1939 WORLD'S FAIR NYC in color

[demandamurray]

Just curious - Does anyone know the source of this footage or who created it?

[MajorSecord]

Swinglikeachariot---your point is well-taken. My initial observations of two years back were based solely on the visual aspect. There is no denying that beneath the well-groomed smiling facades lurked a repressed, naive and ill-informed populace that was putty in the hands of the propaganda machine. My second comment of one year ago touches on the manifestation today of the natural end game of consumer capitalism.

[squinney]

@green5750 LOL...your so funny

[ShapurKing]

Well dressed people.

[NYWorldsFAIRof1939]

i love the old era so much and the NYWF is a perfect example of the beauty of that era!

[jarl44]

I am sorry I wasn't born 50 years earlier.

[NYWorldsFAIRof1939]

LOL...your forgiven my child!

[MajorSecord]

Amazing how people used to present themselves in public. I didn't see one morbidly obese broad in spandex sucking on a sixty-ounce soda. I didn't even see one filthy fat guy in a tee shirt too small to cover his beer gut. I saw lots of hats but none had any logos on them. No one's clothes had any writing on them. Progress is a wonderful thing!

[jarl44]

Major I am also sad at what has become of our great country. I am 41 years old to young to even remember what it must of been like even in the late 60's . But I can tell you that from watching trough this wonderful thing called youtube I can only imagine what it must of been like. Nothing is left of flushing meadows park. It's become a commode for the homeless and the drug dealers. your right progress is a wonderful thing.

[MajorSecord]

Sadly, today, the government's short-sighted culture of greed and corruption no longer inspires any sense of pride in the people let alone civic responsibility.....the american dream has been beaten to death as have the souls of the american people....you certainly no longer hear any optimistic speculation about the world of tomorrow.......

[mickycee64]

@MajorSecord try to keep the faith....

[swinglikeachariot]

@jarl44 Well, considering that the site began as almost literally New York City's commode (the Flushing River and the Corona Dumps handled most of NYC's feces and trash, respectively), and was transformed by Robert Moses into a ritzy fairgrounds, to know that it has reverted to its prior state doesn't say much bad about our society today as such, but actually serves to retard the blind nostalgia everyone seems to have. These 'dignified' peoples' vision of the future led in part to our present.

[squinney]

@MajorSecord We are DOOMED my friend

[swinglikeachariot]

@MajorSecord Yep, and these fine folks with all their dignity and good taste were part of a cultural moment (prior to the 60's, which everyone seems to blame nowadays) that elevated consumerism AS progress, and led to the very over-saturated, passive, fat, idiot culture that we now get to wade through. Look at those smiles again. Don't they seem just a tad menacing when viewed in this light? Read some history about the Fair and you'll be able to focus your rage appropriately.

[barbarella886]

Excellent stuff DNNYDIRTY!

[reprobacious]

Ha, every time I see the old Trylon and Perisphere from the old 1939-40 NY World's Fair, I'm reminded of the Manute Bol-Fridge Perry matchup that time on that ridiculously lame Celebrity Boxing show.

[akronsthehardest]

how come just 1939 world fair what happened to it this is great stuff

[orion7763]

World's Fairs still go on around the world, every four years. The U.S. has not hosted a fair since 1984, and unfortunately, lost interest in the fair in the 90's. In current conditions, the U.S. will not host a future world's fair, unless there is a large push by the general public.

[FridaySabbath]

Nice to see someone has this stuff and takes the time to share it Thankyou for A look at those days gone by.

[larrythelookout]

cool i wasn't even a twinkle in me dads eye then lol nice one man