Robots at World's Fairs - Part 2

Here's another robot, but he's not as cute as Tik Tok. This one from the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville was based on an industrial robot. That's a theme we'll see followed at a few other fairs in the days to come. Most of them were programmed to do some task usually done by a human - in this case, turning out some artwork. This was pretty advanced for the time, but crowds were usually not impressed. When they heard the word robot they were thinking of ones like Robby the Robot from "Forbidden Planet", the one from "Lost in Space", or perhaps Gort from "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Robots should be able to walk and talk, right?

Even Tik Tok could do that.

Robots at World's Fairs - Part 1

Robots have been stars at fairs since at least the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair. This cute little guy, Tik Tok, is from the 1964-1965 edition. I remember seeing him wandering happily around the grounds near the Japan Pavilion. I also remember looking around for the guy operating it but never did spot him. I wonder what became of Tik Tok after the fair ended. I'd like to think he's still out there somewhere...

Another Ford view from another tower

Here's another view of a circular Ford pavilion from a convenient tower. This time we're at Hemisfair 68 in San Antonio, Texas, up on the Tower of the Americas. The Ford pavilion was a popular spot for car enthusiasts, once again showing the latest models and concept cars. They even recycled some displays from the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. More on that later.

Let's check out the new Fords!

Ready to check out the 1963 line-up from Ford? They were all on display at the Ford Pavilion at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. From the looks of this line, though, the 1964 models might have been out by the time the last person got inside.

This view from the Space Needle was taken in August 1962.

Why is this man so happy? #2

Could it be because he's selling cups of cold Tuborg beer for only 25 cents and that makes everyone around him happy? Maybe it's that it's a beautiful day in July 1964 at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Or just maybe it has something to do with s shapely young lady passing by...

In any event it beats most of my summer jobs!

I bet the view was fantastic!

Here's something you don't see every day (but could see on July 26, 1962 if you were at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair).

Imagine how surprised you would be to spot this guy up there as you were enjoying your trip on the Skyride?

Why is this man so happy?

Maybe he's happy because it's a beautiful day in Seattle in 1962 (July 26 to be precise). Maybe it's because he's at Century 21, the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Or maybe it's because he enjoyed the exhibits at the Bell System Pavilion just behind him. The signs on the wall list wonder such as "Data Phones" and "Bell Solar Batteries". This fair was the first public demonstration of the new Touch Tone dialing system we all take for granted today.

I'm happy about Seattle as well. I'll be up there at the end of this month signing copies of my new book on the fair. I'll be posting more about that shortly.

And yes, I do intend to post more than I did last year. It looks like I was MIA since October. Wow, where does time go? It's easy to miss a day, have good intentions to make it up the next day, then before you know it, days turn into weeks, and weeks into months...

Well, here's hoping for more consistency in 2011. Happy New Year, by the way!

Bill