1984 World's Fair Gondola in New Orleans | What Happened To It?

[@NOLADEEJ]

Instagram NOLADEEJ The World's Fair in New Orleans was something I will always remember. Did you ever go to a World's Fair? If so, which one?

[@deejayakanolasunshine9538]

I went to this World's fair. I was much younger. This video brought back so many memories. Especially riding in the gondola!

[@NOLADEEJ]

@@deejayakanolasunshine9538 that's awesome! I wish I would have gotten to ride it.

[@deejayakanolasunshine9538]

It was an experience I will never forget! I loved all of the beautiful sculptures an rides. Everything was big. I remember riding the gigantic ferris wheel. I loved everything about The World's Fair. Sorry it wasn't managed better. It was a real jewel❤️

[@BringItOn31124]

All Louisiana students received a free ticket to that fair and each school decided on which day they would close so they could attend. I was just starting my senior year of high school when me and my friends attended it. By the time we attended, the space shuttle was already gone, which is one thing I really wanted to see. Remember rocking in the wind on that gondola while taunting my friend who was petrified (with his eyes closed) and almost peeing on himself. I still have a glass, 1984 worlds fair mug. Great memories.

[@stukksmith122]

Love the gondola memories! I rode it with my Dad and can still remember the absolute THRILL of dangling above the river! So much fun!

[@NOLADEEJ]

I always wanted to ride it lol

[@steamfan7147]

My neighbor bought two of the Gondolas at the auction. He put one next to his driveway entrance, so his kids would have a place to stay out of the weather while waiting on the school bus. The other one sat out by his pond as a fishing shed.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh very cool!

[@steamfan7147]

@@Justscrapping1 No idea, it could have been little or a lot. He was kind of a collector of odd things.

[@kenrickbaughman992]

Bringing back solid memories. I grew up in West Jefferson Parrish Gretna 504. As kids before worlds fair opened in 1982 we would ride our BMX bikes to Fulton street mall, we always watched the fireworks at midnight by the ferris wheel.

[@Poseman61]

I was at the World Fair 84 . I rode the Gondola across and back . The Stay Cays was playing night I was there .

[@latridic]

I was 13 and that World's Fair was practically magical for me. I think I rode this Louisiana boat ride a million times. I don't think my mom would let me ride the gondola. Oh what fond memories I have of that fair. My husband had bought some of the outdoor speakers and put them on our house in Diamondhead, MS and they were so outdated but they were a memory. We kept them until Katrina took them away in 2005. Thanks for another trip down memory lane.

[@NOLADEEJ]

The Louisiana Journey was my fave

[@abramquinn7726]

I was 7 years old!! The gondolas and the elevators at the Hyatt Regency....will NEVER FORGET!

[@BreakfastTacos]

Thanks for the coverage! I rode that Gondola when i was 5 years old and still have emotional scars from it! The experience was harrowing beyond description, let me tell you.

[@seanchick5918]

One of my first memories was riding the gondola and looking down at the river. On the west bank in particular the gondola was very much missed. Those towers I recall seeing all the time growing up. Also glad you did a shout out to French Quarter Undercover. I watched it during a bad movie night in 2017.

[@borod5571]

My Uncle use to have one. He had it in on his Hunting Camp in Mississippi, He used it for a Deer Stand. He passed away a few yrs ago, and sold the Camp a yr before he passed away. As far as I know it's still out there.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh that's a cool way to use one!

[@joecapro3499]

Great video!! I was eleven when the fair opened. I remember riding this thing with my dad. We got stuck in the middle for almost an hour. Scared the hell out of me.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thank you! I never got to ride it

[@OutdoorsWithShawn]

I remember riding the MART. I think that where my fear of heights came from. I still have a snow globe and a figurine of the pelican.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh nice!!

[@lanahaire2418]

Bought Season Passports for the fair. Got so excited watching the opening on TV that we went the first afternoon. Rode the Gondola. The pods swayed in the wind and the views were amazing! But once was enough! My favorite things were the LA Boat Ride, The Vatican Exhibit, the food, music and nightly fire works! We loved everything!

[@JenniferandMark2014]

I have such fond memories of the fair when I was a kid. I love seeing Neptune every time we are in that area. My mom and grandma were so afraid of the gondola, but we rode it anyway. You did a great job on this video ❤️Jenn

[@NOLADEEJ]

My favorite thing there was the Louisiana Journey in the Great Hall.. that was so cool

[@JenniferandMark2014]

NOLADEEJ was that the boat ride?

