In 1964 I was exposed to my first World's Fair in
New York City by my parents.
They had gone to the fair and brought me back my first camera
and other literature. Unfortunately I did not go myself as they
thought I was too young. At 5 I thought I should have gone as I
was big enough to know what was going on. They said when I was 6
I could go. I was very curious about what a World's Fair was all
about.
One day while staying at my Grandparents I came across a
National Geographic that had an article on the Fair. From
that point on learned everything I could about Fair so when I
went I know exactly where all the good stuff was. I read that
National Geographic article and the Official 1964-65 New York
Worlds Fair Guide at least once a week and memorized the map of
the Fair until it was my time to go. With a week to go, I read
the article and guide every night and would fall asleep
with them.
When the day came I was ready. I remember entering
the fair with the Sinclair Dino the Dinosaur (Brontosaurus) to
our right and seeing Shea Stadium directly ahead of us. From
there we went to the GM World of Tomorrow exhibit the Ford
exhibit, the Monsanto exhibit, the GE exhibit with a
Thomas Edison robot explaining what we were going to see there.
I remember having a huge slice of pizza for lunch and being
anxious to see more. I was definitely wearing down my parents
about 5 P.M. they were ready to go home, but I convinced them to
take in a few more sites.
I was amazed at the helicopter Pad on
top of the Pan Am exhibit gawked at the huge globe sculpture of
the world and ran around on the moonscape roof of the Kodak
exhibit. It was after that that my parents said they were ready
to get some dinner and go home. I didn't want to go because
there was so much more to see. So we had dinner and as we were
leaving I asked if I could get a souvenir they agreed so I got
an orange plastic Sinclair Dino the Dinosaur right across the
Sinclair exhibit. I remember it cost $1.00 and what was great it
was hot pressed in a machine right in front of me. It was still
warm when I pulled it out. I played with that dinosaur until its
head fell off. The only regret I have is not bringing my World's
Fair camera to record my experience.
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