Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: March 18th, 2004
World’s Fair, New York City - 1939
Going through other people old slides is a quite a treasure hunt. After a dozen years of collecting and looking through zillions I’ve been fortunate to find hundreds and hundreds of amazing images. But since the beginning I’ve been hoping to find slides taken at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Kodachrome slide photography was brand knew at the time but I knew that eventually I’d come across some slides that somebody took there - and last week it finally happened!!! This is one of the slides.
In this bird’s eye view you can see the colorful giant Life Savers that decorate the Life Savers parachute drop, the ?world’s largest cash register? (which displayed the daily attendance), and Midget Town, which housed ?a collection of performing midgets - wow! How politically incorrect was that? On the far right is the New York Pavilion, the only building that remains from the out-of-this world exhibition. It is now the Queen’s Museum, home to a spectacular display of memorabilia and footage from both the ’39 and ’64 Fairs.
At the time, the ’39 World fair was the biggest and most expensive world’s fair ever. It happened at an amazing time in history between the depression and World War II, which to me makes the futuristic display even more significant and poignant. Among the most popular exhibits were General Motor’s Futurama where visitors were treated to a view of the world of 1960. Visitors also saw television there for the first time.
For those who visited the 1939 New York Worlds Fair I can imagine that it must have been a life altering experience – to say the least!!!
God Bless Americana and New York World’s Fairiana
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
March 2004
Sets this Slide belongs to:
Theme Parks
4 Comments on “World's Fair, New York City - 1939”
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February 25th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
My dad attended. He was 10 years old at the time and living in the Bronx, so he just took the subway there for 5 cents! Much later, he attended the 64-65 fair as a 36 year old man, just prior to my birth. We had a few souvenirs from the 65 fair around the house when I was a kid, and I was always fascinated by them.
Thanks for all your hard work, Charles! A great image. You da man.
July 28th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Hi,
Nice slide but you have all the identifications wrong. First off, this slide was taken in 1940 not 1939 - note the relocated Parachute Jump. The red NCR register is another clue that this is 1940 - in 1939 it was silver. Same goes for the flag atop the Parachute Jump - indicative of 1940. Also, neither the New York State or City building is visible in this view. That is the Federal Building off to the right and Italy is about center frame. I also collect images in color from this greatest of Fairs - I have about 400 or more.
Best,
Eric
May 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I attended both NY Fair and Calif. Fair a year apart. Cannot convince someone that this really happened. Would like verification on the internet, thanx.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Re: Jean Ringeisen, May 5th querry:
Both fairs were held for two seasons, 1939 & 1940. It is certainly possible that someone attended each fair one year apart.