Editing 1964 New York World's Fair (section)

==== 1961 and 1962 ====
[[William Whipple Jr.]], the fair's chief engineer, said in September 1960 exhibitors would be able to begin erecting pavilions by 1962.<ref name="nyt-1960-09-09">{{Cite news |last=Illson |first=Murray |date=September 9, 1960 |title=Timetable Is Set for World's Fair; Chief Designer Says Basic Work Is to Be Done by Winter of 1961 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/09/archives/timetable-is-set-for-worlds-fair-chief-designer-says-basic-work-is.html |access-date=May 23, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523173846/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/09/archives/timetable-is-set-for-worlds-fair-chief-designer-says-basic-work-is.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Construction of the first building, an administration structure, began in August 1960<ref>{{cite news |date=August 1, 1960 |title=Work on Fairs First Building Starts at Once |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=6 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1327216689}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=August 1, 1960 |title=Work to Start on Fair; Construction of First Building Is Due to Begin Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/08/01/archives/work-to-start-on-fair-construction-of-first-building-is-due-to.html |access-date=May 23, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523173845/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/08/01/archives/work-to-start-on-fair-construction-of-first-building-is-due-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and was finished in January 1961.<ref>{{cite news |last=Duncan |first=Val |date=January 13, 1961 |title=1st Fair Building Houses World of Activity |work=Newsday |page=4 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|898973018}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Chapman |first=Ralph |date=January 12, 1961 |title=First World Fair Structure Opened: 900 Visitors Get a Free Luncheon After Throgs Neck Span Opening |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=19 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1325464542}}}}</ref> In early 1961, almost all of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park was closed to allow the fair's construction,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Ira Henry |date=February 12, 1961 |title=City Closing Park for World's Fair; Public to Be Barred From Flushing Meadow While Construction Proceeds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/12/archives/city-closing-park-for-worlds-fair-public-to-be-barred-from-flushing.html |access-date=May 19, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519214704/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/12/archives/city-closing-park-for-worlds-fair-public-to-be-barred-from-flushing.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |last=Chapman |first=Ralph |date=February 12, 1961 |title=World's Fair Landscaping Work Closes Site to Traffic |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=6 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1325186012}}}}</ref> and the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s (LIRR) [[Mets–Willets Point station (LIRR)|World's Fair station]] opened.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 9, 1961 |title=World's Fair Station Ready On L I. R.R.: Twenty-One Trains Daily Are Scheduled |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=13 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1335743780}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=January 9, 1961 |title=World's Fair Station; Temporary L.I.R.R. Facility Opens on Wednesday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/01/09/archives/worlds-fair-station-temporary-lirr-facility-opens-on-wednesday.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524150004/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/01/09/archives/worlds-fair-station-temporary-lirr-facility-opens-on-wednesday.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Workers moved trees<ref>{{cite news |last=Mayer |first=Robert |date=March 14, 1961 |title=Flushing Meadow Trees Make Way for 1964 Fair |work=Newsday |page=26 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|899085350}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=March 14, 1961 |title=Trees Transplanted at World's Fair Site |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=8 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1326253135}}}}</ref> and diverted parts of the Flushing River into tunnels.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 4, 1961 |title=Begin Work of Submerging Flushing River for the Fair |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=13 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1327042208}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Nan |date=August 4, 1961 |title=Burying of River Begun for '64 Fair; Moses Starts 'Dirt Flying' to Shift Flushing Stream |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/08/04/archives/burying-of-river-begun-for-64-fair-moses-starts-dirt-flying-to.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524203019/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/08/04/archives/burying-of-river-begun-for-64-fair-moses-starts-dirt-flying-to.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |last=Gerard |first=Jane |date=August 4, 1961 |title=Moses Gives the Order, Waters Will Turn Aside |work=Newsday |page=16 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|898996937}}}}</ref> By April 1961, thirty-four countries had accepted invitations to the fair,<ref name="nyt-1961-04-24">{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1961 |title=34 Nations Accept Invitation to Exhibit In '64 World's Fair |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/04/24/archives/34-nations-accept-invitation-to-exhibit-in-64-worlds-fair.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524155800/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/04/24/archives/34-nations-accept-invitation-to-exhibit-in-64-worlds-fair.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the city agreed to spend $24&nbsp;million improving the park.<ref name="Chapman 1961" /><ref name="Caro p. 1091">{{harvnb|Caro|1974|ps=.|page=1091}}</ref> Moses secretly obtained additional funds from the city government; according to Moses's biographer [[Robert Caro]], the city government may have spent as much as $60&nbsp;million on the fair.<ref name="Caro p. 1091" />

[[File:Fountains, NY Worlds Fair '64.JPG|thumb|Fountains and a reflecting pool mark the approach to the Unisphere.|alt=A large fountain-lined pool lined leads to a large, globe-like structure representing Earth.]]

