TOWER OF LIGHT

The world's most powerful searchlight beam rises from the center of this unusual building, whose exterior walls consist of 600 aluminum prisms fitted together to form an eye-catching pattern. Sponsored by investor-owned electric utility companies throughout the nation, the building is entered by a moving ramp that carries visitors over a reflecting pool and deposits them on a giant turntable. The turntable rotates past seven chambers, stopping at each for a new episode of a musical presentation called "The Brightest Show on Earth."

It's a busy day during the 1965 season, and there is quite a line waiting to get inside to see the show. The pavilion looks much like the "Fortress of Solitude" from the Superman movies! (CD14 Set 70 #30) This trade journal article has information about models of the pavilion that were available back in 1964: Scale Models of 'Tower of Light' Available from EP≤ Pavilion Lauded in Time Booklet
The show featured Ben Franklin, shaped like a light bulb, who took the audience on a historical tour of electrical achievements and projections about the future. (CD16 Set 81 #6-8) Want to learn more about the show? This trade journal has a wealth of information: "First Pictures - Complete Preview of the Industry's Show at the 1964-65 N.Y. World's Fair"
At night, it was easy to find the Tower of Light from anywhere on the Fair grounds. A brilliant beam of light shot straight up from the center of the structure - at least when the New York weather cooperated. (CD23 Set 123 #24)

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