Changes during the Fair

Although many of the exhibits at the Fair were the results of years of planning and design, there were many changes made during the two year run. Some changes were relatively minor, such as new paint schemes or signage, while in other cases, entire pavilions were changed. This page, which is a work in progress, lists some of these changes. More will be added as they become available, so please stop back again for the latest update.

Bounty	The replica of the infamous HMS Bounty was only at the Fair for the 1964 season, as few visitors made it from the main Fair site over to the Marina.
Bourbon Street	When the Fair first opened the area was known as "Louisiana's Bourbon Street". A fallout between some of the financial backers led to the removal of the "Louisiana" portion of the sign in early 1964. The area received a new entrance design late in the 1964 season that replaced the bland walls and giant figures with facades designed to look like New Orleans architecture.
Carousel Park	This area didn't open until July 1964. It received new lighting on top of the carousel as well as a new paint scheme for the 1965 season. 1964 1965
Century Grill	While the guidebook made it sound like the Century Grill would be tough to pass up, most Fairgoers did exactly that. The grill was located just inside the Peter Stuyvesant Gate at the Transportation Area, and it's likely that most visitors raced right past it on their way into the Fair. The Century Grill did not return for the 1965 season, being replaced by the tacky looking "Steak Town USA".
Chrysler	In 1964 the main building and rocket at Chrysler featured mostly white paint schemes : The 1965 season saw much more colorful designs: The pavilion also featured an exhibit where visitors could pose for pictures in openings in a giant license plate. A new registration sticker was added to the plate in 1965.
Chunky Candy	Originally a glass tunnel carried newly made candy bars to a wrapping area, but they often melted in the sunlight and an awning was added to protect them.
Coca-Cola	When the Fair opened there was a blank wall above the pavilion entrance, as seen here just above the Greyhound Escorter: By July 3, 1964 a new red and gold mural had been added with depictions of people enjoying soft drinks: Sharp-eyed readers will note that the curb in front of the building had been painted yellow, probably as the result of people tripping on their way in!
Continental Circus	A victim of low attendance, the circus did not return for the 1965 season. The space was empty for part of the year and later used for a small collection of children's rides.
Demonstration Center	New for 1965, this pavilion was housed in the former Hall of Education building.
General Electric	The popular pavilion often had long lines, and in 1964 they were wound through an empty area next door. Confused visitors often didn't know where the line started, and the crowds made it difficult to get through the area. In 1965 a covered waiting area was added, helping to reduce some of the crowd control issues while also providing guests a welcome respite from the hot New York sun.
Greece	When the Fair opened the pavilion was almost all white with one large mural near the front entrance. Later in 1964 it sported a more colorful mural that stretched across the front of the building.
Hall of Education	This pavilion closed after the 1964 season and the building was used the next year as the Demonstration Center.
Indonesia	Unfortunately politics and financing woes led to the early closure of the Indonesia pavilion. Faced with several months of unpaid rent bills, the World's Fair Corporation ordered the pavilion closed in 1965. For the rest of the Fair the building stood empty, with a simple set of barricades blocking the entrance.
Jaycopter	The first Jaycopter was replaced early during the 1964 season with a larger model. The color was changed from red to yellow for 1965.
Paris	When the pavilion first opened the designers somehow had neglected to have any signage listing its name, which was added several weeks later. The wooden sculpture located at the entrance in 1964 was replaced by a group of flagpoles flying the French flag for 1965 - along with larger signage. 1964 1964 1965
Pennsylvania	This exhibit was added for the 1965 season.
Sierra Leone	Economic woes led to the closure of this pavilion at the end of the 1964 season.
Steak Town USA	This restaurant replaced the Century Grill for the 1965 season.
United Nations	When Sierra Leone decided not to return for the 1965 season the pavilion got a new paint job and a new owner, resurfacing as the Pavilion of the United Nations.

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