Editing 1964 New York World's Fair (section)

==== 1963 and 1964 ====
[[File:6405 NY World's Fair 6 1964 (51189014682).jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|A fountain in the fair|alt=A large fountain in front of a white building. A man and a girl are walking in the foreground.]]

In early 1963, the World's Fair Housing Bureau was formed to coordinate the development of hotel rooms for the fair.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 3, 1963 |title=New York World's Fair Gears for '64–'65 Throngs: Enthusiastic Support Procedure Specified |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=2 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510406641}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=January 20, 1963 |title=70 Million Due at N.Y. World's Fair |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=H12 |issn=0458-3035 |id={{ProQuest|168267309}}}}</ref> Despite commitments from state and national governments, only some of these governments were actively constructing pavilions.<ref name="The Reporter Dispatch 1963">{{Cite news |date=March 20, 1963 |title='Billion-Dollar Fair' Rising in Flushing; Prospect Is It Will Be 10 Times Seattle's |via=newspapers.com |first=Milt |last=Freudenheim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-billion-dollar-fa/148382453/ |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The Reporter Dispatch |pages=36 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531200434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-billion-dollar-fa/148382453/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The WFC wanted to hire 40 concessionaires and sell 70 [[intellectual property]] (IP) licenses, which the corporation hoped would raise $130&nbsp;million.<ref name="nyt-1963-05-19">{{Cite news |last=Arnold |first=Martin |date=May 19, 1963 |title=Concessionaires Lined Up for Fair; 130 Million Is Anticipated in Sales and Ride Fares |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/19/archives/concessionaires-lined-up-for-fair-130-million-is-anticipated-in.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530201403/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/19/archives/concessionaires-lined-up-for-fair-130-million-is-anticipated-in.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 22, 1963, exactly a year before the fair's opening,<ref name="Samuel p. 28" /> the U.S. President [[John F. Kennedy]] activated a clock that would count down to the opening.<ref name="Hornaday 1963">{{cite news |last=Hornaday |first=Mary |date=April 24, 1963 |title=N.Y. Fair Countdown Begins: Goal Upped |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=1 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510452982}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 23, 1963 |title=Kennedy Starts Fair Countdown |work=The Hartford Courant |page=10 |issn=1047-4153 |id={{ProQuest|548039555}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 23, 1963 |title=Kennedy Starts Clock for Fair; Promises to Attend Opening in Exactly One Year. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/04/23/archives/kennedy-starts-clock-for-fair-promises-to-attend-opening-in-exactly.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530201403/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/04/23/archives/kennedy-starts-clock-for-fair-promises-to-attend-opening-in-exactly.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Only 48 of the 200 proposed buildings had begun construction,<ref name="Schmedel 1963">{{cite news |last=Schmedel |first=Scott R. |date=April 19, 1963 |title=World's Fair Woes: With New York Start Only Year Away, Many Exhibitors Drag Feet Ground Not Broken for Most Buildings and Construction Costs Rise; Some Back Out Cheer From Seattle Success World's Fair Woes: Many Exhibitors In New York Dragging Their Feet |work=The Wall Street Journal |page=1 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|132860330}}}}</ref> even though construction of all major structures had to be underway by the following month.<ref name="The Reporter Dispatch 1963" /><ref name="Schmedel 1963" /> The press building opened that May,<ref name="nyt-1963-05-05">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Alfred E. |date=May 5, 1963 |title=Press Structure Is Opened at Fair; Salinger Is at Dedication of First Building on Site Moses Scoffs at Critics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/05/archives/press-structure-is-opened-at-fair-salinger-is-at-dedication-of.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530201406/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/05/archives/press-structure-is-opened-at-fair-salinger-is-at-dedication-of.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the following month, an insurance syndicate was formed to protect the exhibits.