening Date Is Far Off, Trees, Shrubs and Bulbs Are Being Planted Gift From the Netherlands To Accent Building Colors Material for Formal Gardens https://www.nytimes.com/1938/03/27/archives/flowers-at-worlds-fair-although-opening-date-is-far-off-trees.html August 6, 2024 The New York Times In addition, the Netherlands donated one million tulip bulbs;Johnston J. W. May 14, 1939 Million Tulips in Fair Rainbow New York Herald Tribune A18 1243152807 none; April 25, 1939 Tulips in Fair Gardens Burst Into Bloom in Time https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/25/archives/tulips-in-fair-gardens-burst-into-bloom-in-time.html August 6, 2024 The New York Times Hughes Alice Alice Hughes (journalist) March 26, 1939 A Woman's New York: Gardens and Flowers Abound at World's Fair Landscaping Expenditures Amount to $150,000 The Washington Post 11 151216843 as part of an agreement with the Dutch government, the tulips were destroyed and replaced with summertime plantings the month after the 1939 season opened.May 26, 1939 Holland Tulip Bulbs at Fair Being Burned; As Plants Are Taken Up They Are Replaced by Other Plants https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/26/archives/holland-tulip-bulbs-at-fair-being-burned-as-plants-are-taken-up.html August 6, 2024 The New York Times The Washington Post estimated that the WFC spent some 150000 1939 -3 no on plants at the fair. There were also around 50 landscaped gardens.McLaughlin Kathleen May 3, 1939 50 Gardens Lure Throngs at Fair; Gardens on Parade in the Horticultural Exhibition at the World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/03/archives/50-gardens-lure-throngs-at-fair-gardens-on-parade-in-the.html August 6, 2024 The New York Times Some of these fountains included water features such as fountains, pools, and brooks.Greeves-Carpenter C.F. July 30, 1939 Use of Water at World's Fair Holds Hints for Gardeners https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/30/archives/use-of-water-at-worlds-fair-holds-hints-for-gardeners-design-for.html September 17, 2024 The New York Times For the 1940 season, annuals and trees were added instead of the tulips,Johnston J. W. 20 Oct 1939 World's Fair Already at Work On Its Floral Displays for 1940: Tulips, Ruled Out by Later Opening Date, Will Be Replaced by Other Types; Trees to Remain, a Monument to Transplanting Record New York Herald Tribune 15 1258523692 and a woodland garden was added.Dustan Alice L. May 26, 1940 A Restful Woodland Garden Created for the World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/26/archives/a-restful-woodland-garden-created-for-the-worlds-fair-a-wildwood.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times Despite the fair's futuristic theme, the fairground's layout—with streets radiating from the theme center—was heavily inspired by classical architecture. Some streets were named after notable Manhattan thoroughfares or American historical figures, while others were named based on their function.June 21, 1938 World's Fair Uses Manhattan Street Names: But There Will Re a Main as Well as Broadway and Times Square; Also Plaza of Light and Peace Court New York Herald Tribune 12 1244331675 none; June 21, 1938 Fair Adopts Names of Noted Streets; Broadway and Petticoat Lane Among Those Representative of Old New York https://www.nytimes.com/1938/06/21/archives/fair-adopts-names-of-noted-streets-broadway-and-petticoat-lane.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times A central esplanade called Constitution Mall was planned as part of the fairground,Deschin Jacob October 12, 1938 It Won't Be Long Now: Today's Vision of Tomorrow, as Depicted in New York's World's Fair Promises Heaping Measure of Enlightenment and Diversion The Christian Science Monitor WM8 514938936 running between the Grand Central Parkway to the west and Lawrence Street to the east.December 12, 1937 Mile-long Mall Feature of Fair; $60,000,000 Central Walk in Flushing to Pass Lagoons, Statuary and Flower Beds https://www.nytimes.com/1937/12/12/archives/milelong-mall-feature-of-fair-60000000-central-walk-in-flushing-to.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times A curving road named Rainbow Avenue connected the color-coded zones. At the eastern end of the mall was the Central Mall Lagoon, an 800 ft m -long mid elliptical lake with fountains. In the southern half of the fairground, the Flushing River was dredged to create Meadow and Willow lakes.Siegel Sarah 2006 Flushing the Meadows – relaxing a post-World's Fair urban landscape http://iflaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IFLA_2006_Winners.pdf dead https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://iflaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IFLA_2006_Winners.pdf October 9, 2022 March 31, 2017 International Federation of Landscape Architects 3 Several of the fair's fountains had illuminated water jets with gas burners.Whalen 1939 . 27 Nightly light shows, with music, took place at the Lagoon of Nations as well. Pavilions and attractions 1939 New York World's Fair pavilions and attractions Pavilions and attractions generally fell into one of three categories: exhibits sponsored by either the WFC or private companies, government exhibits, and amusement attractions. The WFC subleased the land to exhibitors, charging different rates based on the sites' proximity to major paths. There were 1,500 exhibitors on the fair's opening day, representing about 40 industries. The fair had about 375 buildings,Other sources give figures as low as 150 or 200 buildings. of which 100 were developed by the WFC.Stern Gilmartin Mellins 1987 . 731 The commission reserved about 500,000 ft2 for its own structures. The buildings included design features such as domes, spirals, buttresses, porticos, rotundas, tall pylons, and corkscrew-shaped ramps.August 14, 1938 Bold and Streamlined Beauty for the Fair; The Buildings Reveal Strange, New Designs https://www.nytimes.com/1938/08/14/archives/bold-and-streamlined-beauty-for-the-fair-the-buildings-reveal.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Hamlin 1938 . 675 Many buildings' steel frames were bolted together so they could be easily disassembled.MacGregor Donald 20 Oct 1940 Taking the World's Fair Apart: the Last Visitor Walks Out. The Wreckers Stalk in-- to Turn a World of Fantasy Into a Playground for All Time New York Herald Tribune SM8 1247324294 Most of the attractions were in the central exhibit area, covering 390 acre. Because the fairground was built atop swampy land, many of the largest buildings were placed on steel-and-concrete decks, pilings, or caissons.October 26, 1936 70 Feet of Mud Found Beneath World Fair Site: Floating Steel 'Saucers' Planned to Support Some of Projected Structures Huge Caissons Proposed Important Buildings Due to Rest on 'Bridge' Piers New York Herald Tribune 18 1222131162Whalen 1939 . 29 The pavilions were mostly illuminated by artificial light fixtures,November 3, 1937 Whalen Describes New Lighting Developed For World's Fair Women's Wear Daily 23–24 55 88 1699951135 including fluorescent lighting tubes, mercury lamps, and fluorescent pylons.April 11, 1939 World's Fair Lights Turned On, Make Site a Dreamland of Color New York Herald Tribune 1A 1244864830 The fairground also had a marina, as well as hundreds of fountains, toilets, and benches. Zones right vertical 220 World Fair 1939 LOC gsc.5a03061.jpg Ford pavilion RCA Exhibit Building 1939 World's Fair Postcard 2007.016 front.tif RCA Exhibit Building The Trylon and Perisphere theme center, designed by Wallace Harrison and Max Abramovitz,https://books.google.com/books?id=M39XAAAAYAAJ House & Garden Condé Nast Publications 1989 161 36 consisted of a 610 ft m -tall mid tower and a 180 ft m -wide mid sphere.Harrison Helen A. Cusker Joseph P. Dawn of a New Day: The New York World's Fair, 1939/40 Queens Museum 1980 978-0-9604514-0-1 79 https://www.archive.org/details/dawnofnewdaynewy0000unse/page/79 registrationThe Trylon was originally designed to be 700 ft tall, and the Perisphere was originally supposed to be 200 ft in diameter.December 11, 1940 Fair's Perisphere Stripped of Glory; Workman Start Tearing Down Huge Structure—Trylon to Be Taken Down Next https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/11/archives/fairs-perisphere-stripped-of-glory-workman-start-tearing-down-huge.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times North of the theme center was the Communications and Business Systems Zone.Exposition Publications 1939 57Cotter 2009 39 The Community Interest Zone, immediately to the east,Cotter 2009 79 showcased several trades or industries that were popular among the public at the time.Monaghan 1939 85–101 The Government Zone occupied the east end of the fair; it contained a centrally located Court of Peace, a Lagoon of Nations, and a smaller Court of States.Monaghan 1939 116–117 Southwest of the Government Zone was the Food Zone, composed of 13 buildings related to that industry.Exposition Publications 1939 90 The Production and Distribution Zone was dedicated to showcasing industries that specialized in manufacturing and distribution.Monaghan 1939 175Cotter 2009 87 The Transportation Zone was located west of the Theme Center, across the Grand Central Parkway,Cotter 2009 25 connected to the rest of the fairground by two crossings. The Transportation Zone included large exhibits for the motor-vehicle aviation, railroad, and maritime industries.February 1, 1938 The World's Fair Today: Facts And Figures Women's Wear Daily 5, 31 56 22 1653752142 The Amusement Area was located south of the World's Fair Boulevard, on a horseshoe-shaped site surrounding Meadow Lake, and it was divided into more than a dozen themed zones.December 6, 1937 World's Fair Amusement Zone To Be Laid Out in 13 Sections New York Herald Tribune 2 1222355795 none; December 6, 1937 New York of Old Will Rise at Fair; Village Depicting the Life of Century Ago Will Be Part of Amusement Area https://www.nytimes.com/1937/12/06/archives/new-york-of-old-will-rise-at-fair-village-depicting-the-life-of.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times The Amusement Area contained numerous bars, restaurants, miniature villages, musical programs, dance floors, rides, and arcade attractions.March 12, 1939 New York World's Fair Votes To Undress Its Attractions: Nudity And Gayety To Be Stressed In Spending Of New $1,000,000 Appropriation The Baltimore Sun 1 538442241 Standalone exhibits and structures Two focal exhibits were not located within any zone. The first was the Medical and Public Health Building on Constitution Mall and the Avenue of Patriots (immediately northeast of the Theme Center), which contained several halls dedicated to health.Exposition Publications 1939 132–133June 17, 1937 World Fair Group to Glorify Health; $1,000,000 Project Planned to Show Wonders of Body and Medicine's Aids https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/17/archives/world-fair-group-to-glorify-health-1000000-project-planned-to-show.