What Happened to the Future? Exploring the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair скачать в хорошем качестве

What Happened to the Future? Exploring the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair

What Happened to the Future? Exploring the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition 01:13 - Sputnik 02:11 - Life in the Space Age 02:40 - The Fair’s Location 03:30 - The Original Information Booth 04:25 - Moon Rockets and Guided Missiles 05:45 - Space Gothic 06:27 - The Science Center 07:33 - The Space Needle 09:35 - View From the Needle 10:44 - Life in Century 21 11:48 - The Bubbleator 12:18 - The International Fountain 13:27 - Plywood House of the Future 14:09 - Peep Show on Show Street 14:58 - Bell Labs Technology 16:42 - The Monorail 18:06 - The Gayway 18:52 - The Monorail Station Downtown 22:04 - The Cuban Missile Crisis In this episode of View Master Travels, I take you back to 1962 and the Seattle World’s Fair, an event that promised a glimpse into the “World of Tomorrow.” Inspired by a vintage View-Master reel from my collection, I set out to explore the fairgrounds and uncover whether the event truly embodied an optimistic vision of the future or if it was simply a reflection of mid-century corporate ambitions and Cold War fears. From the iconic Space Needle to the futuristic pavilions, I traced the history, architecture, and cultural impact of this monumental fair. It all started with the fair’s origins. Initially planned as a celebration of the American West, the theme shifted dramatically after the launch of Sputnik in 1957, as the Space Race took center stage. By the time the fair opened in April 1962, it had become a showcase for science, technology, and space-age innovation. I visited landmarks like the Space Needle—built as Seattle’s futuristic symbol—and the Pacific Science Center, which housed cutting-edge exhibits on topics like nuclear fusion and DNA. Both sites remain major attractions today, though the surrounding landscape has changed quite a bit since the fair’s heyday. Walking through the history of the fair, I discovered how it balanced optimism with the anxieties of its time. Exhibits like the Bubbleator and the “World of Century 21” promised a future of self-driving air cars and automated homes, but they also reminded visitors of the looming threat of nuclear war. What stood out to me was how much of the “future” on display reflected the culture and concerns of the 1950s and early ’60s. Along the way, I uncovered quirky stories, like how the Bubbleator became a greenhouse in someone’s backyard and how the Space Needle inspired The Jetsons. It’s fascinating to see how these remnants of the fair have taken on lives of their own. As I wrapped up my visit, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fair’s legacy. While structures like the Space Needle and the monorail endure as symbols of Seattle, many of the fair’s futuristic promises never materialized, leaving a sense of “where’s my jetpack” disillusionment. Still, the fair’s bold vision of tomorrow continues to inspire. Standing beneath the Space Needle, I wondered: was the Seattle World’s Fair truly a beacon of hope or just corporate daydreaming? I’d love to hear what you think—let me know in the comments. Until next time, thanks for traveling with me! IMAGE CREDITS: International Fountain Picture: WET Design Bubbleator: UW Special Collections 1950s Seattle Street Film: Jeff Altman The Mayor of Seattle, Brochures, B&W Pictures: Seattle Municipal Archives B&W Pictures: Seattle Public Library MUSIC CREDITS: Darkness is Coming by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Travel Light by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... VIDEO CLIPS: 8mm Film Home Movie:    • 8mm home movie of the 1962 World's Fair in...   Opening Day Coverage:    • Видео   Century 21 Calling:    • Century 21 Calling, 1962 - AT&T Archives -...   History in Motion:    • History in Motion: Seattle World's Fair   Les Poupees de Paris:    • Les Poupees de Paris--1965 World's Fair--F...   CBS News Report on Sputnik:    • Sputnik 1 CBS NEWS Special Report on TV, O...   Film of Opening Day:    • Vintage Video from Seattle’s 1962 World’s ...   SOUND EFFECT CREDITS: Futuristic Car Passes: https://freesound.org/s/484731/ Monorail Passes: https://freesound.org/s/469598/ Penn Station Newark: https://freesound.org/s/106583/ Tram Arrival: https://freesound.org/s/499130/ Museum Ambiance: https://freesound.org/s/79701/ Art Museum Ambiance: https://freesound.org/s/31582/ Low Frequency Rumble: https://freesound.org/s/353973/ City Fountain with People: https://freesound.org/s/652688/ Early Morning Birds: https://freesound.org/s/452444/ State Fair Ambiance: https://freesound.org/s/700468/ Early Morning Spring: https://freesound.org/s/762295/ Paris Fountain: https://freesound.org/s/761530/ Children and Adults in a Queue: https://freesound.org/s/42965/ A Couple Walks By: https://freesound.org/s/721279/