1964/65 New York World's Fair Glasses

It took a little bit but I finally got all 8. This caddy wasn't included but they did originally come with one.

The first set are The Port Authority Building, The Unisphere, The New York State Pavilion, and The Federal Pavilion

World's Fair Glasses

The second set are Shea Stadium, The Hall Of Science, The World's Fair Circus, and The Pool Of Industry

World's Fair Glasses

I don't have the original box but I did find these images on Ebay

Unisphere

"Biggest World On Earth"

1964 Promotional film by United States Steel Corporation

Original New York World's Fair Post Card Sign

Paper Sign From 1964

I Was There!

.....actually I wasn't there. It was almost 20 years before my time. 

1964 NY World's Fair Poster

I stumbled upon this killer 1964 NY World's Fair poster online the other night and really felt the need to own it. I'm pretty sure the image is just blown up from a souvenir sticker and wasn't originally intended as a poster but it's still pretty awesome. You can buy at CafePress in two sizes for pretty cheap.

Then & Now: New York State Pavilion 1964 World's Fair

Last week I finally got around to visiting Flushing Meadows Park in Queens NY. Flushing Meadows is the site where both the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs were held. Most of the pavilions were meant to be dismantled so very little remains except for a few traces here and there of the 64 fair.

The Unisphere was the symbol of the fair and still survives. I was taken back at first at how large it really was. I never envisioned it being several stories tall but it was quite amazing.....

Then

Now

The New York State Pavilion and Observation Towers on the other hand seem to be a different story.... After the fair the "Tent Of Tomorrow" has seen very little use besides a brief stint as a rollerskating rink in the 70s and has shown up in a couple movies (The Wiz and Men In Black). The floor tiles, which were a giant road map of New York State had been left to erode away over the past 4 decades are now covered in dirt and stones to try to protect what is left. Hopefully that is the first sign of new life in the future, especially now that it's a registered historic landmark......

Then

Now

Then

Now

The colored ceiling tiles were removed sometime in the early 70's but the wire supports still remain....

Then

Now

Then

Now

Now

Even in it's decaying form it's quite an amazing structure, but it's heartbreaking to see such an iconic landmark left in such state. As far as the rest of the park, there are several fountains left behind that are not being used along with some statues. The Queens Museum Of Art is housed in one of the original 1939 pavilions next to the Unisphere, and holds the breathtaking panorama model of New York City that was on display at the 64 fair. I didn't have time to cross the highway to see the other two remaining buildings which were The Hall Of Science and The Port Authority Heliport (now Terrace On The Park), but that's just more reason to revisit and explore.