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The other was the Science and Education Building, just north of the Medical and Public Health Building.Monaghan 1939 196–197 The administration building was at the western end of the fairground,August 13, 1937 Office Building Opens For World's Fair Today: 600 of Administration Staff Start Work There Monday World's Fair Administration Building Ready for Occupancy on Monday New York Herald Tribune 36 1247045732 none; August 13, 1937 Structure at Fair Dedicated Today; Administration Building, First to Be Completed, to Be Scene of Noon Ceremony https://www.nytimes.com/1937/08/13/archives/structure-at-fair-dedicated-today-administration-building-first-to.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times and there was also a Manufacturers Trust bank branch.September 24, 1938 State Banking Rulings; Manufacturers Trust to Open Branch at World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/24/archives/state-banking-rulings-manufacturers-trust-to-open-branch-at-worlds.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Transportation alt=The Willets Point station on the Flushing Line|thumb|The Willets Point station on the Flushing Line was rebuilt for the fair.January 9, 1938 Work Is Begun On I. R.T. Station At World's Fair: Willets Point Structure in Flushing Being Rebuilt at Cost of $494.000 To Serve 40 Trains an Hr. $260,000 Signal System Is Planned for Expresses New York Herald Tribune 17 1240588402 none; January 9, 1938 New I.R.T. Station for Fair Started; Willets Point Structure on Flushing Line to Be Rebuilt at Cost of $494,000 https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/09/archives/new-irt-station-for-fair-started-willets-point-structure-on.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20221019231822/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/09/archives/new-irt-station-for-fair-started-willets-point-structure-on.html October 19, 2022 October 19, 2022 The New York Times Several public transit lines were built or upgraded to serve the fair.October 26, 1936 Traffic Plans For World Fair Are Announced: Present Lines to Transport' 250,000 to 800,000 Daily Visitors New York Herald Tribune 18 1248170581 none; October 26, 1936 Fair Traffic Studied; Whalen Says Problem Equals That of a City Like Cleveland. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/26/archives/fair-traffic-studied-whalen-says-problem-equals-that-of-a-city-like.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The Independent Subway System's (IND) World's Fair Line, specially built for the exposition,April 17, 1939 B. M. T., I. R. T. Express Trains Start April 24: Subways Will Make Run to Willets Point Boulevard Station in 24 Minutes New York Herald Tribune 6 1254731448 none; April 17, 1939 New Subway Spur Is Ready to Open: First Train to Start Four Minutes Before the Fair Officially Begins https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/17/archives/new-subway-spur-is-ready-to-open-first-train-to-start-four-minutes.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20230930164826/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/04/17/91568218.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false September 30, 2023 July 7, 2015 The New York Times was dismantled after the fair ended.October 28, 1940 City Subway Line to Fair Closes at 5 A.M. Today https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/28/archives/city-subway-line-to-fair-closes-at-5-am-today.html July 3, 2024 The New York Times The Willets Point station on the Flushing Line was rebuilt to handle fair traffic on the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) and Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit (BMT) systems.February 18, 1939 Ride to Fair to Cost 10 Cents: City to Set Rate for Independent Branch Line to Cover Expense of Building It http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252018%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201939%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Sun%25201939%2520-%25201620.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fde44a7dab3a5cdcb3dc94bd10f844586#page=1 live https://web.archive.org/web/20211013181213/https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%2018%2FNew%20York%20NY%20Sun%2FNew%20York%20NY%20Sun%201939%2FNew%20York%20NY%20Sun%201939%20-%201620.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fde44a7dab3a5cdcb3dc94bd10f844586#page=1 October 13, 2021 July 31, 2016 The New York Sun 21 Fultonhistory.com A special fleet of 50 World's Fair Lo-V subway cars were built,March 3, 1938 I. R. T. Will Buy 50 New Cars for Express to Fair: Bids Asked on Equipment for Special Service on Line Running to Flushing New York Herald Tribune 19 1243080430 none; March 3, 1938 50 New Subway Cars to Be Added for Fair; I. R. T. Asks Bids for Equipment for Service From Times Square and Grand Central https://www.nytimes.com/1938/03/03/archives/50-new-subway-cars-to-be-added-for-fair-i-r-t-asks-bids-for.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20221019231823/https://www.nytimes.com/1938/03/03/archives/50-new-subway-cars-to-be-added-for-fair-i-r-t-asks-bids-for.html October 19, 2022 October 19, 2022 The New York Times and the existing Q-type Queens subway cars were rebuilt to provide additional service on the Flushing Line.Electric Railroaders Association https://books.google.com/books?id=oJUjAQAAMAAJ ERA Headlights Electric Railroaders Association. 1969 6 A Long Island Rail Road station (now Mets–Willets Point) was built next to the Flushing Line station. In addition, Queens-Nassau Transit Lines bought 55 buses to serve passengers heading to the fairground,March 3, 1937 Buses for World's Fair The Wall Street Journal 4 129839745 none; March 3, 1937 Buys 55 Buses for Fair; Queens-Nassau Lines to Replace Jamaica-Flushing Trolleys https://www.nytimes.com/1937/03/03/archives/buys-55-buses-for-fair-queensnassau-lines-to-replace.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and a water taxi service traveled to the fair from City Island, Bronx.January 8, 1939 Service to World's Fair; City Island Arranges Express Transportation for Yachtsmen https://www.nytimes.com/1939/01/08/archives/service-to-worlds-fair-city-island-arranges-express-transportation.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times There were also several modes of transit traveling around the fairground itself. General Motors manufactured 100 buses specifically for the fair;July 20, 1938 Huge Buses to Run at World's Fair; Greyhound Intramural System to Operate 100 of the Largest Ever Built https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/20/archives/huge-buses-to-run-at-worlds-fair-greyhound-intramural-system-to.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Exposition Greyhound Lines operated the buses, which connected with each of the fairground's entrancesApril 30, 1939 Buses to Cover 10-Mile Route Within Grounds: Tractor Trains and Chair 'Taxis' Also Will Carry Visitors Over 1,216 Acres New York Herald Tribune 34 1244862453April 30, 1939 How to Get Around the Fair; Pick-up Buses https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/30/archives/how-to-get-around-the-fair-pickup-buses.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times and operated along seven routes.May 14, 1939 Fair Postpones Formal Start of Its Play Area: Fete Set for Next Saturday; Attendance Holds Up in Face of All-Day Drizzle Ireland's Pavilion Officially Opened After Dedication New York Herald Tribune 24 1243118184 There were also tractor trains that traveled along the fairground's paths, as well as tour buses that gave one-hour-long tours of the fair. In addition, visitors could rent one of 500 rolling chairs, each of which had space for one or two people. Boats also traveled around Fountain Lake (now Meadow Lake), stopping at seven piers. For a fee, visitors could ride a 40-passenger motorboat across Meadow Lake to the Florida pavilion.July 13, 1939 Fine Weather Increases Crowd; Children Parade on Special Day New York Herald Tribune 9 1319982825 Several highways and roads were widened or extended in advance of the World's Fair.November 3, 1937 $31,000,000 Road Building Under Way for Fair https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-31000000-road-building-und/152138223/ July 27, 2024 Daily News 705 Markers were placed throughout the city to direct motorists to the fairground,Markland John January 1, 1939 Making Fair Accessible; Many Steps Are Taken to Smooth the Path of Summer Visitors https://www.nytimes.com/1939/01/01/archives/making-fair-accessible-many-steps-are-taken-to-smooth-the-path-of.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times and several highways were outfitted with amber lights.February 7, 1939 Amber Globes on City Highways Will Light Way to World's Fair New York Herald Tribune 1 1244893835 none; February 7, 1939 Amber Road Lights Will Lead to Fair; 3,500 Special Globes Will Be Set Up Along Ninety Miles of Arterial Highways https://www.nytimes.com/1939/02/07/archives/amber-road-lights-will-lead-to-fair-3500-special-globes-will-be-set.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times Maps also touted the fairground's proximity to five airports and seaplane bases.July 25, 1937 Map for World's Fair Shows Ring of Airports: Five Terminals and Seaplane Bases Are Near Exposition New York Herald Tribune 22A 1248455293Namely Floyd Bennett Field, Flushing Airport, Holmes Airport, North Beach Airport, and Port Washington Seaplane Airport. During the fair, the Civil Aeronautics Authority temporarily banned most planes from flying over the fairground, except for planes taking off or arriving at the nearby airports.April 26, 1939 World's Fair Area Is Barred to Planes by Aeronautics Authority to Promote Safety New York Herald Tribune 13 1244877009 none; April 26, 1939 Flying Over World Fair Banned by Air Authority https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/26/archives/flying-over-world-fair-banned-by-air-authority.html August 2, 2024 The New York Times Culture Themes and icons The fair was themed to "the world of tomorrow". The colors blue and orange, the official colors of New York City, were chosen as the official colors of the fair.https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/new-york-city/item/5591 World's Fair Hat Design The New York Public Library June 13, 2024 The fair's official seal depicted the Statue of Liberty with her torch, which was available in multiple color schemes.October 31, 1936 Goddess of Liberty Design Is Chosen for '39 Fair Seal: Like Statue, Holding Torch; Engineers Insist Site's Foundations Are Safe New York Herald Tribune 38 1240474110 none; October 30, 1936 World Fair Adopts Seal of Liberty https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-world-fair-adopts-seal-of-li/152067102/ July 26, 2024 Times Union 18 The fair's official flag was originally a triband with a blue bar flanked by orange bars; there was a white seal in the center of the blue bar.January 5, 1937 '39 World's Fair Flag Dedicated; Colors Flown by Early Settlers: Orange, White and Blue Emblem Recalls Standard That Waved Over Homes of New Amsterdam; Mrs. Astor, Aldrich to Pick 10,000 Aids New York Herald Tribune 2 1222210826 none; January 5, 1937 Truck Driver Buys $100 Share in Fair; Whalen Sells Bond to Employe at Ceremony as Symbol of Wide Public Support. https://www.nytimes.com/1937/01/05/archives/truck-driver-buys-100-share-in-fair-whalen-sells-bond-to-employe-at.