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 5, 1963 |title=39 Firms Insure World's Fair Art Treasures |work=Boston Globe |page=15 |id={{ProQuest|276160148}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=June 5, 1963 |title=Group to Insure Fair Exhibitors; Michelangelo's 'Pieta,' Said to Be Worth 100 Million, Among Art to Be Covered |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/05/archives/group-to-insure-fair-exhibitors-michelangelos-pieta-said-to-be.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530201404/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/05/archives/group-to-insure-fair-exhibitors-michelangelos-pieta-said-to-be.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By mid-1963, civil-rights groups were protesting the lack of racial diversity in the fair's development,<ref name="Samuel p. 27" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Waldman |first=Myron |last2= |first2= |date=July 29, 1963 |title=Civil Righters Set to Resume Battle Stations |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-civil-righters/147341676/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514004057/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-civil-righters/147341676/ |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Newsday |page= |pages=5, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-civil-righters/147341702/ 46]  |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|913605183}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Kihss |first=Peter |date=July 29, 1963 |title=Negroes to Push Picketing in City in Drive for Jobs; Demonstrations Due Today at Projects in Brooklyn, Queens and Harlem 'Quick' Results Asked Use of Children Threatened |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/07/29/archives/negroes-to-push-picketing-in-city-in-drive-for-jobs-demonstrations.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513211257/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/07/29/archives/negroes-to-push-picketing-in-city-in-drive-for-jobs-demonstrations.html |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and filed a lawsuit to halt construction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hadjin |first=Jim |date=September 26, 1963 |title=Bias Suit Asks Halt in Fair Construction |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-bias-suit-asks/147341588/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514004054/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-bias-suit-asks/147341588/ |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Newsday |page=11  |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|913575643}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=September 26, 1963 |title=N.A.A.C.P. Suing to Halt Building; Bids Court Stop Payment on Projects Worth 10 Million Unions Named Suit Is "Class Action" |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/09/26/archives/naacp-suing-to-halt-building-bids-court-stop-payment-on-projects.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513211250/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/09/26/archives/naacp-suing-to-halt-building-bids-court-stop-payment-on-projects.html |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> That July, Moses denied rumors construction had fallen behind schedule.<ref name="nyt-1963-07-24">{{Cite news |last=Doty |first=Robert C. |date=July 24, 1963 |title=Fair on Schedule, Moses Contends; Director Retorts to Critics and Renews Pledge for Opening Next April |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/07/24/archives/fair-on-schedule-moses-contends-director-retorts-to-critics-and.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608142452/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/07/24/archives/fair-on-schedule-moses-contends-director-retorts-to-critics-and.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tirella pp. 91–92">{{harvnb|Tirella|2013|ps=.|pages=91–92}}</ref>

Materials from overseas began arriving in August 1963,<ref name="nyt-1963-08-15">{{Cite news |date=August 15, 1963 |title=Fair's First Cargo Will Arrive Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/08/15/archives/fairs-first-cargo-will-arrive-today.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530215824/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/08/15/archives/fairs-first-cargo-will-arrive-today.html |url-status=live }}</ref> though work on 50 structures had not started by the next month.<ref name="nyt-1963-09-09" /> Moses became increasingly hostile toward journalists who doubted that the fair would be completed on time.<ref name="Tirella pp. 91–92" /> There were also disagreements over discounted tickets for students; Moses opposed the plan<ref name="Tirella pp. 93–94">{{harvnb|Tirella|2013|ps=.|pages=93–95}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Charles G. |date=October 10, 1963 |title=Moses Rejects Council Parley On 25c Fee for Pupils at Fair; Moses Rejects Council Parley On 25c Fee for Pupils at Fair Bulk Reductions Planned Gross Invited, Too |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/10/archives/moses-rejects-council-parley-on-25c-fee-for-pupils-at-fair-moses.