In May, the WFC announced it would proceed with the planned amusement area around Meadow Lake,<ref>{{cite news |date=May 14, 1961 |title=World's Fair To Have Section For Amusement |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=11 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1335808045}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Ira Henry |date=May 14, 1961 |title=Amusements Win Place at '64 Fair; Amphitheatre Area Chosen for 'High-Class' Shows – Musical Foremost |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/05/14/archives/amusements-win-place-at-64-fair-amphitheatre-area-chosen-for.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524174348/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/05/14/archives/amusements-win-place-at-64-fair-amphitheatre-area-chosen-for.html |url-status=live }}</ref> hiring the billionaire [[H. L. Hunt]] to operate the rides.<ref name="Samuel p. 20; Tirella p. 95">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=|page=20}}; {{harvnb|Tirella|2013|ps=.|page=95}}</ref> By mid-1961, the WFC had privately raised $25&nbsp;million and was predicting a $53&nbsp;million profit.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 9, 1961 |title=Fair Expected To Bring City $53,000,000: Estimate Submitted To Board by Moses |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=30 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1325421048}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Grutzner |first=Charles |date=May 9, 1961 |title='64 Fair Reports Finances Strong; Expects 40 Million in Loans by Early July – Predicts Profit of 53 Million '64 Fair Calls Finances Strong; Predicts Profits of 53 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/05/09/archives/64-fair-reports-finances-strong-expects-40-million-in-loans-by.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524191622/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/05/09/archives/64-fair-reports-finances-strong-expects-40-million-in-loans-by.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[groundbreaking ceremony]] for the first pavilion took place that June.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanborne |first=Phil |date=June 16, 1961 |title=Slow! Top-Drawer Sodbusters at Work |work=Newsday |page=39 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|898974994}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=June 16, 1961 |title=First Ground-Breaking Held at World's Fair Site |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/16/archives/first-groundbreaking-held-at-worlds-fair-site.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524191622/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/16/archives/first-groundbreaking-held-at-worlds-fair-site.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WFC had difficulty selling the remaining bonds;<ref name="Schmedel 1961">{{cite news |last=Schmedel |first=Scott R. |date=July 25, 1961 |title=World's Fair Rivals: New York and Seattle Shows Run Into Snags On Leasing, Financing Westinghouse Balks at N.Y. Fair's Cost; Paris Agency Gives Seattle Big Boost GM Hopes to Top Futurama World's Fair Rivals: New York, Seattle Shows Run Into Snags |work=The Wall Street Journal |page=1 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|132703509}}}}</ref> it had sold around $30&nbsp;million in promissory notes—three quarters of the total—by the end of 1961.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 2, 1961 |title=Fair Raises Funds; Three-Fourth Of Notes Offered Public Are Subscribed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/11/02/archives/fair-raises-funds-threefourth-of-notes-offered-public-are.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524203016/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/11/02/archives/fair-raises-funds-threefourth-of-notes-offered-public-are.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the fair's construction, civil-rights activists expressed concerns the WFC's leadership included very few African Americans.<ref name="Tirella pp. 58–59">{{harvnb|Tirella|2013|ps=.|pages=58–59}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1961-06-15">{{Cite news |date=June 15, 1961 |title=World's Fair Urged to Employ Negroes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/15/archives/worlds-fair-urged-to-employ-negroes.html |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524203016/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/15/archives/worlds-fair-urged-to-employ-negroes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Moses met with activists but he still did not appoint African Americans to leadership positions,<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 10, 1962 |title=Fair Play Asked In World's Fair |work=New York Amsterdam News |page=A3 |id={{proQuest|2293405245}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=March 24, 1962 |title=Moses Has No Comment On World Fair Bias Rap |work=New Pittsburgh Courier |page=2 |id={{ProQuest|371641299}}}}</ref><ref name="Samuel pp. 26–27">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=.|pages=26–27}}</ref> which attracted controversy amid the ongoing civil rights movement.<ref name="Tirella pp. 58–59" /><ref name="Samuel pp. 26–27" /> The WFC hired an African American executive to the fair's international division in 1962.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1962 |title=Moses Hires Negro In Executive Level At World's Fair |work=New York Amsterdam News |page=A1 |id={{proQuest|2293405820}}}}</ref><ref name="Samuel p. 27">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=.|page=27}}</ref> Later that year, New York governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] formed a committee to investigate persistent complaints about discrimination within the WFC.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ingalls |first=Leonard |date=August 29, 1962 |title=Rockefeller to Check Complaint Of Bias in World's Fair Hiring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/08/29/archives/rockefeller-to-check-complaint-of-bias-in-worlds-fair-hiring.html |access-date=May 28, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528013826/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/08/29/archives/rockefeller-to-check-complaint-of-bias-in-worlds-fair-hiring.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

