1939 New York World's Fair - Part 2 - A Home Movie Spectacular

Part 2 of my Grandfather's historic home movie, the 1939 New York World's Fair. We begin with a moment of relaxation in the Gardens on Parade (the boy seen there is my Dad, age 10), then we visit Constitution Mall with its gigantic statue of George Washington, and the Federal Pavilion with Dad and my Grandparents appearing on its steps. That's my Grandpa, the filmmaker, laughing.

Then it's on to the night views - rare for a home movie of the time! Look hard or you'll miss the Parachute Jump which today stands inert at Coney Island (it bears a Life Savers ad). Can you see the parachutes dropping? Would you believe a pavilion devoted to Lucky Strike cigarettes? The tower with the pulsating neon orbs belongs to Dupont. National Cash Register is today's NCR. Dig that building-size register! So many of these brands are still around today. A short section of film appears upside-down due to a splicing error. Can you spot it?

The Lagoon of Nations spectacular leads to the fireworks finale. The animated end title bears the initials "ACL" meaning the "Amateur Cinema League" which Grandpa belonged to. ACL members got all kinds of free titles and animations to add onto their movies.

A Presentation of
GRANDPA'S PICTURE PARTY
at
WEBNIK.com

http://www.webnik.com/homemovies

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• 1939
• 1940
• 1964
• 1965
• New
• York
• World's
• Fair
• Worlds
• Trylon
• Perisphere
• Helicline
• Unisphere
• College
• Point
• Flushing
• Lagoon
• Nations
• Federal
• George
• Washington
• Statue
• Dupont
• Lucky
• Strike
• Cigarettes
• Parachute
• Jump
• Wonder
• Bread
• Fireworks
• Night
• Neon
• Westinghouse
• NCR
• National
• Meadows
• Corona
• Park
• Giant
• Cash
• Register
• Largest
• General
• Electric
• Ford
• Motors
• Futurama
• Coney
• Island
• Queens
• Gustave
• Martens
• Robert
• Warren
• 16mm
• Color
• Home
• Movie
• Kodak
• Kodacolor

[lmdodd]

I loved watching both parts. Who are the family members shown?

[robertwmartens]

My Grandparents, and my father who was 10 at the time. We just celebrated Dad's 80th birthday!

[claumishi]

just beatutiful i have moved to new york 6 years ago and most of the time when we want to take a walk my kids and I go to the Flushing meadows park and we never though that all of this beautiful history took place in there.. Thank you

[michaelterry1000]

Yes, Thank you Grandpa.

I have been fascinated with this fair ever since I saw a PBS documentary on it in the 1980's.

Thanks to YouTube and Robert Martens.

Please think twice before throwing out any family photos or recordings. You never know what value they will have to future generations.

[tarotbear]

AMAZING! I am sure your grandfather never thought people would be watching these 70 years later and be so happy that this footage exists!

[tomitstube]

great footage, thanks for sharing!

[YesThoseTogether]

Man, this footage is incredible. We all owe your grandfather a debt of gratitude for preserving such a fascinating piece of history.

[NYWorldsFAIRof1939]

beautiful history :-)

[parrot0051]

Awesome movies, my parents always talked about this world fair although they didn't know each other when they visited this fair they did recall each of the different attractions almost the same way, I just wish another worlds fair can be brought to New York with all the wonder the 39 worlds fair had. thanks for sharing these great videos with us.

[gryphonshire]

The upside-down fountain looks like modern special effects! Thanks for preserving and sharing these memories. Watching awesome video with appropriate music background, is why I joined YouTube.

[thehatband]

I'm reading a book right now on the 1939 World's Fair. I'm so glad you shared this, it was wonderful!

[bearcub410]

just wonderful my grandparents went to the fair , it has always fascinated me . just great . thank you so much AAAAA++++