(1/6) RARE 1964 NBC COLOR TV SPECIAL - "A World's Fair Diary" with Edwin Newman

Part 1 of 6. Originally aired Thursday night July 30, 1964 from 10-11 p.m. ET on the NBC Television Network.
Relive an inside look at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair in this NBC TV Special from 1964 "A World's Fair Diary", with Edwin Newman. See Edwin take you on a first hand tour of the inside of many attractions featured in the fair. He tends more towards the off-the-beaten-path attractions moreso than the mainstays, but he gets a great glimpse of what was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Sorry for the crappy quality. It was obviously shot in Eastmancolor. ;(

[@68lincoln]

I was five years old when my family attended the NY World's Fair 1964 1965. We drove from our town in central NJ to the fair (a two hour drive). I still have my children's fair pass card (twenty five cents). We must have spent eight hours at the fair that day. It was beautiful, exciting, a happy experience. We liked it so much that we went back again one day in the spring of 1965 just before the fair closed forever. Many pavilions still etched in my mind: the Bell System, GE, FORD, GM, Kodak.

[@PixieVonTramp]

My grand mother went to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and the 1964 NYC Fair, we were fascinated. We live in Australia, Granny was wealthy and always on a ship. . Gran was born in 1889 and saw the most amazing changes in the world some of the things she saw at the fairs she would talk about. She died in 1984 last words to me, imagine what I have seen two world wars, anti biotics, motorcar, plane, televisions, toasters, best thing of all I saw she said was the World's Fair, regards Australia

[@birdmann128]

Ty for sharing

[@vincentmacchia]

Wow!, I can distinctly remember watching this program on our black and white tv when it first aired on July 30, 1964. Now here tis in color! Thanks Musicom.

[@crist67mustang]

In GREENISH colors, U wanted to say. XD

[@echoecho3108]

@@crist67mustang Don't knock it. It was all we had. And it looks damn good for its age. As do we all. 😋

[@hebneh]

It's surprising to me how little I remember of this. We must've gone to this 4 or 5 times over the course of the week or more that we were in New York in June 1964. I can clearly remember riding the subway to get there; the cars they used were new and clean. But so far, none of this looks familiar, except for the Unisphere.

[@altfactor]

NBC also broadcast in color a live entertainment special from the Fair on it's opening night in April of 1964. If a color tape of that could be found, perhaps it---and a digitally restiored/remastered version of this special---could be put out together on a DVD in 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fair's opening.

[@MacDaddyRico]

I was five years old in 1964, and remember going to the Fair... As an adult I collected a variety of artifacts, one subject being this fair... When I discovered the Queens Museum (of Art)'s plans for renovation of the old skating rink, I called the curator and offered my entire NYWF collection for acquisition...It joins others in their Visible Storage exhibit...

[@JustMe-um7sr]

Life seemed alot more simple back then

[@heru-deshet359]

It was and I miss it.

[@SpectrumAssociates]

@Stranded NYer 1964 also brought Walt Disney and his audio animatronics.

[@Toddcinca]

It wasnt bat shit crazy, people were normal, more respectful. We did not have rampant feminisim, identity politics, people just worked loved and lived. There were actually families back then and loving women....

[@blaws6684]

It certainly was

[@RETROGEMS]

My mother and her family were here when she was just a little kid! It looked like an absolutely amazing time.

[@altfactor]

Edwin Newman was well-known for his way with words and later wrote several best-selling books about words and language.

[@troysvisualarts]

I believe this film can easily be colour graded with a Da Vinci colour correction system to bring out it's original rich colourful look. it be worth even trying to colour grade it in a video editing program. Anyways thanks for sharing this footage, rarities like this is gold!!!

[@barneyfifesbullet]

Yeah, that intro music is probably what you hear in the lobby on your way to hell.

[@vegetableman4272]

If you close your eyes, you can most certainly believe

[@henryhorner3182]

I think you ARE TOTALLY RIGHT.

[@artdecotimes2942]

@Elon Francis what is wrong with you all? I've seen this same text 6 times

[@Bob6stringer]

Rest in Peace, Edwin Harold Newman (January 25, 1919 - August 13, 2010). This piece isn't much more than fluff, a video version of LIFE magazine in its heyday. But I miss even special-interest feature journalism from seasoned pros like Edwin. The rise of digital media has put news organizations on life support; it'll take years for newsies to reemerge with decent in-house staffs in the post-digital age. I long for a new heyday for newsers.

[@unhappyview54]

Thanks. My parents took us there when we were young and we watched those 8mm home movies of it and us there for decades afterward. There is a great website dedicated to that 1964-65 Flushing Worlds Fair.

[@rjmdrum]

Thanks for posting..fascinating to see this kind of preservation at all.

[@royshein]

I grew up in Queens very near the fair at that time. I was 8 years old when I went. What an incredible memory!

