LBIJim
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Today marked the 50th anniversary of the public opening of the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. Many of you are probably aware that It's A Small World and Carousel of Progress made their debuts at the fair. But there were also two other Disney contributions at the Fair that influenced current WDW attractions.
The "Walt Disney Company" did not have a specific pavilion, per se. Rather four separate entities sponsored pavilions with heavy Disney influence.
It's A Small World was the major part of the Pepsi pavilion. The boat ride and other parts of the pavilion were billed as a salute to UNICEF.
The Carousel of Progress was one part of General Electric's Progressland. Other exhibits included films projected on the inside of a large dome, a demonstration of nuclear fusion, and an all-electric "city of the future."
Ford presented Disney's Magic Skyway, which was a ride in late model Ford convertibles elevated outside the perimeter of the pavilion (Test Track ?) and then inside through scenes ranging from the prehistoric to the future. The prehistoric part included animatronic dinosaurs which would later become more refined in the Universe of Energy at Epcot. Also the propulsion system for the convertibles was modified and used in several later Disney attractions. The Ford pavilion was huge and included many other exhibits.
The State of Illinois pavilion included a theatre in which an animatronic Abraham Lincoln recited excerpts of his various speeches. An obvious precursor to the Hall of Presidents.
It's A Small World cost 95 cents for adults in 1964, $1.00 in 1965. The rest of the Pepsi pavilion was free. GE, Ford, and Illinois were included in the Fair admission of $2.00 in 1964, $2.50 in 1965. One of my uncles worked for Pepsi, and we got free passes for IASW. Otherwise, I doubt my father would have sprung for an extra cost attraction.
We went to the Fair twice, once in each year. I don't remember which year I saw IASW, COP, or the Ford Magic Skyway. I don't recall seeing Abe Lincoln at all.
There were hopes among some World's Fair officials that Disney would create his "East Coast Disneyland" on the grounds after the Fair was over, but from what I understand, Disney never gave this idea serious consideration.
50 years ago, IASW, COP, scenes of animatronic dinosaurs and Abe Lincoln were considered state of the art and definite "wow" E-ticket attractions.
Thanks for reading
Jim
The "Walt Disney Company" did not have a specific pavilion, per se. Rather four separate entities sponsored pavilions with heavy Disney influence.
It's A Small World was the major part of the Pepsi pavilion. The boat ride and other parts of the pavilion were billed as a salute to UNICEF.
The Carousel of Progress was one part of General Electric's Progressland. Other exhibits included films projected on the inside of a large dome, a demonstration of nuclear fusion, and an all-electric "city of the future."
Ford presented Disney's Magic Skyway, which was a ride in late model Ford convertibles elevated outside the perimeter of the pavilion (Test Track ?) and then inside through scenes ranging from the prehistoric to the future. The prehistoric part included animatronic dinosaurs which would later become more refined in the Universe of Energy at Epcot. Also the propulsion system for the convertibles was modified and used in several later Disney attractions. The Ford pavilion was huge and included many other exhibits.
The State of Illinois pavilion included a theatre in which an animatronic Abraham Lincoln recited excerpts of his various speeches. An obvious precursor to the Hall of Presidents.
It's A Small World cost 95 cents for adults in 1964, $1.00 in 1965. The rest of the Pepsi pavilion was free. GE, Ford, and Illinois were included in the Fair admission of $2.00 in 1964, $2.50 in 1965. One of my uncles worked for Pepsi, and we got free passes for IASW. Otherwise, I doubt my father would have sprung for an extra cost attraction.
We went to the Fair twice, once in each year. I don't remember which year I saw IASW, COP, or the Ford Magic Skyway. I don't recall seeing Abe Lincoln at all.
There were hopes among some World's Fair officials that Disney would create his "East Coast Disneyland" on the grounds after the Fair was over, but from what I understand, Disney never gave this idea serious consideration.
50 years ago, IASW, COP, scenes of animatronic dinosaurs and Abe Lincoln were considered state of the art and definite "wow" E-ticket attractions.
Thanks for reading
Jim