[@johnhareiel5118]

Skipped the '84 Worlds Fair when we got to my cousins house and I saw all his Star Wars toys. So I stayed there all day instead with the Millennium Falcoln

[@EarthAngel504]

I went to the world's fair when i was very young and i still have vague memories of it. I believe a lot of those memories were repressed, because i specifically remember, Going to the Fair on a field trip in elementary school. My teacher took off the next day to spend another day at the fair, and i remember getting news that day in school that she had died either on her way to the fair or leaving it. she was in a car crash and was ejected through her front window. To this day i still remember that, and even remember her name, Mrs Bostell (if that's the correct spelling) It's funny how i remember so much detail about her accident. Where i was in classroom, and hearing about it from the Substitute teacher and everything, I even remember the girls in the class room all at once start to cry and had see counselors or go home early, and i also remember 1 teacher crying saying, "If only she didn't go back to the fair".. It's strange how i remember all of that, yet have so few fragmented memories of the World's Fair that day prior, when it was like a highlight.

[@jkjvicknair1029]

This is so awesome. I remember this very vividly. I loved the monorail and the Louisiana boat ride.

[@NOLADEEJ]

The Louisiana Journey was my favorite!

[@jason32708]

I remember riding across the river on MART with my Father when i was 12. What a memory. The space shuttle, and the monorail..memories of a New Orleans before that S.O.B. Mitch Landrieu..

[@NOLADEEJ]

I always wanted to and never got to

[@9thGenerationCajun]

I was 8 when it opened , First time I had seen ninja throwing stars and my folks actually baught me one. My dad worked a few blocks away at the Royal Sonesta at that time.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh wow I think I got a throwing star too! Very cool!

[@MichelleLeBlanc-gc5si]

I have quite a collection of Worlds Fair memorabilia

[@stefanwatts9934]

I remember riding in it and being stuck over the river for 10 minutes on one of it numerous breakdowns. The longest breakdown lasted for 3 hours, can only imagine how those people must have felt.

[@NOLADEEJ]

I always wanted to ride it, but I would not have liked to be stuck up there, lol

[@timleem3609]

My wife and I had season passports to the Fair and loved it! There was the shuttle Enterprise and the U.S. Navy ship the Stump and so much to do there. They had another people carrier that ran just along the riverfront and it was awesome. Happy memories.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Very cool! Yeah the shuttle!! Loved seeing that!

[@VVilde36]

thank you for compiling all this and visiting nesbit! I can't beleive its just outthere, I'm gonna visit it when I finally have an off day!!!!

[@Justscrapping1]

I went as a kid and it was great!

[@catladycc]

I wish it was still there. Never knew there was a Worlds Fair in New Orleans til I started looking for old pics of Riverwalk Mall before it became an outlet mall. That explains why it looks retro out by the river in some places.

[@Urbexplus]

Cool seeing this my parents always talk about the world’s fair. But I’m not gonna lie you couldn’t pay me to get on that ride over the river lol 😂

[@NOLADEEJ]

Haha yeah no way would I go on that thing now!

[@edwardcairejr.3599]

I was sober the first time I went on the gondola and screamed The Lord's Prayer during the whole trip. I spent a few hours in The Miller Beer Garden fortifying myself with beer and schnapps before my second trip. The first trip was a religious experience, however, I must say that the second trip was much more pleasant.😏

[@comichound]

I was there in 1984 and rode the gondolas.

[@noz_redna]

Thank you for this video. Great nostalgic memories.

[@missvegan1967]

Nice narration!❤

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thanks so much!

[@NolaGal2601]

Someone on Airline Park Blvd. in Metairie has one of the gondolas sitting in their front yard. They are a few houses from W. Napoleon Ave.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh thats cool!

[@wintermatherne2524]

I know I saw it several times lol.

[@newclothes8165]

I didnt know much about the New Orleans Worlds Fair except they filmed and episode of "Gimmie a Break" from there. I never heard of that huge gondola. This was a good and informative video. I was sad to see the end of the worlds fairs. But I was lucky to have my state host one in 1982 in Knoxville, TN

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh wow I didn't know about the Gimme a Break filming there! Yeah I believe this Fair was unsuccessful partly because they had the 82 fair only 2 years before and not that much further away.

[@newclothes8165]

@@NOLADEEJ kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJysnIN8jdGXh6M

[@DallasBoricua]

Great video showing and reminding us all about a moment we enjoyed long ago. Thanks my friend.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thanks so much!

[@leonardnash6817]

I was there. 10 years old. By way of Los Angeles California. I was fortunate to see a lot and remember riding the Mart. Later that summer I was at the 84 Olympics and turned 11. What a year for a 10 year old

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh wow!

