BOOKS
about the
WORLD OF TOMORROW
1939 - 40 WORLD'S FAIR
The following books are exclusively about The New York
World's Fair of 1939-40. Although not officially
sanctioned by The Bureau of International Exhibitions
as a Class One fair, it none the less deserves a place
in history as one of the best of these types of fairs.
For an overview of World's Fairs, see the
General section.
THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©
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AMERICAN ART TODAY (1987)
"New York World's Fair 1939"
*(No Further Information.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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BILLY ROSE'S AQUACADE (1940)
By (No Author Credited.) This large-format booklet (22 X 30cm)
is more of a souvenir program than a book. In the second year
of The New York World's Fair of 1939/1940, master showman and
promoter, Billy Rose put on a big water show with synchronized
swimming as the main attraction. Notables such as Eleanor Holm
and Buster Crabbe starred in a show that featured live
orchestras and singers of the day. The theme was World's Fairs
of the Past. * (This booklet describes the show and performers,
and gives a show program. There are many advertisements of the
day from the show's sponsors.)
Published By:
Isaac Goldman Company
New York, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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DAWN OF A NEW DAY (1980)
"The New York World's Fair, 1939/1940"
By Helen Harrison (Editor). This is a catalog of an exhibit at
The Queen's Museum, but contains a lot of fair information, as
well. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
University Press
New York, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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FUTURAMA (1940)
By (No Author Credited.) This small booklet (21 X 18cm) was
put out by General Motors Corporation, most likely as a
souvenir to those that visited their giant model at the Fair.
The model (put in for the 1940 season), was MASSIVE: 3200
square meters in area, 500,000 buildings, thousands of
kilometers of roadways, and 1,000,000 trees. It showed their
vision of a future (1960) community with city, farm,
industrial, and recreational areas. *(Recommended. This was a
fascinating exhibit and this book gives a good overview. It's
amazing how accurate their predictions were. Even though not
all of them arrived by 1960, they're here now: Yarns made
from milk, eyeglasses made from coal, glass that bends, and
the "talking flashlight" (light-beam communication) are just
some that are mentioned. Though few give details, each page
has pictures of a model section accompanied by the narration
that patrons heard from individual speakers imbedded into
552 "sound chairs", a moving chair system that took one
through the model.) (No Publication Details Available.)
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MAKING A WORLD'S FAIR (1958)
By Ed Tyng. A book about the directors' efforts to make
this fair a reality. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price:
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THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, 1939/1940 (1977)
By Stanley Applebaum. *(No Further Information.)
Published By:
Dover
New York, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, 1939/1940 IN 155 PHOTOGRAPHS (1977)
By Richard Wurts. An overview of the fair in pictures *(Not
Reviewed.)
Published By:
Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486234940
Price: $9.95
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NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR VIEWS (1939)
By (No Author Credited.) This large format picture book of
24 X 30 cm shows pictures of the 1939/40 Fair. 48 pages of
black & white photos and illustrations are in the book
including a stylized map in the center. *(Recommended. For
those that want to see what it was like, this picture book
offers over 200 images, including pictures of The Amusement
Area. In the background of one picture can be seen the
parachute drop (now a rusting hulk at Coney Island) and one
of Traver/Baker's famous "Cyclone" coasters.)
Published by:
Quality Art Novelty Company
Long Island City, New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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1939: MUSIC AND THE WORLD'S FAIR (1998)
By Claudia Swan, Robert Rosenblum and John Bell.
*(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Eos Music
ISBN: 0964808323
Price: $25.00 (U.S. Funds)
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THE 1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR IN POSTCARDS (1988)
By Herbert Rolfes. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
ISBN:
Price: $29.95
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1939: THE LOST WORLD OF THE FAIR (1995)
By David Hillel Gelernter. This book discusses the fair partly
through fictional characters based on discussions with those
that witnessed it for themselves, and partly by the author
himself. It includes a map of The 1939 Fair on endpapers, a
photo section and index. *(The author discusses the fair from
a somewhat synical 1990's perspective. Only selected areas of
the fair are covered as were taken from literature of the time
and the interviewee's memories. As such, it is not the best for
those wishing an extensive description of the pavilions and
attractions.)
Published by:
The Free Press
866 Third Avenue
New York, New York
U.S.A. 10022
ISBN: 0-02-874002-5 Price: $27.00 (Cdn. Funds)
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OFFICIAL GUIDE - NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR (1939)
"The World of Tomorrow"
Fair Guide Book. Includes a fold-out color map in 3-D relief
and a complete index. A copy is in The CEC's archives.
* (This exhibition which also ran during the 1940 season, is
looked upon fondly by most fair buffs. Although not
officially sanctioned by the I.E.S., it's usually included in
most reference books on World's Fairs.)
Published by:
Exposition Publications
New York, New York
U.S.A.
Original cost:
$0.25 (1939 U.S. Funds)
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PATCHWORK SOUVENIRS OF THE 1933 WORLD'S FAIR (1993)
"The Sears National Quilt Contest and
Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition"
By Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Rutledge Hill Press
ISBN: 1558532579
Price: $19.95
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REMEMBERING THE FUTURE (1989)
"The New York World's Fair from 1939-1964"
By various authors. Gives a history of the two New York
World's Fairs 1939-1940 and 1964-1965. This 200-page book was
published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Queens
Museum, NY. It covers topics such as Science & Technology,
Arts, Architecture, etc. *(Recommended. Although leaning
toward the 1964-65 fair, this book does a good job of
comparing the two fairs with lots of pictures, behind-the-
scenes information, and comments by well-known personalities
of the times. Essays discuss various themes, and themes that
were never to be. One detriment to readers of this website is
that the amusement area is not discussed, save for the odd item
like the U.S. Rubber ferris wheel.)
Published by: Price: Unknown
Rizzoli International Publications
300 Park Avenue South
New York, New York 10010 ISBN: 0-8478-1122-0
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SIX 1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR POSTCARDS (1994)
By Maggie Kate. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486282198
Price: $1.00
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TRYLON (19 )
By? 200 Pictures; most in colour. No additional details, but
may be the same book as the next listing, despite different
ISBN's. *(Not Reviewed)
Published By:
ISBN: 0-8109-2415-3
Price: $24.95 (U.S. Funds)
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TRYLON AND PERISPHERE (1989)
"The 1939 New York World's Fair"
By Barbara Cohen, Seymour Chwast, and Steven Heller. This is
a large format picture book mainly showing memorabilia and
collectibles associated with the fair. There is a write-up
about the fair itself, and many letters and comments [some
from famous people of the time] are included. *(Recommended.
The picture quality is excellent thanks to the fact that many
were taken on the then-new transparency film: "Kodachrome".
This is an especially good book for collectors because of the
range of fair items pictured, and also for the many views not
usually seen in books about this world exhibition.) May be
the same book as the above listing.
Published by: Price: (Unknown)
Abrams
ISBN: 08 1092 4153
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THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (1988)
"The 1939 New York World's Fair"
By Larry Zim, Mel Lerner, and Herbert Rolfes. This book has
a strong emphasis on souvenirs and exhibits. *(Not Reviewed.)
Published By:
Harper & Row
New York. New York
U.S.A.
ISBN:
Price:
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WORLD'S FAIR COLLECTIBLES: (1998)
"Chicago 1933 and New york 1939"
By Howard Rossen. *(No Further Information.)
Published By:
ISBN: 0764304607
Price: $29.95 (U.S. Funds)
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