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times Another theme of the fair was the emerging new middle class. The Westinghouse Electric Corporation produced the film The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair, which depicted a fictional Midwestern family, the Middletons, taking in the fair.Wood 2004 954 Oct 1939 Film Reviews: Middleton Family at The N. Y. World's Fair Variety 47 136 4 1476011805 The Perisphere's Democracity exhibition envisioned middle-class "Pleasantvilles" arranged around a central hub. Arts Music The WFC established a music advisory committee for the fair in 1937, which was led by the conductor Allen Wardwell.July 4, 1937 Musical Plans For World Fair Are Confirmed; Full Committee Is Listed by Whalen; Mrs. Astor and Marshall Field Included New York Herald Tribune 15 1250042230 none; July 4, 1937 Music Plans Made for World's Fair; Allen Wardwell Heads Large Committee of Musicians and Music Patrons https://www.nytimes.com/1937/07/04/archives/music-plans-made-for-worlds-fair-allen-wardwell-heads-large.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times The music advisory committee proposed hosting a festival at the fairground and other places in New York City.June 27, 1937 Music Festival Is Planned for '39 World Fair: Auditorium on Grounds Proposed by Committee for Artists of All Nations New York Herald Tribune 1A 1318088972 none; Downes Olin June 27, 1937 Plans for the Fair in 1939; a Mozart Rondo https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/27/archives/plans-for-the-fair-in-1939-a-mozart-rondo.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times About 500 groups signed up to perform at the fair,June 30, 1940 Making Music at the World's Fair; Bands, Choruses and Recorded Music Are Among Offerings https://www.nytimes.com/1940/06/30/archives/making-music-at-the-worlds-fair-bands-choruses-and-recorded-music.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times and music festivals also took place at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan.December 27, 1938 New York Fair Plans Festival Of Opera, Symphony and Ballet The Christian Science Monitor 3 514777456 New York Times music critic Olin Downes was the fair's music director;February 18, 1938 Olin Downes to Direct World's Fair's Music New York Herald Tribune 11 1242874761 none; February 19, 1938 Olin Downes, Critic, Heads World's Fair Music Plans Chicago Daily Tribune 14 182006335 he selected Hugh Ross to organize recitals and concerts at the Temple of Religion.McAll Reginald L. February 1, 1939 Great Church Music Program at Exposition https://www.thediapason.com/sites/thediapason/files/193902TheDiapason.pdf dead The Diapason 30 3 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20221221054604/https://www.thediapason.com/sites/thediapason/files/193902TheDiapason.pdf December 21, 2022 November 4, 2022 Eugene La Barre led the World's Fair band, which was composed of 56 musicians,October 24, 1940 Fair Band to Enter Radio, Concert Work; La Barre Group to Play Also at Willkie Rally Here https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/24/archives/fair-band-to-enter-radio-concert-work-la-barre-group-to-play-also.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times and the WFC held a competition to select three songs for the band to perform.April 16, 1939 World's Fair Opens Contest For Composers: Seeks Three Works for the Band; Musicians of All Countries Eligible New York Herald Tribune E6 1243117672 Unlike in the 1939 season, the fair had no organized music program during 1940. Instead, the fair's orchestra played songs on request during 1940; on an average day, they received more than 1,200 requests and played over 200 songs. Several theme songs were written for the fair, none of which caught on.Aug 16, 1939 Music-Dance-Bands: No World Fair Song Hit, Yet Variety 33 135 10 1475961670 William Grant Still recorded the song "Rising Tide",August 4, 1938 Theme Song For World's Fair Written By Negro Composer Philadelphia Tribune 1 531503663Cotter 2009 18 a three-minute tune that was played continuously during the 1939 season.Young William H. https://books.google.com/books?id=KbjOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 Music of the World War II Era Young Nancy K. Bloomsbury Publishing 2007 978-0-313-08427-0 American History through Music 184 August 8, 2024 "Dawn of a New Day", one of George Gershwin's final songs, was also recorded for the fair.September 10, 1938 World's Fair Theme Song To Be Recorded By Duke Ellington The Pittsburgh Courier 20 202039322 none; April 24, 1938 World Fair March is Gershwin Tune; ' Dawn of a New Day, Among Last of the Composer's Works, Adopted -as Anthem Song a "Fortunate Accident" https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/24/archives/world-fair-march-is-gershwin-tune-dawn-of-a-new-day-among-last-of.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times La Barre's "For Peace and Freedom" was selected as the 1940 season's theme song.February 3, 1940 Fair's Theme Song Has Its Premiere; 'For Peace and Freedom' Sung at Mayor's Luncheon-- Written by LaBarre https://www.nytimes.com/1940/02/03/archives/fairs-theme-song-has-its-premiere-for-peace-and-freedom-sung-at.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times Films and stage shows The fair hosted eight musical shows during the 1939 season and seven musicals during 1940.Pihodna Joseph 14 Apr 1940 The Playbill: Three New Musicals Planned for Spring Season, Which Will Make Seven Musicals in All, When World's Fair Re-opens New York Herald Tribune E1 1243026384 For instance, Billy Rose staged his Aquacade musical,July 2, 1938 Billy Rose Plans Extravaganza At World's Fair: $500,000 Production, With 1,000 in Cast, to Employ Modern American Theme in Five Showings Daily New York Herald Tribune 4 1257833449 none; Atkinson Brooks May 5, 1939 The Play; Billy Rose's Aquacade Opens With a Splash in the Lake at the World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/05/archives/the-play-billy-roses-aquacade-opens-with-a-splash-in-the-lake-at.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times and the fair had a musical pageant called the American Jubilee.May 12, 1940 Jubilee and Aquacade Open With Big Audiences https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/12/archives/jubilee-and-aquacade-open-with-big-audiences.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times Exhibitors screened 612 films during the first season.Wasson 2012 . 92 The fair had 34 auditoriums during the 1939 season, which were operated by the governments of 19 nations, industrial exhibitors, and city-government agencies. During the 1940 season, the fairground had 30 cinemas with an estimated 6,200 seats.Weisberg Leonard May 11, 1940 52,000 Amusement Seats at New York Fair; 6,200 House Films Shown Without Charge Boxoffice 4, 26 36 25 1505787270 The fair showcased not only feature films but also non-theatrical motion pictures, including both silent films and sound films.May 25, 1940 Non-Theatrical Films: Non-Theatrical Films Splurge At the New York World's Fair; Both Silent and Sound Are Used The Billboard 27 52 21 1032214779 These motion pictures were all shot on 16 mm and 35 mm film. Visual art and sculpture alt=The artist Abraham Lishinsky and his assistants working on a mural for the World's Fair|thumb|Some buildings had mural decorations. Pictured is the painter Abraham Lishinsky and his assistants working on one such mural. From the outset, the fairground was planned to include decorations,June 15, 1937 Color and Murals Figure in Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/15/archives/color-and-murals-figure-in-fair.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times particularly large murals, sculptures, and reliefs.Hamlin 1938 . 678–679 Initially, however, there were no plans to exhibit contemporary art at the fair.Graeme Alice March 27, 1938 World's 'Fair's' Snub to Artists Sets Off Debate: New York Show Scored for Omitting to Plan an Exhibition The Washington Post TT4 151070539 After observers criticized the fair's lack of formal art galleries, Whalen agreed to include a community art center,January 31, 1938 Whalen Reveals Art Center Plan At World's Fair: Studio Displays, to Present Stages in Production of Works, Are Proposed New York Herald Tribune 9 1243712934 none; January 31, 1938 1939 Fair to Take Art 'Off Olympus'; Painting and Sculpture to Be Blended in Surroundings for All to See, Says Whalen https://www.nytimes.com/1938/01/31/archives/1939-fair-to-take-art-off-olympus-painting-and-sculpture-to-be.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times and the WFC also held art competitions for muralists and sculptors. Eight hundred contemporary American artworks of the 48 states were exhibited at the fair during 1939,October 30, 1938 World Fair Art To Be Picked at Regional Shows: 800 Contemporary Works To Be Chosen at Displays Covering Entire Nation; Artists Limited to One New York Herald Tribune 18 1244650647 none; August 15, 1938 Fair to Display All Types of Art; Every Artist in Nation Is Invited https://www.nytimes.com/1938/08/15/archives/fair-to-display-all-types-of-art-every-artist-in-nation-is-invited.html August 23, 2024 The New York Times and a rotating display of American art was showcased in 1940.Graeme Alice 21 Jul 1940 Art Exhibit at World's Fair to Be Rotated: More Stimulating Display Assured Visitors This Year The Washington Post D7 151262997 At the Masterpieces of Art building, there were hundreds of rare paintings.April 22, 1939 World's Fair Announces List of Art Works To Be Shown in $30,000,000 Exhibition: Rare Paintings Of 7 Centuries Will Be on View New York Herald Tribune 6 1255114857 none; Linn Thomas C. June 5, 1939 Rare Paintings Put on Display in a Ceremony at the World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/05/archives/rare-paintings-put-on-display-in-a-ceremony-at-the-worlds-fair-art.html September 16, 2024 The New York Times During the 1940 season, even more paintings were shown.May 10, 1940 Fair Exhibition to Get More Master Paintings: Works by Rembrandt, Hals and Velasquez Assured New York Herald Tribune 16 1253183292 none; May 10, 1940 More Paintings Lent for Fair's Art Show; Works by Rembrandt, Hals and El Greco Among Them https://www.nytimes.com/1940/05/10/archives/more-paintings-lent-for-fairs-art-show-works-by-rembrandt-hals-and.html August 29, 2024 The New York Times The WFC bought some of the fair's artwork and distributed it across the U.S. after the fair.28 Jan 1940 Fair Purchases And Distributes 31 Works of Art: Museums and Galleries in 18 States to Get Items of Contemporary Exhibit World's Fair Buys Art for Distribution to U. S. Galleries New York Herald Tribune 23 1242973429 none; January 28, 1940 Fair Buys 31 Works for Art Museums; Paintings, Sculptured Pieces and Prints Distributed Throughout Nation https://www.nytimes.com/1940/01/28/archives/fair-buys-31-works-for-art-museums-paintings-sculptured-pieces-and.