[molassesonassis]

The University of Texas at San Antonio's Institute of Texas Cultures has an exhibit up celebrating Hemisfair's 40th.

HemisFair 1968:San Antonio's Introduction to the World
Through April 5, 2009

In 1968, San Antonio invited the world to HemisFair. The event was a celebration of the "Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas," and it showcased San Antonio's position as an emerging business and cultural center between the United States and the world.

Cultural groups from more than 30 nations erected pavilions and exhibits celebrating diversity and promoting international unity. Companies on the cutting edge of technology unveiled new products that revolutionized productivity. Entertainers from across the globe amazed audiences with engaging performances and unique flair. Guests left HemisFair with special memories and stories to share for a lifetime.

HemisFair 1968: San Antonio's Introduction to the World chronicles a selection of the people, events, and controversies that played a role in bringing HemisFair to life. It offers a retrospective look at the sixties, from the way we dressed, to new advances in technology, to the national unrest that existed following the loss of national leaders. The exhibit also features previously unreleased HemisFair photos from the museum's 3.5 million image photo archive, film captured at the six-month exposition, and mementos ranging from event guides to uniforms to souvenirs.

The exhibit coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Texan Cultures, which established residence in the Texas State Exhibits pavilion for HemisFair in 1968. HemisFair 1968: San Antonio's Introduction to the World will run through April 5, 2009.

http://www.texancult...HemisFair68.htm

[Jim]

This is very interesting. I remember Hemisfair and still have a first day cover of the Hemisfair stamp. The ideas found on this site as to why attendance fell below expectations reads like a litany of all that went terribly wrong in 1968 (Dr. King, RFK etc.). I remember that those stupid little puppets from the NYWF ended up in Texas in 1968 and I THINK that To Be Alive was shown at Hemisfair as it was at Expo 67.

[molassesonassis]

LOL Yes, the Biard puppets were there. Quickly scanned the guide book but found no mention of "To Be Alive."

1968 was a tumultuous year and any one of the myriad of issues & conflicts could have put attendance down. Still the attendance was not that far off: 6.4 million actual and 7.2 projected.

[Chmnofbrd]

Bravo to the city of San Antonio and the state of Texas. New York seems to do everything it can to erase the legacies of its Worlds Fairs.

[Bill Cotter]

Ford's Auto Parts orchestra made it to HemisFair as well. I remember thinking there were some other 1964-65 exhibits recycled but I don't have my notes handy.

It sounds like an interesting exhibit. Thanks for the heads up.

[molassesonassis]

According to Wikipedia under the subheading of "Limited Screenings To Date"

"After a screening at the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 1967 in Montreal, Quebec, To Be Alive was only available for public screening at the Golden Rondelle Theatre at the S.C. Johnson headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin. However, the single-strip 70mm version of the film has been shown in retrospective tributes to co-director Hammid. To date, there has been no home video or DVD release of To Be Alive!"

[Doug Seed]

I would imagine that PTU's own Fred Stern offers it for sale along with his many other high quality WF videos.

And it's also on the DVD from Extinct Attractions Club. (see list below)
http://01508f4.netsolstores.com/index.asp?...amp;Category=12

http://01508f4.netsolstores.com/index.asp?...&Category=1

(He even sells Ray Dashner's audio recordings!)

I watched Dave Oneil's entire slideshow on Flickr. Lots of interesting Disney insider stuff: http://www.flickr.com/photos/extinctattrac...ith/2435054069/

It has been interesting to watch Oneil's Extinct Attractions venture grow from a few films to an amazing venture (and ADventure). His websites are filled with interesting stuff. This one is his Blog Spot and it's got enough stuff to keep you busy all night!
http://extinctattrac...b.blogspot.com/
------------------------------------------------------------
1964 New York World's Fair
Historical Double DVD

Over 5 hours of original films from 1964 and 1965

DVD Features
Ride the Future-rama ride from general motors!.
Original News reels in color and Black and white of the fair!
See the original Walt Disney goes to the fair TV Special
Product Description
By David Oneal

This is a real treat, un-edited and complete promotional, news, and TV shows from the 1964 World's


Fair on 2 DVDs spanning over 5 hours! This is a very amazing collection, I know you will enjoy.
Disc One

0:00:00 World’s Fair Report with Lowell Thomas (color) This is a preview of
the Fair, containing an interview with Robert Moses

0:25:40 Progress Report â€�“ The New York World’s Fair 1964-1965 (b/w) (H.V.
Kaltenborn, narrator) Another Fair preview with other Fair and City
officials

0:50:14 Unisphere-Biggest World on Earth (color) United States
Steel-produced film, includes brief history of World's Fair theme buildings
and then shows the design and build process for Unisphere

1:04:20 To the Fair (b/w)

1:30:35 Out of this World (color) While emphasizing Frigidaire’s kitchen
appliances, this film contains footage of the Futurama ride that is not in
the �“other�” Futurama film.

