1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR NEWSREEL "WORLD OF TOMORROW" 72342

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This newsreel of the 1939 New York's World's Fair shows some of the highlights of the fair, including the pavilions of various states and nations, the General Electric Pavilion, the Amusement Area (the Life Saver Parachute Jump later relocated to Coney Island, is at the 5:15 mark), the Savoy stage show, and the automotive pavilions including those of Ford and General Motors -- known as the Futurama. There are also displays of modern and historic railroad locomotives as part of the "Railroads on Parade" stage show.
The 1939-40 New York World's Fair, which covered the 1,216 acres (492 ha) of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (also the location of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair), was the second most expansive American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people attended its exhibits in two seasons. The NYWF of 1939-1940 was the first exposition to be based on the future, with an opening slogan of "Dawn of a New Day", and it allowed all visitors to take a look at "the world of tomorrow".
The fair was divided into differently themed zones, such as the Transportation Zone, the Communications and Business Systems Zone, the Food Zone, the Government Zone, and so forth. Virtually every structure erected on the fairgrounds was extraordinary, and many of them were experimental in many ways. Architects were encouraged by their corporate or government sponsors to be creative, energetic and innovative. Novel building designs, materials and furnishings were the norm.
Beyond the corporate and government zones, the wildly popular but less uplifting Amusements Area was not integrated into the thematic matrix, and was a mere Area rather than a Zone. Despite the high-minded educational tone that Grover Whalen attempted to set, the Amusements Area was the most popular part of the Fair, and included a roller coaster, the Life Savers parachute jump (later moved to Coney Island, where it still stands today), the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Gimbels Flyer train ride (later purchased by Kennywood, where it still runs today), and carnival acts such as a collection of performing dwarves.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@Muswell]

This is an Art Deco dream !! OMG !! Beautiful buildings.

[@CrossOfBayonne]

But it all died due to WWII unfortunately

[@alphonsocarioti512]

How wonderful. I was at the 1964 NY World's Fair seven times. Amazing.

[@eisenjeisen6262]

I was there in 1939 and there was a lot of hope for the future but they took down the fair in the same year as WW 2 was coming and i also was in the fair in 1964 but 1939 was much better and you see the world today is not a very pleasant picture.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

How old were you!

[@no.no.2098]

Eisen J Eisen damn what was it like in the 90?s

[@777manxie]

What was the purpose of the world fair?

[@profesae]

Eisen J Eisen you look good for your 80s or 90s God Bless you 🙏🏽

[@emmarose4234]

melody faith, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE WORLD’S FAIR?! To be magical and beautiful and give people an insight into the world of tomorrow! Why did you ask? Was it for a school project or something? :) I’m more of a 1964 New York World’s Fair girl myself (my dad went there and his dad worked there), but I love the 1939 New York World’s Fair too. No idea if my paternal grandfather went to the 1939 fair.

[@carolmcln5028]

My mom went there as a child with my grandma. In 64/65 when it was again the site of the World Fair, we got to go as kids with mom. Grandma also took us once. So 3 generations of my family went there.

[@chad735]

90 years later we’re watching this on our smartphones, eating hot Cheetos and chilling at the house. World of tomorrow 😭😭😭

[@sarahannsmith3129]

My mom had just graduated high school in '39 and going to the Worlds Fair was her graduation present....she went with a friend and her family. I remember going to the NY Worlds Fair in 1964.

[@mr99boxer30]

WOW ! So modern and beautiful. Reminds me of Epcot. New York was ahead of it's time. I would have loved to attend this astounding fair. I was at the New York 1964 Fair. Love New York !

[@chimingw]

1939: the future is gonna be great! 1940: *W O R L D W A R I I*

[@adamgoodword7888]

2020: COVID-19!! World has now changed, never to be the same ever again. Yeh, some great future. :(

[@Buhnewald]

Word War began in 1938

[@CrossOfBayonne]

@Buhnewald 1939 actually but if you consider earlier conflicts related like the Japanese invasion of China in 1937 or even Manchuria in 1931 yes

[@DavidJSmith-hl6kb]

My mother was 21 years young at this time and my father was 12 years old at this time. Yeah I know!...but my parents didn't meet each other until the late 40's early 50's. They looked very Young for their age, I didn't know myself (I am the only son) until I was 16 years old myself!...God Bless! :-)

[@emmarose4234]

David J. Smith, did they go to the 1939 New York World’s Fair?

[@sunsethouse1]

My Grandmother was there and I am still wearing a gold coin she purchased there. They were all excited about the world of tomorrow , good thing they couldn't imagine what things are like today. That's why we don't have world fairs anymore, the way things are going, there won't be a world of tomorrow.

[@donneary7104]

My parents met at the 1939 Worlds Fair. They met while waiting in line for the parachute drop that is shown in this video. They married in 1941 and were married for 60 years until 2001. My parents always told me what a special event this was for its time.

[@toastbucket]

christ man thats depressing

[@castroandweylerruledcubaan3292]

ToastBucket I remember that TZ ep myself.