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times In addition, foreign governments sponsored exhibits of sculptures and visual art in their respective pavilions.April 2, 1939 Foreign Countries to Exhibit National Art at Fair Pavilions: Contemporary And Old Works Will Be Shown New York Herald Tribune 30 1287069685 IBM's pavilion hosted contemporary art from 79 countries, the most popular of which was the Filipino artist Fernando Amorsolo's painting Afternoon Meal of Rice Workers.1939-07-16 Horizons; Matters of Moment In New York https://www.nytimes.com/1939/07/16/archives/horizons-matters-of-moment-in-new-york.html 2025-04-11 The New York Times Whalen, who was determined that the fair should "not represent the work of any one person or school", employed 181 visual artists, designers, and architects.July 17, 1937 181 Artists Join To Give N.Y. Fair Variety in Design The Christian Science Monitor 3 514423887 Many of the buildings' facades were decorated with murals, commissioned by both the WFC and individual exhibitorsApril 20, 1939 Outdoor Mural System Ready At World's Fair: Colorful Spectacle of Man's History Is Unfolded as Scaffolding Comes Down New York Herald Tribune 21A 1255079016September 11, 1938 Murals for Fair Mark New Epoch; Exterior Decorating Program Planned to Give New Note to American Architecture https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/11/archives/murals-for-fair-mark-new-epoch-exterior-decorating-program-planned.html August 2, 2024 The New York Times in about 100 colors.Hardesty Lynn December 25, 1938 World's Fair Uses Dramatic Color Effects: Previews of New York Exhibit Buildings Amaze Art Critics The Washington Post R1 150964786 There were about 105 murals at the fair, which measured as large as 250 by 60 ft. The murals were executed in a variety of materials, such as metal strips, mosaic tiles, and paint. The WFC's board of design approved murals based on how well they harmonized with the surrounding buildings. Union members painted the actual murals.July 19, 1938 Union Warns Mural Painters At World's Fair: Artists Are Told They Must Join Local Before They Can Start Work; They Plan to Turn Down Offer New York Herald Tribune 17 1254086461 none; July 17, 1938 Peril to Art Seen in Row With Union; Guild of Mural Painters Holds A. F. L. Group Endangers Work at World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1938/07/17/archives/peril-to-art-seen-in-row-with-union-guild-of-mural-painters-holds-a.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times The New York Times called it "the largest program of exterior mural painting ever undertaken", while the New York Herald Tribune said that "never before has mural decoration been attempted on so large or lively a scale". Works Progress Administration artists painted murals for the fair as well.Brenner Anita April 10, 1938 American Creates American Murals; To Bid for the Favor of a New Mass Public https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/10/archives/american-creates-american-murals-to-bid-for-the-favor-of-a-new-mass.html June 17, 2024 The New York Times 10–11, 18–19 Ernest Peixotto oversaw the development of the murals and the fair's color-coding system.Appleton Read Helen September 1, 1938 Murals at the World's Fair... Harper's Bazaar 104–105, 129 71 2713 1871468222 The fair also included 174 sculptures. The largest statue at the fair was James Earle Fraser's 65 ft -tall mid sculpture of George Washington,December 11, 1938 Fair Will Exhibit Heroic Statuary; More Than 60 Pieces to Adorn Various Buildings, Thoroughfares and Plazas https://www.nytimes.com/1938/12/11/archives/fair-will-exhibit-heroic-statuary-more-than-60-pieces-to-adorn.html August 2, 2024 The New York Times which stood in the middle of the fair's Constitution Mall.Mitnick Barbara J. https://books.google.com/books?id=eLxsfeV43-wC&pg=PA49 George Washington: American Symbol Ayres William S. Museums at Stony Brook Brandywine River Museum Hudson Hills Press 1999 978-1-55595-148-1 49 August 2, 2024 The Times credited Lee Lawrie—who oversaw the installation of the fair's artwork—with describing the sculptures as "an essential part of the fair". Three of the sculptures were intended to be preserved after the fair: Robert Foster's Textile, Lawrence Tenney Stevens's The Tree of Life, and Waylande Gregory's Fountain of the Atom. Various temporary sculptures, many of which were made of plaster, were placed on buildings. Consumer products alt=A demonstration of Voder, a keyboard-operated speech synthesizer, at the fair|thumb|Voder, a keyboard-operated speech synthesizer, was demonstrated at the fair. The fair focused significantly on consumer products that happened to include scientific innovations, rather than presenting scientific innovations in their own right.Kuznick Peter September 1994 Losing the World of Tomorrow: The Battle over the Presentation of Science at the 1939 World's Fair American Quarterly 46 3 341–73 10.2307/2713269 2713269 Products shown at the fair included RCA televisions, a Crosley vehicle from 1940, and a Novachord organ manufactured by The Hammond Organ Company. There were also exhibits of nylon, cellophane, and Lucite. Other objects included Vermeer's painting The Milkmaid,2009 Vermeer's Masterpiece The Milkmaid http://www.metmuseum.org/research/metpublications/The_Milkmaid_by_Johannes_Vermeer September 23, 2009 Metropolitan Museum of Art a pencil sharpener,Hiott Andrea https://books.google.com/books?id=TWePDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA18 Thinking Small: The Long, Strange Trip of the Volkswagen Beetle Ballantine Books 2012 978-0-345-52142-2 Ballantine Books 18 September 20, 2024 the White Manna diner,Sietsema Robert April 15, 2015 A Visit to Jersey City's White Mana, a Diner Relic of the 1939 World's Fair https://ny.eater.com/2015/4/15/8413833/white-mana-jersey-city-sliders-burger-week September 16, 2024 Eater NY General Motors' model city Futurama,Cotter 2009 25 and the Nimatron computer game.Herman Arthur Freedom's Forge Random House Incorporated New York, NY 2012 978-1-4000-6964-4 58–65 In addition, older objects were displayed at the fair, such as a model of the world's first bicycle.1 Jun 1939 London Exhibits 'First Bicycle' At World's Fair The Christian Science Monitor 5 515227360 Electronics were showcased at the fair. The IBM exhibit displayed the Radiotype writing machine, and RCA displayed various types of machinery in a "television laboratory". RCA and NBC agreed to host television demonstrations at the World's Fair.June 18, 1937 Contract Made For Television Station at Fair: Large-Scale Demonstration of New Radio Science To Be Offered for Visitors New York Herald Tribune 17 1248130206 none; June 19, 1937 Television to Be Presented at Fair The Wall Street Journal 10 129798234 none; June 18, 1937 R. C. A. to Exhibit in Fair Building; Signs Contract to Build a 'Temple of Magic' to Show Developments in Radio https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/18/archives/r-c-a-to-exhibit-in-fair-building-signs-contract-to-build-a-temple.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times These TVs displayed several programs, including the first televised Major League Baseball game; a program from WRGB-TV in Schenectady, New York; and performances of the play When We Are Married.Bragdon E. L. April 24, 1949 Ten Years of TV; The Medium's Modern History Spans Time Since FDR Opened World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1949/04/24/archives/ten-years-of-tv-the-mediums-modern-history-spans-time-since-fdr.html September 11, 2024 The New York Times Westinghouse's exhibit featured Elektro the Moto-Man, a robot that talked, differentiated colors, and smoked cigarettes.Jackson Nicholas February 21, 2011 Elektro the Moto-Man, One of the World's First Celebrity Robots https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/02/elektro-the-moto-man-one-of-the-worlds-first-celebrity-robots/71505/ July 25, 2024 The Atlantic none; September 28, 2018 Elektro the Moto-Man Had the Biggest Brain at the 1939 World's Fair https://spectrum.ieee.org/elektro-the-motoman-had-the-biggest-brain-at-the-1939-worlds-fair July 25, 2024 IEEE Spectrum Bell Labs' Voder, a keyboard-operated speech synthesizer, was demonstrated at the fair.Exposition Publications 1939 61 Other futuristic exhibits included General Electric's home of tomorrow, as well as the 15 homes in the Tomorrow Town exhibit. The Medical and Public Health Building showcased Charles Lindbergh and Alexis Carrel's medical perfusion pump, the "Lindbergh-Carrel mechanical heart",https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/save-his-dying-sister-law-charles-lindbergh-Invented-medical-device-180956526/ To Save His Dying Sister-In-Law, Charles Lindbergh Invented a Medical Device Emily Redman Smithsonian Magazine September 9, 2015 February 13, 2026 though it later proved impractical and hard to use.https://www.theaacp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Linbergh-Pump.pdf Remembering the Lindbergh Perfusion Pump The Academy Newsletter American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion Summer 2017 February 13, 2026 Food The fair had at least 40 restaurants with a combined 23,000 seats, in addition to 261 refreshment stands, during the 1939 season. Cuisine from 24 participating countries was served at the fair. These included caviar in the Romanian and Polish pavilions; borscht, blini, and pelmeni from the Soviet pavilion; soufflés from the French pavilion; smorgasbords from the Swedish pavilion; and kebabs and honey desserts from the Albanian pavilion.April 27, 1939 Fair Will Prove Promised Land For Gourmets: 24 Countries Will Serve Native Food and Drinks for Which They're Noted New York Herald Tribune 5 1247108615Loeb August May 28, 1939 Menus and Prices Vary Widely at Fair; Simple Refreshment Stands and De Luxe Foreign Restaurants Draw Crowds https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/28/archives/menus-and-prices-vary-widely-at-fair-simple-refreshment-stands-and.