Space-Age Life Seattle Fair’s Theme

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29801, 18 April 1962, Page 15

Space-Age Life Seattle Fair’s Theme

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) SEATTLE (Wash.), April 17. The Seattle World’s Fair, symbolising a new era with a 600foot steel “space needle,” will open on Saturday. Fifty-nine nations —19 more than originally expected—are participating in what will be the first exposition held in the United States since 193940 with the sanction of the Bureau of International Expositions. The 74-acre fairgrounds, only a mile from the centre of the city, are buzzing like a beehive as labourers work the clock around in a last surge to get the pavilions ready for the expected 10 million people. Surrounded by what one observer termed “controlled panic,” the fair president, Mr Joseph Gandy, said today the fair would be 90 to 95 per cent, finished by Saturday. “And this is darn near a world’s record. Half a dozen

countries didn't get their pavilions opened until the 1958 Brussels fair was almost half over,” he said. Taking the space age and the 21st century as its theme, the fair represents an investment of 90 million dollars. President Kennedy was unable to accept the invitation to open the fair and the ceremony will be performed by the United States Secretary of Commerce (Mr Hodges). Dominating the whole fair site is the space needle, a steel spike shaped like a sheaf and supporting a circular glass-enclosed restaurant which will revolve 360 degrees every hour. The restaurant seats 300 people and affords superb views of the majestic snowcapped Olympic and Cascade ranges, as well as the acquatic playgrounds for which Seattle is famous. Bursting from the top of the needle is a 50ft gas-lit beacon which will ligut up every 15 minutes in a succession of colours: red, gold, and green. In the glaes-walled, pillarless theme building—“man’s life in the space age”—leading United States firms are

displaying the products they envisage in use in the coming century, such as a car without wheels, and schools and homes with walls formed by jets of air. Other highlights of the fair include: A six-building complex where the United States Government is displaying what is said to be the most complete and authentic science show ever assembled. A 15 million dollar fine arts exhibit housing several hundred world masterpieces. A street of Las Vegas-srtyle revues. Appearances by the Old Vic Company and the Ukrainian State Dancers. A monorail system which whisks people the 1.2 miles from the city to the fairgrounds in two minutes. Visitors to the fair before it closes on October 21 will include the Duke of Edinburgh and the American astronauts.