[@blaws6684]

I was 9 and from the way far other end of the state. For me it was also incredible. We stayed on the 40th floor of a hotel in Manhattan in sight of the ESB. The reality of the filth of NYC compared to the gleaming vision of our possible future was a strong lesson for a young boy. I’ve had to go there twice since then on business. Never again.

[@IvorPresents]

I was 15 living in Whitestone. (Beechurst)

[@johnpastore7685]

What part? I am from Howard Beach

[@johnpastore7685]

Just before I was born. My parents went

[@saphopoem]

Thank you for posting i enjoyed it very much

[@bearqueen57a39]

I went to this fair when I was seven years old.

[@saphopoem]

Thanks for posting

[@TjSamson]

5:54 Finally after doing long research found a video where the Philippine Pavilion locates.

[@selloutasaurus]

Rather a sourpuss perspective from Mr. Newman. It gets worse in pt 2 of this documentary. Imagine him giving a tour of the fictional Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. He'd probably complain of indigestion, tooth decay & irritation caused by the Oompah Loompahs' moralistic choruses. :) B4 my time, but lived near the old fair site for a time a few years ago. Oh to travel back in time & see what it was like back then! :)

[@kgmaj]

Like a time machine. Wish I was there. Come the fall I would be in utero.

[@fromthesidelines]

"'KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATER' will not be presented this evening, in order that we may bring you the following special program...".

[@musicom67]

@troysvisualarts - I must agree! Unfortunately, I only have the stock Avid Color Correction in my Avid at work here at CNBC, and I just couldn't be bothered spending the time to tweak this... but yes, how wonderful it would look without this painfully faded "Eastmancolorish" print.... ohhhhh so green!

[@echoecho3108]

Looks great to me. Looks like every home movie my dad ever made of us, with his 8mm. Looks like it should for its age. Looks pretty good for its age. As do we all. 😋

[@tfsony]

Wow I have seen so much on the fair and necer saw this. This is so great! Thank you for posting this, it really give a real impression of how it must have been. Is this available fr purchase anywhere i would love to have a copy. Thanks Again!

[@MrReilly067]

I think my own family who are originally from the New York area may have been at the 1964 World's Fair.

[@MLMusicBox]

Very enjoyable. I'm guessing this was part of NBC's 'The Humble Report' series of specials, some others of which Newman hosted. I have a videotape of the very first one...'The Orient Express' which aired in January 1964, including all commercials/bumpers (all for Humble Oil). My father worked for NBC at the time and served as Unit Manager for many of the shows of that series, including 'The Orient Express' (but not this one about 'The World's Fair.')

[@jackjohnson7396]

Went there both years. Remember the Mexican show fairly good. Saw it once. Loved the fair will never forget it. GM and Ford were the best. Some side exhibits were funky as I remember.

[@chrisk8187]

Mr. True Blue Frog, I attended '64 World's Fair as a member of our 104 member high-school Honor's band for Wisconsin Day at the fair. As we marched past the Wisconsin Pavillion surrounded by thousands of crowded Fair-goers, they thought we were the University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band. That was due to our large size and the big red "W" on the front and back of our brand new uniforms AND we were really good! I disagree with the dour opinion of the host/guide. We thought it was a wonderful celebration of international art, architecture, culture, cuisine, music and showcase for business from countries all a round the world. We were impressed and absorbing all the futuristic technology and Disney inspired exhibitions. No negative reactions from our band, friends and families also attending.

[@bradgrauer9148]

Edwin Newman I was there in 1964 also

[@OaktownABQ]

The two-dollar admission fee to the Fair was pretty steep for 1964.

[@dr.spectre9697]

not really its only about 17 bucks

[@blunij]

I remember buying a radioactive dime that was put in a little horseshoe as a goodluck piece. Wonder how much good luck it gave me by carrying it around in my pocket?

[@gregohare2406]

Remember the radio active dime. You put it into display through a coin slot and it would drop out of a shoot, now radioactive. Thought is had a round blue plastic disc around it. But memories fade.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

That music in the background sounds like the type played in those old B&W cartoons from the 1930's

[@glstrom860]

Will check it out Sunday afternoon if I can get Edwin to lend me a buck or 2. A great look at another era as was born the same time NY Pavillion was being built. Would have loved seeing it live.

[@pooky1959]

Edwin Newman was as exciting as dry Melba toast.

[@musicom67]

You don't prefer his droll, mirthful, and sardonic wit, twit? A buffoon, 'twas 'Ol Edwin, you fool. BTW I'd suggest some lube next time Melba is dry. :-D

[@musicom67]

If you think that $2 in 1964 is about $15 today, I'd say that was pretty reasonable.Likewise, that 25 cent Coke is almost equivalent in today's money - $1.80 Today, just try and get into Disney for less than $75....

