1939 New York World's Fair

1. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
1939 New York1939 New York WWorld’s Fairorld’s Fair
Dawn of a New DayDawn of a New Day

2. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
ThemeTheme
• The first exposition to be based on theThe first exposition to be based on the
FUTURE!FUTURE!
– Presented views in preparation for thePresented views in preparation for the
future by viewing prevailing ideas, activefuture by viewing prevailing ideas, active
forces, and machinesforces, and machines
– ““Familiarity with today is the bestFamiliarity with today is the best
preparation for the futurepreparation for the future”” (official New York(official New York
World’s Fair pamphlet)World’s Fair pamphlet)

3. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
FactsFacts
• The largest international eventThe largest international event
after World War Iafter World War I
• The largest world’s fair in historyThe largest world’s fair in history
• Over 44 million attendeesOver 44 million attendees
• First World Science FictionFirst World Science Fiction
Convention –Convention – Nycon 1Nycon 1

4. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
New York World’s Fair CorporationNew York World’s Fair Corporation
• Formed by a group of NYCFormed by a group of NYC
retired policemen in 1935retired policemen in 1935
• Formed to lift NYC and theFormed to lift NYC and the
country out of the Greatcountry out of the Great
DepressionDepression

5. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
The NYWFC Committee MembersThe NYWFC Committee Members
• Grover Whalen, former chief of policeGrover Whalen, former chief of police
elected by NYWFC as president of theelected by NYWFC as president of the
committeecommittee
• 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

6. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
Opening DayOpening Day
• Desire of cultural and historicalDesire of cultural and historical
associations let to the openingassociations let to the opening
date which corresponded to thedate which corresponded to the
150150thth
anniversary of the firstanniversary of the first
U.S. President, GeorgeU.S. President, George
Washington – April 30, 1939Washington – April 30, 1939

7. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
NYC World Fair PromotionsNYC World Fair Promotions
• Promotion for the event took a varietyPromotion for the event took a variety
of formsof forms
– Patches featuring the Trylon,Patches featuring the Trylon,
Perisphere, and “1939” worn on thePerisphere, and “1939” worn on the
jerseys of sports figures such as:jerseys of sports figures such as:
• Brooklyn DogersBrooklyn Dogers
• New York GiantsNew York Giants
• New York YankeesNew York Yankees
– 1938 flight around the world flown1938 flight around the world flown
by Howard Hughesby Howard Hughes

8. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
Famous SpeakersFamous Speakers
• President Franklin D. RooseveltPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

9. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
Technological InnovationTechnological Innovation
• President Roosevelt’s speech was delivered in aPresident Roosevelt’s speech was delivered in a
variety of ways to reflect technologicalvariety of ways to reflect technological
innovationinnovation
– RadioRadio
– TelevisionTelevision
– BrailleBraille
• Albert Einstein’s speech discussed cosmic raysAlbert Einstein’s speech discussed cosmic rays

10. © Jillian Skinstad, Sagaversity
Technological InnovationTechnological Innovation
• President Roosevelt’s speech was delivered in aPresident Roosevelt’s speech was delivered in a
variety of ways to reflect technologicalvariety of ways to reflect technological
innovationinnovation
– RadioRadio
– TelevisionTelevision
– BrailleBraille
• Albert Einstein’s speech discussed cosmic raysAlbert Einstein’s speech discussed cosmic rays