[@maxwellroxy3184]

I took a vacation in October 1984 to go to the world's fair in New Orleans. I rode the gondola across the river. It was fun, but it was expensive as I remember. Every year after I tried to go to New Orleans for Halloween until the mid 1990s. The thing that I liked most was the fried crawfish tails sold at the food vendors. They were soooooo good and were served with a New Orleans spicy dipping sauce (I can still taste it). The Australian exhibit was the most impressive. It had a huge room that was carpeted on the floor, walls and ceiling with Australian wool carpet. The bleachers were actual stair steps that were upholstered with wool carpet also.

[@NOLADEEJ]

That's really cool! I never got to ride the gondola, and I don't remember a whole lot about it. Just pieces of memories. I do remember the Louisiana Journey ride though which I loved.

[@Traveler_Greg]

Great vlog and very interesting place. Greetings my friend and thanks for sharing. Have a nice day. 👍178

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thanks so much!

[@tiffanydtaylor1571]

This is cool. I am born and raised in New Orleans I never knew this. I love the history.

[@ebinrock]

That gondola was very scary (especially when it had to stop midway and swung a little in the wind!) and thrilling at the same time. All the same, I'd rather take my chances driving on the bridge, which is scary in itself (knowing how well the city maintains things, ha ha). I felt much safer on the monorail, I wish they could have kept that and made it part of the local transit system!

[@NOLADEEJ]

That monorail was awesome! I think that was my second favorite thing behind the swamp ride

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

I remember i was 5 and i remember the Jazz music

[@SplorinRyan]

Soooo good dude! I am so happy I got to experience the fair, and this is the closest I've come to reliving it

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thanks man! I'm pretty proud of this one!

[@marydugan3399]

Wow what a neat place would love to see it thanks for taking us along

[@NOLADEEJ]

Yeah it was pretty awesome

[@the_love_token]

Rode that thing way too many times than I should have. It was so rickety but I was too young to realize it was scary and maybe dangerous. I was on the Westbank so it was actual transportation for me. Parents would drop kids off/pick up there.

[@NOLADEEJ]

That's really cool!! I never got to ride it.

[@lisad476]

Very cool. Wish I could have seen all those things. Would have been fun

[@NOLADEEJ]

It was such a great experience!

[@LadiboiJoy]

The rain bow ride scared me..

[@NOLADEEJ]

I’m trying to remember that ride

[@JyvynShpdinterlude]

I never heard of this until now.😲

[@kimcampbell7972]

Great video! I was a year old in 1984. I have souvenirs and pictures of visiting the World's Fair, but I obviously don't remember it at that age, which is too bad. That gondola ride would be terrifying! I remember the towers on either side of the river, though.

[@sullyward]

I remember riding the gondola when I was four years old, it stopped in the middle of the river and my cousin tried to open the door.

[@Imeraldgyrl]

The 1984 World's Fair was wonderful. Good Times!

[@aftermathOG]

I remember going to this. Im always looking for videos to reminisce and bring back memories. You did an excellent job putting all the information together. Well done👍 isnt one of the big gators still used as a float? When they stopped all tandems this year, it was sure weird seeing tractors pulling the head, torso, and tail separated.

[@NOLADEEJ]

I believe the Baccagator in the Bacchus parade evolved from one of the gators. And I think another gator is used for another parade outside of New Orleans.

[@aftermathOG]

@@NOLADEEJ i think you are correct. just the head of a gator that looks like it would be from there is always used in a parade float for houma area.

[@ChristheShrinerdawg]

Seattle has the 1962 World’s Fair and we still use some of the buildings (that’s when the Space Needle first opened).

[@NOLADEEJ]

That's cool! I think that's the true legacy of these fairs, the stuff that was revitalized.

[@ChristheShrinerdawg]

NOLADEEJ I 100% agree. It makes me wish I was alive to experience them.

[@christopherfava2529]

My parents took me when I was like 3 years old in 1984 barley remember

[@NULL7489]

I went to the world’s fair in may 12 1984 in New Orleans at 9:48 pm

[@tanyadoe8086]

Great vlog! Always a thumbs up 👍

[@NOLADEEJ]

Aw thank you!!

[@kellygaudin6031]

I have one of these in my yard.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Really?? That's so cool!! I want one, haha!

[@robylove9190]

Hey Deej. This was a really cool video. Thanks!

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thank you!

[@JohnnieV]

Very informative as usual. I was there opening day. Rummel high band. Lol.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thank you! Hah that's awesome!!

[@emeraldgypsyheart]

I was probably the only local kid who didn’t get to go... someone stole my tickets...

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh no! That sucks!

[@rayraymond2952]

Thanks. Your vid brought back fond memories. Richard :)

[@NOLADEEJ]

I'm glad I could help :) thanks for checking it out

[@etiennebreaux8623]

Fond memories!