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530234134/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/10/archives/moses-rejects-council-parley-on-25c-fee-for-pupils-at-fair-moses.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but the city government ultimately forced him to sell discounted tickets.<ref name="Tirella pp. 93–94" /><ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1963">{{cite news |date=December 5, 1963 |title=World Fair Price Cut for Schools |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=3 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|510510331}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Charles G. |date=December 4, 1963 |title=Fair Will Admit Pupils for 25c When They Attend in Groups |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/04/archives/fair-will-admit-pupils-for-25c-when-they-attend-in-groups-25cent.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531012450/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/04/archives/fair-will-admit-pupils-for-25c-when-they-attend-in-groups-25cent.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The first pavilion, the [[Terrace on the Park|Port Authority Heliport]], was opened in October 1963.<ref>{{cite news |last=Duncan |first=Val |date=October 17, 1963 |title=Fair's 1St Building Opens With High Hopes |work=Newsday |page=15 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|964309040}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Burnham |first=Alexander |date=October 16, 1963 |title=1964 Fair Opening Its First Building; Port Authority Hall to Be Opened Officially Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/16/archives/1964-fair-opening-its-first-building-port-authority-hall-to-be.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531175330/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/16/archives/1964-fair-opening-its-first-building-port-authority-hall-to-be.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The same month, Hunt resigned as the amusement area's operator following disagreements over ticket prices and rides.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 30, 1963 |title=Vaudeville: H. L. Hunt Cancellation, Int'l Expo's Suit Spotlight World's Fair Lease Snags |magazine=Variety |page=53 |volume=232 |issue=10 |id={{ProQuest|1014822622}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Arnold |first=Martin |date=October 19, 1963 |title=H.L. Hunt Fun Park Is Dropped at Fair |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/19/archives/hl-hunt-fun-park-is-dropped-at-fair-amusement-park-dropped-at-fair.html |access-date=May 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530234132/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/19/archives/hl-hunt-fun-park-is-dropped-at-fair-amusement-park-dropped-at-fair.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Samuel p. 20; Tirella p. 95" /> Work on many of the pavilions was behind schedule due to funding issues, labor shortages, and poor weather.<ref name="nyt-1963-09-09" /> There were also labor strikes, exhibitor withdrawals, and continuing racial tensions.<ref name="Sederberg 1964" /><ref name="The Hartford Courant 1963">{{cite news |date=October 27, 1963 |title=World's Fair Fast Taking Shape |work=The Hartford Courant |page=29A1 |issn=1047-4153 |id={{ProQuest|548203247}}}}</ref> Despite these difficulties, many pavilions were nearly completed by late 1963,<ref name="The Hartford Courant 1963a" /><ref name="The Hartford Courant 1963" /> and the WFC had sold 3.8&nbsp;million advance tickets by the year's end.<ref name="nyt-1963-12-31">{{Cite news |date=December 31, 1963 |title=3.8 Million Tickets To the World's Fair Are Sold in Advance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/31/archives/38-million-tickets-to-the-worlds-fair-are-sold-in-advance.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531012451/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/31/archives/38-million-tickets-to-the-worlds-fair-are-sold-in-advance.html |url-status=live }}</ref> To draw attention to the fair, the WFC displayed models of exhibits at the [[1271 Avenue of the Americas|Time-Life Building]] in Manhattan.<ref name="Samuel p. 28" /> Exhibits were installed through late 1963 and early 1964,<ref name="Samuel pp. 28–29">{{harvnb|Samuel|2007|ps=.|pages=28–29}}</ref> and the WFC borrowed $3&nbsp;million to fund the fair's completion.<ref name="Sederberg 1964" />

