1939 World's Fair: the future's cradle, in pictures

Wired has a dandy appreciation of the "World of Tomorrow" exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair, the birthplace of the dark ride (the "Futurama," which motored you past enormous dioramae depicting the domed-city tomorrow).

It was a futuristic city inspired by the pages -- and covers -- of pulp science fiction: huge geometric shapes, sweeping curves, plenty of glass and chromium, and gleaming white walls. The fair was the last great blossoming of the Streamlined Moderne style of Art Deco. It was also heavily influenced by the still-rising International Style of such architects as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Read More http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/04/gallery-1939-worlds-fair#ixzz0mZnuEfVj

1939's 'World of Tomorrow' Shaped Our Today

Previously:

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Evil Paul

Wow, the dividers between the booths look like they would provide just the right amount of privacy for a decent make-out session.
TEKNA2007

Oh so that’s what the inside of a flying saucer looks like.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to lean slightly forward and relax in your seats, we will now begin the probing.”
superrobot

Hey, isn’t that where Clay and his boyfriend got it on in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay?
Anonymous

In Flushing, at the “Queens Museum Of Contemporary Art” they have a model of NYC from the 1964 world fair. Very much like the image above visitors would sit in shuttle trains simulating a helicopter ride.
The model is unimaginable huge, 9335-sq-ft, you’ve never seen anything like it. It took 100 people the best part of 3 years to build it.
http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/visitpanorama
Anonymous

wow that look very interesting to me what is it.
what do this equiments call i would love to know.
TimDrew

This would make an awesome SPECTRE meeting room / set… (the expression on the woman second from left looks particularly criminal and devious to me).
Diamond Jim

Gee, Cory, how’d you know I’ve been meaning to reread “Terraplane”?

The first photo in particular is all kinds of awesome. The nighttime shots I’ve seen of the Trylon and Perisphere show them much more magisterially isolated. This one could be at Coney Island (where, of course, the Parachute Jump still stands in all its rusted glory).
Logans Runner

The World’s Fair seems so much more ominous after watching BBC Documentary, Century of Self by Adam Curtis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self
Anonymous

The women don’t cross their legs. They all wear dresses. Oh right it’s the 30′s.

The men are all in suits. Not the modern kind, but ones where the outer coat covers in shirt sleeves. Some cross their legs, some don’t.

Strangely this image in Boing makes me take note of the social changes.
Anonymous

Todd Rundgren wrote a song “Future” from his “Liars” album that talks of the Worlds Fair (although he refers to the 1964 fair) and the world of tomorrow, how we’re supposed to have flying cars & homes on Mars by now. I remember so clearly the first time that I heard it how it congered up images such as the photo above and the childhood memories of what the future was to be for us baby boomers. It’s a fun song worth a listen.