[@maco5551]

What music is this on 0:27?

[@anonymouse0221]

I was 1 when I went to the NY world's fair in 1965. Don't remember a thing.

[@pictureisup1]

the music makes me want to put my head through a wall

[@irish89055]

@musicom67 well, Schaefer is the one beer to have when you're having more than one ;-).........Music, thanks for posting.. I've love the stuff like this one can find on KZbin. I remember the NY World's Fair license plate and Small World exhibit... NCR had an exhibit at the 39 fair too...

[@gregohare2406]

Every thing lives forever on KZbin.

[@musicom67]

No, not until KZbin finds a copyright violation then back into obscurity it goes... (or Dailymotion)...

[@IRONWILL1993]

Simple times. Happy times

[@trevorrandom]

Don't let the intro music put you off... This is a great documentary ☺

[@musicom67]

Isn't it just the WORST 'Cold Open" you ever saw? So much to show - and they choose the shittiest sounding Nickelodeon (or Orchestron, or whatever) playing the most annoying song ever. And showing the clockwork puppets so much... Really?

[@echoecho3108]

Nothing wrong with the music. It was part of what we heard at the Fair.

[@shirleynitka5030]

my first log flume ride!!

[@Nico93]

hey, dont mind ill try my luck in color correct this first part?, if its going to be a succes ill post a respond, soon as i can when its done, ill take my time to do it in,

[@robertkees6048]

I was there, but I was still inside the womb, I guess I was in my own private pavilion "The Wonders Of Morning Sickness."

[@pacific707]

What a downer, Edwin. You're making the '64 Fair out to be such a "bummer." I wonder if Edwin ever let his hair down (what little he had) and let it "all hang out and be groovy." I always liked him as a newscaster, and for his TV specials like this one but he was always downbeat, right down to business, and I don't ever remember seeing him smiling. If there was ever "levity" in his newscasts, I don't remember it. However, I never thought he was "sonorous, pompous, arrogant. Zzzzz." Whatever...

[@PokeyHauntus]

I saw a punch ball. Haven't thought of that in about 50 years lol

[@IvorPresents]

Where can I find 2-6. ?

[@musicom67]

Should have been more specific... 'crappy color'.... ;-) Agree that the program content speaks for itself! - thx!

[@musicom67]

@MLMusicBox Upload it!

[@tturner12341]

Nobody has transferred this to 4K yet?

[@bandicoot5412]

We went four times, took the ferry, subway, there, wanted to stay there

[@hardyboy1959]

Don Draper @ 4:00

[@mrzeegrr]

RIP the World's Fair. I've seen 2.

[@musicom67]

1:08 sums it all up.

[@s0caltrukker]

@2:49 Is that Shemp Howard?

[@emmarose4234]

Calling all 1964 New York World’s Fair fans and/or daylily fans! I’m a millennial, but I would really, really love to find a particular daylily. Its name is “Worlds Fair” (no apostrophe, unfortunately) and it was introduced by Gilbert H. Wild in 1964. (That’s how I know *which* World’s Fair it’s named for.) I haven’t been able to find any pictures of it. All I know is that this daylily is creamy yellow, as per its listing on the American Daylily Society site. Hey, all you PTUers*, help me out! *I got that term from worldsfaircommunity.org.

[@outerrealm]

What’s rare about it? It’s up on youtube and viewable to millions.

[@ZnenTitan]

0:32 Robert Moses?

[@dagwort]

I was 4 or 5 when we visited. My dad bought me one of those bouncing-balloon thingys seen at :39. Who knows, maybe even from that same girl.

[@tturner12341]

He didn’t mention the food 🍲 available at all Fair.

[@pacific707]

"@pictureisup1" Fine, put your head through a wall. It was a different era. There is no need to talk "down" about it. God knows what people, 40 years from now will think when they listen back to the shite that's so common these days. This was music from a large exhibit at a "World's Fair," something that does not happen anymore. It was even nostalgic in '64. Something you and I will never see or go to nor participate in. This was a big deal and it meant something to so many people back in 1964.

[@lydiapurple]

Debby Downer

[@pictureisup1]

@dagwort what saying is it is possible that girl on video sold your farther the balloon he bought for you.

[@dgoren121692]

My estimate is that this would cost $40 today.

[@pictureisup1]

@dagwort isn't that a bug out? I think he did.

[@bradleysmall2230]

us opened 14 years later and jimmy Connors won the first us open

[@MICHGO1]

BOY EDWIN SEEMS TO BE IN A BAD MOOD.

[@francescamiano8394]

MICHGO1 He must have been fun at parties! 😂

[@musicom67]

@irish89055 Are you insinuating he copped a couple of belts at the Schaefer Pavilion before he did this doc? ;-)

[@themightyjaybird]

Considering that NBC was pretty much on its way to all color by this time, and the other networks were catching up, why is this a rare color special? There were many.

