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The Seattle World’s Fair, known as The Century 21 Exposition, was a six-month-long event from April 21 to October 21, 1962 in which close to 10 million visitors got a peek at the ‘glittering world of the future’.
The official World’s Fair souvenir program boasted that many of the predictions were ‘certain to be realities by 2001.’
But while that date has come and gone, it seems like the world of 1962 expected the year 2006 to look like an episode of The Jetsons (well, I’m still hoping for that one day in the not to distant future, too).
The Fair had five areas. The World of Science: featuring Boeing’s Spacearium, which took visitors on an imaginary 10-minute excursion to the outer galaxies; The World of Tomorrow: which housed the Bubbleator elevator, the House of Tomorrow, Gyrocopters and the Office of Tomorrow; The World of Commerce and Industry: showcasing international exhibits; The World of Art: where visitors could wonder at masterpieces from 61 museums around the globe; and The World of Entertainment: which presented everything from boxing to baton twirling.
And while adults gawked at the exhibits, kids would gravitate towards the innocently named Gayway, a space-oriented amusement zone. Finally, no visit was complete with having a sumptuous meal at Seattle’s now landmark Space Needle for the princely sum of $7.50.
THE WORLD OF CENTURY TWENTY FIRST: A MUSICAL PANORAMA
At the World of Tomorrow, visitors ascended to the exhibit in a globe-shaped elevator called the ‘bubbleator’ for a 21 minute tour of the future. The bubbleator was Washington State’s official exhibit in the Coliseum. It held 150 passengers as it went through displays that promised an easier life ahead. The out-of-this-world ‘elevator music’ that accompanied the journey was courtesy of Attileo Mineo; but the highlight was the souvenir record, featuring an electronic score from film composer, Alexander Lazlo. This private issue LP was produced by Capitol Custom Records was pressed on bright blue wax with die cut see-through plastic window and issued with clear plastic inner sleeve. The album features a symphonic orchestra with choir, sound effects, great electronics and, best of all, narration from Vincent Price.
LET’S BLAST OFF!
Sonic Entrance Signal (0.49)
Illumination (1.47)
Monorail (2.21)
The Home (5.08)
Phone Magic (3.19)
Computer Robot (2.12)
Shine, Rain & Glory (2.39)
Hundred a Minute (1.44)
In a Automated Supermarket (2.41)
The Dappler Dandler (2.46)
Atom for Humanity (2.54)
Deep, Deep Sea (2.24)
Turn Skyward into Space (3.33)
Universal Love (1.15)
Grand March (1.59)
