1964 NYC World's Fair and Unisphere Construction Films

The 1964 Worlds Fair, New York, DVD Film Collection

The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major World's Fair to be held in New York City.  The site is Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the Borough of Queens and held both the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair and the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair. Preceding these Fairs is the 1853-54, New York’s World’s Fair, called the Crystal Palace Exhibition, located on the site of Bryant Park in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair opened on April 22, 1964, and ran for two six-month seasons concluding on October 17, 1965. The World's Fair took place without sanctioning from the Bureau of International Expositions, the only one to do so.

It was the largest World's Fair to be held in the United States, occupying nearly a square mile (2.6 km²) of land. Hailing itself as a "Universal and International" exposition, the Fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe." The theme was symbolized by a twelve-story high, stainless-steel model of the earth called Unisphere. United States corporations dominated the exposition as exhibitors at the expense of international participation. The Fair is best remembered as a showcase of mid-twentieth century American corporate culture. The nascent Space Age, with its vista of promise was well-covered by the exhibits. More than fifty-one million people attended the Fair, but this was less than the hoped-for seventy million.

We also sell a DVD collection that has very rare footage of the 1939 NY World's Fair.  Please see our other items to view that collection.

This DVD has about 1 hour and 45 minutes worth of footage and comes complete with an interactive menu.  A list of films contained in this collection is as follows:

Preparation, planning and construction for the Fair, under the imperious direction of Robert Moses.  An overview to transform Flushing Meadow into the World's Fair of 1965 is showcased here. Quite interesting background information on how much time is needed to put one of these babies on. Also of fascination, this being 1961, is how many people show up for a bridge opening.

Sound, B&W, 27:00

(1) New York World's Fair, symbolized by Unisphere, many bldgs yet to be completed, theme "peace through understanding" with 58 nations to participate, on same site as 1939 Fair (2) Grauman's Chinese Theater - Haley Mills leaves handprints (partial newsreel).

Sound, B&W, 2:31

Designing and building the symbol of the 1964 New York World's Fair.  This film is a wonderful tribute to a perhaps overlooked monument from the enthusiastic early 1960's. You rarely see the unisphere unless it is the backdrop for an action film or science fiction. A pity. This film is a fascinating look at the conceptualization and creation of a truly fine piece of sculpture.

Sound, Color, 14:10

Provides a trip to the New York World's Fair of 1965, showing the various activities at the fair.  It follows various groups of people during their day at the fair: a family of five; a couple from India; two women schoolteachers; three Boy Scouts who get separated from their troop; a pair of young women pursued by two very ardent male suitors; and -- the only one to whom I can relate -- a bespectacled nerd who drives to the fair across the water in his amphibious car just so he can listen to the out-of-tune musicians. The beatific look on his face as he cocks his head to take in the cacophony is priceless.

2 Part, Sound, B&W, 56:58

For the amount of second-hand knowledge about the 64-65 World's Fair that I've come across, this film is a revelation. The fountains and New York Pavilion look especially magnificent, as does Shea Stadium (it's so clean and new!). In just four minutes, you will see the scale and magic of the Fair from the air!  The camera is shaky, as you'd expect from aerial footage shot with a telephoto lens.

Silent, Color, 4:19

DVD Menu Sampler: