Home movie from 1962 Seattle World's Fair
Chris's grandfather, Robert Yetter, shot and edited this film from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Chris sez, "They go up in the Space Needle and take a few trips over the fairgrounds in the monorail and some weird pod transportation service." Link (Thanks, Chris!)
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You know, if time travel was available, this is the place I'd go and the time I'd choose. The Century 21 Exhibition in Seattle was probably the purest expression of American optimism we would ever see because it was all about the future and how great the future would be for everyone.
How can it not turn out so? We are launching rockets and men into space; JFK said we're going to the moon before 1970! The future is just around the corner - can't you see it shining from here?
I've been enchanted with the vision of the future presented at the Seattle fair, and by World's Fairs in general, since my mother told me about going there as child. I'll keep meaning to get her slides scanned and online.
There's a bunch of great world's fair footage in the Prelinger Archives. From Seattle there's Century 21 Calling, a promotional piece sponsored by Bell Telephones.
I had remembered there being a home movie of a family's vacation up the coast, ending with the Seattle fair, but I can't seem to find it.
"Weird pod transportation service"? It's just a skyride, like the one that used to be at Disneyland. Unfortunately, it's not there anymore; they moved it to the Puyallup Fairgrounds. The skyride terminal shown briefly in the film was there until at least the late 70s, and it is now the site of the Experience Music Project.
Heh. Notice the "Gayway" at 2:30?
My dad worked at a strip club at the Fair called The Girls Of The Galaxy. I was six and remember the master of ceremonies handing me the microphone and letting me give my impression of a jet engine to a patient audience.
I wish I could remember my trips backstage to the girl's dressing room.