New York World’s Fair Finishes

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 15

New York World’s Fair Finishes

<N Z P A -Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, Oct. 17. Three shots from an ancient cannon will mark the official closing of the New York World’s Fair tonight after two years of controversy and disappointment. ..

The fair, billed as the biggest and costliest international exhibition ever assembled. will finish with heavy financial losses.

It failed to attract the crowds needed to make it a success.

The biggest crowds in its two-year run have come in the final weeks. New Yorkers—suddenly realising that the end was coming—have swarmed out in record-breaking numbers.

Before the fair opened in April, 1964, officials predicted that nearly 80 million people would pay admission into the 646-acre grounds in Flushing Meadow Park in the city’s inner suburbs.

Before the gates closed last October for the winter, only 27 million visitors had appeared—instead of the 40 million expected. The fair suffered a loss of 17.5 m dol-

When this year’s 180-day season began on April 21, officials predicted that the improved fair would attract 37.5 m people, and the fair would pay its way. But with only a few days to go, the attendance for the year stood at just over 23 million. Security forces on the fair grounds were doubled this week for fear of souvenirhunting and vandalism in the closing days. During its final weeks, the fair has become a giant bargain centre as shops, resta rants and souvenir sellers tried to salvage what they could from unsold merchandise.

All exhibitors must remove all their stocks and buildings within a few months. They are selling at loss rather than ship the goods home to, say Hong Kong, India, Sweden or even to other parts of the United States. Among bargains were men’s suits in the Japanese pavilion for half price, Paris fashion clothes for less than 50 per cent, Spanish rugs worth hundreds of dollars for whatever was offered, and South American costume jewellery for only a few cents. City and fair officials have long-range plans to convert the whole Flushing Meadow area into a great open park,

with playing fields, fountains and grassy picnic grounds. They will retain a number of the outstanding buildings of the fair. The “Hall of science” and its adjoining “space nark” will become an educational showplace. The “singer bowl” will be a permanent open-air concert hall.

The 140 ft “unisphere,” the stainless steel globe that is the symbol of the fair, will remain in the park, with its surrounding fountains and pools, and the recreation area will generally be retained as a permanent “fun fair.”