The World’s Fair

by Frank M. Roberts

January 2017

The World's Fair. Definitely not these days. Anyway, this is about those days set aside to lure the general public to certain areas for a few days, heartily dedicated to learnin' and funnin' with the bulk of the crowds going for the latter.

Before Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion, the Disney extravangas, folks spent a day spending their money for some family entertainment and enlightenment. So, when did it all begin? Most likely in 1851 in London. It was an opportunity to explore the outside world, take a look at scientific advances and new inventions and, in several occasions, the world of the stripper. (Sorry, but that's the troof. It was in the amusements area, and that's the semi-naked truth -- actually tame, compared to some of today's movies, etc.).

At each event several countries represented themselves. In our country, as a li'l kid I visited what is still deemed the best - the 1939-'40 New York World's Fair. And why not? It was only a 10-minute subway (elevated) ride to the grounds so, most of the kids in our neighborhood were there on weekends and, often, during the week. We knew enough - we could have been guides.

That was for pleasure - for work I visited the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition which, to put it bluntly was, for the most part, a bummer. An earlier fair in Knoxville was also deemed a zero but, the Loo-zee-anna to-do had an advantage. It was in one of my favorite cities - I've been there thrice - New Orleans. Knoxville is as fascinating as Allentown, PA. (where I once did a play).

I was in N. O. doing a story on the Western Branch Cloggers of Chesapeake, VA. At one time, clogging was quite popular. This group was there by invitation. How'd they do? They were held over three times in a building that later became rubble. Another attraction was the $12 million Mississippi Aerial River Transit, a gondola crossing Ole Man River, connecting Algiers on the West Bank to downtown N. Orleans, offering a breathtaking look at that part of the world from 350 feet above the water.

Another attraction was the monorail which took you in and out of the various buildings. It was the Fair's only free ride. It landed you along the city's waterfront, next door to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.

"I liked the exhibits, but there weren't enough; it just wasn't what I expected," said Harry Edwards of Portsmouth, a member of the adult clogging team. "The prices were too high, and I didn't like the attitude of the people working there. Many of the Fair's employees I encountered wouldn't last five minutes at Busch Gardens." Whoa!

I wonder if that gent remembers, today, what he noted in 1984. "Too often," he said, "visitors are either ignored in favor of conversations with friends, or are treated rudely."

Kristen Fulcher also had something to say. "Once, while waiting in line for a small 90-cent Coke, I was chewed out by an employee who accused us (she had a 10-year-old with her) of stepping in front of her. She was a few feet away and we thought she was working there.

"Also," she said, "forget about asking the employees for directions. Few of them seemed to know what was around the corner." Ouch! Well, that shouldn't have been too rough, since there wasn't too much. Twenty-five countries and 18 corporations were represented.

There were complaints about food and drinks which, in this day and age would look like bargains. In '84 they were overpriced. "It was too expensive for the average person," said JoAnn Bryant, the Cloggers' business manager. She thought the rides prices would be included with the price of admission. "They weren't and they were expensive." Well, there were only seven of them.

The exhibits were 'free' with the $15 admission cost - except for The Vatican Pavilion costing an extra $5 - no problem since N. O's populace is predominantly Catholic.

Not meaning to 'flag wave' but the outstanding offering came from the good, ole U. S. A. Our country's pavilion, paid for by our country's taxpayers, covered its subject scientifically, musically, and artistically. Another country that fared well was Korea with its exotic dance exhibitions.

The Aquacade, introduced in the N. Y. World's Fair in '39-'40, looked like scenes out of Esther Williams movies. But, as I remember it, too many of the attractions can easily be described as mundane. But, I was spoiled, remembering THE ultimate N. Y. World's Fair with its look at the future, exciting rides, pavilions. Of course, the cost of offering such an offering would have been too much for Louisiana. In this day and age it would be over- way over - the top.

There were, of course, star names offering concerts including Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Lola Falana, Gladys Knight And the Pips, James Taylor and 'local boy makes good', Pete Fountain.

When it closed up shop, fair officials reluctantly noted that the $350 million enterprise closed that shop with $150 million in debt with money owed to 400 creditors, including the state of Louisiana which loaned it $27.5 million just to stay open. And, get this: The $566,000 weekly payroll was cut down to $400,000, which might have explained the complaints about some of the employees. The 'gripes' of wrath.

The biggest bargains? The city's colorful Bourbon Street, downtown N. O., the trolley cars that took you thru suburb and city, the Audubon Zoo and, the bargain hunter's paradise - The French Quarter. But, to describe the Fair: It was only a fair Fair.

Lotsa folks are predicting that the idea of 'worlds's fairs' is going down the tubes. The U. S. hasn't had one since 1984. Almost overlooked: The International Exposition in Brussels in 1913.

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Fair facts: Those molasses-flavored caramel-coated Cracker Jacks were introduced in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago's first world's fair, in 1893. They've gone downhill. Since Frito-Lay bought 'em, the toy and trinket prizes have been replaced with cheapie paper prizes displaying dumb riddles and jokes; Somewhere here, we should mention, "It Happened At the World's Fair." Elvis happened.

The '39 Fair theme was, "Building the World Of Tomorrow." The 1964-'65 Fair theme was "Peace Through Understanding." Both NYC events were held in my borough - Queens. Flushing Meadows to be exact. "Man And His World" was the theme of the 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal.

There is talk about the possibility of a fair in - of all places - Milan, Italy. The oldest fair in our country was in Turnbridge, VT. in 1867 which, 'tis said, holds something annually; Various years - between the 1790s and 1800s, the French had something going. (Maidens fair at the Fair). In 1829, in NYC there was something called the American Institute Fair; And, of course, in Chi-Town, in 1933, there was a good sized event called, "Century Of Progress Expedition."

The biggie - the '39 NYC event - will celebrate its 75th anniversary, April 30. President FDR was there on opening day. Also there, thru the run, of course, was the introduction of broadcast television. The program was in one room, the viewers, including myself, were in another. The symbols that World's Fair were the trylon and perisphere which showed off the world of tomorrow. It predicted peace and prosperity. (End of joke).

According to World's Fair archive manager, Louise Weinberg, "There's no profit in running a fair. She calls it, "a losing proposition," adding, rightly, "you don't do it to make money. Good thing, because groups in San Francisco and Houston are looking for biggie fairs in 2025. One official put it this way: "The new U. S. fairs will have to harken back to the old New York fairs sense of wonder and aspiration."