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Wednesday
Mar222017

Watch the documentary for free on Youtube!

You can now bring the excitement and beauty of the 1964-65 NY World's Fair into your home, right on YouTube, or get the HD digital version here !

You'll hear from Disney Imagineers Rolly Crump, Bob Gurr, and Marty Sklar about the importance of the fair to Walt Disney and the Disney Company. Directors Jon Favreau and Barry Sonnenfeld weigh in on the importance of the fair in pop culture, and how it continues to influence our lives today. Visual effects guru Doug Drexler tells of the connections between the fair and the visual design of Star Trek. And you'll hear from people who attended the fair, and those who worked on some of the most memorable attractions.

Get your  Digital copy from Vimeo today!

Wednesday
Mar092016

See After the Fair at the Queens World Film Festival

AFTER THE FAIR ON THE BIG SCREEN!
“After The Fair” has been selected to be part of the Queens World Film Festival. The screening will take place Sunday, March 20th, at 2:30 PM. You can get tickets here:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2494044 and learn more about the festival here: https://www.queensworldfilmfestival.com We’re really excited about the screening, and it would be great to see you there!

 

NOW ON AMAZON, AND ON SALE!
It took longer than expected, but the DVD version of “After The Fair” is now available through Amazon. And to celebrate our Queens Film Festival selection, it is on sale for $14.99. You can purchase it from Amazon here.  
And if you already have the movie, please take a moment to leave a review of it on Amazon. And if you prefer a digital copy, the movie is also available online via Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/22205

 

SO WHAT’S NEXT?
Many of you have asked what we’re working on next. Well, there are several projects being developed, but right now, we’re focusing on a documentary on Willow Grove Park, a long-gone amusement park that was located in the Philadelphia suburbs for nearly 80 years. Unfortunately, unlike the World’s Fair, there aren’t any relics to be found at the site of the park. Today the entire parcel is filled by a large mall, and a separate shopping center. This project will have some interesting challenges that we didn’t encounter while making “After The Fair.” So, if you’re interested in what’s next, stop by www.MoreThanALark.com to learn more about this project.

 

Saturday
Feb212015

Welcome (Back) To The Fair!

Welcome to the home of "After The Fair: The Legacy of the 1964-65 NY World's Fair!" As we did in the movie, we use our website to explore both the fair itself, as well as the impact of the fair on the future. The 1964-65 New York World's Fair had wide-ranging influence on future technology, cultural understanding, transportation, and city planning.

In our documentary, we connect the dots between technology seen at the fair, like Bell Telephone's PicturePhone, and Skype and other video chat services widely used today. We also examine the fair's role in familiarizing millions of people with computers. Prior to the fair, most people saw computers as room-filling, complex machines, At the fair, visitors could use a computer to retrieve a headline for a particular date from the New York Times, or find just the right recipe at the NCR pavilion.

It wasn't all about technology though. The fair was a showcase of culture and ideals from every corner of the earth. Americans, especially those from outside of New York City, were exposed to new cuisine and traditions. Remember, prior to the fair, it could be hard to find even a Chinese restaurant in all but the most urban areas of the country! 

So please join us, as we head back to 1964, to see a snapshot in time; of the U.S. at its very best, and the world coming together, if only for two summers. For those who went to the fair, it will be like visiting an old friend. For those too young to have attended, it is a fascinating look at a milestone event in our history, that touches our lives today.

Purchase After The Fair on DVD or digital download.

Wednesday
Jan142015

Would the real Queen of Spain please sit down

At the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, The Spain Pavilion was hailed as the "Jewel of the Fair," by Time magazine, and with good reason. The sleek concrete structure housed precious art from Spain, including works never shown in the U.S. before.

Queen Isabella at the fair. Courtesy of Randy TreadwayOne of those impressive works of art was the six foot statue of Spain's Queen Isabella. The bronze sculpture by Jose Luis Sanchez was a striking work. The sculpture watched over visitors from atop a pedestal giving the work a sense of size and scale well beyond its actual height.

After the fair ended, the beloved Spain Pavilion was moved to St. Louis. St Louis' mayor Alfonso Cervantes intended for the pavilion to serve as the third leg of an attraction trio including the Gateway Arch and the then-new Busch Stadium. Much of the art made the trip to St. Louis too, including the Queen. Or did it?

The "Queen" as seen in St. Louis in 2011 In 2011 when we visited St. Louis to shoot for the film, the Spain Pavilion had long ago been turned into a hotel. It turned out people did come to St. Louis for the Arch, and Busch Stadium was a draw, but all the people visiting those sites were looking for a place to stay, not Spanish art.

Today, the remains of the Spain Pavilion serve as the lobby for the Hilton at the Ballpark. We knew the interior of the building had been greatly changed in a recent renovation, removing any trace of the building's past. However, I had received a tip that while we were at the hotel we should ask if we could "see the queen." I posed this peculiar question to a maintenance worker at the hotel. He smiled and led us to a closet/storage area. In the back corner, there she was: The Queen of Spain.

A key piece of priceless art was languishing by a mop and bucket in a dark dank corner of hotel. However things aren't always what they seem... We worked the story of the Queen into our movie, opining on the condition and location of the artifact. Only later did we learn that the Queen in the closet is in all likelihood, a fake.

The original Queen Isabella Statute today in D.C. Or is it???In 1966, outside the Office of American States in Washington D.C., a statue of Queen Isabella was dedicated. The statue - six feet tall, and bronze - was said to have come from the fair. And indeed, a careful examination of the statue shows greater detail than the "imposter" queen in St. Louis.

So then it's settled: The real Queen is in D.C.

Well, probably, but...

Queen Isabella Statue, Mobile AL. Courtesy bobindrums flickr 

In a park in Mobile, Alabama, yet another statue of the queen is found. And this one claims to be from the World's Fair...

Friday
Jan022015

Happy New Year! 

Happy New Year! Here's to an exciting new year, and the 50th anniversary of the second year of the 64-65 World's Fair!

Ryan recently chatted with the guys at Communicore Weekly (Jeff and George) about the After the Fair project. We always love talking with Disney fans, and sharing our love of the fair and all things Disney. 

You can listen to the first half of the podcast here, or via YouTube, below. The second installment will be released next week!