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Perisphere Ponderings
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Designed to Sell
John Sloan, a New York City artist, cynically observed: "The artistic taste of most persons in this country is formed by the illustrated calendars distributed by corner groceries." To overcome this charge of pedestrianism, the fair's Board of Design created a comprehensive blueprint for "The World of Tomorrow."
Read: Designed to Sell 
In Sheherazade's World
Nighttime Lighting
In a determined effort to swell the fair's attendance, while equally increasing the fairgoers' pleasure, planners for "The World of Tomorrow" created two distinctly different looks for the fair: one for daytime visitors and one for nighttime patrons.
The Magic Hour of Color
Nighttime Water Show
Unlike any previous fair, every evening the impressive light, sound and fireworks coordinated display at the Lagoon of Nations thrilled fair visitors.
Read: Nighttime Water Show
New on the Web
The Fair may have come and gone 76-years ago but some believe it's so important that they enjoy creating new items to honor it. Over the past year Jackie Collins has sent me some wonderful items including a poster, glass block, glass plates, and a placemat. Jackie's newest additions are a silk tie and a tote bag.
Jackie is a retired silk-screener who enjoys collecting items from the Fair as well as creating new ones.
Tony Whalley saw this poster on facebook and sent it to me for the website.
thanks Tony
There are images of Howard Hughes returnng from his "Round the World" trip promoting the 1939 New York World's Fair in the Misc. section under "More Photos of the Fair."
Submitted by EmilyAnn Frances May
EmilyAnn writes: "This little album was used by my late Grandmother, Josie Muro Serrapede, to keep family photos in. The cover is a kind of material that looks like leather but is not and is 4½" x 64½".
The photo on the page which shows the slits for holding the photos is of Josie's daughter Emily and son Gerry.
We do not think the family went to the fair. They lived in Brooklyn and none of the relatives or neighbors had a car. My Grandparents did not like to go long distances because my Grandfather worked 6 days a week. Money was tight. Most entertainment was by visiting the relatives or going to Coney Island. That was as far as they went. So my Uncle and I think this album was a gift. There weren't any family stories about going to the Fair."
Submitted by Leslie Tannahill
New Souvenir Images on the Web
Salt & Pepper Shakers
Moved the Fair Salt & Pepper shakers to their own page
Coins
- Music Hall - Andy Kaufman
- City of New York - Andy Kaufman
Matchbook Cover
- Railroad / Utilities 1939 - Andy Kaufman
Plates
- Communications Bldg. - Andy Kaufman
Hot Plates (New Section)
- 5 Hot Plates - Andy Kaufman
Glass and Porcelain Items
Buttons & Pins
- T & P Triple Charm PIn - Andy Kaufman
- T & P PIn - Andy Kaufman
History of Coca Cola
Produced by the Jam Handy Organization
Created in 1939, "Refreshment Through the Years" is a corporate history of the Coca-Cola Company. This film was the very first Technicolor industrial film ever produced. This account of the invention of Coke by John Pemberton through its growth in popularity to become the most popular soft drink in history.
Published on YouTube May 6, 2015 by Periscope Films
Periscope Film #72162. Approx Length: 20:30.
People Seeking Information:
From Bethany Johns
Hi, my grandfather Horace Johns was an Otis Elevator engineer and manned the Otis display in the Metals Bldg: I'm looking for any material, print or otherwise, that shows the Otis display. Many thanks for any direction, Bethany
From Paul M. Van Dort
I received this photograph from Leslie Tannahill with her grandparents, Fred and Cleal Tannahill of Bloomfield, N.J.
It appears that the lady is holding a fluorescent tube in front of some type of display.
The only words on the sign that I can make out are:
R???R, then ?ation, Saving, Grow Beam, and Screening.
Can anyone identify which pavilion this may have been in?
Photo was taken by A.E. Sonn, Glen Ridge, N.J.
View the current list of questions. If you have a question email me and I will add it to the list.
The World's Fair Gift Shop
Visit the Gift Shop to purchase many items from the 1939 NY World's Fair.
Money raised from the sale of items goes towards maintaining this website.
Join the World's Fair Community page on Facebook - Simply "Like" the page, while you are there, and why not add a post or a comment.
Lost on facebook?: Many people have posted on the 1939 New York World's Fair Community facebook page only to get lost on the left-side under "Posts to Page." If you want your post to be seen in the main section of the page, I need to make you an editor. Here's what you need to do:
- Send a "Friend Request" to my personal account (Paul M. Van Dort or TriviaWolf).
- Be sure to "Like" the 1939 New York World's Fair Community page.
- Send me a message to let me know you would like to be an Editor and I'll do the rest.
Links
Would you like a link on the World's Fair Website? Take a look at the links page to see how I am adding the links. Hover over the link name to reveal a descriptive panel, click the link to visit the site.
Contact me with the information that you want to appear. Links must be approved before they are added.
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