[@CasepbX]

Remember when the world was supposed to end in the year 2000? Those were good times...

[@disunityholychaos7523]

we dont call it worlds fair now, actually there events posted in tech exhibitions where you can see big businesses, to incredible products like gofundme's, Military to Gun shows, Car showcases to COmputer/new devices tech fairs,etc. even big brands do expositions.

[@hanschenk2708]

wonderful film wish i could have been there

[@thomasfan5298]

Same

[@braddocke.hutton7392]

@Han Schenk So essentially you'd prefer to live in a time when black men were routinely being lynched (not that things are much better now), GLBTQ People were strictly forbidden, and Women were expected to breed like rabbits and weren't allowed to attend school or have a social life? If this world sounds good to you, I think that explains a lot about what kind of person you are.

[@funky_cartel097]

I was there but then i was just a baby so i dont remember much.Just came here to go back into those good old times

[@fromthesidelines]

5:28-6:11 "Mama Inez", by the Havana Novelty Orchestra {Nat Shilkret's Victor Orchestra}, recorded in December 1930.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I got this 16mm silent version of this, and it’s an edited version of the same short as you’ve just seen. I haven’t run my projector, because I haven’t used my 16mm projector in quite a long time.

[@baggervance7652]

ty for the high quality upload

[@mr.atheist8848]

I just watched Cosmos Possible Worlds. It is satisfying to know that the young Carl Sagan is here that changed his life forever.

[@farenmareeramos]

I have always loved this Worlds Fair as it so inspired Walt Disney and his EPCOT

[@muskduh]

thanks for the archives

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@FormerFBISpecialAgent]

What an amazing event to have witnessed. The closest I got to anything resembling that was Epcot Center in the early 80s (multiple rides with spectacular renditions of both the past and future, and a world showcase that at least allowed a little glimpse of other countries, admittedly a completely cartoonish "Disney" version, still awesome for a kid). It is a shame that Epcot has basically been redesigned and will be dumbed down to cash in on current animated films, but that is the nature of business (and I realize that Epcot and these previous World Fairs were largely funded by giant corporate sponsors, but that doesn't take away their inspiration to me!). Anyway, thumbs up to the '39 Fair, wow!

[@farenmareeramos]

I totally agree! I was there as a little girl in the early 80s and it was magical! So different these days!

[@frankesposito2182]

My Grandfather had been to the Fair and seen Television 📺 for the first time !!! !!! !!!

[@j.g.8494]

This video evokes the spirit (Zeitgeist) of the late 1930s. Other key impressions: Art Deco architecture; a vision of "the world of tomorrow"; reminiscent of the 1920s film "Metropolis"; in the first part of the video everybody is well-dressed; filmed in early spring & in summer.

[@AfterYourSalami]

How Furturama was created

[@adamgoodword7888]

whats Furturama? Never heard of it.

[@yello-nate9796]

@@adamgoodword7888 tv series. I would reccomend, it's really good.

[@Rhunl15]

Amazing... I wish i was there.. I hope we'll get to time travel in the near future !

[@shifface]

I just found a small "official" pendant from this world's fair so I just had to check it out. Very cool indeed. You just don't see fairs of this magnitude anymore.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Not in the U.S. But China staged an enormous fair in 2010 and Milan staged another in 2015. It cost's over a billion dollars to stage a world's fair today, and most places won't spend that much.

[@mathew21686]

Remember what you yourself thought the future would be like and how you couldn’t wait to witness it all and be apart of it?

[@user-ne3yw2cu6c]

Yeah... sadly though, the "Future" is decay... Wars, Genocide, Corruption, Homelessness & Drugs.

[@rexracernj7696]

Fantastic. My mom (who's still alive as of now) was there as a child, recalls it well. I went to the 1964-65 Fair a few times, it was stunning too, but some folks who were at both said the '39 Fair was more "futuristic."

[@Nosedruul]

I'm afraid that all this just makes me feel like something terrible is going to happen awfully soon.

[@dlazo32696]

Why?

[@MistakenMystery]

Yep

[@redpilledgirl2199]

yip it sure is! at this world fair the tv (weapon of mind control of the masses) was first introduced. historically important moment: drop into the world of tomorrow...

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@dlazo32696 1939.

[@martinpictrusiewicz8506]

Take me back to 1939❤

[@flippinohio]

A time when everyone dressed up to go to a fair. What a wonderful film! Thank you!

[@funky_cartel097]

Body shaming??5:59

[@user-ne3yw2cu6c]

FAT was always Funny.... still is Today!@@funky_cartel097

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally released for the 16mm "home movie" market in 1940.

[@TylerDWard]

Best Channel On KZbin!!!

[@cats0182]

That train at 9:27 looked remarkably like the old AMTRAK Turbotrains.

[@WilliamBrownGuitar]

Brave New World

[@bradenhogan2]

Whatever happened to the world of tomorrow?

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Like most world's fairs it was built of temporary materials and was torn down in 1940. The site was used again for the 1964 world's fair. It was also torn down afterwards and the site is now a large park.