[@MICHGO1]

THIS IS 1964 COLOR TV'S WERE INTRODUCED IN 1956 STILL A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE COLOR WAS COMMON. WATCH THE BRADY BUNCH AND SEE IT ADVERTISED AS "IN COLOR".

[@lilgiggler35]

Probably because most families din't own a color television and most shows were still being broadcast in black and white

[@paaa5941]

Flushing Meadows fairgrounds is still alive and well. It is a huge park with several of the monuments still there. The Queens museum has memorabilia on its 2nd floor only. Aside from the beautiful NYC panorama display, and tiffany collection, there's mostly urban garbage art. Bring an English translation dictionary. The park feels more like another country than another world. Sorry.

[@Zoomer30]

Went there in GTA IV.

[@NYCgirl927]

Flushing is now "the" Chinatown of NYC. No more in Manhattan. There's a nice theater in the park that does off Broadway shows & a few museums. I like the diversity of cultures in Flushing & find the Asian population hard workers. They are not polite or considerate to anyone, not even to one another.lol I now realize its just their way & not personal.

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

It's the most diverse place in the world 🌍...too bad that bothers you. We speak all languages here so a translator is not needed

[@tturner12341]

$2.00 dollars would be about $12.00 dollars today in 2023. Or something close to this I think. Correct?

[@barneyfifesbullet]

Film Threat sent me

[@williambooth8631]

Someone should really step up and clean up the park...it's been trashed for many years...

[@ggphipps1]

horrible intro music!

[@dagwort]

@pictureisup1 whut?

[@gamerx-pro4834]

Dis shit looked lik disney in ny. Wish i was there

[@HughStVic]

Bob6stringer, strange, but that's goddam exACTLY what I'd wished to express, replete with the minor key.

[@videosallnight]

It says this program is brought to us in living color. But it really looks a little dead.

[@musicom67]

The color quality or the Fair? If you mean the color quality, what do expect to happen to TV film after 50 years - especially Eastmancolor...Feel free to spend the time to color correct...

[@Sheppesh]

Good, I can somewhat appreciate this fair in NYC as yet, I've not seen a "colored" sign or "whites only" sign. It's definitely not the 1964 south. Hail to the Union!

[@musicom67]

"Colored" signs (like a southern lunch counter?) were NEVER in NYC as far as I know. A men's room and a water fountain were available to ALL. There were plenty of black folk and people of all creeds from all over the world visiting the fair (I'm too young to have gone) as you can tell by the footage. Your problem is south of 'ol Virginny, Mr. Callaway.

[@Jwdude123]

Trump!

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Neumann needs an antidepressant...

[@fairfaxcat1312]

What . . . do they have some kind of pervert running the cameras there at NBC? The presentation has barely begun before a woman winks seductively and another gets only her bare midriff in a shot.

[@blaws6684]

Never could stand Newman.

[@pacific707]

John Chancellor, on the other hand..........

[@lindaeasley4336]

If the fair was so bad, then whytf did this whiner bother taking the job of reporting on it ?

[@Game_Hero]

An important video, great antidote for rose-tinted glasses. Frankly, I'd have found it really stale and boring compared to other actual world fairs.

[@Poppaea-Sabina]

This reeks of Walt Disney

[@NYCgirl927]

All ridiculous, annoying music until the 2 minute mark. Still doesn't get much better.

[@musicom67]

It's the music of your nightmares complete with droll Edwin Newman narration. Just like Disney's "It's A Small World" that premiered here at this fair - annoying.

[@Marchant2]

He's right. This world's fair IS expensive. $1.00 for the Oregon exhibit to watch lumber jacks roll logs or throw axes is about $7.50 in 2014 money. Just to watch one show! The sky lift is over $2.00 per ride per CHILD in today's money. This on top of the approx $15.00 ($2.00 1964 money) just to get in.

[@DougDrexler1]

Hey.... have you been to Disneyland lately? $100 for a day... even if you are only 3 years old! That makes 15 bucks seem pretty cheap! At least the Fair had a half price admission for the kiddies.

[@NYKID10014]

The color looks terrible!

[@musicom67]

Yeah. this was straight from the faded Eastmancolor film. Love to color correct this one day...

[@irish89055]

hmmmm, a puff piece, in the age of the now all but extinct network documentary, when there was a network news dept worthy of the name.. Edwin.. talk about a dry delivery..strictly speaking of course.

[@waynedonaldson3122]

Pretty Pointless & a Tacky Commercial Execution at Best. Especially When Compared to Turn of the Century Affairs. A Sorry Evolutionary Process, So Common Today.

[@crist67mustang]

People looks more American (authentic yankees born in US), it is less latins or even i do not see black people walking. Also I can see no fat men or women, today us people normally has over-weight problems. Kisses from SouthAmerica