An important component of the weekend (October 1) will be the “Dawn of a New Day” concert to raise funds for the restoration of the Belgian Friendship Pavilion from the 1939 New York World’s Fair and the purchase of bells for its long empty bell tower. Proceeds from our fundraiser will go to Bells for Peace.
Click here to read the Press Release for the Belgium Friendship Building Fundraiser.
The following article was written by Mr. David Cope; friend, author, and World’s Fair Historian.
The New York Sun’s editors expressed the opinions of many city residents in Spring, 1939: “Constant dropping of water will wear away a stone, and constant propaganda has worn away the shells of disinterest, affected disapproval, even real dislike (of the up – coming New York World’s Fair).” While some Gothamites remained indifferent or opposed to the exposition, most fell under the charm of the ever – present Trylon and Perisphere logo and anxiously awaited the official gate opening on Sunday, April 30. And for a rare few, the opening provided an unprecedented challenge.
Americans love individuals who accomplish the seemingly impossible, the record breakers. Throughout the Twenties and Thirties, multitudes lined New York City streets to shower ticker-tape on the hero of the moment while millions followed in appreciation the newsreels unspooled on their local movie screens. So the opening of the greatest exposition in peace time called forth a plethora desiring their moment of fame – being first through the turnstiles.
The metropolitan newspapers had a field day covering preparations for the fair’s inaugural day. But amidst thousands of columns speculating on FDR’s address, the preparedness of the fair grounds, and the advent of television, many followed the antics of those desiring to be first to visit The World of Tomorrow.
George Horn decided on entering the Corona Gate North. At 7:00 pm Friday evening, Horn set up his camping spot. Previously the twenty – year – old Queens resident won fame as the first westbound passenger through the Lincoln Tunnel. Likewise, Omero Cesere Catan, often known as Mr. First, set his sights on the improbable record. This comic – opera figure held many first records throughout the city, including obtaining the first marriage license of the year. The twenty – five – year – old newlywed indicated that the World’s Fair might be his final “firsting” attempt.
But by far the most newsworthy of the opening day hopefuls was Goliath Messiah. Messiah, a seventy – three – year – old black – bearded poet, established himself as the reading public’s favorite. Determined to enter through the No. 1Gate, Messiah camped out in a small, unused office near the Willet’s Point subway station. The Bronx poet tramped from his home in three hours with a small mattress, a folding chair, a copy of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, two quarts of wine, a dozen doughnuts, and a can of Brazil nuts and another of pecans to see him through his vigil. From his vantage point, Goliath kept his eye on the distant Trylon and Perisphere. Ever the poet, he enjoined:
“Here with a loaf of bread beneath a bough,
A flask of wine, a book of verse and thou,
Beside me singing in the World’s Fair,
And World’s Fair is paradise now.”
As early as 9 am on Sunday, crowds collected outside the Flushing Meadow’s eleven gates. The Fair program listed the official opening time as 11:00. But, although a general good nature reigned, the throngs became restless and within the hour set up the chant, “Open the gates, open the gates.” At 10:12 President Grover Whalen gave the order permitting the swarms to enter.
But the early opening caused an unexpected casualty – Goliath Messiah. Amidst the mad rush to get a ticked at the IRT – BMT entrance, the aged poet was pushed aside and a fellow Bronx resident, fifty–two–year–old Michael Levine, earned the honor of being the first at this gate.
When I first started the web site about the 1939 NY World’s Fair ( http://www.pmphoto.to/worlds_fair/index.htm) in 2001 it was to preserve my father’s 271 photos. Since then the site has grown to hundreds of pages, photos, and information. I’m not sure, but I believe it to be the largest site of it’s kind giving people free access to all the information.
This blog was started in 2009 and when I changed hosting to the cloud for all my accounts, I found I didn’t have a backup of the blog so I lost all the old posts and started over. Since the move I have not had much to say. I would like both the site and this blog to be informative and enjoyable to all those interested in the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
With that in mind, I am asking anyone who has photos, stories, and information about the Fair to allow me to add that information to the web site and share with other World’s Fair Fans. If you would like to contribute an article to this blog, please e-mail me at 1939NYWF@pmphoto.to with your contribution as an attachment(s). I will use that article as a blog post giving you, the author full credit.
I look forward to hearing from you … let’s keep the Fair alive.
Thanks to the NYPL digital library, I have added some additional photos to the Town of Tomorrow in the Community Interests Zone.
While I was on my site I noticed that I neglected to give credit to the source of some of the photos. For example, the four interior pictures of House #10, The House of Vistas, (that page has been updated). As I come across these omissions, I will correct that deficiency. I firmly believe that one should receive credit for what they have done.
If you have any 1939 New York World’s Fair photos or stories that you would like to share, contact me and I’ll add them to the site.
Last evening I thought I would see if there was anything new at the NY Public Library site and I was please to find that they have added another thousand photos of the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Here’s a link to the collection of photographs: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?title_id=1760686&level=4&tword=
I was excited to see 122 pictures of the Town of Tomorrow with quite a number of interior shots. You may have to click on the second image of the set to find out information about the photograph.
“Hats Off” to everyone at the NY Library who has been working on this project … certainly a job well done. … Thank you.
Hello to everyone,
I just moved PM Photo and the World’s Fair to the Cloud. In doing so, I neglected to back up a couple things … like my blog … oops. Well, the bottom line is that all the old posts were lost along with your comments. So this blog is starting from the beginning.
I have more to post on the Fair but it will have to wait for a few more days while I sort some things out.
Thanks for coming by and hope to see you again soon.