By the beginning of 1962, more than 60 nations, the governments of 30 U.S. states, and 50 companies had agreed to exhibit at the fair.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kenney |first=Harry C. |date=January 19, 1962 |title=N.Y. World's Fair Progress: Many Firms Ready 30 States Committed Sites Largely Confirmed Arts Program Speeded |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=4 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510327177}}|postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=March 25, 1962 |title=World Fair Takes Shape in New York |work=Chicago Tribune |page=A2 |issn=1085-6706 |id={{ProQuest|183148100}}}}</ref> The WFC also created a [[scale model]] of the fairground.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Francis |date=January 12, 1962 |title=1964 World's Fair Begins to Shape Up—As a Scale Model |work=Newsday |page=23 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|899165827}}}}</ref> The LIRR constructed a [[Siding (rail)|siding]] from the [[Port Washington Branch]], allowing trains to deliver material onsite.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1, 1962 |title=LIRR Preparing For World's Fair |magazine=Railway Age |page=20 |volume=152 |issue=1 |id={{ProQuest|882920631}}}}</ref> At a luncheon in March that year, Moses said construction had fallen behind schedule.<ref name="nyt-1962-03-23">{{Cite news |date=March 23, 1962 |title=Moses Calls Fair Behind Schedule; Cites Inability to Prod State and Foreign Governments |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/03/23/archives/moses-calls-fair-behind-schedule-cites-inability-to-prod-state-and.html |access-date=May 25, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525022113/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/03/23/archives/moses-calls-fair-behind-schedule-cites-inability-to-prod-state-and.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WFC had allocated $6&nbsp;million to advertise the fair by mid-1962, and Deegan predicted its participants would spend another $75&nbsp;million of their own money on promotion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kandel |first=Myron |date=July 25, 1962 |title=Advertising: World's Fair Promotion Cost Is Estimated |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/07/25/archives/advertising-worlds-fair-promotion-cost-is-estimated.html |access-date=May 27, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528013826/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/07/25/archives/advertising-worlds-fair-promotion-cost-is-estimated.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WFC tried to attract Latin American countries to the fair.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 17, 1962 |title=Latin Nations Are Wooed to World's Fair |work=Newsday |page=14 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|913667187}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=July 17, 1962 |title=Fair Urges Entries by Latin Americans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/07/17/archives/fair-urges-entries-by-latin-americans.html |access-date=May 27, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528013825/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/07/17/archives/fair-urges-entries-by-latin-americans.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By late 1962, exhibits were being finalized and many pavilions were being constructed.<ref name="Kenney 1962a">{{cite news |last=Kenney |first=Harry C. |date=September 27, 1962 |title=New York Report World's Fair Emerging |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=16 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510390122}}}}</ref> Either 68<ref name="nyt-1962-09-13">{{Cite news |last=Talese |first=Gay |date=September 13, 1962 |title=Fair Is Heralded as Biggest Event; 800 Tent Party Guests Hear Optimistic Predictions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/09/13/archives/fair-is-heralded-as-biggest-event-800-tent-party-guests-hear.html |access-date=May 28, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528235428/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/09/13/archives/fair-is-heralded-as-biggest-event-800-tent-party-guests-hear.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1962">{{cite news |date=October 18, 1962 |title=Giant Disk Due at Fair In New York |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=15 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510362297}}}}</ref> or 71 nations had announced plans for exhibits at the fair by then,<ref name="Kenney 1962">{{cite news |last=Kenney |first=Harry C. |date=September 14, 1962 |title=World's Fair Plans Fall Into Shape: Construction Nears |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=10 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510341563}}}}</ref> though only 35 countries had formally leased space.<ref name="Samuel p. 141">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=.|page=141}}</ref> Additionally, 125 businesses had expressed interest,<ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1962" /> and the WFC had finished installing utilities on the fairground.<ref name="Kenney 1962" /> At the end of 1962, a small number of state and international pavilions were being built, while work in the industrial and transportation areas was progressing.<ref name="nyt-1962-12-02">{{Cite news |last=Bigart |first=Homer |date=December 2, 1962 |title='64 Fair Seeking a Global Flavor; Flags of Nonparticipating European Nations to Fly Over Private Pavilions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/12/02/archives/64-fair-seeking-a-global-flavor-flags-of-nonparticipating-european.html |access-date=May 29, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529022711/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/12/02/archives/64-fair-seeking-a-global-flavor-flags-of-nonparticipating-european.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Groundbreaking ceremonies were hosted for many of the international pavilions.<ref name="Samuel p. 149">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=.|page=149}}</ref>