In January 1964, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' reported the site was filled with raw material, incomplete building frames, and unpaved roads.<ref>{{cite news |last=Butler |first=Vincent |date=January 26, 1964 |title=Report From New York: Builders Rush to Complete Structures for World's Fair |work=Chicago Tribune |page=9 |issn=1085-6706 |id={{ProQuest|179358122}}}}</ref> That month, WFC officials said work on 26 buildings was behind schedule,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 23, 1964 |title=Johnson to Be Fair's First-Day Feature |work=Newsday |page=7 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|914360174}}}}</ref> and they sought to demolish a pavilion that would not be ready for the fair's opening.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Thomas A. |date=January 22, 1964 |title=Fair Finds Another Bone-- In Food Pavilion |work=Newsday |page=11 |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|913562960}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=January 21, 1964 |title=Fair Restrained in Building Fight; Would Raze Pavilion It Says Can't Be Ready in Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/21/archives/fair-restrained-in-building-fight-would-raze-pavilion-it-says-cant.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531171415/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/21/archives/fair-restrained-in-building-fight-would-raze-pavilion-it-says-cant.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WFC signed a document outlining ways profits from the fair were to be used.<ref name="nyt-1965-05-212">{{Cite news |last=Alden |first=Robert |date=May 21, 1965 |title=Fair Says Pledge Has No Standing; Denies Responsibility for '64 List of Obligations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/21/archives/fair-says-pledge-has-no-standing-denies-responsibility-for-64-list.html |access-date=June 4, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604183555/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/21/archives/fair-says-pledge-has-no-standing-denies-responsibility-for-64-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By that February, most of the major pavilions and attractions were complete,<ref name="nyt-1964-02-22">{{Cite news |date=February 22, 1964 |title=Progress Report at F-Day Mi Us 60 Finds the Fair Getting Fairer; Alice-in-Wonderland Shapes Rise Out of Mud and Disorder |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/22/archives/progress-report-at-fday-mi-us-60-finds-the-fair-getting-fairer.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601035207/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/22/archives/progress-report-at-fday-mi-us-60-finds-the-fair-getting-fairer.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but Whipple estimated up to 10 pavilions would not be finished before the fair's opening.<ref name="Snyder 1964">{{cite news |last=Snyder |first=Gerald S. |date=April 12, 1964 |title=Costs a Billion, Lures Millions; Opens April 22: Ready or Not N. Y. World's Fair Opens April 22 Two Season Show Sure of Success |work=Chicago Tribune |page=G15 |issn=1085-6706 |id={{ProQuest|179446275}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1964-02-27">{{Cite news |date=February 27, 1964 |title=Not All of Fair to Open on Time; 8 or 10 Pavilions Won't Be Ready, Engineer Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/27/archives/not-all-of-fair-to-open-on-time-8-or-10-pavilions-wont-be-ready.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531182658/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/27/archives/not-all-of-fair-to-open-on-time-8-or-10-pavilions-wont-be-ready.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The same month, the WFC stopped selling advance tickets, having sold 28 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 3, 1964 |title=Advance Ticket Sales Will Let World's Fair Repay Big Loans in '64: Discount Ticket Volume Totals $35,219,602, Allowing Firm To Pay Off Notes Due in '66 |work=The Wall Street Journal |page=15 |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|132960789}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=March 3, 1964 |title=Sale of Tickets to World's Fair Tops $35 Million; Over 28 Million Bought at Advance Rates—Total Is Triple the Forecast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/03/archives/sale-of-tickets-to-worlds-fair-tops-35-million-over-28-million.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601024819/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/03/archives/sale-of-tickets-to-worlds-fair-tops-35-million-over-28-million.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There were still 4,800 construction workers on site in late March,<ref>{{cite news |last=Foust |first=Hal |date=March 31, 1964 |title=Finds There's Still Lots of Work to Be Done on New York Fair: Opening Day Is Only 3 Weeks Away |work=Chicago Tribune |page=11 |issn=1085-6706 |id={{ProQuest|179385647}}}}</ref> when the state government began hiring people for the fair.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1964 |title=New Job Center For World's Fair Will Open Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/19/archives/new-job-center-for-worlds-fair-will-open-today.html |access-date=May 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608142453/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/19/archives/new-job-center-for-worlds-fair-will-open-today.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Before the fair opened, the WFC had spent $30&nbsp;million.<ref name="Caro p. 1102">{{harvnb|Caro|1974|ps=.|page=1102}}</ref>