1964 New York World's Fair

==International participation==
[[File:1965 new york world fair.jpg|thumbnail|View of the Unisphere with world flags]]

The [[Bureau International des Expositions|BIE]] withholding official recognition was a serious handicap for fair promoters. The absence of Canada, Australia, most of the major European nations, and the [[Soviet Union]], all members of the BIE, tarnished the image of the fair.<ref name=Caro/> Additionally, New York was forced to compete with both [[Century 21 Exposition|Seattle]] and [[Expo 67|Montreal]] for international participants, with many nations choosing the officially-sanctioned world's fairs of those other North American cities over the New York Fair. The promoters turned to trade and tourism organizations within many countries to sponsor national exhibits in lieu of official government sponsorship of pavilions.

New York City, in the middle of the twentieth century, was at a zenith of economic power and world prestige. Unconcerned by BIE rules, nations with smaller economies (as well as private groups in (or relevant to) some BIE members<ref>{{cite web |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Pavilion of Paris – Page One |url=http://www.nywf64.com/pavpar01.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612173031/http://www.nywf64.com/pavpar01.shtml |archive-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Berlin – Page One |url=http://www.nywf64.com/berlin01.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612172215/http://www.nywf64.com/berlin01.shtml |archive-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/belvil01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Belgian Village – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/switz02.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Switzerland – Page Two |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/fiesta01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Fiesta – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref>) saw it as an honor to host an exhibit at the Fair.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://seanmunger.com/2014/04/21/mosess-great-boondoggle-the-1964-65-new-york-worlds-fair-part-i/ |title=Small Nations |publisher=seanmunger.com |date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014132824/https://seanmunger.com/2014/04/21/mosess-great-boondoggle-the-1964-65-new-york-worlds-fair-part-i/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Therefore, smaller nations made up the majority of the international participation. [[Spain]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Spain – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |url=http://www.nywf64.com/spain01.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612173236/http://www.nywf64.com/spain01.shtml |archive-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> [[Vatican City]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/vatican01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Vatican – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Republic of China]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Republic of China – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |url=http://www.nywf64.com/china01.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611190616/http://www.nywf64.com/china01.shtml |archive-date=Jun 11, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=Sep 12, 2021}}</ref> [[Japan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/japan01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Japan – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |date=August 16, 1964 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Mexico]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/mexico01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Mexico – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/sweden01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Sweden – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |date=August 30, 1964 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Austria]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/austria01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Austria – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Denmark]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/denmark01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Denmark – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |date=May 9, 1965 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Thailand]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/thai01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Thailand – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Philippines]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/philip01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Philippines – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Greece]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/greece01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Greece – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/pakist01.shtml |title=Pavilions & Attractions – Pakistan – Page One |publisher=Nywf64.com |date=August 15, 1965 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Hong_Kong#British_colony|Hong Kong]], and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] to name some, hosted national presences at the Fair. [[Indonesia]] sponsored a pavilion, but relations deteriorated rapidly between that nation and the United States during 1964, fueled by anti-Western and anti-American rhetoric and policies by Indonesian president [[Sukarno]], which angered U.S. President [[Lyndon Johnson]]. Indonesia withdrew from the [[United Nations]] in January 1965, and officially from the Fair in March. The Fair Corporation then seized and shut down the Indonesian pavilion, and it remained closed and barricaded for the 1965 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/indones08.shtml |title=The Indonesia Controversy at the New York World's Fair 1964–1965 |publisher=Nywf64.com |access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Michelangelo's Pieta 5450 cut out black.jpg|thumb|Loaned from the Vatican, the sculpture by Michelangelo titled ''[[Pietà (Michelangelo)|Pietà]]'' was among the most popular exhibits at the fair]]
One of the fair's most popular exhibits was the Vatican Pavilion, which featured [[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Pietà (Michelangelo)|Pietà]]'', brought in from [[St. Peter's Basilica]] with the permission of [[Pope John XXIII]]; today, a small plaza and [[exedra]] monument mark the spot (and [[Pope Paul VI]]'s visit in October 1965). People waited in line for hours to view the Michelangelo sculpture; a novel [[conveyor belt]] system was used to move them through the viewing in an orderly fashion. A modern replica of the artwork had been transported beforehand to ensure that the statue could be installed without being damaged. The copy is now on view in the [[Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception|Immaculate Conception Seminary in Douglaston, Queens, New York]].<ref name="Felthousen-Post">{{cite web |last1=Felthousen-Post |first1=Cyn |title=1964 World's Fair Pavilions: Where Are They Now? |url=https://groovyhistory.com/1964-worlds-fair-pavilions-queens-new-york/8 |website=Groovy History |access-date=2022-08-13 |language=en}}</ref> The exedra monument is now used with permits since 1975 for prayer vigils by Our Lady of the Roses relocated from Bayside, New York.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

