10 replies to this topic

[EPCOT Explorer]

Hello, all.

Long time reader here, first time poster. I've just returned from a trip to New York City, in which I visited the Unisphere and Flushing Meadows for the first time, and thought that it was time to bit the bullet and to start discussing one of my interests publicly.

Although I am too young to have gone to the New York World's Fairs, they are my main interest in this field. The closest I think I've gotten to a World's Fair are the fantastic grounds I just visited, or EPCOT Center, which, as you all know, was intended to be a "permanent" World's Fair.

So, it might seem strange that someone with no connection to the Fair now has a deep interest in it... Though, I have been told by other Fair Fans that my entrance in this interest isn't as atypical as I would think. Back in High School, in my American History class, we were tasked with writing a historiographical essay about a event that had changed the way Americans perceive the world. Always being a avid Disney and EPCOT fan, I thought of how Walt Disney wanted to create EPCOT, a CITY, and in turn, was inspired by his creations and involvement at the 1964 World's Fair. As I began to research, one passion began to fuel another. EPCOT wasn't EPCOT without looking at it's past, and how IT came to be. And in that, I think I discovered, what I think one of the more valuable, and unheralded parts of American History... How we looked, felt, and acted in the threat of cold war, and our unwavering optimism in the future. It was beautiful.

Now, I don't presume to ever have the perspective that some have, as they actually VISITED the fairs, but in the years since that 10 page paper, I've still researched, and built up a collection, and gotten to know the Fair fairly well. As I mentioned before, I just returned from seeing the Unisphere itself, and I think that's the REAL tipping point for me. The World's Fair is something that's still real, still here in a respect, and something I think that I should start talking about and learning even more about, as I hope to preserve it's memory, even if I only have a contemporary mind for this.

This, and I've also started a blog that, I hope will be a synthesis of my interests in the fair, and Disney. I've often thought the two go hand in hand... the futurism of one inspires the other. Currently writing my first major post for it about the car culture of the 64 Fair, and I expect it will be done before the week is out.

Well, that's enough about me... Hope to see you out on the forums and Twitter. Thanks for having me!

EE

[Expo_Seeker40]

Well, look who posts here!

[EPCOT Explorer]

Expo_Seeker40, on 22 August 2011 - 04:29 AM, said:

Well, look who posts here!

I do now! I had no idea you were here! Great to see you!

[cinerama3]

Welcome EP!

[EPCOT Explorer]

Thanks!

[magikbilly]

Welcome indeed

Eric

[EPCOT Explorer]

Thanks! Really enjoying my time here.

[PrimoFairFan]

EE,

Welcome!

Your perspective will resonate with anyone sharing a serious appreciation of history. Those of us who are old enough to have experienced the Fair first hand, have a touchstone to our past in what remains. Down deep it becomes a tangible way to recapture what was truly an extraordinarily positive experience. This is truly living history, which continues to teach and guide in ways totally unexpected 47 years ago.

What fascinates (me) is the myriad of ways in which the topic can be segmented and segmented some more.: Civil Engineering & Construction, Design, Technology, Marketing & Tourism, Exhibits & Exhibitors, Site Services, Social and Political effects, Preservation. Literally hundreds of topics and permutations of topics. The Fair effected and was effected by history. That may explain at least a part of its continuing allure.

Les

[EPCOT Explorer]

PrimoFairFan, on 07 September 2011 - 09:11 PM, said:

EE,

Welcome!

Your perspective will resonate with anyone sharing a serious appreciation of history. Those of us who are old enough to have experienced the Fair first hand, have a touchstone to our past in what remains. Down deep it becomes a tangible way to recapture what was truly an extraordinarily positive experience. This is truly living history, which continues to teach and guide in ways totally unexpected 47 years ago.

What fascinates (me) is the myriad of ways in which the topic can be segmented and segmented some more.: Civil Engineering & Construction, Design, Technology, Marketing & Tourism, Exhibits & Exhibitors, Site Services, Social and Political effects, Preservation. Literally hundreds of topics and permutations of topics. The Fair effected and was effected by history. That may explain at least a part of its continuing allure.

Les

Thanks for the welcome, and yes, totally true. There really is something for everything at the fair, even if you didn't get to experience it. It's a touchstone for society and culture, not only in a historical way, but a vastly social one, too.

Thanks very much for this post, nice to know that a newbie like me still has some worth here! LOL. I'm currently writing a essay on the Car Culture of the fair, and it was a great worry of mine that with so many people here that actually saw the fair, I'd just be spitting out facts at them, not offering a new perspective, and one that's historical. Hopefully now, that's not a problem.

[Randy Treadway]

For your car culture article, you might consider splitting it by permanent exhibits (or entire pavilions) versus temporary car exhibits (such as at the T&T Pavilion and Schaefer Center). Don't forget model kit company exhibits too, and of course the Amphicar rides. And the junior driver ride at the New York State Pavilion, and the Mobil Economy run. And the Sinclair ultra-modern parking lot service station. We could go on and on. In fact the very essense that fair organizers in '39-40 made sure to arrange that Flushing Meadow park was surrounded by two expressways (the GCP and the LI Expressway), and in '64-65 they added another expressway (the Van Wyck) on a third side (the fourth side being taken up by rail systems). So 3 out of 4 sides went to cars, 1 out of 4 to rail.

[EPCOT Explorer]

Randy Treadway, on 08 September 2011 - 06:03 AM, said:

For your car culture article, you might consider splitting it by permanent exhibits (or entire pavilions) versus temporary car exhibits (such as at the T&T Pavilion and Schaefer Center). Don't forget model kit company exhibits too, and of course the Amphicar rides. And the junior driver ride at the New York State Pavilion, and the Mobil Economy run. And the Sinclair ultra-modern parking lot service station. We could go on and on. In fact the very essense that fair organizers in '39-40 made sure to arrange that Flushing Meadow park was surrounded by two expressways (the GCP and the LI Expressway), and in '64-65 they added another expressway (the Van Wyck) on a third side (the fourth side being taken up by rail systems). So 3 out of 4 sides went to cars, 1 out of 4 to rail.

Thanks for the advice, Randy! Those exhibits have a bit of information in my piece, I'll look on beefing them up, now.

It's not a long essay, mind you, just a idea that's been banging around in my head since I visited FMCP last month.