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times A New York Times article from 1964 characterized bicarbonate of soda as the 1939 fair's most popular soda.Herzberg Joseph G. April 22, 1964 Yesterday's World of Tomorrow; A Nostalgic Look at 1939 Extravaganza That Ended an Era; Gastronome Recalls the Lavish Feasts of Whalen's Day https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/22/archives/yesterdays-world-of-tomorrow-a-nostalgic-look-at-1939-extravaganza.html July 30, 2024 The New York Times The WFC also awarded quick-service food concessions to companies such as Childs Restaurants, Longchamps, and the Brass Rail. The concessions included 80 hot-dog stands, in addition to 59 soda stalls, 38 root beer stands, and 25 popcorn stands. The city government also appointed 36 inspectors to enforce food safety at the fair.April 24, 1939 City to Protect Visitors' Health At Fair Grounds: 2,800 Workers Will Watch Food, Sanitation and Give First Aid in Emergencies New York Herald Tribune 6 1258190290 During the fair's first season, there were complaints that the food was too expensive; one New York Times report found that restaurants were charging as much as 2.50 1939 no for à la carte meals.May 3, 1939 Food Price Trend High at Fair; A Few Restaurants Keep Cost Low; Places With Only a la Carte Menus Listing Dishes Up to $2.50--'Hot-Dog' Stands Boon to Average Workingman https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/03/archives/food-price-trend-high-at-fair-a-few-restaurants-keep-cost-low.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times For the 1940 season, there were 70 restaurants and between 150 and 235 concession stands.April 30, 1940 Fair Food Menu Is Designed to Fit All Purses: 150 Stands and 70 Restaurants oil Grounds Will Have Prices From 10c New York Herald Tribune 13 1255356860 The WFC introduced regulations during the second season, restricting restaurateurs from drastically increasing food prices. Throughout both seasons, the fair sold an estimated 16.2 million hot dogs, 8.3 million burgers, 5.1 million doughnuts, and 2.7 million cups of beer.October 28, 1940 16,222,358 Hot Dogs Sold at the Fair, And Wait—172,800 Dozen Headache Pills The New York Times 11 105396705 Other events thumb|right|Chinese Ambassador Hu Shih reviews U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps units during a China Day celebration at the Court of Peace, October 10, 1939 Participating countries, U.S. states and territories, New York counties, businesses, and organizations were given special theme days at the fair, during which celebrations were held.January 26, 1939 World Fair List Of Special Days Is Announced: Every State, Many Cities and New York Counties Are Included in Program New York Herald Tribune 10 1257038742 none; January 26, 1939 700 Events Listed for World's Fair; Pageants and Folk Festivals to Be Held—Programs to Welcome Statesmen https://www.nytimes.com/1939/01/26/archives/700-events-listed-for-worlds-fair-pageants-and-folk-festivals-to-be.html August 26, 2024 The New York Times A different button was issued for each theme day.Monaghan 1939 215–219 During the fair, there were fireworks displays on the lagoon, as well as colorful searchlights illuminating Meadow Lake. The fair coincided with the 1st World Science Fiction Convention,Abbattista Guido Iannuzzi Giulia 2016 World Expositions as Time Machines: Two Views of the Visual Construction of Time Between Anthropology and Futurama http://worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu/13.3/forum_01_abbattista.html#_edn21 World History Connected 13 3Franklin H. Bruce 1982 America as Science Fiction: 1939 (L'Amérique Comme Science-Fiction: 1939) Science Fiction Studies 9 1 38–50 10.1525/sfs.9.1.0038 0091-7729 4239455 which took place at the Caravan Hall in Manhattan on July 2–4, 1939.Pollak Michael April 2, 2006 The Beyond-This-World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/nyregion/thecity/the-beyondthisworlds-fair.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times In addition, on July 3, 1940, the fair hosted "Superman Day",Weldon Glen Superman: The Unauthorized Biography Turner Publishing Company 2013 978-1-118-48382-4 https://books.google.com/books?id=eoHuEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT55 July 25, 2024 55 which included an athletic contest and an appearance by an actor portraying Superman. Sporting events throughout the New York City area were also planned in conjunction with the World's Fair,September 15, 1937 1939 World Fair Activities Will Include Sports The Christian Science Monitor 10 514524168 none; March 19, 1939 Leading Event in Many Sports Await Visitors to World's Fair; All-Star Baseball Contest and Louis-Galento Title Bout Are Listed—International Polo Series Another Feature https://www.nytimes.com/1939/03/19/archives/leading-event-in-many-sports-await-visitors-to-worlds-fair-allstar.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times and the WFC sponsored a sports camp for boys during both seasons.18 Apr 1940 World's Fair to Sponsor Boys' Sports Program New York Herald Tribune 28 1258269917 none; April 18, 1940 World's Fair Keeps Program of Sports; Baseball School, Other Events to Be Renewed This Year https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/18/archives/worlds-fair-keeps-program-of-sports-baseball-school-other-events-to.html September 20, 2024 The New York Times Aftermath Site and structures alt=The Billy Rose's Aquacade amphitheater|thumb|The Billy Rose's Aquacade amphitheater, one of the few structures to remain after the fair 1939 New York World's Fair pavilions and attractions#Preserved pavilions and attractions Demolition began the day after the fair ended.29 Oct 1940 Fair Fades Into a Ghost Town; Dismantling Barely Dents Quiet New York Herald Tribune 1 1262386905 none; October 29, 1940 Razing Under Way on Shell of Fair; Skeleton Staff Winds Up Its Affairs as Wreckers Get to Work in Earnest https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/29/archives/razing-under-way-on-shell-of-fair-skeleton-staff-winds-up-its.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times Almost all structures had to be removed within 120 days of the fair's closure,Hallett Robert M. January 11, 1941 The World's Fair's Legacy to Flushing: .. Park The Christian Science Monitor WM5 515377595 and the vast majority of structures were dismantled or moved shortly after the fair's final day.MacGregor Donald October 20, 1940 Taking the World's Fair Apart: the Last Visitor Walks Out. The Wreckers Stalk in – to Turn a World of Fantasy Into a Playground for All Time New York Herald Tribune SM8 1247324294 none; Loeb August October 27, 1940 Fine Park From Fair; Flushing Meadow's New Play Area Will Be 'Second to None' https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/27/archives/fine-park-from-fair-flushing-meadows-new-play-area-will-be-second.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073524/https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/27/archives/fine-park-from-fair-flushing-meadows-new-play-area-will-be-second.html April 7, 2021 June 13, 2024 The New York Times Valuable exhibits, artwork, and historic artifacts were relocated. Within a month of the fair's closure, many of the structures had been demolished and workers were restoring the landscape.November 27, 1940 Closed a Month, Fair Slips Back To Pristine Mud: Vestiges of Beauty Remain, but Swamp Is Emerging Again as Razing Proceeds New York Herald Tribune 23 1263331320 Cables and other materials were removed and sold for scrap,3 Oct 1942 Copper Buried At Fair Ground Will Be Dug Up: Park Department May Get 200 Tons of Metal From Cables Never Removed New York Herald Tribune 3 1266857498 and there were proposals to melt down the buildings' structural steel into scrap metal for the U.S. war effort.22 Aug 1940 World's Fair Scrap: Rise in Cost of Iron to Prove Beneficial Closing in October New York, June 25 South China Morning Post 13 1764481837 none; Shalett Sidney M. August 19, 1940 Use of Fair's Steel in Defense Likely; Demolition Will Provide Big Source of Metal for New Hangars and Factories https://www.nytimes.com/1940/08/19/archives/use-of-fairs-steel-in-defense-likely-demolition-will-provide-big-so.html September 26, 2024 The New York Times During the fair's demolition, five men were killed when one of the buildings' ceilings collapsed.5 Dec 1940 Five Die at Fair As Ceiling Falls In Railroad Hall: Workmen Tearing Down the Rotunda Drop 50 Feet; Three Others Badly Hurt Rescue Workers Amid the Ruins of a World's Fair Roof New York Herald Tribune 1 1263338699 none; December 5, 1940 5 Wreckers Killed in Building at Fair; 2 Others Hurt in 50-Foot Fall When False Ceiling of Rail Exhibit Collapses https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/05/archives/5-wreckers-killed-in-building-at-fair-2-others-hurt-in-50foot-fall.html September 30, 2024 The New York Times Despite a citywide moratorium on new construction, La Guardia provided funding to convert the fairground into parkland,18 Sep 1940 Moses Assured Of '41 Fund for Flushing Park: Mayor Says Capital Budget Will Include Money to Convert World Fair Site New York Herald Tribune 23 1259810181 none; September 18, 1940 Moses Won't Halt Fair Park Plans; Says Mayor's Curb on New Projects Does Not Affect Flushing Improvement https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/18/archives/moses-wont-halt-fair-park-plans-says-mayors-curb-on-new-projects.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times although only $750,000 was provided for this purpose.5 Dec 1940 Capital Budget For '41 Adopted At $84,585,044: Board of Estimate Votes $750,000 for Fair Park, $600,000 for Bus Tunnel New York Herald Tribune 19 1263340467 Work on the park began in December 1940,December 28, 1940 First Contract Bids on Flushing Park in; Low Offers for 4 Jobs on Old World's Fair Site Total $77,000 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/28/archives/first-contract-bids-on-flushing-park-in-low-offers-for-4-jobs-on.html September 30, 2024 The New York Times and Flushing Meadows Park opened the next year.27 Jul 1941 City Dedicates Rebuilt Pool of Old Aquacade: Mayor and Philharmonie on Amphitheater Program at Flushing Meadow Park New York Herald Tribune 23 1256427944 none; July 14, 1941 Pool to Be Opened on Aquacade Site; State Amphitheatre Also Will Present Water Carnivals After Concert July 26 https://www.nytimes.com/1941/07/14/archives/pool-to-be-opened-on-aquacade-site-state-amphitheatre-also-will.html September 10, 2024 The New York Times The site hosted the 1964 New York World's Fair before it again became a park in 1967.Schumach Murray June 4, 1967 Moses Gives City Fair Site as Park; Flushing Meadows in Queens Becomes the 2d Biggest Recreation Area Here https://www.nytimes.com/1967/06/04/archives/moses-gives-city-fair-site-as-park-flushing-meadows-in-queens.