1939 New York World's Fair - Part 1 of 2 - A Home Movie Spectacular!

Filmed by my Grandfather. None of this footage has appeared in any World's Fair documentary anywhere!
PART ONE:
Trylon and Perisphere, the theme center at the site of the present Unisphere.
Electric Utilities Pavilion with "hydraulic dam."
Crowd scenes around the theme center.
A rare glimpse at the underbelly of the Perisphere.
Fairgoers exiting from the Perisphere.
The Avenue of Patriots.
Communications Plaza and Hall of Communications (with the red pylons).
Star Pylon on Main Street.
A long panning view of the British Pavilion and the Italian Pavilion (yes, Fascist Italy) filmed across from the Lagoon of Nations.
Petroleum Pavilion.
Unidentified wedge-shaped building.
Bird's eye views filmed from the Perisphere - illegally! Grandpa somehow convinced the guard that he was there on official business.
Pennsylvania Pavilion (mimicking Independence Hall) and Court of States.
RAILROADS ON PARADE: A live pageant featuring historic trains (or faithful reproductions) portraying the story of land transportation in America, beginning with the pioneers up to (but not including!) the introduction of automobiles.

TRIVIA: The red and blue buggies seen at 2:04 bear the name "American Express" which at that time was an express courier service.

PART TWO continues with:
Gardens on Parade
Constitution Mall
Federal Pavilion
Night Views
Lagoon of Nations
Fireworks Finale

Filmed on 16mm by Gustave A. Martens (1900-1977) of College Point, NY.

A Presentation of
GRANDPA'S PICTURE PARTY
at WEBNIK.com
http://www.webnik.com/homemovies

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[paullubliner]

This footage was shot in 1940. The GM Diesel engine was completely cream in 1939 and was repainted with the top portion in red for the '40 season. "Freeze frame" Mrs. Marten and her son in front of the engine and observe the "1940" date in the number board on the engines "nose." I find it interesting that many people are surprised by and at the use of color here. Many railroad enthusiasts were shooting color film and slides several years earlier than this. I collect those images and films.

[robertwmartens]

@paullubliner What a sharp eye you've got! Someone else pointed out that in Part Two of this movie, my father is wearing on his suit jacket a little pennant or ribbon that was issued to fair goers on the very last day of the exhibition in October, 1940.

[irish89055]

i remember a documentary of this fair and there was a scene with a little girl saying to her elderly grandfather as they looked an exhibit of what the world would be in 1960..." won't it be wonderful grandfather?" and the look on his face as he knew he would not likely be around to see it....(these were actors... and a good view of the fair , I wonder if it's on here, hmmm)

[robertwmartens]

@irish89055 Westinghouse produced a film in which a fictitious family named The Middletons visited the Westinghouse Pavilion at the 1939 fair. A highlight of that film was their look at a kitchen of the future - maybe that's the scene you were remembering.

[StMartinTours]

What is the musical selection?

[robertwmartens]

@StMartinTours The first movement, titled "We The People," from Symphony #9 composed by Roy Harris, 1962.

[BobJoseph1022]

My first thought is how very much the same we are as our ancestors. Our basic values and appreciation for greatness keep us in awe while watching the leading edge of yesterday, even while we are very much aware of our progress since then and how dated these scenes are. It doesn't matter. We're the same...children of today, yesterday and tomorrow.

[paullubliner]

@robertwmartens: Thank you and thank you very much for posting and keeping this wonderful and significant film.

[paullubliner]

@PRR5406: Not quite. The "Coronation" loco from the U.K. is alive and well and only two years ago received a re-streamlining back into it's exact appearance at the '39-'40 NYWF sans headlight and bell. I supplied two color photos taken opening and closing day of the Fair to the National Railway Museum in York, England which I am told assisted in securing financing for this recent re-streamlining. Google Images: LMS 6229 to see it now.

[paullubliner]

@PRR5406: ACTUALLY, That Art Deco design mode was quite prevalent in architecture and house-hold appliance to transportation (diesel locomotives) until the early 1960's.

[paullubliner]

@theOlLineRebel: Kodak BOUGHT the Kodachrome Process from a pair of Bronx, New York Musician/Chemists in 1932. It first appeared as a"Kodachrome" in 1935 16mm and slit in half 8mm home movie film (this example is 16mm) and as 35mm still (or professional motion Picture film) in 1936. It received a major improvement in the quality in the green spectrum during July of 1939. It is still regarded as the finest grain color film ever made and ceased production about 2 years ago.