[@Krawn_]

@@SymphonyBrahms Temporary materials everything they showed at the World fairs was real now you have this fake world created around us leading us to hell forever pretty great

[@tommcconville4270]

My parents went to the 1939 - 1940 New York World's Fair

[@georgerivera8834]

Awesome

[@emmarose4234]

Trylon, Helicline, and Perisphere forever! ❤️❤️

[@fushake1]

happy is the country with no past

[@happysmash27]

When viewing this on a non-widescreen monitor (e.g, on 1280x1024, or on my much newer LG DualUp), this is pillar boxed, with black bars on the top and bottom of the video at the same time! Please upload videos in the proper aspect ratio so if they are viewed on a more square monitor, they can be viewed to their full potential taking up the entire width of the screen!

[@lindaeasley5606]

Wow .Hard to fathom my mom was 7 years old at the time of the 1939 World's Fair

[@CasepbX]

It's crazy to hear that mall cost just 60 million, when today some movies cost over double that to make.

[@loopshackr]

After inflation, $60 million in 1939 is equivalent to more than $1.1 billion today. Movies don't cost that much (yet), but a couple have grossed almost that much.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

The world's fair in Milan, Expo 2015, cost 1 billion Euros, or 1.25 billion U.S. dollars.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

If they were to hold another NY World's Fair here in NYC, I Say, make this whole city one gigantic World's Fair.

[@walmartynotc]

If you know, you know

[@Kinopanorama1]

Interesting and informative footage ruined by numerous sound anomalies and drop-outs.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

You can thank KZbin for removing portions of the audio which they view as "copyright". In other words -- not our fault.

[@frankesposito2182]

We are living in the 🌍 World of Tomorrow and I can tell you ...it looked better in 1939 !!!

[@batlover2003]

Hard to believe this was nearly a century ago.

[@Muswell]

And the "World of Tomorrow" was at War.

[@ulysseshernandez2855]

Wtf how long would it take to do this?? And why destroy it???

[@batlover2003]

Took a years to make, but it was a temporary installation

[@johngeiger4523]

My grandma took me when l was4 years old.l remember a cyclist.Does anyone know his name?

[@NEUTR0NDANCE]

A man named James Spratt White II made a 700-mile journey by bicycle in order to promote tourism in the town of Rock Hill, South Carolina. His final destination was the 1939 World's Fair. Could this be the man you remember?

[@jl_broker7574]

Everyone in this comment section so damn pessimistic. Lighten up people

[@1980aphillips]

Sounded like this may have been recorded over.

[@1980aphillips]

Are 2:06. I'm just thinking about how history, true history keeps trying to be erased. I mean Why wouldn't they have taught this or at least shown it in school like in economics. Smh

[@guilhermesilveira5254]

Carl Sagan saw this event in 1939.

[@montysmith6355]

and just think two years later we would be involved in WW2

[@itsmybike1078]

Ok so the Chrysler Building and ford has the tall black Demon / Devil on it? So thats perfectly normal is it? Also the future City = Trylon tower and Perisphere from the Geek ( to enclose) is a utopian city design? Father time = Chronos = Saturn is the God they chose to open the World fair? Lots of Saturn lamps for sale in 1939 i see?

[@AndrewWilson1991]

keep digging. also using the phrase "masters of time and space" to describe gm and ford is rather curious.

[@weathforjr]

Then the smartphone happened...

[@willshad]

6:04 Strange to think that fat women used to be ridiculed and made fun of. Little did they know that in 2 or 3 generations, women this size would be the norm.

[@elamite66]

The Art Deco Fair

[@SymphonyBrahms]

The Chicago World's Fair of 1933 was the first Art Deco world's fair.

[@ogscottyskidrowinterviews7256]

This so dark and evil ...when you realize what This is who paid for it and why ...we may have still had a chance back then

[@sarahdemonia5591]

Could you elaborate?

[@SymphonyBrahms]

It was paid for by American industry, G.E., Westinghouse, AT&T, GM, Ford, etc. Are they dark and evil?

[@farmyardflavours]

Dark and evil ?

[@funky_cartel097]

😂

[@user-ne3yw2cu6c]

So much hyperbole.... The "Miracle of Tomorrow" is.... Decay, Riots, Homelessness and Drugs.

[@cskinner6564]

Shall never happen again.

[@brezhnev89]

And then politics came into our lives...

[@HeShoeTooBig]

you can really feel the "slavery just ended a few decades ago"

[@user-qr5tx6jg2g]

1939 1940 ss

[@joed2749]

tartaria

[@farmyardflavours]

Idiot

[@-oiiio-3993]

Absolute nonsense.

[@lonasimpresasmonterrey7599]

" COLORED DANCERS"

[@fairysubs999]

Bioshock

[@funky_cartel097]

Body shaming??5:59

[@batlover2003]

What? They’re just dancing…

[@aaron830]

They show the luxury car for the White Americans and then at 7:49 they show the two Black Americans on a flat car....