This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1964-1965 World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. The borough of Queens will celebrate this milestone over the course of several months.
The 1964-1965 World’s Fair was a significant event in the history of New York City, particularly in Queens. At the fair, there were 140 pavilions and 110 restaurants from over 80 countries, attracting more than 51 million visitors. Promotional films like “Great Fair, Great Fun” produced by Hearst Movietone Group were shown worldwide, making Queens a destination with great appeal to immigrants, especially those from Asia and Latin America.
The impact of the World’s Fair continued to resonate, elevating Queens’ reputation as a “world borough.” Today, Queens is a diverse administrative district with immigrants from over 120 countries speaking more than 160 languages. Taiwanese immigrants began to settle in and engage in business activities in Flushing after the World’s Fair.
The Queens Theatre, initially part of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair known as Theaterama, has undergone renovations and expansions, now known as Queens Theatre. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1964 World’s Fair, the Queens Theatre will host a monthly series of events called “Theatreama!” until October 27.
To educate the public on the history of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Alliance will organize historical walking tours, with the first one scheduled for June 15.
On June 30, the Queens Theatre will host a performance by the jazz band Gotham Kings in honor of Louis Armstrong’s legendary performance at the 1964-65 World’s Fair.
On July 14, the Queens Theatre will screen director Matthew Silva’s documentary “Modern Ruin,” which delves into the glorious days of the “New York State Pavilion” at the World’s Fair and its gradual decline over time.
The Queens Theatre will host a repeat of the May walking tour event on August 4 and hold a food festival on September 22, allowing participants to truly experience the flavors of the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Finally, on October 27, the Queens Theatre will perform a play inspired by the World’s Fair.
For more information, please visit the Queens Theatre’s program guide at: https://queenstheatre.org/event/modern-ruin-nywf/