I found a box of Expo 58 slides I hadn't seen in a while, and now have a new appreciation for this Expo. Officially called the Brussels World Exhibition 1958, it was the first postwar world's fair, and the architecture and optimism reflects that. The notable metallic Atomium, which still stands as an icon of the fair, is one of the most astonishing buildings of the world.
The United States Pavilion
Architect: Edward D. StoneThe United States focused on "American Humanism" at the fair and portrayed the openess and plentitude of the American life. What was notably missing from the exhibit was the governments obsession with national security. In fact, American enthusiasm towards the fair was lackluster until plans for a monumental Soviet pavilion became public. Things moved quickly from there, and plans for a pavilion as large as the Roman Coliseum were soon finalized.
There's a "typical" American beach here, with a sailboat, grill, outboard motor, people on lounge chairs.
The theme was “Research for the Good of Humanity.” Culture and arts were stressed. The “Cicarama,” a 360° circular theater debuted here.
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Both these and the USSR pavilion photographs are truly fantastic... really *dig* this stuff, please keep it coming! :~)
ReplyDeleteHey Amy.
ReplyDeleteYes! There will be more Expo '58 posts. Some of the better slides are yet to come!
See ya!
Do you know which American artists exhibited in the American Pavilion in Brussels in 1958?
ReplyDeleteMy friend Stephanie Franks has recently informed me that at the age of 5(!) she was the youngest exhibitor there, but alas now has no documentary evidence of having taken part in that exhibition, nor indeed any recollection of which other American artists she exhibited WITH! Stephanie continues to paint and exhibit and currently lives in NYC with her husband and daughter.
I would love to help her out here and would be grateful for any information you may be able to give.
PatK.
I just found your site looking thru my box of old post cards. On the postcard is a Stamp with a picture of the exhibit from 1958 . If your interested in a copy of the card I can email it to you to add to the pics on your page . Thanks for taking the time to post the pics. Matthew W.
ReplyDeleteI visted Expo 58 and was most impressed by the American Pavilion or should I say USA Pavilion. Does anyone remember a man with a machine strapped to his back and flying straight up to about a height of 50 feet and then manoeuvering the machine left and right with levers before finally descending after a few minutes? All very James Bondish. The colour television was great. I remember with the Circarama there were no seats and everyone stood in a large circular area while the film was projected on about 12 or thirteen screens in a complete circle round the arena. You could see the joins but the Grand Canyon and New York were great. The only trouble was you didn't know which way to look as there were screens all around.
ReplyDeletei was with tghe us Department of State working in the US Pavilion in l958.
ReplyDeletemy name is Fred Kahn and i was working for the entire 6 months in the Us pavilion along 200 other guides. I handled the Vips visiting the pavilion , I am fluent in four languages. I have lived since in the Washington DC area and still in contact with co-workers of 1958.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that Walt Disney designed the USA pavilion?
ReplyDeleteSorry, it was Edward Durrell Stone, Disney produced the 360degree film in the USA Circarama theater. (me, again)
DeleteI'm working on a documentary project on E.D. Stone. Are these nice photos of the Brussels pavilion available for that sort of purpose?
ReplyDeleteemail me about the documentary photos.
Deletemy husband has a piece of what he calls glass that his father took out of a huge urn with lights in the bottom. He was only 7 when he was there and doesn't remember which pavilion it was in front of. We can't find any photos of it and would love to know what exactly it is. Does anyone know or remember these sort of decorations?
ReplyDeleteMy uncle recently told me that he and my aunt visited the fair from the UK and that it was in the American pavilion that they saw colour TV for the first time. He commented that the colour was terrible, but as an electronics engineer himself he must have been impressed to have remembered it over 50 years later!
ReplyDeleteI was told at the USA pavillion a Muntz Jet car was on display. Anyone remembers this?
ReplyDeleteI was one of the guides at the Expo from Hawaii. I worked mainly in the voting booths display. We lived in a dorm on Rue de Lannaec and would love to know if there are any guides out there who would like to reconnect. My name then was Carmen Torres now Woolford and live in Wa state presentlu.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the rodeo which was featured at Expo58?
DeleteI was also a guide there .My name is Fred Kahn and have been living decades in BETHESDA, Maryland, suburb of Washington, D.C.
ReplyDeleteI was assigned in the US Pavilion to greet and escort vips. Originally i had emigrated to the US in l952. Therefore now as on the staff of the US Department of State was fascinating. Cheers from Fred A. Kahn.
ReplyDeleteHello Fred,
DeleteDo you remember anything about a rodeo featured during Expo 58? Would there be pictures of that.
Dear Carmen i remember you well.
ReplyDeleteI was 7 years old and my family was Belgian. We lived south of Brussels in the Medieval town of Halle.
ReplyDeleteI did not visit the World Fair but my father, always very sympathetic to the US purchased a horse from the Rodeo(?) the Americans featured. I have been looking for a mention of the rodeo or wild west show the US delegation put on but I cannot find anything.Does anyone here remember this. The rodeo, as my father called it, went bankrupt and horses were auctioned off as it was too expensive to transport them back to the US. This is what I can remember of this. We had "Daisy" for many many years and she had beautiful offspring.
I live in AZ and I am trying to write down some family history for my children and grandchildren