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20210407072907/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/06/04/archives/moses-gives-city-fair-site-as-park-flushing-meadows-in-queens.html April 7, 2021 May 16, 2024 The New York Times The NYPD's Flushing Meadows precinct was disbanded in 1952,May 3, 1951 2 Police Precincts Will Be Abolished; an Old Landmark Being Closed https://www.nytimes.com/1951/05/03/archives/2-police-precincts-will-be-abolished-an-old-landmark-being-closed.html September 11, 2024 The New York Times but the Queens traffic division (which had been established to manage traffic during the fair) continued until 1972.Prial Frank J. September 23, 1972 Trend to Cuts in Traffic Patrols Seen in Closing of a Queens Unit https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/23/archives/trend-to-cuts-in-traffic-patrols-seen-in-closing-of-a-queens-unit.html September 10, 2024 The New York Times Seven structures were preserved as part of the park.Namely the New York City Building, Aquacade amphitheater, B.F. Goodrich Pavilion, House of Jewels, Masterpieces of Art building, Japanese Pavilion, and Polish Pavilion's tower. By the 1960s, only two of the fair's original structures remained, the New York City Pavilion and the Billy Rose's Aquacade amphitheater,Zinsser William K. January 17, 1960 A Walk Among World's Fair Ghosts; By 1964 a new World's Fair will rise, right where that other one awed and enchanted millions an age – or was it only twenty years? – ago. World's Fair Ghosts https://www.nytimes.com/1960/01/17/archives/a-walk-among-worlds-fair-ghosts-by-1964-a-new-worlds-fair-will-rise.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20240519214711/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/01/17/archives/a-walk-among-worlds-fair-ghosts-by-1964-a-new-worlds-fair-will-rise.html May 19, 2024 May 19, 2024 The New York Times though the Aquacade was torn down in the 1990s.Marzlock Ron March 22, 2012 The Fair's Million-Dollar Aquacade https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/the-fair-s-million-dollar-aquacade/article_185ee7eb-bb73-52f4-84a3-b537ebba079a.html May 22, 2024 Queens Chronicle The fair's esplanade, five bridges, and the World's Fair Marina were preserved as well,October 4, 1940 Mall at the Fair to Remain in Park; Esplanade From Theme Center to the Court of Peace Will Not Be Demolished https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/04/archives/mall-at-the-fair-to-remain-in-park-esplanade-from-theme-center-to.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times but the fountains were demolished. Many amusement rides were sold to Luna Park at Coney Island;Ranson Jo August 4, 1940 Shows to Migrate from Fair Midway to Coney in 1941 6 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116054686/shows-to-migrate-from-fair-midway-to/ January 8, 2023 February 4, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230204090218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116054686/shows-to-migrate-from-fair-midway-to/ live the Parachute Jump was sold and relocated to Steeplechase Park, also in Coney Island.13 Jan 1965 Where Are They Now? Newsweek 10 63 2 1879112201 none; Francis Robert April 26, 1941 Coney Figures Itself in for an Old-Fashioned Summer With Plenty of Fun for Everyone https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33986956/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230930001912/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/article/33986956/ September 30, 2023 July 18, 2019 Brooklyn Daily Eagle 4 newspapers.com Other buildings that were relocated included a structure from the fair's Town of Tomorrow exhibit,26 Jun 1955 Plywood House is 16 Years Old: Building Transported From Queens to Jersey Farm Still in Good Shape The New York Times R1 113433350 none; 1955-06-26 World's Fair Exhibit House Still in Use https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-worlds/155118090/ 2024-09-12 The Central New Jersey Home News 22 as well as the Belgian Building.Hylton Raymond https://books.google.com/books?id=p9c8BQAAQBAJ&dq=Charles+Thaddeus+Russell+architect&pg=PA54 Virginia Union University 2014 Arcadia Publishing 978-1-4671-2248-1 Charleston, South Carolina 52–54 January 6, 2022 Some of the buildings' glass bricks were salvaged and used elsewhere.1 Sep 1941 Salvaged Glass Blocks Replace Old Window Sash Railway Engineering and Maintenance 607 896336708 Furniture, equipment, and decorations were sold off. Foreign exhibits and staff alt=The Italian pavilion|thumb|There were several unsuccessful attempts to give away a monument from the Italian pavilion (pictured).Initially, the U.S. government had not imposed customs duties on foreign exhibits because it anticipated that the exhibits would be repatriated after the fair.November 14, 1940 Treasury Interprets Fair Exhibit Ruling; Officials Get Instruction on Disposal of Foreign Goods https://www.nytimes.com/1940/11/14/archives/treasury-interprets-fair-exhibit-ruling-officials-get-instruction.html September 30, 2024 The New York Times Customs duties were imposed on exhibits that remained in the U.S. after the fair. Afterward, the exhibits could be sent back to their home country, retained in the U.S., destroyed, or sold. However, many nations could not send their exhibits back home due to World War II,February 8, 1941 Customs Problem at Fair 90% Solved; Clearing Out of Foreign Exhibits Keeps 40 Federal Agents Checking on Regulations https://www.nytimes.com/1941/02/08/archives/customs-problem-at-fair-90-solved-clearing-out-of-foreign-exhibits.html September 12, 2024 The New York TimesCompere Thomas 13 Oct 1940 Fair Exhibits From Abroad Pose Problem: Disposal of $20,000,000 Displays Is Complicated by Hitler's Conquests New York Herald Tribune A1 1243055097 and President Roosevelt had temporarily frozen the assets of seven foreign exhibitors whose countries had been invaded.13 Nov 1940 Fair a Desolate Picture as Rain Halts All Work: Only Activity Is Auction of Furniture, and Few Chilly Customers Find Bargains New York Herald Tribune 19 1264428384 none; November 15, 1940 Fair Removal Begun at Foreign Pavilions; New U.S. Ruling Permits Seven Nations to Speed Work https://www.nytimes.com/1940/11/15/archives/fair-removal-begun-at-foreign-pavilions-new-us-ruling-permits-seven.html September 30, 2024 The New York Times Many European pavilions' staff were also unable to return home due to the war;February 4, 1966 Restaurants: The King http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,898950,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090114112649/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,898950,00.html January 14, 2009 April 20, 2010 TimeFraney Pierre October 18, 1989 De Gustibus; Innocence Abroad: Memories of '39 Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/18/garden/de-gustibus-innocence-abroad-memories-of-39-fair.html September 6, 2020 The New York Times The New York Times estimated that 350 foreign staffers could not easily return home,October 3, 1940 Fair's Foreigners Face Crisis Oct. 27; 350 Attaches of Pavilions Must Return to War-Torn Homes or Win U.S. Stay https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/03/archives/fairs-foreigners-face-crisis-oct-27-350-attaches-of-pavilions-must.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times while the New York Herald Tribune put the number of affected employees at 400. In response, U.S. representative John J. Delaney introduced legislation in October 1940 to allow these workers to remain in the U.S.October 8, 1940 Bill Would Let Alien Employes at the Fair Stay in U.S. if War Bars Them From Home https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/08/archives/bill-would-let-alien-employes-at-the-fair-stay-in-us-if-war-bars.html July 29, 2024 The New York Times Several countries in German-occupied Europe donated or lent their World's Fair exhibits to institutions across the United States.September 6, 1940 Nazi Victims Offer Fair's Riches to Us; Britain Also is Among Nations That Will Donate or Lend Treasures After Oct. 27 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/06/archives/nazi-victims-offer-fairs-riches-to-us-britain-also-is-among-nations.html July 28, 2024 The New York Times Most of the Polish pavilion's items were sold by the Polish government-in-exile to the Polish Museum of America, except for the monument of the Polish–Lithuanian King Jagiełło. which was reinstalled in Central Park.Quid Plura? | "Moja Droga, Ja Cię Kocham ..." November 24, 2008 http://www.quidplura.com/?p=307 https://web.archive.org/web/20110715140535/http://www.quidplura.com/?p=307 July 15, 2011 live July 19, 2009 The British pavilion's copy of the Magna Carta remained in the U.S.,7 Nov 1943 World's Fair Foreign Accounts Totaling 15 Millions Balanced: World's Fair Railroad Exhibits That Still Await Their Fate New York Herald Tribune A2 1325203253Green Amanda February 26, 2013 5 non-gold treasures stored at Fort Knox https://theweek.com/articles/467308/5-nongold-treasures-stored-fort-knox July 25, 2024 theweek and a panel from that pavilion depicting George Washington's lineage was sent to the Library of Congress.4 July 1941 Library Receives Washington Panel, Britain's Gift The Washington Post 11 151376590 In addition, some French artwork displayed at the fair was lent to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan,Burrows Carlyle 10 Aug 1941 Two Loan Displays Of French Artists New York Herald Tribune E5 1263763665 none; Linn Thomas C. August 10, 1941 Louvre Works Ours for War; Metropolitan Museum to Be Custodian of Paintings—Art Sales in City https://www.nytimes.com/1941/08/10/archives/louvre-works-ours-for-war-metropolitan-museum-to-be-custodian-of.