1:43:47 Century 21 Calling (color) This film is about the 1962 Seattle
------------------------------------------------

I would imagine that PTU's own Fred Stern offers it for sale.
World’s Fair, whose official name was "Century 21."

1:51:39 Disney at the World’s Fair (color) This is the episode of the
Wonderful World of Color.

2:42:00 to be alive! (color) The one-frame version of the Johnson’s Wax
pavilion film.

3:00:40 Highlights of the New York World’s Fair (b/w) Excerpts from NBC’s
opening night special, broadcast on April 22, 1964.

3:29:00 View From the People Wall (color) The �“Think�” show from the IBM
pavilion’s Information Machine.

3:41:47 The Searching Eye (color) Kodak pavilion film

[Maverick]

Wow!! Thanks for the heads up! I am temporarily living in Austin so I will actually be able to go to this. I was lucky enough to hang out in the lounge and have dinner in the tower last time I was down there, and it was so much fun. I heard the interiors went through some major renovation, so I dont know what it looked like previously. I also purchased a vintage Hemisfair beer mug as a souvenir of my time here in Texas, and use it every day. For soda

[molassesonassis]

Take your camera along and snap some images to share with us.

[Jim]

Buffalo, St. Louis, Seattle, Montreal and now San Antonio have all hosted retrospective exhibitions about their respective fairs. Buffalo, in 2001, went all out for a city wide commemoration of the Pan American Exposition and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society sponsored a remarkable collection of artifacts and even recreated several of the more popular exhibits from 1901.

I totally agree that the city of New York does virtually all that it can to erase its past. It is moronic and it has become a significant reason why I don't much care if I ever see the city again.

San Antonio deserves accolades for preserving the history of their fair. I would love to see that exhibition.

[Themepark Nut]

Hello everyone, If you can come and visit your in for quite a treat. The Institute of Texan Cultures has not only created a walk thru exhibit but has also created a special video show about HemisFair that is shown in the dome ceiling. Back in 06' Landry's won the contract to manage the tower and put it thru an $8M dollar renovation inside and out, the ground level now includes a small cafe, gift shop, and a 4-D theater. The tower shaft was cleaned and repaired, the restaurant and lounge were remodeled to restore some of the classy dinning atmosphere that was removed during the 1990's renovation, and on the main observation level there are panels that show the history of Texas as well as two small banquet rooms.

[molassesonassis]

Welcome to PTU/WFC Themepark Nut!

Thanks for all the information you gave me the other day.

VIVA HemisFair!

[molassesonassis]

Jim, on Nov 14 2008, 08:45 AM, said:

I don't much care if I ever see the city again.

I could not disagree with you more.

I LOVE New York City! Lived there twice and hope to relocate permanently. Outside of Berlin no other city has ever engaged and thrilled me as much. Sadly I only get there about 6 times a year. There’s always something fresh and exciting going on – 24/7. I LOVE NY

[expoboy]

[quote name='molassesonassis' date='Nov 13 2008, 07:25 AM' post='71744']

Thanks for the heads-up on this. Hemisfair was my first world's fair and I have very vivid memories of it. One of the great things planners did was to integrate existing 19th and early 20th century structures into the site as restaurants, boutiques, etc. Too bad the site fell into such disrepair and little has done to use those rennovated structures since the fair's close.

[Jim]

I suppose I have just become cynical about NYC and NYS. I elected to build a life in upstate NY only to watch the stunning mismanagement of state government drive virtually all significant business out of the region. The taxes continue to rise and one by one, friends and family leave the state for better opportunities elsewhere. Despite the state's incredible natural beauty and opportunities, it continues to hemmorage people and jobs to other parts of the nation.

When I look at a state that faces a 15 billion dollar budget deficit in 2009 and the related budget cuts and tax increases and then I see articles in the Times describing massive cost overruns at the two new stadiums, I guess that is what makes me feel so negative about the city. There are no similar upstate projects. The collaspse of so many Wall Street firms will cost the state 20 billion dollars in tax revenues in 2009. I don't see NYC as a cultural destination or dynamic center of progress that I once did. I guess I see a huge money pit that was once the Empire State and the prognosis is not very good.