1939 new york world’s fair

© Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity

1939 New York 1939 New York WWorld’s orld’s FairFair

Dawn of a New DayDawn of a New Day


ThemeTheme• The first exposition to be based on The first exposition to be based on

the the FUTURE!FUTURE!– Presented views in preparation for Presented views in preparation for

the future by viewing prevailing the future by viewing prevailing ideas, active forces, and machinesideas, active forces, and machines

– ““Familiarity with today is the best Familiarity with today is the best preparation for the futurepreparation for the future” ” (official New (official New York World’s Fair pamphlet)York World’s Fair pamphlet)


FactsFacts• The largest international The largest international

event after World War Ievent after World War I• The largest world’s fair in The largest world’s fair in

historyhistory• Over 44 million attendeesOver 44 million attendees• First World Science Fiction First World Science Fiction

Convention – Convention – Nycon 1Nycon 1


New York World’s Fair New York World’s Fair CorporationCorporation

• Formed by a group of NYC Formed by a group of NYC retired policemen in 1935retired policemen in 1935

• Formed to lift NYC and the Formed to lift NYC and the country out of the Great country out of the Great DepressionDepression


The NYWFC Committee The NYWFC Committee MembersMembers• Grover Whalen, former chief of Grover Whalen, former chief of

police elected by NYWFC as police elected by NYWFC as president of the committeepresident of the committee

• Winthrop AdlrichWinthrop Adlrich• Mortimer BucknerMortimer Buckner• Floyd CarlisleFloyd Carlisle• John J. DunniganJohn J. Dunnigan• Harvey Dow GibsonHarvey Dow Gibson• Mayor Fiorello la GuardiaMayor Fiorello la Guardia• Percy S. StratusPercy S. Stratus• Many other business leadersMany other business leaders


Opening DayOpening Day• Desire of cultural and Desire of cultural and

historical associations let to historical associations let to the opening date which the opening date which corresponded to the 150corresponded to the 150thth anniversary of the first U.S. anniversary of the first U.S. President, George President, George Washington – April 30, 1939Washington – April 30, 1939


NYC World Fair NYC World Fair PromotionsPromotions• Promotion for the event took a Promotion for the event took a

variety of formsvariety of forms– Patches featuring the Trylon, Patches featuring the Trylon,

Perisphere, and “1939” worn on Perisphere, and “1939” worn on the jerseys of sports figures the jerseys of sports figures such as:such as:•Brooklyn DogersBrooklyn Dogers•New York GiantsNew York Giants•New York YankeesNew York Yankees

– 1938 flight around the world 1938 flight around the world flown by Howard Hughesflown by Howard Hughes


Famous Speakers Famous Speakers • President Franklin D. President Franklin D.

RooseveltRoosevelt• Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein


Technological InnovationTechnological Innovation• President Roosevelt’s speech was President Roosevelt’s speech was

delivered in a variety of ways to reflect delivered in a variety of ways to reflect technological innovationtechnological innovation– RadioRadio– TelevisionTelevision– BrailleBraille

• Albert Einstein’s speech discussed Albert Einstein’s speech discussed cosmic rayscosmic rays

Education

1939 new york world’s fair