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times and other artwork from that pavilion was displayed at the Riverside Museum.December 8, 1940 French Art Put On View Today; World's Fair Exhibit With Additions to Be Shown by Riverside Museum https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/08/archives/french-art-put-on-view-today-worlds-fair-exhibit-with-additions-to.html September 30, 2024 The New York Times Three French restaurants from the fair—La Caravelle, Le Pavillon, and La Côte Basque—reopened in Manhattan.Sheraton Mimi December 17, 2007 The Frog at Forty-five https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/12/24/the-frog-at-forty-five July 25, 2024 The New Yorker Objects from the Swedish, Turkish, and Canadian pavilions were also retained in New York City.28 Oct 1940 Orphan Nations At Fair Facing Vital Quandary: Foreign Area Musi Dispose of S20,000,000 Exhibits 400 Employees Stranded New York Herald Tribune 9A 1320092681 The WFC also had to dispose of Axis countries' exhibits. The U.S. government seized the Italian State Railways' train display and melted it down for scrap,1 Oct 1942 Italian Trains From World's Fair Are Seized by U. S. for Scrap New York Herald Tribune 1 1267865594 while it sold off binoculars from the Czechoslovak pavilion and wine from the Rumania pavilion to pay customs duties. There were several unsuccessful attempts to give away the Italian pavilion's Guglielmo Marconi monument,Crist Judith 28 Dec 1954 The Statue Nobody Wants Not Going to Lodi, Either New York Herald Tribune 17 1322574480 none; March 27, 1955 A Concrete Belle Breaks Both Legs; Prima Donna of World's Fair Falls in Hoboken on Eve of Modest Recognition https://www.nytimes.com/1955/03/27/archives/a-concrete-belle-breaks-both-legs-prima-donna-of-worlds-fair-falls.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times and the Hungarian pavilion's statue of Saint Istvan was not given away until 1956.November 1, 1956 Rejected Statue Gets Haven Here; Figure of Hungary's Patron Saint Given to City—Reds Refused Its Return Statue Is Purchased https://www.nytimes.com/1956/11/01/archives/rejected-statue-gets-haven-here-figure-of-hungarys-patron-saint.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times Profitability and dissolution of WFC When the fair closed, the WFC initially predicted that the fair would recoup 38.4% of its cost,October 23, 1940 N.Y. Fair Bondholders to Get 38 P.C. Return on Investment: Exhibitors Satisfied Chase Bank Paid Back The Christian Science Monitor 21 515260177 none; October 23, 1940 World Fair Bondholders to Receive Total of 38.4 Cents on the Dollar; Gibson Says That $5,056,800 Is Available for Redemption of Debentures—Season's Profit Is Put at $5,020,000 https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/23/archives/world-fair-bondholders-to-receive-total-of-384-cents-on-the-dollar.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times later revised to 39.2%.31 Oct 1940 N.Y. World's Fair Bondholders Get 39.2c on Dollar The Christian Science Monitor 20 515424976 none; October 31, 1940 Fair Now to Pay 39.2c on Dollar; Estimated Return for 3,000 Investors Raised as Result of Last Week-End Business https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/31/archives/fair-now-to-pay-392c-on-dollar-estimated-return-for-3000-investors.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times The WFC ultimately recovered only 32% of its original expenditure.. Samuel 2007 42Hornaday Mary September 23, 1965 World's Fair Plans for Closing Curtain: Pavilions to Move The Christian Science Monitor 11 510830485 Despite the fair's overall unprofitability, the Amusement Area recorded a net profit.October 24, 1940 Fair Amusements to Show a Profit; Net This Year Put at 'Nominal to Handsome' as Big Costs of '39 Are Eliminated https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/24/archives/fair-amusements-to-show-a-profit-net-this-year-put-at-nominal-to.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times In total, the WFC earned $3.9 million during the 1939 season and $3.4 million during the 1940 season.Apr 12, 1941 Fairs-Expositions: Final Figures New York World's Fair—1939 and 1940 The Billboard 62 53 15 1032248375 The WFC paid bondholders $2.08 million in early 19413 Jan 1941 Gibson Plans Cash Distribution To World's Fair Lien Holders New York Herald Tribune 23 1266876967 none; 4 Jan 1941 $2,081,867 Is Paid On World's Fair Bonds: Distribution Is First On Principal Since 2 In 1939—Brings Return To 27 Cents On Dollar The Baltimore Sun 7 538434451 and made their final payments to bondholders in June 1942. For several years, the WFC retained a small staff to close out its financial accounts.24 Jan 1943 World Fair Aid Still Engaged in Settling Affairs: Solitary Worker Answering Requests for Data and Striving to Close Books The Last Employee of the World's Fair New York Herald Tribune 5 1264621381 none; April 30, 1942 What About the World's Fair? Well, It's Still Kicking Around; At Least It Has an Office, One Borrowed Typewriter, 3 Operating Officials and a 'Pain in the Neck' in Those Bonds https://www.nytimes.com/1942/04/30/archives/what-about-the-worlds-fair-well-its-still-kicking-around-at-least.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times The corporation was not formally dissolved until August 1944;Aug 3, 1944 Retail Executive: World's Fair Of 1940 Ordered Dissolved Women's Wear Daily 29 69 23 1842071923 at the time of its dissolution, the WFC owed shareholders $19 million.1944-07-15 1940 World's Fair Asks Dissolution https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-1940-worlds-fair/155060467/ 2024-09-11 Democrat and Chronicle 5 none; July 14, 1944 Dissolution is Asked by the World's Fair; Corporation Lists $19,069,764 Balance Due Stockholders https://www.nytimes.com/1944/07/14/archives/dissolution-is-asked-by-the-worlds-fair-corporation-lists-19069764.html September 11, 2024 The New York Times Impact Reception thumb|Visitors at the fair The Washington Post wrote in 1936, as the fair was still being developed, that the fair would give New York City a permanent public park, while "visitors will get an eyeful beyond their fondest imagination and the hotel-keepers will get a pocketful" of money. The New York Times said that the event would "still be a great fair", even if half the buildings were never built. Another newspaper wrote that the fair, along with the Golden Gate Exposition, would be "two stunning examples of science in action".March 12, 1938 World Fairs Will Show Science in Action https://www.newspapers.com/article/dunkirk-evening-observer-world-fairs-wil/152797713/ August 7, 2024 Dunkirk Evening Observer 5 Just before the fair opened, The Scotsman wrote that, despite the ongoing Nazi conquest of Europe, workers at the 1939 fair "still [believed] the world of to-day has possibilities of progress".Butcher Harold April 15, 1939 New York World's Fair: Its International Significance The Scotsman 16 481423335 Upon the fair's opening, a Washington Post writer praised the fairground's futuristic architecture and landscaping, even while stating that "there is also architecture on which the classicist can rest his peepers".Robb Inez May 1, 1939 World of Tomorrow Has the Same Old Hot Dogs, Both Kinds: 40,000 Hear Fair Opened By Roosevelt The Washington Post 1 151212415 The New York Times reported that European countries regarded the fair as an opportunity to display "its particular political views before the American public under the guise of good-will and commercial display".May 7, 1939 Europe Divided on World's Fair; First Reports on the Show Are in Tune With National Aims and Policies Italy's Reaction https://www.nytimes.com/1939/05/07/archives/europe-divided-on-worlds-fair-first-reports-on-the-show-are-in-tune.html September 8, 2024 The New York Times In an August 1939 Gallup poll of the fair's visitors, 84% of respondents said they wanted to return, while only 3% disliked the fair.20 Aug 1939 Fair Pleases Its Visitors, Poll Finds: 83 Per Cent of Those 'Who've Been There' Say They 'Liked' It Very Much Survey The Washington Post B1 151168617 none; August 20, 1939 Survey Supports Fair's Popularity; Gallup Agents Find Women Are More Enthusiastic About It Than Men https://www.nytimes.com/1939/08/20/archives/survey-supports-fairs-popularity-gallup-agents-find-women-are-more.html September 19, 2024 The New York Times When the fair closed, the Baltimore Sun wrote in 1940 that "the World's Fair was devoted to the arts of peace, and this is time of war".October 28, 1940 The World's Fair That May Have Ended World's Fairs The Baltimore Sun 10 543011814 A decade after the fair, one writer for the New York Herald Tribune said the expo had "become for many of us a symbol of the past", in large part because of the war that followed.Crozier Emmet 24 Apr 1949 Once There Was a World's Fair... New York Herald Tribune A1 1327488597 In 1964, one New York Times writer said the 1939 fair had been envisioned in an era "that had in its calendar no World War II, no Hiroshima, no Korea, no fires in Africa and Asia". The design critic Paul Goldberger, writing in 1980, described the fair as significant for its products and architecture,Goldberger Paul June 20, 1980 World's Fair of '39 Revisited; World's Fair of 1939–40 Revisited on Queens Site A Coherent Design Emerged Vision of a New Kind of City Era of Corporate Giants Loomed https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/20/archives/worlds-fair-of-39-revisited-worlds-fair-of-193940-revisited-on.html September 10, 2024 The New York Times while a Newsday critic wrote that the fair had provided hope at a time when everyone was fearful of the war. Robert A. M. Stern wrote in his 1987 book New York 1930 that "the fair was seen as little more than a transitory good-time place". Economic and regional influence To limit excessive real-estate development around the fairground, city officials requested in early 1936 that the neighborhoods around Flushing Meadows be rezoned as residential areas.January 18, 1936 Restricted Zoning in Fair Area Urged; Queens Leader Moves to Balk Underhand Speculation and Irregular Building https://www.nytimes.com/1936/01/18/archives/restricted-zoning-in-fair-area-urged-queens-leader-moves-to-balk.