[@ElGrecoDaGeek]

I went with my parents when I Was about 7 years old. My sister was 4. I recall watching Indian Jones on TV that night after having Burger King (maybe McDonalds). I recall hearing on the news that the planets were aligned that night. Based on that it sounds like we went on May 14th, 2 days after it opened. Pretty crazy. Trying to figure out what hotel we stayed at. I recall it was nearby, but I was 7 ... who knows. Pretty sure the McDonalds/Burger King was nearby b/c I think we walked but I can't find one near the convention center and I'm pretty sure we were nearby. I'll have to ask my parents. Hopefully they recall where we stayed. We lived in Natchez at the time and my mom had just gotten her citizenship a year or so earlier (she's from Greece). My dad met her while he was in the Navy.

[@ElGrecoDaGeek]

Another thing that I have a distinct memory of - eating my first egg roll. I was concerned b/c I wasn't sure how they "rolled an egg" LOL

[@JohnnieV]

I can’t believe they tore the gondola down. lol.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Right??

[@carolynhurlburt3054]

why have i never heard of this World's fair?? Saw you ontv Noladee.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Oh very cool! 😁

[@retrospectrum]

Hellz Yesssss!

[@NOLADEEJ]

Forgot to link you before I made it live, lol! Sorry man

[@EJ_Rose]

0:55 I won’t sleep!!!

[@EJ_Rose]

0:36 I won’t be able to sleep tonight

[@cruisingwithwilliam]

I enjoy this video

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thank you!

[@MoviemaniaNick]

Hey it's the skyliner! lol

[@NOLADEEJ]

Haha pretty much!

[@Tufchik628]

I survived the gondola!

[@NOLADEEJ]

I never went on it :(

[@EJ_Rose]

1:00 MOM! I CANT SLEEP!!!!!!!!

[@retrospectrum]

This is great 👍. Hope you don’t mind if I link this video to mine.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Absolutely!

[@BIendtecc]

5:13 I’ve always wanted to go in the area of 48, 49 and 50 but unfortunately it’s boarded up. Does anyone know if it’s like a big hallway in there or just little small areas?

[@NOLADEEJ]

I'm not sure, I think it's divided up

[@nezlover]

Stay safe💙

[@NOLADEEJ]

Thank you! You too!

[@johnmakin3225]

I had no idea there was a worlds fair in NOLA. No way I would ride that unless money was involved. Terrifying!!!

[@mcmneverreadsreplys7318]

Came back to visit my folks and see the WF. Chose not to ride the MART, mostly due to the high extra cost. Besides, I'd been on gondolas before at various amusement parks. There, they worked well for orienting yourself with a "bird's eye view" of the park. At the NOWF it was nothing but a ride over the river. OK, it was really HIGH and that would have been cool, but not at the price they wanted. ALSO, a fall from a normal "SKY RIDE" (like at Pontchartrain Beach, or Disney, or 6 Flags, etc) has a statistically real but low chance of killing you, while a fall from the MART would have been a "gua-ron-teed" death sentence with a good chance of no recovery of the bodies. Again, "Not at that price, Thank you very much." As for the fair, I still have and use the brass Louisiana Man belt buckle I purchased there (after just a bit of haggling.) Also, I understand that the coming of the WF was one of the factors in the closing of Pontchartrain Beach. Not happy about that.

[@NOLADEEJ]

Yeah I think falling into the river is definitely a bad thing, lol

[@brookeduncan9699]

Whatever happened to the monorail?

[@NOLADEEJ]

It's still in operation at the Miami Zoo

[@JohnnieV]

Is the aquarium building from the world's fair?? I was 14 in 84

[@NOLADEEJ]

No it was built in 1990 I believe

[@jonk9977]

Ah,4 year old me and mom's..

[@NOLADEEJ]

Memories

[@SDVHILzseriolih]

I know where pod 28 is and its not in good shape sadly :(

[@sonnyvito504]

New Orleans sucks man we always fail at everything. Imagine if we still had all this. We would have our own Coney Island.

[@NOLADEEJ]

I wish we still had the Gondola!

[@MASTERPPA]

There is another MART carriage in someone's front yard in outside of NOLA.. Very funny

[@michaeltillman1147]

I was 13. First time I got drunk. School field and some guy making daiquiris pored out of the wrong batch. That wasn't virgin! Oops. 😎

[@NOLADEEJ]

Lol

[@alanlantz5131]

Was the gondola sponsored by a Jerry Metafee who owned Bourbon Pub?

[@NOLADEEJ]

I'm not sure