Welcome to the 841st Tablescape Thursday! I have a delightful table to share with you today, one that’s in celebration around a topic that I’ve never shared before: The 1964-1965 World’s Fair! After talking with Elena, I am so intrigued, I’ll be doing some online searches today to learn more about this amazing event!
Elena said, “Today is my husband’s birthday, so I set up the table early this morning. TOTALLY surprised him with it. So here are some explanations regarding how it came to be. Months ago, my husband was watching a ton of YouTube videos about the 1964/1965 New York World’s Fair. Original videos from when the fair was running, videos of what the buildings looked like a few years ago, and what has been restored fairly recently.”
“We had fun researching the buildings that were constructed for the fair and what happened to them since then. Most of the pavilions had to be removed after the Fair was over, some were shipped all over the country and still survive today.”
“While we were researching the fair and watching videos, it dawned on me that vintage souvenirs would make a GREAT tablescape and everything on the table would be his birthday present!”
“As everything is vintage it all came from eBay, The centerpiece that looks like the Unisphere is actually a newer piece, There are occasionally real ones listed as original store displays, but they are extremely expensive!”
“I purchased original drinking glasses, smaller plates, art glass, a stein, a Beams decanter bottle, playing cards, postcards, coasters, salt and pepper shakers, a miniature cup and saucer, etc. Recently someone listed one of the multicolor lights that were posted all through the Fair. It had been restored but again, crazy expensive and probably wouldn’t fit on the table!”
I wish I could have seen Elena’s husband’s face when he saw this table! What a special gift for him!
Elena said, “When I purchased the white tablecloth, I thought it was a lace or a crocheted piece but it is actually a thin vinyl. It is still amazing, with the Unisphere in the center and all the pavilions in circles around the perimeter.”
“My only problem was that I did not dare try to iron it as it might have melted! I need to figure out a way to smooth it out more.”
“Instead of using candle sticks, I found pyramid-shaped candles as an homage to the 1939 New York World’s Fair. At that fair, there was a Trylon and Perisphere located where the Unisphere is today. I found out that they were the only things that were white at that fair, I actually used lacrosse balls for the Perisphere! Unfortunately, the Trylon and Perisphere were melted down shortly after the fair as part of the war effort.”
“I wish I had been able to set up the table a while ago to see what else would have added to it, but I wanted to surprise my husband for his birthday, so I had to go with what I thought would be good. I also ran out of time to purchase other items. I do not know if anyone else has done something like this, but whatever the person collects or enjoys as a hobby would make a great tablescape and present all in one!”
Love all the vintage plates Elena was able to collect for this fascinating table!
Thanks so much to Elena for sharing this very special table! I wish I could go back in time and experience this World’s Fair! How amazing would that be! Were you one of the lucky ones who was able to attend this World’s Fair? If so, please share everything you remember in a comment. I would love to hear what it was like to be there in person! What an experience it must have been!
Looking forward to the beautiful table settings linked here for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!
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I love reading your blog! I was a baby when my parents and I visited the NY World’s Fair, and sadly I have no real memories of visiting. But your blog brought back such happy memories of my parents taking me!
I never thought about all the memories this table scape would evoke for so many people! Can’t wait to read them all!!!
I was there! I was 14 on a school field trip. It was magical….what I remember the most, beside the sphere, was the Belgian waffle I devoured. So exotic. Hey, we were kids……
That’s a wonderful memory! I was only two, but I do have one fairly clear memory I should share………..
What a fun tablescape! Thanks Susan!
It WAS so much fun to put this one together!!!!!
What a lovely table setting. My mother took me to the Worlds Fair back in 1965 when I was a third grader. We were there for three day. We lived in Illinois at the time and I loved the Illinois pavilion where a robotic Abraham Lincoln stood up and spoke. I can’t remember what but probably the Gettysburg address. I saw it several times. I have the same notecard booklet that Elana has on her table, as well as a few other items I’ve managed to hang on to over the years, like a tray and small plate and small Statue of Liberty. Seeing the table was definitely a blast from the past. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank You Libby! I was only two but do have one very clear memory……….searching for vintage souvenirs was a lot of fun!
My grandparents lived in Queens and I would visit from Toronto every summer. I have a cherished photo of my grandmother and I standing in front of the globe at the fair. I was lucky to visit it for the two years that it was there.
Small world Brigette! My Grandparents had a house right near the Whitestone Bridge, so that’s why we went when I was young!!! I do not know why we don’t have any photos of the fair!!!
I only have a few too. A few years ago when my best friend was clearing out her late MIL’s things, I was helping her and found a small oval, copper plate with the fair logo that was obviously a souvenir. It came home with me that day.
Love all the memories this one is evoking!!! I did not share with Susan that I have one VERY clear memory of being at the fair. I was only two but vividly recall seeing the diorama of New York City. My grandmother was holding me and she had a gentleman working there point out the house we lived in. Stuck with me all these years and may be the reason I love miniatures!!!!
oh my goodness! This is so fantastic! I love this so much! This tablescape definitely shows her love for her husband. Every piece was such a great find! Especially the tablecloth! Wow! Truly amazing find!
It was so fun searching for the items I used!!! All came from eBay, where you can probably find anything, but it has changed over the years so you have to be careful, read listings carefully and scrutinize photos!!!!
A unique tablescape and enjoyed reading all the wonderful memories. I went to the 1986 World Fair in Canada, I think it might have been the last one.
We went to Expo ’67 in Montreal! I think there is still a world’s fair every so often but they call them expositions…….