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times none; February 2, 1936 Zone Hearing Set for Fair Area https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-zone-hearing-set-for-fair-ar/152003343/ July 25, 2024 Times Union 5 The city approved restrictions in 1937, preventing the construction of high-rise buildings around the siteJune 5, 1937 Protests Delay Zoning Near World's Fair: Board of Estimate Holds Up Restrictions on Signs, Parking, Amusements Discriminations Charged Resolution Prohibits High Buildings Near Grounds New York Herald Tribune 6 1243535262 none; June 5, 1937 Harvey is Set Back in Fair Zone Fight; Estimate Board Votes to Put Restrictions on Part of Area Adjacent to Flushing Site https://www.nytimes.com/1937/06/05/archives/harvey-is-set-back-in-fair-zone-fight-estimate-board-votes-to-put.html July 26, 2024 The New York Times and regulating businesses from operating within 1000 ft of the fairground.September 28, 1937 City Votes to Restrict Grounds Surrounding '39 World's Fair New York Herald Tribune 19 1251158864 none; September 28, 1937 World's Fair Zone is Created by City; Commercial Activities Within 1,000 Feet of Present Site Subject to Regulation https://www.nytimes.com/1937/09/28/archives/worlds-fair-zone-is-created-by-city-commercial-activities-within.html July 27, 2024 The New York Times One New York Times writer wrote in 1938 that, although residential development in Queens was increasing, this was due to the presence of new transport links, rather than because of the fair.Cooper Lee E. October 26, 1938 Various Branches of Real Estate Industry Feel Effects of Approaching World's Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/26/archives/various-branches-of-real-estate-industry-feel-effects-of.html August 23, 2024 The New York Times After the fair began, commercial activity around Flushing, Queens, also increased, and real-estate prices there increased several times over. Grover Whalen predicted that the fair would attract 50 million visitors, who would spend $1 billion in total.October 20, 1936 N. Y. Fair Will Aid Recovery, Says Whalen: 50,000,000 Visitors Due to Spend Huge Sums, He Tells Sales Executives New York Herald Tribune 41 1327553027 none; October 20, 1936 Fair Seen as Spur in Big Trade Area; Whalen Says Other States as Well as New York Will Gain by 50,000,000 Influx. https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/20/archives/fair-seen-as-spur-in-big-trade-area-whalen-says-other-states-as.html July 25, 2024 The New York Times Numerous retailers on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan renovated their buildings for the fair,August 8, 1937 Fifth Ave. Starts To 'Primp' for '39 World's Fair: Retailers Between 34th and 42d Streets Rebuild, Modernize and Expand New jersey House Bought by New York Interest New York Herald Tribune D4 1250488751 and room rates at local hotels were also increased.February 8, 1939 15%–30% Rise Announced in City Hotel Rates: Increase in World's Fair Year Is Ascribed to Steadily Mounting Costs New York Herald Tribune 13 1260490148 none; February 3, 1939 New York Hotels Will Raise Rates For World's Fair The Hartford Courant 3 559146792 By May 1939, real-estate figures predicted that the fair would earn between $1 billion and $1.5 billion for the city's economy. The state legislature predicted that the fair would spur business throughout New York state,April 23, 1939 Fair is Expected to Aid State Trade; 150 Legislators at Preview-- 25,000 Will Go on Job to Rush the Work https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/23/archives/fair-is-expected-to-aid-state-trade-150-legislators-at-preview.html August 8, 2024 The New York Times and Whalen predicted that the fair would increase total spending across the U.S. by $10 billion.March 6, 1939 See World Fair Boosting Trade By 10 Billion: Billion Dollars Added To N. Y. Business Will Be Respent 10 Times In U. S., Whalen Points Out Women's Wear Daily 2, 19 58 44 1728702813 During the fair, the New York state government sought to attract visitors to other parts of the state, such as the Finger Lakes, Adirondack Mountains, and Catskill Mountains.11 June 1939 N. Y. State Attracts: Visitors To World's Fair Invited To View State's Scenic Attractions The Baltimore Sun R5 543082894 During the 1939 season, New York City saw both increased vehicular traffic and public-transit use, even though the city actually had fewer commuters (continuing a decade-long trend).1 Apr 1940 World's Fair Spurred Traffic to New York, But Fewer Commuted: Total Traffic Up 3.3% in 1939, But Commutation Extended Decline of Past 10 Years The Wall Street Journal 7 131326866 none; April 1, 1940 Rail Traffic Here Showed Rise in '39; 8,725,202 More Passengers on Roads and Ferryboats Are Reported by Transit Board https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/01/archives/rail-traffic-here-showed-rise-in-39-8725202-more-passengers-on.html September 13, 2024 The New York Times Vehicular traffic in Manhattan south of 61st Street increased during the fair,June 1, 1941 Sharp 1939–40 Rise in Traffic Noted; Vehicles Entering and Leaving Manhattan Below 61st St. Show Spurt in Period https://www.nytimes.com/1941/06/01/archives/sharp-193940-rise-in-traffic-noted-vehicles-entering-and-leaving.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times as did hotel-room bookings in the city.5 Oct 1939 World's Series Fans, Fair Patrons Bring Boom To New York's Hotels The Hartford Courant 2 559256026 The exposition also spurred increased spending in New York City and was indirectly connected with Queens' further development. Although most tourists to New York City in 1939 came specifically for the fair, the rest of the city also saw increased tourism in 1940.Jun 19, 1940 Miscellany: Tourists Spread Out, Not Limiting Selves Just to Flushing Meadows Variety 2 139 2 1285770111 Media and archives thumb|Private collectors have amassed a large amount of fair-related memorabilia. Pictured is a souvenir tie clip owned by the late jazz musician Harry Gozzard.|alt=A souvenir tie clip from the fair After the fair, documents and films from the event were sent to the New York Public Library.October 25, 1940 Archives of Fair to Go to Library; Permanent Records Including Photographs, Clippings and Signatures Will Be Kept https://www.nytimes.com/1940/10/25/archives/archives-of-fair-to-go-to-library-permanent-records-including.html September 27, 2024 The New York Times The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., described the 1939 fair in its 2010–2011 exhibition Designing Tomorrow: America's World's Fairs of the 1930s,Futter Catherine L. Mar 2012 Designing Tomorrow: America's World's Fairs of the 1930s https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2752/175470812X13176523285435 Design and Culture 4 1 98–102 10.2752/175470812X13176523285435 1754-7075 subscription while the Queens Museum hosted a retrospective exhibit about the fair in 1980. Private collectors have amassed a large amount of memorabilia from the fair. These ephemera include print media such as guidebooks, posters, and programs, in addition to everyday objects such as pens, ashtrays, maps, and puzzles.Reif Rita July 6, 1980 Antiques; Treasure and Trivia From the 1939 Fair https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/06/archives/antiques-treasure-and-trivia-from-the-1939-fair.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times The 1939 New York World's Fair has been dramatized in books such as David Gelernter's 1995 novel 1939: The Lost World of the Fair.Duggan Dennis December 11, 1999 1939–40 World's Fair / Queens of the Fair Newsday G06 279277888 There have also been several nonfiction books about the fair, including Barbara Cohen, Steven Heller, and Seymour Chwast's 1989 book Trylon and Perisphere and James Mauro's 2010 book Twilight at the World of Tomorrow.Leibowitz Barry August 2, 2010 Book 'Em: Twilight at the World of Tomorrow https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-em-twilight-at-the-world-of-tomorrow/ September 10, 2024 CBS News none; Nelson Samantha July 15, 2010 James Mauro: Twilight At The World of Tomorrow https://www.avclub.com/james-mauro-twilight-at-the-world-of-tomorrow-1798165422 September 10, 2024 AV Club In addition, objects and footage from the event are shown in the 1984 documentary The World of Tomorrow.Antos Jason D. April 25, 2018 The World of Tomorrow Returns To Film Forum 34 Years After Its Premiere https://www.qgazette.com/articles/the-world-of-tomorrow-returns-to-film-forum-34-years-after-its-premiere/ September 12, 2024 Queens Gazette none; Canby Vincent March 7, 1984 Screen: 'The World of Tomorrow' https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/07/movies/screen-the-world-of-tomorrow.html September 12, 2024 The New York Times See also Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations – 1853 World's Fair in Bryant Park, New York City List of world expositions References Notes Citations Sources https://books.google.com/books?id=l9F3crMGGIkC&pg=PA87 The 1939–1940 New York World's Fair Cotter Bill Arcadia Pub. 2009 978-0-7385-6534-7 Images of America Hamlin Talbot Nov 1938 World's Fair 1939 Model https://usmodernist.org/PA/PP-1938-11.pdf Pencil Points 19 Official Guide Book of the New York World's Fair, 1939 1939 Exposition Publications Monaghan Frank 575567 Official guide book of the New York World's Fair, 1939 : building the world of tomorrow Exposition Publications 1939 New York 123481289 Exposition Publications 1939 Patterson Sterling Apr 1939 Miracle of the Marshes: Two short years ago a metropolitan dis grace. Today a beautiful and startling ex travaganza. That's the story of a two-mile square area of Long Island that's become the setting for the New York World's Fair Better Homes and Gardens 20–21, 87–91 17 8 1715496162 Samuel Lawrence R. https://archive.org/details/endofinnocence190000samu The End of the Innocence: The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair August 30, 2007 Syracuse University Press 978-0-8156-0890-5 1st registration 1930 Steinberg Ted https://books.google.com/books?id=arkrCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA211 Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York July 21, 2015 Simon and Schuster 978-1-4767-4128-4 209–225 Wasson Haidee 2012 The Other Small Screen: Moving Images at New York's World Fair, 1939 Canadian Journal of Film Studies 21 1 81–103 10.3138/cjfs.21.1.81 0847-5911 1356976868 Whalen Grover A. Jan 1939 The New York World's Fair of 1939: Fair Progress in a Nutshell Bankers' Magazine 27 138 1 124369078 Wood Andrew F. https://books.google.com/books?id=20TBYI5K46oC New York's 1939–1940 World's Fair Arcadia 2004 978-0-7385-3585-2 Postcard history series July 25, 2024 Further reading Gelernter David Hillel 1939, the lost world of the Fair Avon Books 1996 978-0-380-72748-3 New York 34889552 Kargon Robert H. World's fairs on the eve of war : science, technology, and modernity, 1937-1942 Molella Arthur P. Low Morris Fiss Karen University of Pittsburgh Press 2015 978-0-8229-8114-5 Pittsburgh, Pa. 933516797 Mauro James Twilight at the world of tomorrow : genius, madness, murder, and the 1939 World's Fair on the brink of war Ballantine Books 2010 978-0-345-51214-7 New York 449845319 Reid Kenneth December 1936 World's Fair Competition https://usmodernist.org/PA/PP-1936-12.pdf Pencil Points 653–677 Roesch Roberta https://archive.org/details/worldsfairsyeste0000unse/page/60/mode/2up?q=1939 World's fairs : yesterday, today, tomorrow The John Day Company 1967 61–68 registration Internet Archive Wurts Richard The New York World's Fair, 1939/1940 in 155 photographs Appelbaum Stanley Dover Publications 1977 978-0-486-23494-6 New York 3379917 Zim Larry The world of tomorrow: The 1939 New York World's Fair Lerner Mel Rolfes Herbert Harper & Row 1988 978-0-06-015923-8 New York 18970335 External links New York World's 1939–1940 records, 1935–1945 Manuscripts and Archives, New York Public Library. WNYC Broadcasts from the 1939–1940 New York World's Fair New York World's Fair Category:1939 festivals Category:Flushing Meadows–Corona Park Category:New York (state) historical anniversaries Category:Robert Moses projects New York World's Fair New York World's Fair