A recreation of a nook of a medieval [[Belgium|Belgian]] village proved very popular. Fairgoers were treated to the "Bel-Gem Brussels Waffle"—a combination of [[waffle]], strawberries and whipped cream, sold by a Brussels couple, Maurice Vermersch and his wife.<ref>[https://theworld.org/stories/2014-04-22/it-was-1964-worlds-fair-when-americans-fell-love-belgian-waffles It was the 1964 World's Fair when Americans fell in love with Belgian waffles], theworld.org (PBS), April 22, 2014</ref>

Fairgoers could also enjoy sampling sandwiches from around the world at the popular [[7-Up International Sandwich Garden]] pavilion, which featured an innovative fiberglass [[Seven Up]] Tower.<ref>''[[The New York Times]]''. September 29, 1964. p. 21.</ref><ref>''[[The New York Times]]''. May 31, 1964. p. R1.</ref> In addition to complimentary 7-Up beverages, a menu offered varied culinary delights for sale representing the cuisines of sixteen countries. While dining, visitors enjoyed live performances on four circular stages from various instrumentalists, which included a five piece musical ensemble, the 7-Up Continental Band.<ref>''[[The New York Times]]''. September 12, 1964. p. 21.</ref><ref>''[[The New York Times]]''. October 16, 1964. p. 31.</ref> The dining pods featured furnishings designed by the futuristic Finnish-American architect [[Eero Saarinen]] and were enclosed by twenty-four futuristic fiberglass domes that were topped by a commanding clock tower that soared more than {{convert|107|ft}} above the pavilion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsfairphotos.com/nywf64/seven-up.htm |title=Seven-Up |website=www.worldsfairphotos.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nywf64.com/sevup05.shtml |title=1964 New York World's Fair 1965 – Attractions – Seven Up – Page Five |website=www.nywf64.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westland.net/ny64fair/map-docs/sevenup.htm |title=1964 World's Fair – Seven-Up |website=www.westland.net}}</ref>

[[File:Berlin Pavilion.jpg|thumbnail|200px|West Berlin Pavilion, by Hans Wehrhahn]]

Emerging African nations displayed their wares in the Africa Pavilion. Controversy broke out when the [[Jordan]]ian pavilion displayed a mural emphasizing the plight of the [[Palestinian people]]. The Jordanians also donated an [[Column of Jerash|ancient column]] which still remains at the former fair site.<ref name=nycgovparks>{{cite web |url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/monuments/812 |title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park Monuments – Column of Jerash |publisher=NYC Parks |access-date=September 4, 2022}}</ref>

The city of [[West Berlin]], a [[Cold War]] hot-spot, hosted a popular exhibit in a pavilion that was designed by Hans Wehrhahn.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Berlin Pavilion by Hans Wehrhahn |url=http://www.wehrhahn-architekten.com/kleine-bauten/pavillon_weltausstellung-88}}</ref>

On April 21, 1965, as part of the opening ceremonies for the second season of the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair, Ethiopian long-distance runners [[Abebe Bikila]] and [[Mamo Wolde]] participated in an exclusive ceremonial half marathon.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/22/archives/lo-a-magic-city-awakens-and-wizard-rejoices-people-flock-in-to-the.html |title=Lo, a Magic City Awakens and Wizard Rejoices... |last=Phillips |first=Mccandlish |date=April 22, 1965 |newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription|access-date=January 26, 2017 }}</ref> They ran from the [[Arsenal (Central Park)|Arsenal]] in [[Central Park]] at 64th Street & [[Fifth Avenue]] in [[Manhattan]] to the [[Singer Bowl]] at the fair.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/21/archives/the-fair-resumes-today-with-many-new-exhibits-the-worlds-fair.html |title=The Fair Resumes Today With Many New Exhibits... |last=Alden |first=Robert |date=April 4, 1965 |newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription|access-date=January 26, 2017 }}</ref> They carried with them a parchment scroll with greetings from [[Haile Selassie]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/15/archives/ethiopia-marathon-star-here-for-fair.html |title=Ethiopia Marathon Star Here for Fair |last=Jones |first=Theodore |date=April 4, 1965 |newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription|access-date=January 26, 2017 }}</ref>