The doings at the 1939 New York World’s Fair exactly 64 years ago today. (Links to films in the Prelinger Archives, though some of them are not currently available for download.)

New York Times, Monday, July 24, 1939

THE FAIR TODAY

Events scheduled on the official World’s Fair program for today follow:

9 A. M. – Gates open.

10:30 A. M. – Reception at World’s Fair Boulevard Gate of official Utah party headed by Governor Gordon Weggeland, secretary to the Governor, Ernest S. Holmes; salute of nineteen guns; procession to Perylon Hall for signing of guest book; procession to Court of Peace for review of United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps units; (11:45 A. M.) call on Mayor LaGuardia at Summer City Hall; (12:30 P. M.) luncheon with Grover A. Whalen at Perylon Hall; (4:30 P. M.) reception for Utah party at Federal Building; (5:30 P. M.) parade, led by McKenzie Corps from Federal Building to Court of States; (7:00 P. M.) Utah State program, with addresses by Stuart Brandon, United States Senator William H. King, Senator Albert B. Thomas, C. P. Overfield and Governor Blood; reception by Governor at Utah exhibit; music by Mckenzie Corps and New York State combined chorus of 300 voices.

1:00 P. M. – Concert by Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada) Girls Pipe Band. Court of Peace

2:15 P. M. – Little Theatre Film Program: "The City"; (3:00 P. M.) "Let My People Live," "They Live Again" and "Heart Disease"; (4:00 P. M.) "Children at School" and "Housing Problems"; (5:00 P. M.) "The Plow That Broke the Plains"; (5:30 P. M.) "The River"; (6:00 P. M.) "Men of the Alps"; (6:30 P. M. and 7:15 P. M.) "The City." Science and Education Building.

3:00 P. M. – Hobo Fellowship Day; Assembly in Field of Special Events, with address by Ralph E. Dalton; variety show by "ex-hobo" actors and entertainers; presentation of diplomas. Field of Special Events.

6:00 P. M. – Concert by the Trytons, official World’s Fair Band. Washington Statue.

8:00 P. M. – Inter-American Escadrille Day: Dinner for good-will fliers representing American republics headed by Commander Alfredo de los Rios and young women representing North, South and Central American countries. National Advisory Committees Building.

10:15 P. M. – Display of fireworks synchronized with play of fountains and searchlights on Fountain Lake. Amusement Area.

Seeing as I know a guy who is active in the Dignity Village homeless camp here in Portland, that Hobo Fellowship event got me interested. I went to the following day’s paper to see if there was a follow-up story.

New York Times, Tuesday, July 25, 1939

LEADER CALLS HOBOES ‘THE FORGOTTEN MEN’
That Is Their Name for World of Tomorrow, He Declares

Another departure in the World of Tomorrow appeared yesterday in the prologue to the New day, the World’s Fair, when a group of hoboes entered the exposition – free of course – and announced that they were no longer going to be hoboes. Henceforth, they intend to be known, collectively, as "The Forgotten Men."

The hobo of tomorrow is typified by Ralph E. Dalton, hobo organizer extraordinary, who is leader of the forgotten-man movement. Ralph, as he is known far and wide, achieved the comparative security of a WPA job some time ago. He has continued his calling of organizing "the boys" for one thing or another, but now he feels the time has come for a change.

It seems that most of the hoboes have jobs ("President Roosevelt has been too good to them – put them to work," said Dalton), so they aren’t really hoboes now. And after many years of experience the want to change their name anyway, Ralph explained. So they’re to be the Forgotten Men of the World of Tomorrow.

Their visit was on the official program: Hobo Fellowship Day. The Hobo Fellowship is an organization of ex-hoboes earning more than $500 a year. Dalton is their self-appointed president. They were going to have another hobo college commencement, but it was not held. Some thought it would be at the Hall of Special Events. Others at the Field of Special Events. They are about a mile apart. And there are many interesting exhibits between them. The hoboes scattered.

FREEDOMLAND!


More Archive.org goodness: this seven minute movie about the failed amusement park Freedomland. (Note: at the moment, the soundtrack of the smaller, MP4 file is messed up, so you'll have to download the larger MP1 file.)

You Must Be At Least This Tall to Be Abandoned:

Mother May Be Jailed For Dropping Son Off At Park
Police Say Parents Can't Just Drop Off Kids Without Adult Supervision

DENVER -- A 28-year-old mother who reported her son missing after he didn't show up at the amusement park where she dropped him off earlier in the day faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for violating a municipal code, Denver police said.

Charlotte Nadine Chavez dropped her 11-year-old son off at Six Flags Elitch Gardens Saturday around 7:30 p.m. so he could meet with some friends. But when she returned at 10 p.m., she was unable to find him, police said. She waited for nearly two hours before she went home and called Denver police to report her son missing. The next day, an off-duty officer working at Six Flags recognized the boy in the park and notified police. The boy and his mother were reunited safely. Apparently, the boy went to a friend's house Saturday night and the friend's grandmother returned him to the amusement park the next afternoon, police said.

"ISLAMABAD: Pakistan shall have a Disneyland and amusement park between Lahore and Islamabad shortly. Blue prints of the plan, in the offing reveal that a fascinating restive place alike Disneyland and amusement park will be set-up along-with the Motorway."

Yet another image I don't have to Photoshop now: the former Walt Disney World Monorail decaying and covered with graffiti Follow the link and scroll down to see other images.



(Image and link, obviously, swiped from Mouse Planet.)