I was a young teen and we lived on Long Island at the time. I remember getting tons of company that summer. Each group of visitors wanted to go to the fair since it was a short train ride away. We went multiple times, maybe 10 or 12 times. Sadly, we were not big picture takers, so I have no photos of our visits. I never thought of checking YouTube for videos of the fair. I will add that to my TO DO list. What a great table setting. It evoked some good memories for me. Thank you for posting.
My father was really into photography at the time, so I have no idea why there are no photos from the fair! I will have to ask my older brother about that!! Glad you liked this one!
I love this tablescape. I attended the 1964-65 Worlds Fair with my parents when I was a young newlywed living in New York. This was especially meaningful as my parents met at the 1939 Worlds Fair when they were both star performers with Jimmie Lynch’s Death Dodgers. My mother was 18-years-old when she was one of the two girl drivers. My father was already an established performer in the thrill show world.
What a wonderful story!!! Thank you for sharing Helen!!!
Wow – what a brilliant and loving birthday gift, and what fun you must have had Elena, collecting all the pieces! I love the idea of using a person’s hobbies as a table theme! Unfortunately I didn’t go to that fair, but I went to the World’s Fair in Spokane when I was a little older. It was amazing, and I have fabulous memories of it all! Thanks to both of you for sharing so much fun!
Glad you enjoyed it Barbara! I did have fun getting it together and my husband was floored by it all!!!
If I were Elena I would try steam on the cloth. Not a steam machine, I would hang it over the rod that’s in the bathroom, close the doors and run hot water in the tub and sink. After the steaming place the cloth on COTTON bed sheet. lightly sponge each circle with a COTTON towel carefully.
Good idea, I may try it if I get up the nerve!!!! I just don’t want to melt the darn thing! Thanks for the suggestion!!!!
Some of you might find this interesting:
https://queensmuseum.org/exhibition/panorama-of-the-city-of-new-york/
I was only two but vividly remember seeing the panorama. It has been updated several times, but my Grandparents house is still there (right at the base of Whitestone Bridge) so I would LOVE to go back and see it!!!
Growing up in Queens NY, we had a ringside seat to the fair. We watched in anticipation as it was being built and could not wait until it opened. I was 13 years old when it opened and went to the fair many times during those two years. The school band I was in had an opportunity to appear at the fair. So many happy memories and things we thought were so far in the future are commonplace now. What an experience!
So glad it brought back happy memories!!!! Thank you for sharing your experiences at the fair!
GREAT story Jean!!! Watching the videos is SO wonderful, times gone by! Thank You for sharing!!!
Lovely set table, Elena. I bet your husband was so surprised. My husband and I attended the fair while my parents babysat our two year old. Yikes is that dating me? What I remember is all the walking we did. The international and state pavilions were all so fascinating. Many industries had displays like The Bell System, General Electric, Eastman Kodak, Scott Paper, Johnson Wax, and Cocoa Cola to name a few. There was so much to see and two days was not enough of time. Thanks for bring back those fun memories.
Thank you for sharing your memories Jan!!! Yes, my husband WAS surprised and the whole family loved it! It was so much fun researching and looking for souvenirs!
What a wonderful gift for your husband!
He was TOTALLY surprised!!! It was a lot of fun!!
I loved this tablescape, very original.
Thank You Linda!!!
I was in the second grade and went to a Catholic School in Manhattan. I remember the nuns taking us for a field trip to the World’s Fair and our first stop was the Vatican Pavilion. When it came time to see Michaelangelo’s Pieta, we went into a darkened room and we stood on a moving “floor” which carried us slowly past the statue. I’ll never forget how beautiful it was, all bathed in light in the darkened room. I’ve lived in Queens for 50 years and I drive past the Unisphere all the time, but I never really think about it. Thanks for bringing back all of those memories.
You’re not the only one to mention The Pieta! This is what I meant when I said I wish I had a chance to set up the table and research more in advance. There is actually a wonderful souvenir statue of The Pieta that would have looked wonderful on the Table Scape!!!! Maybe I can use it as a Christmas gift for my husband’s new collection! Thank you for sharing!!!
Not only did I visit the Fair, I worked there! It was a summer job before I went away to college. The best part was meeting all the other young people from all over the country and the world who were also working there. The Belgium Pavilion introduction the Belgian Waffle piled high with whipped cream. It was a sensation! The Bell Pavilion introduced a “phone of the future”- a little booth where you could make a video call. Now we Zoom all the time. I loved being at the Fair at night after hours when we could roam and enjoy the beautiful lights and reflecting pools and fountains. It was a Wonderland. It was a fantastic experience.
That’s amazing! After looking at videos, I often wondered what things shown at the fair cane to be and what was never seen again. Thank You for sharing your experience!!!!!
I was 3 or 4 when my family went so only have a few memories. First one is my older sister (she is 9 years older) “driving” on the Magic Skyway. I think the Ford Mustang was introduced it made an impression! The other memory was of course the huge globe at the center. I can’t remember if some of my memories are of the Fair or Disney such as Lincoln and carousel of progress!
Wonderful memories!! The Lincoln attraction and the Carousel of Progress were both at the NY World’s Fair and then were moved to Disney parks after the fair closed, so maybe both????
My husband and I went there when we were first dating, Susan, you would have loved the African pavilion where we had dinner, you sat in elevated tree houses and the giraffes came to you to be petted and get some of your food.
The Japanese pavilion smelled of roses and they sold little wicker containers filled with tiny roses and carried rose scented beer. Thanks for bringing up some great memories.
WOW! I never saw the African Pavilion in the videos, that gives us something more to research. Thank you for sharing your memories!!!